Method of and apparatus for remote monitoring

• US 6,950,868 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Faraldo, David D. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/703,437
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/232, 709/234, 714/47, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A method and apparatus is described for remote monitoring of a business site network. One or more remote satellite systems may be strategically positioned at different points on the Internet that are close to backbone networks in order to monitor and evaluate typical user interactions with a business site. By positioning the remote satellite systems at points near backbones approximate to those of users accessing a business site, a more accurate analysis of a site'"'"'s performance may be performed that better reflects the experience that similarly connected users experience. Various network and system parameters of a business site may be monitored, such as threshold timing parameters and correctness parameters.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a host digital processing system to couple to an intranetwork, the intranetwork to couple to an extranetwork; and

a first remote digital processing system coupled to the extranetwork to monitor a data transfer rate between the host digital processing system and the remote digital processing system, the remote digital processing system coupled to the extranetwork at a first location similar to that of a first expected user of the first host digital processing system, wherein the the data transfer rate is a transfer rate of bytes between a first byte and a last byte of a response.

2. A system, comprising:

a first host digital processing system to couple to an intranetwork, the first intranetwork to couple to an extranetwork; and

a first remote digital processing system coupled to the extranetwork to monitor a performance parameter associated with the first host digital processing system, the first remote digital processing system coupled to the extranetwork at a first location similar to that of a first expected user of the first host digital processing system, wherein the performance parameter is a latency time between a request for data and receiving a first byte of data from the first host digital processing system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the extranetwork comprises a first backbone network and wherein the first remote digital processing system couples to the first backbone network.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second remote digital processing system to monitor a performance parameter of the first host digital processing system, wherein the extranetwork further comprises a second backbone network and wherein the second remote digital processing system couples to the second backbone network at a second location similar to that of a second expected user of the first host digital processing system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second extranetwork is a public switched telephone network.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second extranetwork is a wireless network.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a monitoring operations center coupled to the extranetwork, the monitoring operations center to receive data from the first remote digital processing system.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the first remote digital processing system is configured to store cookies that are pre-set on the host digital processing system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the host digital processing system includes a plurality of web pages and wherein the pre-set cookies enable the first remote digital processing system to access a particular one of the plurality of web pages independent of another of the plurality of web pages.

10. A method of network monitoring, comprising:

positioning a remote digital processing system on a backbone network remotely from a host digital processing system, the remote digital processing system position approximate that of an expected user of the host digital processing system, the host digital system coupled to the backbone network through an intranetwork; and

monitoring one or more performance parameters including a latency time of the host digital processing system with the remote digital processing system, the monitoring comprising;

establishing a connection with the host digital processing system;

performing a transaction with the host digital processing system, wherein the latency time is associated with the transaction; and

calculating the latency time between a request for data and receiving a first byte of data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting information about the one or more performance parameters to a monitoring operations center.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring comprises:

determining the one or more performance parameters for monitoring;

establishing a connection with the host digital processing system; and

performing a transaction with the host digital processing system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining comprises receiving the one or more performance parameters through a configuration interface.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing comprises pre-setting cookies on the host digital processing system to enable the remote digital processing system to access data on the host digital processing system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more performance parameters include a domain name server lookup time associated with establishing the connection.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more performance parameters includes a correctness parameter and wherein the method further comprises evaluating the correctness parameter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein evaluating comprises:

determining a positive search pattern;

determining a negative search pattern; and

comparing the positive search pattern with the negative search pattern to verify the correctness of a content.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein evaluating comprises:

fetching an accessory file from a storage location; and

verifying that content of the accessory file is available for retrieval.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein evaluating comprises:

selecting a link on a web page; and

verifying that content corresponding to the web page is accessible.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

pre-setting cookies on the host digital processing system; and

storing the pre-set cookies on the remote digital processing system.

21. A method of network monitoring, comprising:

positioning a remote digital processing system on a backbone network remotely from a host digital processing system, the remote digital processing system position approximate that of an expected user of the host digital processing system, the host digital system coupled to the backbone network through an intranetwork; and

monitoring a data transfer rate of the host digital processing system with the remote digital processing system, the monitoring comprising;

establishing a connection with the host digital processing system;

performing a transaction with the host digital processing system, wherein the data transfer rate is associated with the transaction; and

calculating the data transfer rate of bytes between a first byte and a last byte of a response.