Method for displaying switch port information in a network topology display

• US 7,310,774 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SANavigator, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arquie, Louis, Cornett, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US09/846,750
• Time in Patent Office: 2,423 Days
• Field of Search: 345734-736, 345/969, 345810-846, 709220-221, 709223-224, 709/238, 370/400, 370/389, 370/395.21, 370/396, 370/250, 370/407, 370/408, 370/825.02, 370/825.5, 715/734
• US Class Current: 715/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying network node ports and related information in a network topology display. The user is able to clearly view ports of a connection device in the network and to view additional port information, such as the port type and the port number, for connected and unconnected ports of a network connection device. In addition, the user is able to toggle between a “show ports” mode and a “hide ports” mode for each connection device to view detailed information about the connection device ports or to hide the information in order to simplify the display.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of selectively displaying port information for a network device in a network topology display comprising:

displaying a graphical device node in the network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in the network;

displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path graphically representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the device; and

selectively expanding the graphical device node in response to a user selection of the graphical device node to display an expanded device node, wherein the expanded device node concurrently displays a graphical representation of the first connection port connected to a first connection path of the network and a graphical representation of the second connection port connected to a second connection path of the network,

wherein the expanded device node further displays port information for the first connection port and the second connection port, and the port information comprises a port connection type indicator.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the graphical device node represents a network device selected from the group consisting of a switch, a hub, and a router.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the port information further comprises a port number.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selectively expanding operation comprises displaying a connection bar and displaying port information proximal the connection bar for the first connection port and the second connection port.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the displayed port information for each port is displayed proximal the connection bar in a location indicating the relative location of the corresponding connected network device in the network topology display.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the graphical device node represents the network device and one or more devices connected to the network device.

7. A computer implemented method of selectively displaying port information for a network device in a network topology display comprising:

displaying a graphical device node in a network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in the network;

displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path graphically representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the device; and

concurrently displaying port information for the first connection port and the second connection port in response to a user selection of the graphical device node, wherein the displayed port information comprises a port number and a port connection type indicator.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the graphical device node represents a network device selected from the group consisting of a switch, a hub, and a router.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the concurrently displaying port information operation includes displaying a connection bar and displaying the port information proximal the connection bar for each of the first connection port and the second connection port.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the displayed port information for each of the first connection port and the second connection port is displayed proximal to the connection bar in a location indicating the relative location of the corresponding connected device in the network topology display.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the concurrently displaying port information operation includes displaying port information for each port of the network device having an actual connection in the network.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the displayed port information for each port of the network device having an actual connection in the network is displayed proximal to a connection bar in a location indicating the relative location of the corresponding connected device in the network topology display.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user selection is performed by the user using a computer mouse.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user selection includes selecting the displayed device node with a user input device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user selection includes selecting a show ports option from a menu of options.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the menu of options in response to a user selection of the displayed device node.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising removing the displayed port information from the display in response to a user selection to remove port information.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the graphical device node represents the network device and one or more devices connected to the network device.

19. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to selectively display device port information for a network device in a network topology display, by:

displaying a graphical device node in the network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in a network;

displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the network device; and

concurrently displaying port information for the first connection port and the second connection port in response to a user selection of the graphical device node, wherein the displayed port information comprises an indication of the connection ports having an actual connection to another device in the network and the connection ports having no connection.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the network device comprises one of a switch, a hub and a router.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the network comprises a storage area network (SAN).

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions for displaying port information comprise instructions for displaying a connection bar and displaying the port information proximal the connection bar for each connection port of the network device having an actual connection in the network.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions for displaying the port information comprise instructions for displaying the port information for each connection port of the network device having an actual connection to a connected device of the network proximal to the connection bar in a location so as to indicate the relative location of the corresponding connected device in the network topology display.

24. A method for displaying port information for a network device in a network topology display, comprising:

displaying a network topology display comprising a graphical device node representing a network device in a physical network, the network device comprising a plurality of connection ports for connecting to other devices in the network;

in the network topology display, displaying at least one connection path coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path representing connections from the other devices to a portion of the plurality of connection ports of the network device;

receiving a user selection of the graphical device node in the network topology display; and

in response to the receiving of the user selection, modifying the displayed network topology display to include an expanded view of the displayed device node, wherein the expanded view concurrently displays port information for the portion of the connection ports connected to the other devices in the network and wherein the port information for the portion of the connection ports connected to the other devices in the network is displayed in locations in the expanded view indicating relative locations in the network topology display of the other devices connected to the graphical device node,

wherein the expanded view further comprises port information for the connection ports of the device node that are not connected to the other devices in the network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the port information corresponding to the portion of the connection ports connected to the other devices in the network is displayed within the expanded view at elevations corresponding to elevations in the network topology display of the other devices connected to the device node.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the port information is selected from a group of port information consisting of a port number, a port type, and a port state.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a user-input configuration request defining a subset of the group of port information to be included in the displayed port information, and wherein the displayed port information is configured to comprise the subset.

28. A method comprising:

displaying a network topology display including graphical device nodes and at least one connection path connecting the graphical device nodes, each graphical device node representing a network device comprising a plurality of connection ports for connecting to other devices in the network, each connection path representing at least one communicative connection between a connection port of a network device and another device in the network;

detecting a user input event associated with the network topology display; and

modifying the network topology display to expand one of the graphical device nodes in the network topology display responsive to the operation of detecting a user input event, the expanded graphical device node concurrently displaying a plurality of port information indicators not displayed by the displaying operation, each port information indicator representing an individual connection port of the network device represented by the graphical device node and at least one of the plurality of port information indicators representing a connection port of the network device having a communicative connection to another device in the network,

wherein the expanded displayed device node displays a port information indicator for each connection port of the connection device having a communicative connection to another device in the network and for each connection port of the connection device not having a communicative connection to another device in the network.

29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process, the computer process comprising:

displaying a network topology display including graphical device nodes and at least one connection path connecting the graphical device nodes, each graphical device node representing a network device comprising one or more connection ports for connecting to other devices in the network, each connection path representing at least one communicative connection between a connection port of a network device and another device in the network;

detecting a user input event associated with the network topology display; and

modifying the network topology display to expand one of the graphical device nodes in the network topology display responsive to the operation of detecting a user input event, the expanded graphical device node concurrently displaying a plurality of port information indicators not displayed by the displaying operation, each port information indicator representing an individual connection port on the network device represented by the graphical device node, wherein at least one of the port information indicators represents an individual connection port of the network device having a communicative connection to another device in the network,

wherein the expanded displayed device node displays a port information indicator for each connection port of the connection device having a communicative connection to another device in the network and for each connection port of the connection device not having a communicative connection to another device in the network.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the computer process further comprises:

detecting another user input event associated with the network topology display; and

modifying the network topology display to collapse the expanded graphical device node in the network topology display responsive to the operation of detecting another user input event, the collapsed graphical device node omitting display of the port information indicators.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein each displayed port information indicator representing a connection port having a communicative connection to another device in the network is graphically associated with a connection path representing the communicative connection.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the expanded graphical device node displays a port information indicator for each connection port of the network device having a communicative connection to another device in the network.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the expanded graphical device node displays port information indicators for connection ports of the network device having communicative connections to one or more other devices in the network and does not display port information indicators for connection ports of the network device not having communicative connections to one or more other devices in the network.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein at least one port information indicator displays a port connection type indicator.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein at least one port information indicator displays a port number indicator.

36. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process, the computer process comprising:

displaying a graphical device node in the network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in the network;

displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path graphically representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the device; and

selectively expanding the graphical device node in response to a user selection of the graphical device node to display an expanded device node, wherein the expanded device node concurrently displays a graphical representation of the first connection port connected to a first connection path of the network and a graphical representation of the second connection port connected to a second connection path of the network,

wherein the expanded device node further displays port information for the first connection port and the second connection port, and the port information comprises a port connection type indicator.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the graphical device node represents a network device selected from the group consisting of a switch, a hub, and a router.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the port information further comprises a port number.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the selectively expanding operation comprises displaying a connection bar and displaying port information proximal the connection bar for the first connection port and the second connection port.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the displayed port information for each port is displayed proximal the connection bar in a location indicating the relative location of the corresponding connected network device in the network topology display.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the graphical device node represents the network device and one or more devices connected to the network device.

42. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process, the computer process comprising:

displaying a graphical device node in a network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in the network;

displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path graphically representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the device; and

concurrently displaying port information for the first connection port and the second connection port in response to a user selection of the graphical device node, wherein the displayed port information comprises a port number and a port connection type indicator.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the graphical device node represents a network device selected from the group consisting of a switch, a hub, and a router.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the concurrently displaying port information operation includes displaying a connection bar and displaying the port information proximal the connection bar for each of the first connection port and the second connection port.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the displayed port information for each of the first connection port and the second connection port is displayed proximal to the connection bar in a location indicating the relative location of the corresponding connected device in the network topology display.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the concurrently displaying port information operation includes displaying port information for each port of the network device having an actual connection in the network.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein the displayed port information for each port of the network device having an actual connection in the network is displayed proximal to a connection bar in a location indicating the relative location of the corresponding connected device in the network topology display.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the user selection includes selecting a show ports option from a menu of options.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 48, further comprising displaying the menu of options in response to a user selection of the displayed device node.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, further comprising removing the displayed port information from the display in response to a user selection to remove port information.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the graphical device node represents the network device and one or more devices connected to the network device.

52. A computer implemented method of selectively displaying port information for a network device in a network topology display comprising:

displaying a graphical device node in the network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in a network;

displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the network device; and

concurrently displaying port information for the first connection port and the second connection port in response to a user selection of the graphical device node, wherein the displayed port information comprises an indication of the connection ports having an actual connection to another device in the network and the connection ports having no connection.

53. The computer-implemented method of claim 52, wherein the network device comprises one of a switch, a hub and a router.

54. The computer-implemented method of claim 52, wherein the network comprises a storage area network (SAN).

55. The computer-implemented method of claim 52, wherein the instructions for displaying port information comprise instructions for displaying a connection bar and displaying the port information proximal the connection bar for each connection port of the network device having an actual connection in the network.

56. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein the instructions for displaying the port information comprise instructions for displaying the port information for each connection port of the network device having an actual connection to a connected device of the network proximal to the connection bar in a location so as to indicate the relative location of the corresponding connected device in the network topology display.

57. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process, the computer process comprising:

displaying a network topology display comprising a graphical device node representing a network device in a physical network, the network device comprising a plurality of connection ports for connecting to other devices in the network;

in the network topology display, displaying at least one connection path coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path representing connections from the other devices to a portion of the plurality of connection ports of the network device;

receiving a user selection of the graphical device node in the network topology display; and

in response to the receiving of the user selection, modifying the displayed network topology display to include an expanded view of the displayed device node, wherein the expanded view concurrently displays port information for the portion of the connection ports connected to the other devices in the network and wherein the port information for the portion of the connection ports connected to the other devices in the network is displayed in locations in the expanded view indicating relative locations in the network topology display of the other devices connected to the graphical device node,

wherein the expanded view further comprises port information for the connection ports of the device node that are not connected to the other devices in the network.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the port information corresponding to the portion of the connection ports connected to the other devices in the network is displayed within the expanded view at elevations corresponding to elevations in the network topology display of the other devices connected to the device node.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the port information is selected from a group of port information consisting of a port number, a port type, and a port state.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 59, further comprising receiving a user-input configuration request defining a subset of the group of port information to be included in the displayed port information, and wherein the displayed port information is configured to comprise the subset.