Preliminary classification of events to facilitate cause-based analysis

• US 7,500,142 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jenkins, Ray, Cowart, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lottich; Joshua P
• Application Number:
  US11/313,284
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 714/26, 714/37
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/065 involving logical or physical relationship, e.g. grouping and hierarchies

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for performing preliminary cause-based classification of events in a computer or networked computer system. Methods are provided in which, based on an event message, cause-based preliminary classification of an associated event is performed. The result of the preliminary classification is used to facilitate subsequent cause-based analysis, such as root cause analysis, relating to the event. Methods are provided in which preliminary classification is performed using a database including a catalog associating event messages with appropriate preliminary classifications of events associated with the event messages.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating cause-based analysis relating to events in a networked computer system, the method comprising:

obtaining, from the networked computer system, a plurality of event messages, wherein each of the plurality of event messages relate to an event within the networked computer system, and the plurality of event messages comprising a first event message associated with a first event;

prior to performing cause-based analysis relating to the first event, performing preliminary cause-based classification of the first event to determine a preliminary cause-based classification of the first event from among a plurality of possible cause-based classifications, wherein the preliminary cause-based classification is performed based on the first event message;

facilitating cause-based analysis relating to the first event utilizing the determined preliminary cause-based classification of the first event; and

wherein performing preliminary cause-based classification comprises determining a preliminary classification for the first event, and wherein preliminary classifications comprising root cause classification, symptom classification, and information classification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing cause-based preliminary classification comprises utilizing information obtained from one or more cause-based preliminary classification databases to facilitate associating the first event with an appropriate preliminary classification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more cause-based preliminary classification databases comprises one or more catalogs, and wherein the one or more catalogs list event messages in association with corresponding appropriate preliminary classifications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing cause-based preliminary classification comprises determining a most likely classification of the first event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein results of cause-based preliminary classification are used in performing cause-based analysis to determine an actual cause-based classification of the first event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein results of cause-based preliminary classification are provided as input to be used in performing cause-based analysis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cause-based analysis comprises root cause analysis.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing cause-based preliminary classification comprises determining an appropriate preliminary classification for the first event, and wherein preliminary classifications include root cause classification, symptom classification, information classification, singularity classification, and unknown classification.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising performing cause-based analysis relating to the first event to determine an actual cause-based classification of the first event.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating the cause-based analysis comprises at least one of increasing the efficiency of the cause-based analysis and increasing the accuracy of the cause-based analysis.