Configuration management database implementation with end-to-end cross-checking system and method

• US 7,664,756 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Perrea, Scott D., Taylor, Michael J., Felton, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tim T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Bao G
• Application Number:
  US11/245,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/100, 707/205, 370254-258, 726/2, 705/28, 709/223, 717/120, 717/101, 715716-726
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A system for end-to-end configuration management is provided. The system includes, a server component, a network component, an application component, a resources component, and a services component each operable to identify servers, communication network hardware, applications, human resources, and services, respectively, of the enterprise. The system further includes a management component operable to identify an end-to-end relationship between at least some of the communication network hardware to at least some of the servers, and from at least some of the servers to at least some of the applications, and from at least some of the applications to at least some of the human resources, and from at least some of the applications to at least some of the services.

Claims

1. A method of end-to-end configuration management, comprising:

creating an inventory of servers of an enterprise;

creating an inventory of network components of the enterprise, wherein the inventory of network components includes at least some information related to relationships, dependencies, and/or information flowing among assets of the enterprise;

creating a first inventory of applications of the enterprise using a first inventory component executing on a processor including a tool configured to generate a list of applications deployed in the enterprise;

creating a second inventory of the applications of the enterprise using a second inventory component executing on a processor to automatically scan systems of the enterprise for at least one selected from the group consisting of;

executable files, residual files, directory trees, version files, and status reports, wherein the second inventory component is different from the first inventory component;

cross-checking the first and second inventories of the applications of the enterprise to create a master inventory of applications of the enterprise, the master inventory of the applications including at least some information related to at least some of the servers whereon the applications reside;

assigning a degree of confidence to each asset of the master inventory of applications based on the cross-checking, wherein the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first inventory and the second inventory are in agreement is higher than the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first inventory and the second inventory are in conflict;

cross-checking the inventory of servers and the at least some information related to the at least some of the servers whereon the applications reside from the master inventory of applications to create a master inventory of servers of the enterprise;

creating an inventory of people of the enterprise and cross-referencing the people with other assets of the enterprise;

creating an inventory of services provided by the enterprise, wherein each of the services provided by the enterprise is supported by at least one of the applications of the enterprise;

identifying end-to-end relationships from at least some of the servers, to at least some of the network components, to at least some of the applications, to at least some of the people, and to at least some of the services provided by the enterprise using the master inventory of servers, the inventory of network components, the master inventory of applications, the inventory of people, and the inventory of services; and

creating a map of the identified end-to-end relationships to graphically illustrate the identified relationships.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising cross-checking with the people of the enterprise to improve the inventory of the servers of the enterprise.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first inventory component for creating the first inventory of applications of the enterprise is further defined as HP Service Desk, and wherein the second inventory component for creating the second inventory of applications of the enterprise is further defined as fingerprinting component.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fingerprinting component identifies applications by a file structure associated with the application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the file structure associated with the application for fingerprinting is further defined as identifying files used by the application to identify the application is in use on a computer or a version of the application.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the fingerprinting component identifies applications by a directory structure associated with the application.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the fingerprinting component identifies applications by an application versions identifier associated with the application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein application versions identifier associated with the application is further defined as a file distributed with the application including the application information including a version of the application.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein cross-referencing the people with other assets of the enterprise comprises performing trend analysis of logins.

9. A system for end-to-end configuration management, comprising:

a server component that identifies servers in an enterprise;

a network component that identifies communication network hardware of the enterprise;

a first application component executable on a processor that identifies a first set of applications of the enterprise, wherein the first application component automatically scans-systems of the enterprise to identify at least one selected from the group consisting of;

executable files, residual files, directory trees, version files, and status reports;

a second application component executable on a processor that identifies a second set of applications of the enterprise, wherein the second application component is different from the first application component and generates a list of applications deployed in the systems of the enterprise;

a resources component that identifies human resources of the enterprise;

a services component that identifies services provided by the enterprise, wherein each of the services provided by the enterprise is supported by least one of the applications of the enterprise; and

a management component that cross-checks the first set of applications and the second set of applications to create a master set of applications, and assigns a degree of confidence to the master set of applications, wherein the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first set of applications and the second set of applications are in agreement is higher than the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first set of applications and the second set of applications are in conflict;

the management component further identifies relationships between at least some of the communication network hardware to at least some of the servers, and from at least some of the servers to at least some of the applications, and from at least some of the applications to at least some of the human resources, and from at least some of the applications to at least some of the services using the inventory of servers, the inventory of network components, the master set of applications, the inventory of people, and the inventory of services, and the management component creates a map of the identified relationships to graphically illustrate the identified relationship.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the resources component to identify the human resources of the enterprise is further defined as a human resource database.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second application component that identifies applications of the enterprise is further defined as an enterprise development process tool.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second application component that identifies applications is further defined as HP Service Desk and wherein the applications are further defined as third party applications and custom business applications.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication network hardware is further defined as connectivity hardware including routers and hubs.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the network component is further defined as one of a Cisco Works tool and Visionael tool asset management repository.

15. A computer implemented method for end-to-end configuration management, comprising:

identifying servers in an enterprise;

identifying communication network hardware of the enterprise;

identifying a first set of applications of the enterprise with a first inventory component executing on a processor by automatically scanning systems of the enterprise to identify at least one selected from the group consisting of;

executable files, residual files, directory trees, version files, and status reports;

identifying a second set of applications of the enterprise with a second inventory component executing on a processor by generating a list of applications deployed in the enterprise, wherein the second inventory component is different from the first inventory component;

identifying human resources of the enterprise;

identifying services provided by the enterprise, wherein each of the services provided by the enterprise is supported by least one of the applications of the enterprise;

cross-checking the first and the second set of the applications to create a master set of applications;

assigning a degree of confidence to the master set of applications based on the cross-checking, wherein the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first set of applications and the second set of applications are in agreement is higher than the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first set of applications and the second set of applications are in conflict;

determining relationships between at least some of the communication network hardware to at least some of the servers, and from at least some of the servers to at least some of the applications, and from at least some of the applications to at least some of the human resources, and from at least some of the applications to at least some of the services using the inventory of servers, the inventory of network components, the master inventory of applications, the inventory of people, and the inventory of services;

creating a map of the relationships to graphically illustrate the relationships; and

storing the map of the relationships on a computer readable storage medium.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identifying human resources of the enterprise is preformed through a search of a human resource database.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the applications of the enterprise are software applications.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication network hardware of the enterprise comprises connectivity hardware including routers and hubs.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the servers execute a Cisco Works tool.