Method of modifying a checksuite

• US 7,689,680 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Peterson, Lance, McChesney, Roderick M., Smith, Jon, Chen, Corinne, Peters, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUONG
• Application Number:
  US10/600,472
• Time in Patent Office: 2,476 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/226, 709/225, 707/102, 717/100
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/28 by checking the correct order of processing G06F11/08 - G06F11/26 take precedence; monitoring patterns of pulse trains H03K5/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring

Abstract

A method and apparatus for defining, creating, and applying checks to multiple computers simultaneously is disclosed. In a network comprised of multiple computers capable of being linked together, a number of parameters to be monitored are defined. Then a number of checks corresponding to the one or more defined parameters are created. Each check is a set of computer executable instructions to monitor a defined parameter of the one or more defined parameters. After the checks are created, one or more checksuites that each include two or more of the created checks may be created. One or more checksuites may be designated for deployment and applied to one or more of the multiple network computers.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a computer network, comprising:

receiving, by a server computer, commands identifying a checksuite from a web browser, the checksuite including one or more individual checks, each check being configured to monitor a parameter of an operating system or a software program that runs on an operating system, wherein the checksuite includes first individual checks that monitor parameters of a first operating system and second individual checks that monitor parameters of a second operating system that is different from the first operating system, and wherein the first individual checks monitor the parameters of the first operating system concurrent to the second individual checks monitoring the parameters of the second operating system;

selecting, by the server computer, the checksuite based on the commands, wherein an original version of the checksuite having been deployed to two or more previously selected machines having different operating systems, and wherein subsequent to being deployed to the two or more previously selected machines, the checksuite was customized for a first machine of the two or more previously selected machines, a customized version of the checksuite having one or more customizations, the customizations corresponding to checks that differ from checks in the original version of the checksuite;

receiving, by the server computer, additional commands for editing the checksuite from the web browser;

editing, by the server computer, the checksuite based on the additional commands, the editing including at least one of removing an existing individual check from the checksuite, modifying the existing individual check, or adding a new individual check to the checksuite; and

simultaneously deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine, which includes the first operating system, and a second machine that includes the second operating system, wherein the first machine and the second machine, respectively, are each one of the two or more previously selected machines or one or more additional machines, and wherein deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine preserves the one or more customizations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

adding one or more new individual checks to the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines, the deploying comprising;

deploying the one or more new individual checks to the two or more previously selected machines.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

selecting the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

de-selecting at least one of the two or more machines previously selected; and

removing the edited checksuite from the deselected machines.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

removing one or more individual checks from the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines, the deploying comprising;

deleting the removed individual check from the two or more previously selected machines.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selecting the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

de-selecting at least one of the two or more machines previously selected; and

deleting the edited checksuite from the de-selected machines.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

modifying one or more individual checks within the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines, the deploying comprising;

deploying the modified individual check to the two or more previously selected machines.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

de-selecting at least one of the two or more machines previously selected; and

removing the edited checksuite from the de-selected machines.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizations include at least one of a threshold reporting level and a type of notification to be activated when a problem is detected.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizations include a specific type of monitoring to be performed, the specific type of monitoring being one of a continuous monitoring or a periodic monitoring.

13. A machine-readable medium including program code, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the following:

receiving, by a server computer, commands identifying a checksuite from a web browser, the checksuite including one or more individual checks, each check being configured to monitor a parameter of an operating system or a software program that runs on an operating system, wherein the checksuite includes first individual checks that monitor parameters of a first operating system and second individual checks that monitor parameters of a second operating system that is different from the first operating system, and wherein the first individual checks monitor the parameters of the first operating system concurrent to the second individual checks monitoring the parameters of the second operating system;

selecting, by the server computer, the checksuite based on the commands, wherein an original version of the checksuite having been deployed to two or more previously selected machines having different operating systems, and wherein subsequent to being deployed to the two or more previously selected machines, the checksuite was customized for a first machine of the two or more previously selected machines, a customized version of the checksuite having one or more customizations, the customizations corresponding to checks that differ from checks in the original version of the checksuite;

receiving, by the server computer, additional commands for editing the checksuite from the web browser;

editing, by the server computer, the checksuite based on the additional commands, the editing including at least one of removing an existing individual check from the checksuite, modifying the existing individual check, or adding a new individual check to the checksuite; and

simultaneously deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine, which includes the first operating system, and a second machine that includes the second operating system, wherein the first machine and the second machine, respectively, are each one of the two or more previously selected machines or one or more additional machines, and wherein deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine preserves the one or more customizations.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, which causes the processor to further perform:

adding one or more individual checks to the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, which causes the processor to further perform:

selecting the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, which causes the processor to further perform:

de-selecting at least one of the two or more machines previously selected; and

removing the edited checksuite from the de-selected machines.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, which causes the processor to further perform:

deleting one or more individual checks from the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, which causes the processor to further perform:

selecting the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, which causes the processor to further perform:

de-selecting at least one of the two of more machines previously selected; and

removing the edited checksuite from the de-selected machines.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, which causes the processor to further perform:

modifying one or more individual checks within the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, which causes the processor to further perform:

selecting the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, which causes the processor to further perform:

de-selecting at least one of the two or more machines previously selected; and

removing the edited checksuite from the de-selected machines.

23. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server computer, a request to select a checksuite for editing from a web browser, the checksuite including one or more individual checks, each check being configured to monitor a parameter of an operating system or a software program that runs on an operating system, wherein the checksuite includes first individual checks that monitor parameters of a first operating system and second individual checks that monitor parameters of a second operating system that is different from the first operating system, and wherein the first individual checks monitor the parameters of the first operating system concurrent to the second individual checks monitoring the parameters of the second operating system;

selecting, by the server computer, the requested checksuite, wherein an original version of the checksuite having been deployed to two or more previously selected machines, and wherein subsequent to being deployed, the checksuite was customized for a first machine of the two or more previously selected machines, a customized version of the checksuite having one or more customizations, the customizations corresponding to checks that differ from checks in the original version of the checksuite;

editing the checksuite based on commands received from the web browser, the editing including at least one of removing an existing individual check from the checksuite, modifying the existing individual check, or adding a new individual check to the checksuite; and

deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine, which includes the first operating system, and to a second machine that includes the second operating system, wherein the first machine and the second machine, respectively, are each one of the two or more previously selected machines or one or more additional machines, and wherein deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine preserves the one or more customizations.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

receiving changes made to the selected checksuite;

receiving a request to save the changes made to the selected checksuite; and

saving the changes made to the selected checksuite.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

receiving new individual checks;

adding the new individual checks to the selected checksuite;

saving the selected checksuite as modified; and

deploying the modified checksuite to the two or more previously selected machines.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

receiving a request to select one or more of the individual checks;

selecting the requested one or more individual checks;

receiving a request to delete the selected one or more individual checks;

deleting the selected one or more individual checks;

receiving a request to save the checksuite as modified;

saving the modified checksuite; and

deploying the modified checksuite to the two or more machines previously selected.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein editing the checksuite further comprises:

receiving a request to select one or more individual checks within the checksuite;

selecting the one or more requested individual checks;

receiving a modification of at least one parameter of the one or more selected individual checks;

receiving a request to save the one or more individual checks as modified; and

saving the one or more modified individual checks.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a request to deploy the checksuite containing the one or more modified individual checks to the two or more previously selected machines; and

deploying the checksuite containing the one or more modified individual checks to the one or more previously selected machines.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, to execute the instructions, the instructions causing the processor;

to receive commands identifying a checksuite from a web browser, wherein the checksuite includes one or more individual checks, each check being configured to monitor a parameter of an operating system or a software program that runs on an operating system, wherein the checksuite includes first individual checks that monitor parameters of a first operating system and second individual checks that monitor parameters of a second operating system that is different from the first operating system, and wherein the first individual checks monitor the parameters of the first operating system concurrent to the second individual checks monitoring the parameters of the second operating system,

to select the identified checksuite, wherein an original version of the checksuite having been deployed to two or more previously selected machines having different operating systems, and wherein subsequent to being deployed to the two or more previously selected machines, the checksuite was customized for a first machine of the two or more previously selected machines, a customized version of the checksuite having one or more customizations, the customizations corresponding to checks that differ from checks in the original version of the checksuite,

to edit the checksuite based on the commands received from the web browser, the editing including at least one of removing an existing individual check from the checksuite, modifying the existing individual check, or adding a new individual check to the checksuite, and

to simultaneously deploy the edited checksuite to the first machine, which includes the first operating system, and to a second machine that includes the second operating system, wherein the first machine and the second machine, respectively, are each one of the two or more previously selected machines or one or more additional machines, and wherein deploying the edited checksuite to the first machine preserves the one or more customizations.

30. An apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the instructions cause the processor to edit the checksuite by performing at least one of adding one or more new individual checks to the checksuite, deleting one or more individual checks from the checksuite, or modifying one or more individual checks within the checksuite.

31. An apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to select the one or more additional machines to receive the edited checksuite, and to deploy the edited checksuite to the newly selected machines.

32. An apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to de-select at least one of the two or more machines previously selected, and to remove the edited checksuite from the deselected machines.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive a command to select the checksuite, and to receive a command to edit the checksuite.