Network system analysis

• US 7,778,804 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Richard, Christodoulou, Athena, Tofts, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alhija; Saif A
• Application Number:
  US10/299,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,828 Days
• Field of Search: 703/22
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 Round trip delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0083 Network planning or design; Modelling of planned or existing networks

Abstract

Apparatus for producing an electronic model of a communications network or system having at least one host and a plurality of nodes connected thereto, directly or otherwise, the apparatus comprising means for obtaining data relating to at least some of the nodes and/or the host and means for creating an electronic model of the system or network using the data. The apparatus comprises a trusted computer host for use in analysing the network. The trusted computer host comprises means for detecting nodes on the network. As nodes are detected, sampling probes are inserted at each such node wherever possible. The probes take measurements at the respective nodes and return the resultant data to the trusted computer host. For a case where it is not possible to insert a probe at a detected node, the trusted computer host comprises means for performing traffic analysis and obtaining a profile of behavior between that node and the network host. The data received from the probes and the traffic analysis data is used by model simulation means in the trusted computer host to create a model of the network.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing an electronic model of a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a data collection system for obtaining data relating to probes inserted at a plurality of first network nodes and using the probes to obtain network data for those nodes,

a traffic analysis arrangement for analysing, from an external location, traffic to and from one or more second nodes in which probes are not inserted;

using the traffic analysis to calculate at least one predefined parameter; and

using the at least one parameter to define a probability distribution representing a behaviour profile between the second nodes and the external location; and

modelling apparatus for creating an electronic model of said network by combining said data collected from the first nodes and the behaviour profile.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the model may be translated into a plurality of representations for differing analysis purposes.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, being arranged to determine presence of and identifying nodes in the network and to insert sampling probes at said identified nodes in parts of the network for taking measurements therefrom.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data returned from either the sampling nodes or the traffic analysis is used to construct a model of the network, which may be simulated and/or translated into some other format for analysis.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, arranged to supply live or real-time nodal data to the modelling apparatus so that the model can be updated to reflect a current state of the network.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a system for running the model in super real time to facilitate one or more of fault analysis, fault/Qos failure, and capacity planning.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising analysis apparatus for analysing the model and for providing information relating to problems identified within the network, future capacity requirements, and the effect of any future system load changes.

8. A method of modeling a network comprising the steps of:

inserting probes at a plurality of first network nodes and using the probes to obtain network data for those nodes;

analysing, from an external location, traffic to and from one or more second nodes in which probes are not inserted;

using the traffic analysis to calculate at least one predefined parameter and using the at least one parameter to define a probability, distribution representing a behaviour profile between the second nodes and the external location; and

combining the data collected from the first nodes and the behaviour profile to create a model of the network.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of running the model in super-real time.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the model is analysed to provide information relating to problems identified with the network, future capacity requirements, and the effect of any future system load changes.