Simplified support of an isolated computer network

• US 8,307,069 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Skarström, Johan, Savo, Isak, Jaliff, Juan, Olausson, Martin, Alfredsson, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US12/600,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 702/186, 714/25
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes

Abstract

A method, a device and computer program products product for allowing performance related data to be obtained from an isolated computer network that includes a diagnostics collection function. Selections from a support user of nodes and plug-in modules associated with applications provided in the isolated computer network that are to be diagnosed are received by a autocollector file generating unit, which then provides at least one command file with instructions for the diagnostics collection function, including the user selected nodes and plug-in modules, and saves the provided data as an autocollector file that automatically makes the diagnostics collection function to apply the command file on the nodes and plug in modules when being activated.

Claims

1. A method for allowing performance related data to be obtained from an isolated computer network, that is not connected to other networks, and that includes a diagnostics collection function, the method comprising:

receiving from a support user selections of nodes and plug-in modules associated with applications provided in the isolated computer network that are to be diagnosed;

providing at least one command data file with instructions for the diagnostics collection function, including the support user selected nodes and plug-in modules;

saving the provided data file as an autocollector file that automatically makes the diagnostics collection function to apply the command file on the nodes and plug in modules when being activated in the isolated computer network; and

loading by an isolated network user the autocollector file into the isolated computer network and activating the autocollector file in the isolated computer network, thereby obtaining the performance related data from the isolated computer network.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending said autocollector file to a receiving entity associated with to the isolated computer network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving selections comprises receiving selections about at least one point in time when data is to be collected, the method further comprising:

providing the data corresponding to the time selections in the autocollector file.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving selections comprises receiving a selection to install the auto-collector file on a node in the isolated computer network, the method further comprising:

providing in the autocollector file an instruction to install the autocollector file on a node when being activated.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an instruction to present at least the location of result files from the diagnostics collection function for a user of the isolated computer network receiving the file so that these result files may be sent to the support user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving selections comprises receiving selections about a limited collection data file size and providing a limited collection data file size setting in the autocollector file in order to make the diagnostics collection function provide result files of said limited sizes.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving selections comprises receiving support user contact information and providing said support user contact information in the autocollector file.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing return message functionality in the autocollector file, which functionality may be any of a name, a link, an address.

9. A device for allowing performance related data to be obtained from an isolated computer network that is not connected to other networks and that includes a diagnostics collection function, the device comprising:

a support user interface for a support user to enter selections of nodes and plug-in modules associated with applications provided in the isolated computer network that are to be diagnosed; and

an autocollector file generating unit comprising a processor and arranged to provide at least one command data file with instructions for the diagnostics collection function, including the user selected nodes and plug-in modules, and to save the provided data file as an autocollector file that automatically makes the diagnostics collection function to apply the command file on the nodes and plug in modules when being activated in the isolated computer network by an isolated computer network user.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a communication unit, wherein the autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to order the communication unit to send said autocollector file to a receiving entity related to the isolated computer network.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the selections comprise selections about at least one point in time when data is to be collected and the autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to provide time data corresponding to the time selections in the autocollector file.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the selections comprise a selection to install the auto-collector file on a node in the isolated computer network and the autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to provide, in the autocollector file, an instruction to install said autocollector file on a node when being activated.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to provide an instruction to present at least the location of result files from the diagnostics collection function for a user of the isolated computer network receiving the file so that these result files may be sent to the support user.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the selections comprise selections about a limited collection data file size, and wherein the autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to provide a limited collection data file size setting in the autocollector file in order to make the diagnostics collection function provide result files of said limited sizes.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein said autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to receive support user contact information via said user interface and to provide said support user contact information in the autocollector file.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said autocollector file generating unit is further arranged to provide return message functionality in the autocollector file.

17. A computer program product for allowing performance related data to be obtained from an isolated computer network that is not connected to other networks and that includes a diagnostics collection function, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer program code recorded on the computer readable medium and to make a computer when said code is loaded into said computer carry out a method comprising;

receiving from a support user selections of nodes and plug-in modules associated with applications provided in the isolated computer network that are to be diagnosed;

providing at least one command data file with instructions for the diagnostics collection function, including the support user selected nodes and plug-in modules;

saving the provided data file as an autocollector file that automatically makes the diagnostics collection function to apply the command file on the nodes and plug in modules when being activated in the isolated computer network; and

loading by an isolated network user the autocollector file into the isolated computer network and activating the autocollector file in the isolated computer network, thereby obtaining the performance related data from the isolated computer network.

18. A computer program product for allowing performance related data to be obtained from an isolated computer network that is not connected to other networks and that includes a diagnostics collection function, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer program code recorded on the computer readable medium to make a computer when said code is loaded into said computer carry out a method comprising;

automatically identifying a diagnostics collection function, and

supplying at least one command file, which is provided in the computer program product and which identifies nodes and plug in modules of the isolated computer network that are to be diagnosed, to the identified diagnostics collection function when being activated in the isolated computer network by an isolated computer network user.