Method and system for providing operator guidance in network and systems management
First Claim
1. A method for managing a network, comprising the steps of:
- retrieving network fault event information for a target node;
retrieving network topology information for the target node and enhancing the network fault event information with the network topology information;
retrieving past network configuration change information comprising changes made to the target node to correct past fault events based on enhanced network fault event information;
correlating the enhanced network fault event information with configuration changes that were performed to correct similar past fault events from the past network configuration change information for the target node;
creating and storing a set of network operation guidance rules based on correlated past network configuration change information, wherein said guidance rules include a set of policies for governing when a corrective action may be taken automatically; and
displaying said configuration changes according to a frequency in which each configuration change was used in the past network configuration change information to correct similar past fault events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An operator guidance system is provided for an administrator managing a computer network such as a distributed computer system. Fault events reported by a fault management system in the network are enhanced to include topology information about other nodes (such as neighbor nodes, path nodes and/or service nodes) that may have been responsible for the fault. The enhanced events are correlated with configuration commands used in the past to correct faults. A set of guidance rules are developed based on the actions that were taken by the operator in handling previous faults of a similar nature. The guidance rules can be displayed to the administrator to facilitate network fault resolution. Using a set of predefined policies, some of the corrective actions can be performed automatically.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing a network, comprising the steps of:
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retrieving network fault event information for a target node; retrieving network topology information for the target node and enhancing the network fault event information with the network topology information; retrieving past network configuration change information comprising changes made to the target node to correct past fault events based on enhanced network fault event information; correlating the enhanced network fault event information with configuration changes that were performed to correct similar past fault events from the past network configuration change information for the target node; creating and storing a set of network operation guidance rules based on correlated past network configuration change information, wherein said guidance rules include a set of policies for governing when a corrective action may be taken automatically; and
displaying said configuration changes according to a frequency in which each configuration change was used in the past network configuration change information to correct similar past fault events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for managing a network, comprising the steps of:
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creating one or more enhanced network fault event data structures comprising;
at least one network node;
a problem code;
an adjacent node to said network node; and
one or more path nodes in a routing path of said network node;correlating the enhanced network fault event data to past network configuration change information comprising changes made to the target node to correct similar past fault events; and creating and storing a set of network management guidance rules based on the correlated network fault event data and past network configuration change information, wherein said guidance rules include a set of policies for governing when a corrective action may be taken automatically; and displaying said configuration changes according to a frequency in which each configuration change was used in the past network configuration change information to correct similar past fault events. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for managing a network, comprising the steps of:
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fault management interface means for retrieving network fault event information for a target node; configuration information interface means for retrieving network topology information for the target node; event enhancer means for enhancing the network fault event information with network topology information for the target node; information correlation means for retrieving past network configuration change information comprising changes made to the target mode to correct past fault events based on enhanced network fault event information and correlating the enhanced network fault event information with configuration changes that were performed to correct similar past fault events from the past network configuration change information for the target node;
a guidance builder means for creating and storing a set of network management guidance rules based on the correlated network fault event data and past network configuration change information and for displaying said configuration changes according to a frequency in which each configuration change was used in the past network configuration change information to correct similar past fault events, wherein said guidance rules include a set of policies for governing when a corrective action may be taken automatically. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product comprising a computer useable device having computer useable program code for managing a computer network, said computer program product including computer useable program code to perform the steps of:
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retrieving network fault event information for a target node; retrieving network topology information for the target node that enhances the network fault event information; retrieving past network configuration change information comprising changes made to the target mode to correct past fault events based on enhanced network fault event information; correlating the enhanced network fault event information with configuration changes that were performed to correct similar past fault events from the past network configuration change information for the target node; and creating and storing a set of network operation guidance rules based on correlated past network configuration change information, wherein said guidance rules include a set of policies for governing when a corrective action may be taken automatically; and displaying said configuration changes according to a frequency in which each configuration change was used in the past network configuration change information to correct similar past fault events.
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Specification