Identifying and analyzing network configuration differences
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- mapping, by a data processing machine, entities of a first network model to a second network model, the second network model having a different arrangement of entities than the first network model, and the mapping establishes a correspondence between corresponding entities in each model,identifying, by the machine, added, removed, and matched entities based on the mapping,comparing, by the machine, the matched entities to identify modified entities having one or more configuration differences, andreporting, by the machine, configuration differences between the first and second network models based on the added, removed, and modified entities,wherein;
each of the first and second network models provides a high-fidelity representation of the actual network, and includes representations of physical devices and links between the devices,the mapping includes a sequence of refinements of objects in each of the first and second network models,the sequence of refinements correspond to mapping to different network entities,each refinement is based on a set of rules associated with the network entity corresponding to the refinement,the mapping at each refinement includes providing a label to each network object associated with the network entity,combining each label from each refinement of the sequence of refinements to identify each network object by a composite label, andidentifying the matched entities in each of the first and second network models as those having the same composite label.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A contextual and semantic analysis of network entities facilitates a mapping and comparison of the entities between network models. The system includes a plurality of refine handler and match handler pairs that use rules that are specific to the type of network entities being analyzed. The refine handler analyzes the network model to identify the entities for which its rules apply, and the match handler processes these identified entities to establish a pairing between corresponding entities in each model. A sequence of refine-match processes are applied to the network models, typically in accordance with a hierarchy of rules until each entity is identified as a matched, added, or removed entity. A difference handler processes the identified pairings to provide a difference analysis that facilitates a meaningful interpretation of the configuration changes, and a user interface provides an interactive environment to view the differences from different perspectives.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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mapping, by a data processing machine, entities of a first network model to a second network model, the second network model having a different arrangement of entities than the first network model, and the mapping establishes a correspondence between corresponding entities in each model, identifying, by the machine, added, removed, and matched entities based on the mapping, comparing, by the machine, the matched entities to identify modified entities having one or more configuration differences, and reporting, by the machine, configuration differences between the first and second network models based on the added, removed, and modified entities, wherein; each of the first and second network models provides a high-fidelity representation of the actual network, and includes representations of physical devices and links between the devices, the mapping includes a sequence of refinements of objects in each of the first and second network models, the sequence of refinements correspond to mapping to different network entities, each refinement is based on a set of rules associated with the network entity corresponding to the refinement, the mapping at each refinement includes providing a label to each network object associated with the network entity, combining each label from each refinement of the sequence of refinements to identify each network object by a composite label, and identifying the matched entities in each of the first and second network models as those having the same composite label. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a plurality of identification modules, each identification module being configured to identify select matching entities of a first network model and a second network model, based on rules that are specific to the select entities, the second network model having a different arrangement of entities than the first network model, and the identification module establishes a correspondence between corresponding entities in each model, and a control engine that is configured to selectively enable each identification module in a sequence that effects an identification of each of the entities of the first network model and the second network model, and a difference processor that is configured to compare entities having corresponding identifications in each of the first and second network models, to determine configuration differences between corresponding entities of the first and second network models, wherein each of the first and second network models provides a high-fidelity representation of the actual network, and includes representations of physical devices and links between the devices, identifying select matching entities includes a sequence of refinements of objects in each of the first and second network models, the sequence of refinements correspond to mapping to different network entities, each refinement is based on a set of rules associated with the network entity corresponding to the refinement, and the mapping at each refinement includes; providing a label to each network object associated with the network entity, combining each label from each refinement of the sequence of refinements to identify each network object by a composite label, and identifying the matching entities in each of the first and second network models as those having the same composite label. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification