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Methods and apparatus for identifying the impact of changes in computer networks

  • US 9,065,738 B2
  • Filed: 10/24/2013
  • Issued: 06/23/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a processor configured to analyze configuration information collected from a plurality of devices in a computer network, and further configured to;

    determine whether a configuration change has occurred in a configuration of any of the devices based on the collected configuration information, wherein the configuration change of a device refers to a modification or alteration to the device'"'"'s software, hardware, or setting configuration;

    determine whether an operational issue exists for any of the devices based on the collected configuration information, wherein the operational issue refers to an indication of a problem condition that should be addressed by a system administrator or a condition that may be of interest to the system administrator, and wherein the operational issue relates to an improper or inefficient configuration, a component failure, a failure state, an overutilization of resources, or any combination thereof;

    determine whether any of the devices are not in compliance with operational policies based on the collected configuration information, wherein the operational policies refer to a collection of rules that the plurality of devices in the computer network are required or expected to follow; and

    wherein the determining of whether any of the devices are not in compliance with operational policies comprises;

    determine a number of operational policies that a device fails to comply with;

    determine a severity weight of each operation policy that the device fails to comply with;

    calculate a value based on a first severity weight of a first operation policy that the device fails to comply with;

    assign a first severity degree to the device in the event that the value is less than a first threshold;

    assign a second severity degree to the device in the event that the value is greater than a second threshold; and

    assign a third severity degree to the device in the event that the value is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold; and

    generate a visual data presentation that includes a representation of device configuration changes, operational issues, and policy compliance information for a group of devices in the computer network;

    wherein the representation of device configuration changes, operational issues, and policy compliance information for the group of devices in the computer network facilitates causal analysis between configuration changes, operational issues, or policy compliance information, or any combination thereof.

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