Network management system generating virtual network map and related methods
First Claim
1. A network management system for a network comprising a plurality of network devices, the network management system comprising:
- a display;
a memory; and
a processor coupled to said display and memory and configured tosend queries to the plurality of network devices,obtain responses from the plurality of network devices based upon the queries,determine a physical network map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses,establish connections with a group of the plurality of network devices,sample communications data, via the established connections, from the group of the plurality of network devices,perform correlation processing on the sampled communications data and based upon a network routing protocol,determine a virtual network topology map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, the established connections, and the correlation processing,store mapping data related to the determined physical network map and virtual network topology map in said memory, anddisplay an image on said display related to the stored mapping data, the image comprising virtual network elements from the virtual network topology map overlaid with associated physical network elements from the physical network map.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network management system is for a network having network devices. The network management system includes a display, a memory, and a processor coupled to the display and memory and configured to send queries to the network devices, obtain responses from the network devices based upon the queries, and determine a physical network map for the network devices based upon the responses. The processor is also configured to establish connections with some of the network devices, determine a virtual network map for the network devices based upon the responses and the established connections, store mapping data related to the determined physical network map and virtual network map in the memory, and display an image on the display related to the stored mapping data.
32 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A network management system for a network comprising a plurality of network devices, the network management system comprising:
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a display; a memory; and a processor coupled to said display and memory and configured to send queries to the plurality of network devices, obtain responses from the plurality of network devices based upon the queries, determine a physical network map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, establish connections with a group of the plurality of network devices, sample communications data, via the established connections, from the group of the plurality of network devices, perform correlation processing on the sampled communications data and based upon a network routing protocol, determine a virtual network topology map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, the established connections, and the correlation processing, store mapping data related to the determined physical network map and virtual network topology map in said memory, and display an image on said display related to the stored mapping data, the image comprising virtual network elements from the virtual network topology map overlaid with associated physical network elements from the physical network map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network management system for a network comprising a plurality of network devices, the network management system comprising:
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a display; a memory; and a processor coupled to said display and memory and configured to send management protocol messages to the plurality of network devices, obtain responses from the plurality of network devices based upon the management protocol messages, determine a physical network map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, establish connections with a group of the plurality of network devices, sample communications data, via the established connections, from the group of the plurality of network devices, perform correlation processing on the sampled communications data and based upon a network routing protocol for determining for each network device at least one virtual neighbor and an associated at least one virtual route, determine a virtual network topology map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, the established connections, and the correlation processing, store mapping data related to the determined physical network map and virtual network topology map in said memory, display an image on said display related to the stored mapping data, the image comprising a combined map image based upon both the physical network map and the virtual network topology map, and virtual network elements from the virtual network topology map overlaid with associated physical network elements from the physical network map, and detect at least one network event in the network, and determine potential changes to the mapping data resulting from the at least one network event. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a network management system for a network comprising a plurality of network devices, the method using a memory and processor coupled therewith and comprising:
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sending queries to the plurality of network devices; obtaining responses from the plurality of network devices based upon the queries; determining a physical network map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses; establishing connections with a group of the plurality of network devices; sampling communications data, via the established connections, from the group of the plurality of network devices; performing correlation processing on the sampled communications data and based upon a network routing protocol to determine the virtual network topology map; determining a virtual network topology map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, the established connections, and the correlation processing; storing mapping data related to the determined physical network map and virtual network topology map in the memory; and displaying an image on a display related to the stored mapping data, the image comprising virtual network elements from the virtual network topology map overlaid with associated physical network elements from the physical network map. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps for operating a network management system for a network comprising a plurality of network devices, the steps comprising:
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sending queries to the plurality of network devices; obtaining responses from the plurality of network devices based upon the queries; determining a physical network map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses; establishing connections with a group of the plurality of network devices; sampling communications data, via the established connections, from the group of the plurality of network devices; performing correlation processing on the sampled communications data and based upon a network routing protocol to determine the virtual network topology map; determining a virtual network topology map for the plurality of network devices based upon the responses, the established connections, and the correlation processing; storing mapping data related to the determined physical network map and virtual network topology map in the memory; and displaying an image on a display related to the stored mapping data, the image comprising virtual network elements from the virtual network topology map overlaid with associated physical network elements from the physical network map. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification