AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF FUNCTIONAL DEFECTS AND PERFORMANCE BOTTLENECKS IN NETWORK DEVICES

• US 20090089619A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Hsiu-Ling, Huang, Kung-Shiuh
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A network device, such as a router or switch, has a CPU and a memory operable to receive, store and output computer code. The code includes device configuration files, traffic pattern files, and standard-behavior-output template files adapted for detecting network device functional defects and bottlenecks. The device is operable in a testing mode to act as either a Device Testing Doctor (DTD) or a Device Under Test (DUT), in which it loads into or accepts from a related, interconnected and similarly configured and operable network device selected ones of the device configurations, transmits to or receives from the other device selected ones of the input traffic patterns, compares its own output or that of the other device in response to the input traffic pattern with selected ones of the standard-behavior-output templates, and detects a network device defect or bottleneck in itself or in the other device based on the comparison.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a programmable central processing unit (CPU) and a memory operable to receive, store and output testing code, wherein;

the testing code comprises;

a plurality of network device configuration files;

a plurality of network traffic pattern files; and

,

one or more standard-behavior-output template files adapted for detecting network device functional defects and bottlenecks; and

,

the device is operable in a testing operation to;

load into or accept from a related, interconnected device selected ones of the network device configurations;

transmit to or receive from the related device selected ones of the input network traffic patterns;

compare its own output or that of the related device in response to the input traffic patterns with selected ones of the standard-behavior-output templates; and

,

detect a device defect or bottleneck in itself or the related device based on the comparison.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device and the related device are interconnected to each other through a computer network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the network comprises the internet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the testing operation of the device is initiated automatically or is selectably initiated by a user through a network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the user initiated testing operation is effected locally or from a remote location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is further operable upon detection of a device defect or bottleneck in itself or in the related device to transmit an advisory message to a selected recipient that includes the nature of the defect or bottleneck detected.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the device is further operable to transmit the advisory message on a real-time or a time-delayed basis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the testing code is permanently stored in the memory of the device and a memory of the related device at the time of their respective manufacture, or is loaded into the memory of the device and a memory of the related device by another network device immediately prior to commencement of the testing operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a Device Under Test (DUT) and is programmed with an initial configuration, and wherein an initial one of the device configurations corresponds to the initial DUT configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device and the related device comprise a pair of routers, a pair of switches, or a router and a switch.

11. A method, comprising:

interconnecting the device of claim 1 to another, related device within a computer network; and

,

using the device as a Device Testing Doctor (DTD) and the other device as a Device Under Test (DUT), testing the DUT with the DTD for functional defects and bottlenecks.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising reversing the roles of the two devices and testing the device for functional defects and bottlenecks with the other device.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a pair of interconnected, related network devices, each being operable in a testing operation to function as both a Device Testing Doctor (DTD) and a Device Under Test (DUT), each having a programmable central processing unit (CPU) and a memory operable to receive, store and output testing code;

storing testing code in each of the respective memories of the two devices, the testing code comprising;

network device configuration files;

network traffic pattern files; and

,

one or more standard-behavior-output template files adapted for detecting network device functional defects and bottlenecks; and

,

with one of the devices functioning as the DTD and the other device functioning as the DUT in the testing operation;

loading selected ones of the device configurations from the DTD to the DUT;

transmitting selected ones of the input traffic patterns from the DTD to the DUT;

comparing the output of the DUT in response to the input traffic patterns with selected ones of the standard-behavior-output templates; and

,

detecting a network device defect or bottleneck in the DUT based on the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sequentially repeating the last three steps of the method until a defect or a bottleneck in the DUT is detected or until each of the input traffic patterns has been transmitted to the DUT while respectively configured in accordance with each of the device configurations.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a first advisory message to a selected recipient upon the detection of a defect or a bottleneck in the DUT, the first advisory message being transmitted by the device detecting the defect or bottleneck and including the nature of the defect or bottleneck detected.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a second advisory message to the selected recipient upon the completion of the testing operation and a failure to detect a defect or a bottleneck in the DUT, the second advisory message being transmitted by the DTD and including the information that the testing operation has been performed and that no defect or bottleneck was detected in the DUT.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the storing of the testing code comprises permanently storing at least a portion of the code in the respective memories of the two devices at the time of their respective manufacture, or loading at least a portion of the code into the respective memories of the two devices with another network device immediately prior to commencement of the testing operation.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the two devices are interconnected to each other through a computer network, and wherein the loading of the device configurations and the transmitting of the input traffic patterns are effected through the network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the testing operation is initiated automatically by the DTD or is selectably initiated by a user through the network.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the user initiated testing operation is effected locally or from a remote location.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a programmable central processing unit (CPU);

means for receiving, storing and outputting testing code, the testing code comprising a plurality of network apparatus configuration files, a plurality of network traffic pattern files and one or more standard-behavior-output template files adapted for detecting network apparatus functional defects and bottlenecks;

means for loading into or accepting from a related, interconnected apparatus selected ones of the network apparatus configurations via a network;

means for transmitting to or receiving from the related apparatus selected ones of the input network traffic patterns via the network;

means for comparing the output of the apparatus or that of the related apparatus in response to the input traffic patterns with selected ones of the standard-behavior-output templates; and

,

means for detecting a defect or a bottleneck in the apparatus or the related apparatus based on the comparison.