AUTOMATING MONITORING USING CONFIGURATION EVENT TRIGGERS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20150350015A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clemm, Ludwig Alexander, Dec, Wojciech
• Granted Patent: US 9,531,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/062 related to network traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss

Abstract

An example method for automating monitoring using configuration event triggers in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a change request for a configuration change, creating a change impact monitor according to a profile associated with the configuration change, taking a first snapshot of performance indicators when the configuration change is applied, taking a second snapshot of the performance indicators a predetermined duration after applying the configuration change, and generating a change impact notification describing the first snapshot and the second snapshot. The profile can specify the performance indicators for the configuration change. A change agent that creates the change impact monitor may also be invoked. In some embodiments, the method can further include receiving a soak command, and taking a third snapshot of the performance indicators before applying the configuration change.

Claims

1. A method executed by a network device in a network, the method comprising:

receiving a change request for a configuration change;

creating a change impact monitor according to a profile associated with the configuration change;

taking a first snapshot of performance indicators when the configuration change is applied;

taking a second snapshot of the performance indicators a predetermined duration after applying the configuration change; and

generating a change impact notification describing the first snapshot and the second snapshot.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a query at an analytics engine in the network device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking a change agent, wherein the change agent creates the change impact monitor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile specifies the performance indicators for the configuration change.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the configuration change comprises a change to an access control list (ACL), wherein the profile specifies performance indicator as comprising a number of incoming packets, a number of outgoing packets, and a number of packet drops at each interface on which the ACL is configured in the network device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising starting a timer after taking the first snapshot, wherein the second snapshot is taken when the timer expires, wherein the timer is configured for the predetermined duration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined duration is specified in the profile.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a soak command; and

taking a third snapshot of the performance indicators before applying the configuration change.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the change request is associated with a soaking policy comprising an instruction to persist change if soaking results in performance improvement.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the change request is received at the network device from a management application, wherein the network device transmits the change impact notification to the management application.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the change impact notification includes times at which the first snapshot and the second snapshot were taken and an identifier of the configuration change.

12. Non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a change request for a configuration change;

creating a change impact monitor according to a profile associated with the configuration change;

taking a first snapshot of performance indicators when the configuration change is applied;

taking a second snapshot of the performance indicators a predetermined duration after applying the configuration change; and

generating a change impact notification describing the first snapshot and the second snapshot.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise invoking a change agent, wherein the change agent creates the change impact monitor.

14. The media of claim 12, wherein the profile specifies the performance indicators for the configuration change.

15. The media of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise starting a timer after taking the first snapshot, wherein the second snapshot is taken when the timer expires, wherein the timer is configured for the predetermined duration.

16. The media of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a soak command; and

taking a third snapshot of the performance indicators before applying the configuration change.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element for storing data; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the memory element cooperate, such that the apparatus is configured for;

receiving a change request for a configuration change;

creating a change impact monitor according to a profile associated with the configuration change;

taking a first snapshot of performance indicators when the configuration change is applied;

taking a second snapshot of the performance indicators a predetermined duration after applying the configuration change; and

generating a change impact notification describing the first snapshot and the second snapshot.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further configured for invoking a change agent, wherein the change agent creates the change impact monitor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further configured for starting a timer after taking the first snapshot, wherein the second snapshot is taken when the timer expires, wherein the timer is configured for the predetermined duration.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further configured for:

receiving a soak command; and

taking a third snapshot of the performance indicators before applying the configuration change.