Network configuration predictive analytics engine

Abstract

A mechanism associated with a network management system (NMS) interprets and predicts the impact on a network of a network configuration change proactively. By providing pre-configuration analysis in this manner, a network administrator can determine the potential effect of the proposed configuration change in advance of actually inserting a configuration command in the network that might otherwise have unforeseen and damaging consequences. The technique is implemented using a predictive analytics engine that receives a proposed network command and, using a current network topology, executes the command against one or more NMS algorithms to verify that the command can be implemented safely.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]This disclosure relates generally to network management tools.[0003]2. Background of the Related Art[0004]Maintaining the proper operation of various types of computerized services is usually an important but difficult task. Service administrators are often called upon to react to a service failure by identifying the problem which caused the failure and then taking steps to correct the problem. To avoid wasting resources investigating the wrong problems, administrators must make accurate assessments as to the causes of failures. Because substantial time and resources are often required, administrators must also make accurate decisions as to when to allocate resources to the tasks of identifying problems and fixing them.[0005]A number of network management tools are available to assist administrators in completing these tasks. Network management systems discover, model and maintain knowledge bases of network devices and their c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]This disclosure describes a technique and system to provide a predictive mechanism that interprets and predicts the impact on the network of a network configuration change proactively, preferably based on one or more of: an awareness of the network topology, configuration command history, and network analytics. By providing pre-configuration analysis in this manner, a network administrator can determine the potential effect of the proposed configuration change in advance of actually inserting a configuration command in the network that might otherwise have unforeseen and damaging consequences. In a representative embodiment, a predictive analytics engine (PAE) receives and stores a current network status. That status is updated periodically and continuously such that a current view of the network topology is available to the engine. Following a network incident, a proposed configuration command is entered in the predictive analytics engine and an analysis executed. If, based on the analysis, the engine determines that the configuration command may be executed safely, an indication to this effect is provided and / or the command is issued to the affected device or system. The predictive analytics engine then receives an update from the network device and validates that the correction (as represented by the configuration command) was successful. If, however, based on the analysis the engine determines that the configuration command may not be executed safely, the engine alerts the administrator and / or makes a recommendation about an alternative course of action to address the incident.

Problems solved by technology

Maintaining the proper operation of various types of computerized services is usually an important but difficult task.

The problem with this approach is that the corrective action itself may cause new problems.

When the corrective action itself causes new issues, further operational costs and network downtime often result.

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