Access Point Loop Root Cause Detection via Upstream Event Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems require manual troubleshooting to identify the root cause of networking loops, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, leading to extended network downtime.
Innovation Solution
A network management system (NMS) correlates network data from access points and upstream devices to automatically determine the root cause of networking loops and perform remedial actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual troubleshooting is used to identify the root cause of networking loops, then the troubleshooting process can be performed with existing simple tools, but it is time-consuming and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The network management system automatically performs troubleshooting and root cause analysis without requiring manual intervention. The system correlates network events from multiple devices, identifies networking loops, determines root causes, and executes remediation actions autonomously, enabling the network to self-diagnose and self-heal
Solution Approach 2:
The network management system acts as an intermediary between multiple network devices (access points, switches, routers). It collects and correlates network events from these devices, processes the information to identify networking loops and their root causes, and coordinates remediation actions across the network infrastructure
2Productivity
If manual troubleshooting procedures are implemented, then the system requires minimal automation resources, but the troubleshooting accuracy and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The network management system performs multiple functions including event collection from various network devices, correlation of network events, identification of networking loops, root cause analysis, and execution of remediation actions. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tools and manual processes into a single automated system
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors network events, correlates them in real-time, and uses the correlation results to identify networking loops and their root causes. The feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust its analysis and execute remediation actions based on the identified issues, improving troubleshooting speed and accuracy
3Reliability
If automated root cause analysis is implemented, then troubleshooting accuracy improves, but the complexity of the network management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated analysis system is segmented into distinct functional modules: event collection module that gathers network events from multiple devices, correlation module that processes and correlates events, analysis module that identifies networking loops and root causes, and remediation module that executes corrective actions. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing functions into manageable, independent components
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are described for determining a root cause of a networking loop that occurred at one or more access points. The techniques include a network management system (NMS) configured to obtain information of a plurality of network devices that indicate a plurality of network events comprising at least a networking loop event that occurred at an access point of the plurality of network devices and one or more network events that occurred at an upstream device to the access point; determine, based on correlating the plurality of network events, whether the one or more network events that occurred at the upstream device is a root cause of the networking loop event; and perform, based on determining that the one or more network events that occurred at the upstream device is a root cause of the networking loop event, an action to remedy the networking loop event.