CMDB Alert Insight via Related CI Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional configuration management databases (CMDBs) lack the ability to effectively identify related configuration items (CIs) and determine how issues affect these related CIs, leading to difficulties in troubleshooting and resolving alerts.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that enables client instances to determine related CIs based on topological and alert group relationships, using a combined scoring system to identify CIs associated with a particular CI, and provides a graphical user interface to present frequency data of issues for both the particular and related CIs, facilitating root cause analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional CMDBs store and manage configuration items, then data storage capability is provided, but the ability to identify related CIs and analyze issue frequency is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CMDB system into distinct functional modules: a scoring module that calculates relationship scores between CIs, a determination module that identifies related CIs based on threshold scores, and an analysis module that computes issue frequency data. This segmentation allows the system to add sophisticated alert insight capabilities without overwhelming the overall system complexity, as each module handles a specific aspect of the problem independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing relationship scores between configuration items in the CMDB. These scores are computed in advance based on topological relationships and alert group relationships, so that when an alert occurs, the system can quickly determine related CIs without performing complex calculations at alert resolution time. This preliminary scoring mechanism enables rapid identification of related CIs and facilitates efficient root cause analysis.
2Measurement precision
If the CMDB identifies related CIs using topological and alert group relationships, then alert analysis capability is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the complex problem of CI relationship identification into a parameter-based scoring system. It defines specific parameters including topological relationship scores (based on hierarchical and connectivity relationships) and alert group relationship scores (based on historical alert co-occurrence). By changing the approach from qualitative relationship assessment to quantitative parameter measurement, the system achieves precise identification of related CIs while maintaining computational tractability through standardized scoring formulas.
3Productivity
If frequency data for issues is provided for multiple CIs, then troubleshooting effectiveness is improved, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the most relevant information for troubleshooting by focusing on issue frequency data specifically for alerts, incidents, changes, and problems related to the particular CI and its identified related CIs. Rather than providing all possible data about CIs, the system extracts and presents specifically the frequency data that helps distinguish root cause CIs from related but non-causal CIs. This selective extraction reduces data volume while maintaining troubleshooting effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing alerts in a client instance associated with a configuration management database (CMDB) platform is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a request identifying a particular CI and a particular alert; identifying related CIs from a plurality of CIs associated with the client instance based on the particular CI and the particular alert; identifying alerts, incidents (INTs), changes (CHGs), and problems (PRBs) of the client instance that are associated with either the particular CI or the related CIs; determining frequency data for the alerts, INTs, CHGs, and PRBs associated with the particular CIs and frequency data for the alerts, INTs, CHGs, and PRBs associated with the related CIs; and sending a response that includes the frequency data for the alerts, INTs, CHGs, and PRBs associated with the particular CIs to be presented alongside the frequency data for the alerts, INTs, CHGs, PRBs associated with the related CIs.