Contextual Clustering of Granular Configuration Item Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complexity in modern IT systems makes it difficult to identify and manage granular changes in configuration items, leading to issues during updates and increased mean time to resolution (MTTR), which can result in economic damage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for clustering configuration items based on contextual information, such as host, time, location, and environment, using a database and analysis program to group similar changes into IT actions, with optional use of a knowledgebase to identify clusters and further analyze ungrouped changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If configuration items are tracked individually with detailed monitoring, then change detection precision is improved, but analysis complexity increases making it difficult to identify problem sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent groups multiple granular configuration items into composite configuration items (CIs) that represent higher-level IT actions. For example, multiple individual configuration changes are bundled into a single composite CI representing an update action, making it easier to analyze and identify problem sources without losing track of individual changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the analysis process into multiple levels: first analyzing composite CIs at a high level to identify potential problem areas, then drilling down to individual granular configuration items only when necessary. This hierarchical segmentation reduces overall analysis complexity while maintaining detection precision.
2Loss of information
If all granular configuration changes are presented to administrators for review, then complete visibility of changes is achieved, but time to identify problems increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple granular configuration changes are merged into composite CIs that provide a summarized view of IT actions. Administrators review fewer composite items rather than individual granular changes, significantly reducing review time while maintaining visibility through the composite representation that still captures all underlying changes.
Solution Approach 2:
Composite configuration items act as intermediaries between granular configuration changes and administrator review. The composite CIs translate detailed granular changes into a more manageable format for administration, reducing the time burden while preserving complete information about underlying changes.
3Ease of operation
If configuration items are grouped by content similarity, then related items are easily identified, but contextual relationships between items are lost
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration items are grouped into composite CIs based on contextual relationships such as which IT actions caused the changes, rather than just content similarity. This preserves the contextual information about why changes occurred together while still providing efficient grouping for analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of clustering changes to configuration items in an information technology (IT) system, including collecting changed configuration items executed on computer stations connected in a network implementing the information technology system, storing the collected configuration items in a database, analyzing contextual information related to the configuration items to identify clusters having similar characteristics, clustering the configuration items based on the identified clusters having similar characteristics, and assigning a descriptor to each cluster to identify it as an IT action.