Cross-Correlated Log Timelines for Multi-Asset IT Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face difficulties in efficiently diagnosing and remediating issues across multiple IT assets due to overwhelming log data and the need for expertise in various functional areas, making it challenging to identify the root cause of complex problems.
Innovation Solution
A log analysis tool that generates a cross-correlated multi-node log timeline by mapping raw log entries to descriptive labels, allowing for the consolidation and visualization of relevant log patterns across multiple IT assets, facilitating efficient issue diagnosis and remediation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If raw log data from multiple IT assets is collected and analyzed, then comprehensive issue diagnosis is achieved, but the complexity and difficulty of analysis increases due to overwhelming data volume and requirement for functional area expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments log data by functional area (e.g., networking, storage, computing) and organizes it into separate functional area logs. This segmentation allows the system to manage and analyze large volumes of log data from multiple IT assets by breaking them down into manageable functional categories, reducing the complexity of analysis while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a log timeline as an intermediary structure that correlates events across different functional area logs and IT assets. The log timeline acts as a mediator that synthesizes information from multiple sources, presenting a unified view of events over time without requiring analysts to manually correlate data across functional areas, thus reducing analysis complexity.
2Measurement precision
If detailed analysis of logs from multiple functional areas is performed, then root cause identification is improved, but the time required for analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization of log data into functional area logs and generation of log timelines before actual issue analysis. By pre-organizing and pre-correlating log data across functional areas and assets, the system prepares the data structure in advance, so that when issues arise, analysts can directly query the pre-processed log timelines rather than manually analyzing raw logs, significantly reducing analysis time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors and tracks events across functional areas, automatically updating the log timeline as events occur. This continuous feedback loop allows the system to maintain an up-to-date correlated view of events, enabling faster diagnosis by presenting analysts with already-correlated information rather than requiring manual correlation during analysis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cross-correlation of log patterns across multiple IT assets is implemented, then comprehensive issue diagnosis is enabled, but the device complexity and expertise requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal log timeline structure that can handle multiple functional areas (networking, storage, computing) and multiple IT assets simultaneously. This universal structure provides a single correlated view that works across all functional areas and assets, making the system versatile for comprehensive cross-functional diagnosis without requiring separate analysis mechanisms for each functional area.
Solution Approach 2:
The log timeline serves as a universal intermediary that mediates between different functional areas and IT assets. It provides a standardized framework for correlating events across diverse systems, abstracting away the complexity of individual functional areas and assets while maintaining the ability to perform comprehensive cross-correlation analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises at least one processing device configured to determine a set of one or more log patterns to utilize for scanning a set of logs associated with one or more information technology assets, a given one of the log patterns comprising a mapping between (i) at least a portion of a given raw log entry and (ii) a given descriptive textual label representing content of the given raw log entry. The at least one processing device is also configured to scan the set of logs associated with the one or more information technology assets to identify instances of the determined set of log patterns, to generate a log timeline of the identified instances of the determined set of log patterns, and to utilize the generated log timeline to cross-correlate the identified instances of the determined set of log patterns for the one or more information technology assets.