GUI Network Management with Topology Mapping and Path Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network troubleshooting is complex and inefficient due to reliance on traditional text-based command-line interfaces, requiring extensive manual effort and varying CLI commands across different network devices, which is error-prone, time-consuming, and difficult to master, especially for junior engineers.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) for network management that maps network devices and paths, allowing for the selection of path types, automatic discovery of AB network paths, comparison with golden paths, and visualization of network topology, enabling standardized troubleshooting and automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional text-based CLI methods are used for network troubleshooting, then network engineers can access and manage network devices, but the process becomes error-prone, time-consuming, and requires extensive manual effort and programming skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a graphical user interface (GUI) as an intermediary between the network engineer and the network devices. This GUI automatically generates and executes CLI commands, parses command outputs, and presents results in a visual format, eliminating the need for engineers to manually type commands and interpret text-based output, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated troubleshooting workflows that self-execute without requiring manual intervention for each step. The GUI automatically discovers network topology, generates appropriate troubleshooting commands based on the visualized topology, executes them across multiple devices, and synthesizes results, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous human operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different CLI commands and formats from various network device vendors are supported, then comprehensive network device compatibility is achieved, but the complexity of mastering and implementing these commands increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal GUI-based troubleshooting system that can interface with multiple different network device vendors and models through a single unified interface. The system automatically adapts to different device types by selecting appropriate commands and formats based on the discovered network topology, eliminating the need for engineers to learn multiple vendor-specific command sets while maintaining broad device compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The GUI acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the diverse network device interfaces. It automatically translates user-friendly graphical interactions into the appropriate vendor-specific CLI commands, handles different output formats, and presents unified results, thereby masking the underlying complexity of multiple device protocols from the user
3Reliability
If extensive training is provided to junior network engineers on traditional troubleshooting methods, then their troubleshooting capability improves, but training costs and time investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated troubleshooting system performs complex diagnostic workflows automatically without requiring users to have extensive prior knowledge. The GUI guides users through visual topology exploration and automatically executes sophisticated troubleshooting sequences, allowing junior engineers to perform advanced troubleshooting tasks immediately without years of training while maintaining high reliability
4Measurement precision
If manual command execution and data parsing is performed for each network device, then detailed network diagnostics can be obtained, but the process becomes strenuous and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The GUI serves as an intermediary that automatically executes diagnostic commands across network devices, parses the raw output data, and presents processed results in a visual format. This maintains diagnostic accuracy by systematically gathering detailed network information while eliminating the manual effort and errors associated with hand-running commands and interpreting text output
Data Source
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AI summary
A system manages a network using a graphical user interface (GUI) that maps the network. The mapping includes a topology of network layers and includes the generation of a path through the network, which may use virtualization technology. The path may be an AB network path that is automatically discovered and may be compared with a golden path.