Hosted Computing Application Topology Mapping via System Call Interception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Application Performance Management (APM) and Network Performance Management (NPM) solutions are inadequate for hosted computing environments, providing limited visibility into computing infrastructure and being application-language specific, which complicates performance and security management in dynamic, multi-language, and multi-tool environments.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising agents installed on hosts to capture system events, a collection and analysis engine to process these events, and a presentation system to provide a graphical user interface for application topology mapping and performance metric visualization, offering an end-to-end view of applications and their infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bytecode instrumentation is used to provide application performance metrics, then visibility into application software issues is improved, but indirect visibility into computing infrastructure and limited support for multiple programming languages occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (performance monitoring agent) that sits between the application and the monitoring system. This agent intercepts system calls and provides performance data without requiring bytecode instrumentation of the application itself, thereby supporting multiple programming languages and platforms while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of bytecode instrumentation (modifying application code) with a system call interception mechanism that monitors applications at the operating system level. This substitution enables universal monitoring across different programming languages without requiring language-specific instrumentation
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bytecode instrumentation techniques are used for different programming languages, then coverage of diverse application components is improved, but developer and administrator overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal performance monitoring solution that uses a single system call interception technique to monitor applications written in different programming languages. The performance monitoring agent performs multiple functions (CPU monitoring, memory monitoring, I/O monitoring) through a unified mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple language-specific instrumentation techniques and reducing management overhead
3Measurement precision
If NPM solutions capture network communications, then visibility at network communication layer is improved, but visibility into applications and system infrastructure is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring approach into multiple layers: network layer monitoring (for communication patterns) and system call layer monitoring (for application and infrastructure details). By dividing the monitoring function across these layers, the system achieves both network communication visibility and detailed application/infrastructure insights without losing information
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and graphical user interfaces for application topology mapping in hosted computing environments. In one embodiment, for example, a computer graphical user interface comprises an application topology map of an application deployed on a plurality of a hosts in a hosted computing environment, the application topology map comprising a plurality of nodes and edges there between, the plurality of nodes representing a plurality of identified application components of the application, the edges representing identified logical dependencies between the plurality of application components.