IT Network Representation with Auto-Discovery and Manual Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IT network management systems struggle to accurately represent and diagnose faults in networks that include both automatically discoverable active elements and non-discoverable passive elements, as existing auto-discovery tools cannot account for the physical-layer infrastructure, leading to difficulties in identifying the root cause of network issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and computer program product that utilize a network auto-discovery tool to create a logical representation of IT networks, including active elements, and manually insert representations of passive elements into this representation using a network-element editor, allowing for a combined logical model that accounts for both active and passive elements, enabling fault diagnosis down to the switching layer and identification of physical-layer elements responsible for faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If auto-discovery tools are used to create logical network representation, then automatically discoverable active elements can be represented, but passive elements that are not automatically discoverable cannot be included in the representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (manual editing interface and data model extension) that bridges the gap between automatically discovered active elements and passive elements that cannot be auto-discovered. This intermediary allows operators to manually add passive elements while maintaining the automated discovery framework, thus preserving information about both element types without compromising the automation extent.
2Productivity
If only active elements are included in the network representation, then the representation can be automatically generated, but fault diagnosis cannot identify physical-layer elements responsible for faults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining data models and structures that accommodate both active and passive elements before fault diagnosis is performed. The system prepares the comprehensive data model in advance, including placeholders and schemas for passive elements, so that when faults occur, the complete representation is already in place to enable precise fault location without requiring time-consuming post-facto adjustments.
3Measurement precision
If a comprehensive network representation including passive elements is created, then fault diagnosis accuracy improves, but the complexity of the representation system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network representation system into distinct modules: an automated discovery module for active elements, a manual editing module for passive elements, and an integrated data model that combines both. This segmentation allows each module to handle its specific element type with appropriate complexity, while the integration layer manages the combination, thereby improving fault diagnosis accuracy without overwhelming the system with monolithic complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of creating an IT-network representation including automatically discoverable active elements and not automatically discoverable, passive elements. A logical discoverable-elements representation of the IT network is produced, by running a network auto-discovery tool. The representation includes the automatically discoverable active elements and a discoverable-elements network topology. Representations of not automatically discoverable elements are manually inserted, by a user by means of a network-element editor, between automatically discovered elements into said discoverable-elements representation. Thereby a combined logical representation is created which models the IT network with its automatically discoverable elements and non automatically discoverable elements.