Keyword-Based Service Mapping for Network Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional remote network management platforms face challenges in efficiently discovering and mapping computing devices and software applications across managed networks due to their reliance on narrowly-tailored, rule-based discovery processes, which are inflexible and require frequent adaptations for different technology variants.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a keyword-based service mapping technique that identifies attributes of computing devices and software applications, generates a list of keywords, and searches files to define operational mappings without relying on predefined rules, allowing for more flexible and adaptive discovery across various technology environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rule-based discovery process is used to identify computing devices and software applications, then the discovery process can be structured and systematic, but the process becomes inflexible and requires frequent adaptations for different technology variants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of discovery from rule-based matching to keyword-based searching. Instead of using predefined rules that must be adapted for each technology variant, the system extracts keywords from configuration files and uses them as search terms, allowing the same discovery mechanism to work across diverse technology variants without modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The discovery process becomes self-adapting by automatically extracting keywords from the configuration files of computing devices and software applications. The system serves itself by generating its own search terms from the actual data it encounters, eliminating the need for external rule adaptations for different technology variants.
2Measurement precision
If narrowly-tailored rules are used for service mapping, then the mapping can be precise for specific technology variants, but the rules become cumbersome and require frequent updates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary extraction of keywords from configuration files during the discovery phase. These keywords are stored and reused as search terms in subsequent mapping operations, eliminating the need to re-analyze configuration files or update rules for each new mapping task.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyword-based approach creates a universal discovery and mapping mechanism that works across all technology variants. The same keyword extraction and searching process serves multiple functions: identifying devices, mapping relationships, and adapting to new technology variants, replacing the need for multiple tailored rule sets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a keyword-based service mapping technique is implemented, then the discovery process becomes more flexible and adaptable, but the search space across all files increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the relevant keywords from configuration files rather than searching through entire file contents. This extraction creates a condensed set of search terms that represent the essential identifying information, reducing the effective search space while maintaining discovery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The discovery process is segmented into distinct phases: keyword extraction from configuration files, keyword searching in target files, and mapping definition. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational effort on specific tasks at each phase rather than performing exhaustive searches across all files simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system is disposed within a computational instance of a remote network management platform associated with a managed network. The computing system (i) performs a discovery process that identifies attributes of computing devices and software applications disposed within the managed network; (ii) generates a list of keywords based on the identified attributes as stored, including a particular keyword associated with a first computing device or a first software application of those disposed within the managed network; (iii) searches for the particular keyword in one or more files from the managed network; (iv) determines that the particular keyword is included in a file associated with a second computing device or a second software application of those disposed within the managed network; and (v) defines an operational mapping between: (a) the first computing device or the first software application and (b) the second computing device or the second software application.