Dynamic Monitoring Agent Configuration via Network Traffic Pattern Matching

Solution Overview

Problem

Designing and configuring monitoring applications for distributed applications executed in containers is challenging due to high dynamism, complex topologies, and the difficulty in determining which services are available for monitoring and how they should be monitored.

Innovation Solution

The process involves obtaining network-traffic pattern specifications associated with monitoring agents, comparing these patterns to network traffic data, and dynamically adding or adjusting monitoring agents based on matches detected in the traffic data to ensure appropriate monitoring of services in multi-container applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If monitoring applications are designed for distributed applications in containers, then monitoring capability is provided, but device complexity increases due to high dynamism and complex topologies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discovers services by analyzing network traffic patterns and self-configures monitoring agents without manual intervention. The monitoring system inspects network traffic, identifies service patterns, and dynamically deploys monitoring agents based on detected traffic characteristics, enabling the system to monitor itself and adapt to changing topologies autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts monitoring parameters based on detected network traffic patterns. When specific traffic patterns indicating service presence are detected, the system changes monitoring parameters by deploying appropriate monitoring agents with specific configurations tailored to the detected service type, allowing adaptive monitoring without manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If manual configuration of monitoring agents is used, then monitoring is customized, but ease of operation decreases due to difficulty in determining available services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring customizationVSAvoidservice detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discovers services by analyzing network traffic patterns and self-configures monitoring agents without manual intervention. The monitoring system inspects network traffic, identifies service patterns, and dynamically deploys monitoring agents based on detected traffic characteristics, enabling the system to monitor itself and adapt to changing topologies autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of network traffic patterns to identify service presence before deploying monitoring agents. By pre-inspecting traffic and matching it against known service patterns, the system prepares and configures monitoring agents in advance, eliminating the need for manual service discovery and configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic monitoring agent deployment is implemented, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases due to high-frequency provisioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring adaptabilityVSAvoidprovisioning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discovers services by analyzing network traffic patterns and self-configures monitoring agents without manual intervention. The monitoring system inspects network traffic, identifies service patterns, and dynamically deploys monitoring agents based on detected traffic characteristics, enabling the system to monitor itself and adapt to changing topologies autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of network traffic patterns to identify service presence before deploying monitoring agents. By pre-inspecting traffic and matching it against known service patterns, the system prepares and configures monitoring agents in advance, eliminating the need for manual service discovery and configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10523540B2Display method of exchanging messages among users in a group

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 CA TECH INC

AI summary

Provided is a process, including: obtaining a plurality of network-traffic pattern specifications; obtaining network traffic data captured as the network traffic data is leaving from, arriving to, or looping back at a network interface of a computing device; comparing the plurality of network-traffic pattern specifications to the network traffic data; detecting based on the comparing, a match between at least a portion of the network traffic data and a matching network-traffic pattern specification among the plurality of network-traffic pattern specifications; and causing adding or adjusting one or more instances of one or more monitoring agents monitoring the instance of a service based on the detected match and the respective monitoring agent or monitoring agent configuration setting associated with the matching network-traffic pattern specification.