Decentralized Monitoring Agents Reduce Data Storage Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized monitoring solutions for computer systems face high Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) due to large data storage needs and complexity in maintaining monitoring data history, especially when dealing with varied infrastructure components and resistance to frequent code updates across different database, operating system, and hardware versions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a decentralized monitoring approach using monitoring agents that detect local system topology and store data locally, allowing for unified data providers and avoiding data replication, with content-driven updates that do not require changing the software stack, thus shifting OLAP capabilities from a centralized solution to local systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If centralized monitoring solution stores monitoring data history for many different computer systems, then comprehensive monitoring capability is improved, but data storage cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized monitoring function into distributed monitoring agents deployed at each computer system. Each agent independently stores and processes local monitoring data, eliminating the need for a single centralized storage system to handle all data from multiple systems. This segmentation reduces the data volume burden on any single storage infrastructure while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local monitoring agents that store and process monitoring data at each individual computer system rather than centrally. Each agent tailors its monitoring behavior to the specific topology and requirements of its local system, storing only relevant data locally. This local quality approach reduces overall data storage requirements while preserving the ability to monitor diverse computer systems effectively.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If centralized monitoring solution maintains monitoring data history for long period, then historical analysis capability is improved, but storage cost and data management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments long-term data retention across multiple distributed monitoring agents rather than requiring a single centralized system to maintain decades of historical data. Each agent manages its own data retention policy for its local system, which simplifies data management complexity while enabling long-term historical analysis across the entire infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of monitoring data at each local agent rather than maintaining a single centralized copy. This allows each agent to independently manage and retain historical data for its specific system, distributing the data management burden and enabling long-term retention without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monitoring code is updated frequently to support changes in database versions, operating systems, hardware, then adaptability to infrastructure changes is improved, but resistance to updates and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic content delivery where monitoring agents can receive updates to their monitoring capabilities without requiring code changes to the agent itself. The agents dynamically adapt to new database versions, operating systems, and hardware by receiving updated content from the server, allowing frequent infrastructure changes without resistance from operational teams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a content delivery mechanism as an intermediary between infrastructure changes and monitoring agents. Instead of directly updating agent code, the server delivers updated monitoring content through this intermediary layer, allowing agents to adapt to infrastructure changes smoothly without operational disruption or resistance.
4Quantity of substance
If decentralized monitoring agents store data locally, then data redundancy is reduced and TCO lowers, but need for unified data providers and content management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal content management framework that handles diverse data formats, topologies, and infrastructure types through a single standardized approach. The server provides unified data providers that work across different computer systems, reducing the need for system-specific management complexity while maintaining low data redundancy through decentralized storage.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, each of a plurality of computer systems to be monitored receives a monitoring solution agent code portion and a monitoring solution agent content portion, the monitoring solution agent code portion and monitoring solution agent content portion together forming a monitoring solution agent. The monitoring solution agent code portion and monitoring solution agent content portion may comprise a remote Monitoring Solution Agent that executes at the computer system to be monitored. According to some embodiments, monitoring solution agent content portion includes a data source layer, a data provider layer, a request layer, and a user interface layer.