Network Event Locus Descriptor for Rapid Topology Data Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Technical support engineers face challenges in creating detailed and timely computer network topology diagrams, as existing diagrams often lack relevant details and require lengthy CLI commands, leading to time loss and data loss during issue resolution.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a highly automated system that uses pre-configured NELD commands to gather network topology data, converting it into a YANG model for improved analysis, allowing for rapid data capture and conversion into network topology drawings or analytics for troubleshooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed topology diagrams are created manually, then accuracy and relevance of network topology information is improved, but time consumption and effort required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically gathering network topology data, device configurations, and event information before technical support issues arise. Topology diagrams are pre-generated and maintained through automated data collection from network devices, so when an issue occurs, the relevant topology information is already available immediately without requiring manual creation at that moment.
2Loss of information
If multiple manual CLI commands are executed to gather network device information, then comprehensive data collection is improved, but time loss and potential data loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple separate CLI commands and data collection operations into a single automated process. Instead of executing numerous individual commands manually to gather device information, the automated system combines topology discovery, device state collection, configuration retrieval, and event monitoring into one unified operation that executes automatically when triggered.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automated data collection layer between the technical support engineer and the network devices. This intermediary automatically executes the necessary CLI commands, retrieves device information, and presents the data in a processed format, eliminating the need for engineers to manually execute multiple commands while ensuring comprehensive data collection.
3Productivity
If existing topology diagrams are used, then quick reference is improved, but relevance and detail for specific technical issues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by generating topology diagrams that are specifically tailored to the relevant portion of the network affected by a technical issue. Instead of presenting entire network topologies, the automated system identifies and highlights only the devices, connections, and configurations relevant to the specific event or problem being investigated, providing localized detailed views when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making topology diagrams adaptive and changeable based on the specific technical issue being investigated. When a technical support issue is reported, the system dynamically generates or updates topology diagrams to reflect the current state of relevant network devices and their relationships, ensuring the diagrams remain current and issue-specific rather than static and generic.
Data Source
AI summary
That each switch is configured with a series of new commands, such as NELD, which include various parameters, the parameters matching predefined terms, such as STP, BGP or DROP, and specifying a particular port or interface, if relevant. By predefining the parameters, the switch is configured to obtain data relevant to a particular problem. When a problem occurs, the administrator sends the command to all relevant switches with a parameter relevant to the problem being analyzed. Preferably, this sending of the command is done using a management application, so that the command can be sent to each switch by the management application in an extremely short period. By capturing all of the data in a small window, the odds are greatly improved on obtaining the relevant data. By having the preprogrammed commands, all of the desired data can be obtained in a single command rather than a series of commands.