Network Topology Pinning for Datacenter Node Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex datacenter network topologies are challenging for administrators to navigate and analyze due to large numbers of interconnected nodes across multiple sites, leading to inefficiencies and errors in tasks such as diagnosing failures and performing upgrades.
Innovation Solution
A network topology display system that allows users to pin nodes for analysis, providing persistent display of object data across different regions, enabling seamless navigation and comparison of objects while dynamically updating data from various sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network topology graphs include large numbers of interconnected nodes across multiple sites to represent complex datacenters, then the completeness and accuracy of network topology representation is improved, but the ease of navigation and analysis for administrators deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex network topology into hierarchical levels (Level 0 to Level N) where each level represents a specific layer of the network infrastructure. This segmentation allows administrators to navigate and analyze specific portions of the topology without being overwhelmed by the entire network graph, thus maintaining accuracy while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of interaction by allowing administrators to pin nodes and access their details in a separate panel while navigating the topology. This adds a vertical dimension to the navigation experience, enabling simultaneous viewing of topology structure and node details without losing context or requiring frequent switching between views.
2Device complexity
If administrators manually navigate through network topology graphs to locate and analyze specific nodes, then the system requires minimal additional complexity, but the time required to perform administrative tasks increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pinning functionality that allows administrators to pre-select and pin important nodes for quick access. This preliminary action of pinning nodes creates a personalized shortcut system that enables rapid navigation to frequently accessed or critical nodes, significantly reducing the time required to locate and analyze specific network elements without adding substantial system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a node details panel as an intermediary interface between the topology graph and the administrator. This mediator displays comprehensive node information, relationships, and status without requiring the administrator to manually explore each node's properties, thus reducing task time while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Loss of information
If the network topology display shows all nodes and connections simultaneously, then complete visibility of the network structure is achieved, but the display becomes disorienting and inefficient for administrators to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network topology display into hierarchical levels, showing only the relevant portion of the network at each level. This segmentation maintains complete visibility of the network structure through systematic breakdown while preventing display overload by showing manageable portions at a time, thus improving navigation efficiency without sacrificing structural visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing detailed information about pinned nodes in a dedicated panel while maintaining the overall topology context in the main view. This allows different parts of the interface to serve different functions: the main view provides structural context while the pinned node panel provides detailed local information, improving navigation efficiency without losing structural visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described herein for implementing and using a network topology display system configured to display and support interaction with complex and/or multi-site datacenters. The topology display system may provide an interactive user interface, allowing users to navigate to different regions of the network node topology representing the datacenter, and displaying views representing the various sites, levels, and objects of the datacenter. While navigating the topology, a user may select a particular node in the network topology to be pinned, causing the user interface to display data representing the datacenter object corresponding to the selected node. As the user navigates the network topology, additional nodes may be selected to provide additional object data, which may be updated dynamically for a set of pinned nodes configured in different sites or regions of the topology.