Enterprise Network Topology Traversal for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex enterprise networks make it difficult for IT administrators to monitor and manage computing and storage resources effectively, as existing tools often isolate data and lack comprehensive visibility into performance, health, and capacity across various entities, leading to challenges in identifying and addressing issues such as slow response times in applications.
Innovation Solution
A system that receives object identifiers and relationship data to traverse and map the topology of an enterprise network, identifying pivot points and mini-topologies, and generating partial or aggregate topologies to provide comprehensive object identification information, including graphical representations, thereby enhancing visibility and management capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standalone software tools are used to monitor enterprise network aspects, then specific monitoring capabilities are provided, but comprehensive visibility and integration across all entities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple standalone monitoring tools into a unified topology traversal system that aggregates data from diverse sources (network devices, storage systems, applications, virtual machines) into a single integrated view, enabling comprehensive visibility while maintaining specialized monitoring capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal topology map that can traverse and monitor multiple types of entities (network devices, storage arrays, applications, virtual machines) through a single platform, allowing one system to perform the functions previously requiring multiple specialized tools
2Reliability
If more computing and storage resources are provided to achieve performance and reliability, then performance and reliability improve, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The topology traversal system provides feedback mechanisms that monitor resource utilization, performance metrics, and health status across the enterprise network, enabling dynamic adjustment of resources based on actual needs rather than static over-provisioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic resource management by continuously traversing the topology and adjusting resource allocation based on real-time performance data, allowing resources to be optimized rather than statically over-provisioned
3Adaptability or versatility
If enterprise networks become more complex to provide comprehensive functionality, then capability increases, but ease of operation and monitoring decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex enterprise network into manageable topology components (network devices, storage systems, applications, virtual machines) that can be individually traversed and monitored, making the overall complexity manageable through structured organization
Solution Approach 2:
The topology traversal system acts as an intermediary layer between IT administrators and the complex underlying infrastructure, providing simplified access and monitoring capabilities while managing the complexity of diverse network entities behind the scenes
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: receiving object identifiers associated with each entity of an enterprise network, receiving relationship data indicating directionality of data flow between two or more entities of enterprise network, receiving search query which includes at least one of an object identifier associated with one of the entities or relationship data indicating directionality of data flow associated with one of the entities, traversing a portion of topology to identify objects of the portion of the topology and a pivot point, the pivot point being directionally coupled to at least three objects, identifying two mini-topologies based on two of the least three objects of the pivot point, traversing each of the two mini-topologies to identify further objects within the portion of the topology, generating a partial topology based on the traversal of the portion of the topology and of the mini-topologies, and providing information including objects identified in the partial topology.