Topology-Based Interoperability Determination for IT Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IT infrastructures, determining compatible replacement components for elements that need to be replaced is complex due to the numerous interactions among hosts, storage systems, and networking components, especially in scenarios requiring disaster recovery, data migration, and data backup, where mirroring or copying of data is involved.
Innovation Solution
A method for topology-based interoperability determination that generates a topology subgraph for an IT infrastructure, identifies replacement candidates, and selects a recommended replacement based on interoperability subgraphs created from vendor data, ensuring compatibility across various vendor metadata.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual compatibility checking is performed for replacement components in IT infrastructure, then selection accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically discovering the IT infrastructure topology and pre-establishing compatibility relationships between components before replacement is needed. The topology discovery module maps all connections and interactions among hosts, storage systems, and networking components in advance, creating a ready-to-use compatibility database that enables rapid replacement decisions without manual checking at the time of replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary compatibility determination module that acts as a mediator between the topology discovery module and the replacement component selection. This module processes compatibility data, establishes relationship matrices, and provides automated compatibility assessments, eliminating the need for manual checking while ensuring accurate compatibility determination through systematic intermediate processing.
2Reliability
If comprehensive topology analysis is performed to ensure compatibility, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex topology analysis into distinct functional modules: a topology discovery module that maps infrastructure connections, a compatibility determination module that establishes compatibility relationships, and a replacement component selection module that identifies suitable replacements. Each module handles a specific aspect of the analysis, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive reliability through coordinated module operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically discovering topology, analyzing compatibility relationships, and identifying replacement components without requiring external manual intervention. The topology discovery module autonomously maps the infrastructure, and the compatibility determination module automatically processes component relationships, enabling the system to serve itself in ensuring replacement reliability while managing complexity internally.
3Productivity
If automated replacement candidate identification is implemented, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision of compatibility may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the replacement component selection module continuously refines its recommendations based on compatibility assessment results. The compatibility determination module provides feedback on potential replacements by analyzing their compatibility with the discovered topology, and this feedback loop ensures that automated identification maintains high precision by validating each candidate against established compatibility relationships before final selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for topology based interoperability determination for an information technology (IT) infrastructure are described herein. An aspect includes receiving a replacement notification for an element of an IT infrastructure. A topology subgraph corresponding to the element is generated based on a topology graph of the IT infrastructure. A plurality of replacement candidates for the element is determined. A respective interoperability subgraph based on the topology subgraph is generated for each replacement candidate of the plurality of replacement candidates. A recommended replacement candidate is selected from the plurality of replacement candidates based on the generated interoperability subgraphs.