Virtual Environment Metric Correlation for Problem Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In complex virtualized environments, administrators face challenges in efficiently isolating and correlating large numbers of network operation metrics to detect abnormalities and determine root causes, due to the impracticality of manual analysis and the dynamic nature of these systems.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a problem isolation server, performance management database, operation monitoring device, and comparison engine that detects metric irregularities, establishes baselines, and automatically correlates metrics across different domains and time frames, enabling near-real-time problem isolation and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual analysis of all monitored metrics is performed, then complete problem detection is achieved, but the time and resources required become impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproblem detection completenessVSAvoidanalysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates only the metrics that are actually correlated with problems, rather than analyzing all monitored metrics. The system identifies a subset of relevant metrics through correlation analysis, allowing administrators to focus on only those metrics that indicate actual system issues, thereby reducing analysis time while maintaining complete problem detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates correlated groups of metrics that represent problem patterns, allowing the system to detect problems by monitoring these correlated groups rather than individual metrics. This copying approach enables efficient problem detection by analyzing metric relationships rather than exhaustive metric review.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If all possible pairs of metrics are compared for correlation, then complete metric relationships are identified, but the computational complexity becomes impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrelation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the metric correlation process into manageable components by organizing metrics into correlated groups and hierarchies. Rather than comparing all possible pairs simultaneously, the system divides the analysis into smaller correlation tasks within defined groups, reducing computational complexity while maintaining accurate correlation identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic correlation analysis that adapts to changing system conditions. The correlation relationships are updated and refined based on observed metric behaviors, allowing the system to focus computational resources on the most relevant metric pairs while maintaining accurate correlation measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If experienced administrators are reduced, then operational costs decrease, but the ability to review and analyze monitoring data diminishes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational costVSAvoiddata review capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated problem detection and correlation analysis that operates without requiring experienced administrator intervention. The system autonomously identifies metric correlations, detects problems, and presents relevant information, allowing organizations to reduce administrator overhead while maintaining or improving data review capability through intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual administrator analysis with automated computational systems that perform correlation analysis and problem detection. This substitution of mechanical human analysis with automated algorithms maintains data review capability while reducing operational costs associated with experienced administrator personnel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9459942B2Correlation of metrics monitored from a virtual environment

Publication Date: 2016.10.04 MICRO FOCUS LLC

AI summary

Correlation of metrics monitored from a virtual environment is described herein. A method for detecting correlations between metrics monitored from a virtual environment includes monitoring network operation metrics of network devices in the virtual environment. Network operation metric irregularities exceeding a threshold are detected. A first network operation metric irregularity is selected from the detected network operation metric irregularities. A time frame of the first network operation metric irregularity is identified for analysis. A second network operation metric irregularity is selected from the detected network operation metric irregularities. The first network operation metric irregularity and the second network operation metric irregularity can be compared to determine a correspondence between the first network operation metric irregularity and the second network operation metric irregularity using a comparison engine and based on a predetermined analysis method.