# US 11,451,447 B1 · Container workload monitoring and topology visualization in data centers

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- Number: US 11,451,447 B1
- Document ID: US11451447B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/951,673
- Filed: 2020-11-18
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2020-11-18
- Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Anil B. Jangam; Shyam N. Kapadia; Murthy N. Bhetanabhotla; Santa Dasu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451447B1

## CPC

- H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies
- G06F 9/45558: {Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects}
- H04L 41/0893: Assignment of logical groups to network elements
- H04L 41/122: of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]
- H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- H04L 41/40: using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
- G06F 2009/45591: {Monitoring or debugging support}
- H04L 41/0661: {by reconfiguring faulty entities}
- H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Techniques for container management and topology visualization are provided. A network topology of a data center is determined, where the network topology includes a plurality of physical servers. A plurality of containers executing in the data center is identified, and for each respective container of the plurality of containers, a respective server from the plurality of physical servers that is executing the respective container is determined. An augmented network topology is generated by correlating the network topology and the determined server executing each container, where the augmented network topology indicates relationships among the plurality of containers and physical resources in the data center.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
determining, by a management component in a data center, a network topology of the data center, wherein the network topology includes a plurality of physical servers;
identifying, by the management component, a plurality of containers executing in the data center, wherein the plurality of containers are distributed across a plurality of clusters;
determining, for each respective container of the plurality of containers, a respective server from the plurality of physical servers that is executing the respective container;
generating, by the management component, an augmented network topology by correlating the network topology and the determined server executing each container, wherein:
the augmented network topology indicates relationships among the plurality of clusters and physical resources in the data center, and
communication links in the data center are colored in the augmented network topology to indicate, for each respective communication link, a respective consumed bandwidth of the respective link as a percentage of a respective maximum bandwidth of the respective link; and
upon receiving a selection of a first cluster of the plurality of clusters:
identifying a set of containers, from the plurality of containers, included in the first cluster;
updating a visualization of the augmented network topology to display the set of containers; and
updating the visualization of the augmented network topology to display a set of connected components for the first cluster, comprising:
visually emphasizing, in the visualization, all connected components north of the first cluster to a spine node;
visually emphasizing, in the visualization, an immediately-adjacent component south of the first cluster; and
hiding, in the visualization, at least one component that is unconnected to the first cluster.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the network topology comprises:
instructing components in the data center to use a discovery protocol to identify neighbor information; and
aggregating the neighbor information to build the network topology, wherein the network topology indicates connections between physical components in the data center.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of containers are distributed across a plurality of clusters, wherein each respective cluster of the plurality of clusters is associated with a respective orchestrator, and wherein the management component receives state information from each orchestrator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the server that is executing each container comprises querying each container to retrieve state information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the augmented network topology reflects the state information for each of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:
outputting the augmented network topology for display on a graphical user interface (GUI).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:
receiving a selection of a first container from the set of containers included in the first cluster; and
highlighting, on the GUI, components in the augmented network topology that are linked to the first container.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:
receiving utilization information for each of the plurality of containers; and
updating the GUI to provide a visualization of the utilization information on the augmented network topology.

### Claim 9

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program code that, when executed by operation of one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising:
determining, by a management component in a data center, a network topology of the data center, wherein the network topology includes a plurality of physical servers;
identifying, by the management component, a plurality of containers executing in the data center, wherein the plurality of containers are distributed across a plurality of clusters;
determining, for each respective container of the plurality of containers, a respective server from the plurality of physical servers that is executing the respective container; and
generating, by the management component, an augmented network topology by correlating the network topology and the determined server executing each container, wherein:
the augmented network topology indicates relationships among the plurality of clusters and physical resources in the data center, and
communication links in the data center are colored in the augmented network topology to indicate, for each respective communication link, a respective consumed bandwidth of the respective link as a percentage of a respective maximum bandwidth of the respective link; and
upon receiving a selection of a first cluster of the plurality of clusters:
identifying a set of containers, from the plurality of containers, included in the first cluster;
updating a visualization of the augmented network topology to display the set of containers; and
updating the visualization of the augmented network topology to display a set of connected components for the first cluster, comprising:
visually emphasizing, in the visualization, all connected components north of the first cluster to a spine node;
visually emphasizing, in the visualization, an immediately-adjacent component south of the first cluster; and
hiding, in the visualization, at least one component that is unconnected to the first cluster.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining the network topology comprises:
instructing components in the data center to use a discovery protocol to identify neighbor information; and
aggregating the neighbor information to build the network topology, wherein the network topology indicates connections between physical components in the data center.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining the server that is executing each container comprises querying each container to retrieve state information, and wherein the augmented network topology reflects the state information for each of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer computer-readable medium of claim 9, the operation further comprising:
outputting the augmented network topology for display on a graphical user interface (GUI).

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory computer computer-readable medium of claim 12, the operation further comprising:
receiving a selection of a first container from the set of containers included in the first cluster; and
highlighting, on the GUI, components in the augmented network topology that are linked to the first container.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory computer computer-readable medium of claim 13, the operation further comprising:
receiving utilization information for each of the plurality of containers; and
updating the GUI to provide a visualization of the utilization information on the augmented network topology.

### Claim 15

A system, comprising:
one or more computer processors; and
a memory containing a program which when executed by the one or more computer processors performs an operation, the operation comprising:
determining, by a management component in a data center, a network topology of the data center, wherein the network topology includes a plurality of physical servers;
identifying, by the management component, a plurality of containers executing in the data center;
determining, for each respective container of the plurality of containers, a respective server from the plurality of physical servers that is executing the respective container; and
generating, by the management component, an augmented network topology by correlating the network topology and the determined server executing each container, wherein:
the augmented network topology indicates relationships among the plurality of clusters and physical resources in the data center, and
communication links in the data center are colored in the augmented network topology to indicate, for each respective communication link, a respective consumed bandwidth of the respective link as a percentage of a respective maximum bandwidth of the respective link; and
upon receiving a selection of a first cluster of the plurality of clusters:
identifying a set of containers, from the plurality of containers, included in the first cluster;
updating a visualization of the augmented network topology to display the set of containers; and
updating the visualization of the augmented network topology to display a set of connected components for the first cluster, comprising:
visually emphasizing, in the visualization, all connected components north of the first cluster to a spine node;
visually emphasizing, in the visualization, an immediately-adjacent component south of the first cluster; and
hiding, in the visualization, at least one component that is unconnected to the first cluster.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein determining the network topology comprises:
instructing components in the data center to use a discovery protocol to identify neighbor information; and
aggregating the neighbor information to build the network topology, wherein the network topology indicates connections between physical components in the data center.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein determining the server that is executing each container comprises querying each container to retrieve state information, and wherein the augmented network topology reflects the state information for each of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, the operation further comprising:
outputting the augmented network topology for display on a graphical user interface (GUI).

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, the operation further comprising:
receiving a selection of a first container from the set of containers included in the first cluster; and
highlighting, on the GUI, components in the augmented network topology that are linked to the first container.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the operation further comprising:
receiving utilization information for each of the plurality of containers; and
updating the GUI to provide a visualization of the utilization information on the augmented network topology.