Root-cause analysis of network performance problems

Apparatus for diagnosing network performance problems, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory, which is arranged to store a graph representing a topology of a network comprising first nodes that are classified as providers of a resource, second nodes that are classified as consumers of the resource, and third nodes that are classified as mediators intervening between the providers and the consumers;
• and
• a processor, which is arranged to receive a report of a performance problem encountered by a given consumer in the network, and to trace, responsively to the report, at least one input/output (I/O) path through the graph connecting the given consumer to one or more of the providers and to identify one or more problematic nodes along the at least one I/O path as possible causes of the performance problem.

A computer software product for diagnosing network performance problems, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to provide a graph representing a topology of a network comprising first nodes that are classified as providers of a resource, second nodes that are classified as consumers of the resource, and third nodes that are classified as mediators intervening between the providers and the consumers, and further cause the computer, upon receiving a report of a performance problem encountered by a given consumer in the network, to trace, responsively to the report, at least one input/output (I/O) path through the graph connecting the given consumer to one or more of the providers and to identify one or more problematic nodes along the at least one I/O path as possible causes of the performance problem.