Computer Environment Analysis Tool

A method comprising:

• receiving a configuration file, said configuration file comprising:
• identifiers for a plurality of data collection modules and a plurality of analysis modules;
• identifying at least one dependency for each of said data collection modules, said dependency comprising a data set populated by said data collection module;
• identifying at least one of said dependencies for each of said analysis modules, said dependency comprising a data set consumed by said analysis module;
• determining a sequence of execution, said sequence determined by:
• sorting each of said dependencies to create a set of dependencies;
• and
• identifying at least one starting module;
• causing said data collection modules to be executed according to said sequence of execution, said data collection modules performing at least the functions of:
• collecting software configuration data and hardware configuration data for a local device;
• collecting software configuration data and hardware configuration data for a device connected to a network connection to said local device;
• receiving data from each of said data collection modules, said data being organized according to a schema;
• causing said analysis modules to be executed according to said sequence of execution, said analysis modules generating reportable data;
• and
• generating a report comprising said reportable data.

A computer environment analysis tool comprising:

• an execution engine operable on a first computer processor within a first device, said execution engine configured to cause data collection modules, analysis modules, and reporting modules to operate;
• a first schema defining a plurality of data sets;
• a plurality of said data collection modules, each of said data collection modules being configured to perform a data collection operation and populate at least one of said data sets;
• a plurality of said analysis modules, each of said analysis modules being configured to perform an analysis and generate a report output, said analysis being dependent on at least one of said data sets;
• a first group definition comprising identifiers and dependencies for a first set of said analysis modules, said first group definition comprising a first business logic;
• a second group definition comprising identifiers and dependencies for a second set of said analysis modules, said second group definition comprising a second business logic;
• at least one reporting module configured to generate output data based on said report output;
• said execution engine being further configured to:
• define a set of said dependencies comprising dependencies between said analysis modules and said data sets, and between said data sets and said data collection modules;
• use said set of dependencies to determine an order for executing said data collection modules and said analysis modules;
• cause said data collection modules to be executed according to said order for executing;
• and
• cause said first set of said analysis modules to be executed according to said first group definition.