Guided Network Management

A method comprising:

• monitoring, by a guided network management system comprising a processor, traffic traversing a virtualized network, wherein the virtualized network comprises a plurality of virtual network functions that provide, at least in part, a service,
• capturing, by the guided network management system, an event from the traffic, wherein the event involves at least one virtual network function of the plurality of virtual network functions, and wherein the event negatively affects an operational aspect of the virtualized network in providing the service,
• creating, by the guided network management system, a snapshot of the virtualized network, wherein the snapshot represents a network state of the virtualized network during the event,
• creating, by the guided network management system, based upon the snapshot, a shadow network, wherein the shadow network comprises a network emulation of the network state of the virtualized network during the event, and
• determining, by the guided network management system, from the shadow network, a modification to at least a portion of the virtualized network that would at least mitigate the event from negatively affecting the operational aspect of the virtualized network in providing the service.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• monitoring traffic traversing a virtualized network, wherein the virtualized network comprises a plurality of virtual network functions that provide, at least in part, a service;
• capturing an event from the traffic, wherein the event involves at least one virtual network function of the plurality of virtual network functions, and wherein the event negatively affects an operational aspect of the virtualized network in providing the service;
• creating a snapshot of the virtualized network, wherein the snapshot represents a network state of the virtualized network during the event;
• creating, based upon the snapshot, a shadow network, wherein the shadow network comprises a network emulation of the network state of the virtualized network during the event;
• and
• determining, from the shadow network, a modification to at least a portion of the virtualized network that would at least mitigate the event from negatively affecting the operational aspect of the virtualized network in providing the service.