Using a programmable resource dependency mathematical model to perform root cause analysis

A controller device that manages a plurality of network devices, the controller device comprising:

• a memory configured to store a dependency model representing dependencies between resources provided by the network devices and a programmed merge strategy, the resources comprising one or more hardware units of the network devices, software units of the network devices, or network services provided by the network devices;
• and
• one or more processors implemented in circuitry and configured to:
• determine the resources provided by the network devices;
• determine relationships between the resources according to the programmed merge strategy;
• construct the dependency model using the determined relationships, wherein to construct the dependency mode, the one or more processors are configured to perform a resource management stage to construct the dependency model, including, for each of the resources:
• determine whether the resource is transient;
• when the resource is not transient, retrieve existing resources of a playbook, compare the resource with existing resources, create or update a node for the resource, and form an updated resource ID list to include the created or updated node;
• and
• when the resource is transient, determine a parent/child ID for the resource;
• determine that at least one of the resources has experienced a failure;
• and
• perform a root cause analysis using the dependency model to determine a root cause of the failure of the at least one of the resources.

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a controller device that manages a plurality of network devices to:

• determine resources provided by the network devices, the resources comprising one or more hardware units of the network devices, software units of the network devices, or network services provided by the network devices;
• determine relationships between the resources according to a programmed merge strategy;
• construct a dependency model representing dependencies between the resources using the determined relationships, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to construct the dependency model comprise instructions that cause the processor to perform a resource management stage including, for each of the resources:
• determining whether the resource is transient;
• when the resource is not transient, retrieving existing resources of a playbook, comparing the resource with existing resources, creating or updating a node for the resource, and forming an updated resource ID list to include the created or updated node;
• and
• when the resource is transient, determining a parent/child ID for the resource;
• determine that at least one of the resources has experienced a failure;
• and
• perform a root cause analysis using the dependency model to determine a root cause of the failure of the at least one of the resources.