Communications network state and topology monitor

An apparatus for gathering and displaying information concerning status of a communications network, the network including a plurality of distributed switching nodes and a plurality of links connecting the switching nodes defining a network topology, each of the switching nodes performing communications functions, maintaining an event log including alarm conditions for the switching node, and maintaining a configuration database identifying a configuration for the switching node;

• the apparatus comprising:
• first monitoring means, coupled to a first switching node of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, for gathering through the first switching node from network nodes and links, and displaying to an operator information concerning the network topology, alarm conditions in the network and configurations for selected nodes in a first subset of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, said first monitoring means including
• an operator input interface,
• first means for maintaining topology data indicating the topology of the network and for supporting a first protocol with the first switching node,
• second means for maintaining a monitor list of alarm conditions entered in the switching node lists of alarm conditions in the network and for supporting a second protocol through the network with the first subset of the plurality of distributed switching nodes,
• third means for maintaining a monitor database indicating the configuration of the switching nodes as entered in the switching node configuration databases in the network and for supporting a third protocol through the network with the first subset of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, and
• display means, responsive to operator inputs identifying a subject switching node in the first subset of the plurality of switching nodes and coupled to the monitor database, the monitor list of alarm conditions and the topology data, for displaying configuration data about the subject switching node, the network topology and the alarm conditions to the operator;
• second monitoring means, independent of the first monitoring means and, coupled to a second switching node of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, for gathering through the second switching node from network nodes and links, and displaying to an operator information concerning the network topology, alarm conditions in the network and configurations for selected nodes in a second subset of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, said second monitoring means including
• an operator input interface,
• first means for maintaining topology data indicating the topology of the network and for supporting a fourth protocol with the second switching node,
• second means for maintaining a monitor list of alarm conditions entered in the switching node lists of alarm conditions in the network and for supporting a fifth protocol through the network with the second subset of the plurality of distributed switching nodes,
• third means for maintaining a monitor database indicating the configuration of the switching nodes as entered in the switching node configuration databases in the network and for supporting a sixth protocol through the network with the second subset of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, and
• display means, responsive to operator inputs identifying a subject switching node in the network and coupled to the monitor database, the monitor list of alarm conditions and the topology data, for displaying configuration data about the subject switching node, the network topology and the alarm conditions to the operator;
• means, on the first switching node, for generating the topology data in response to the communications functions performed on the first subset of the plurality of switching nodes and for sending, in response to messages according to the first protocol, the topology data to the first means on the first monitoring node;
• means, on the second switching node, for generating the topology data in response to the communications functions performed on the second subset of the plurality of switching nodes and for sending, in response to messages according to the fourth protocol, the topology data to the first means on the second monitoring node;
• and
• means, on each of the plurality of distributed switching nodes in the network, coupled to the switching node list of alarm conditions on the respective switching node, and responsive to messages according to at least one of the second or the fifth protocols, for packaging and sending data indicating alarm conditions to the second means on at least one of the first or second monitoring means, wherein said data from the first and second subsets of the plurality of distributed switching nodes passes through the network to the first switching node or the second switching node, and through the first switching node to the second means on the first monitoring means or through the second switching node to the second means on the second monitoring means;
• and
• means, on each of the plurality of distributed switching nodes in the network, coupled to the switching node configuration database on the respective switching node, and responsive to messages according to at least one of the third or sixth protocols, for packaging and sending data from the switching node configuration database to the third means on at least one of the first or second monitoring means, wherein said data from the first and second subsets of the plurality of distributed switching nodes passes through the network to the first switching node or the second switching node, and through the first switching node to the third means on the first monitoring means or through the second switching node to the third means on the second monitoring means.

An apparatus for gathering and displaying information concerning status of a communications network, the network including a plurality of distributed switching nodes and a plurality of links connecting the switching nodes, each of the switching nodes performing tasks including communications functions, maintenance of an event log listing event records for the switching node, and maintenance of a configuration database identifying a configuration for the switching node;

• the apparatus comprising:
• a monitor node, coupled to a first switching node of the plurality of distributed switching nodes, comprising
• an operator input interface,
• first means for maintaining topology data indicating the topology of the network and for supporting a first protocol with the first switching node,
• second means for maintaining a monitor list of event records entered in the switching node event logs in the network and for supporting a second protocol through the network with the plurality of distributed switching nodes,
• third means for maintaining a monitor database indicating the configuration of the switching nodes as entered in the switching node configuration databases in the network and for supporting a third protocol through the network with the plurality of distributed switching nodes, and
• display means, responsive to operator inputs identifying a subject switching node in the network and coupled to the monitor database, the monitor list of event records and the topology data, for displaying configuration data about the subject switching node, the network topology and the event records to the operator;
• means, on the first switching node, for generating the topology data in response to the communications functions performed on the plurality of switching nodes and for sending, in response to messages according to the first protocol, the topology data to the first means;
• and
• means, on each of the plurality of distributed switching nodes in the network, coupled to the switching node event log on the respective switching node, and responsive to messages according to the second protocol, for packaging and sending data indicating event records entered in the switching node event log to the second means, wherein said data from each of the plurality of distributed switching nodes except the first switching node passes through the network to the first switching node, and through the first switching node to the second means;
• means, on each of the plurality of distributed switching nodes in the network, coupled to the switching node configuration database on the respective switching node, and responsive to messages according to the third protocol, for packaging and sending data from the switching node configuration database to the third means, wherein said data from each of the plurality of distributed switching nodes except the first switching node passes through the network to the first switching node, and through the first switching node to the third means.