US 5,678,042 A · Network management system having historical virtual catalog snapshots for overview of historical changes to files distributively stored across network domain

Abstract

A network management system includes a domain administrating server (DAS) that stores a virtual catalog representing an overview of all files distributively stored across a network domain currently or in the past. The current and historical file information is used for assisting in auditing or locating files located anywhere in the domain. The current file information is used for assisting in transferring files across the domain. The domain administrating server (DAS) also includes a rule-base driven artificial administrator for monitoring and reacting to domain-wide alert reports and for detecting problematic trends in domain-wide performance based on information collected from the network domain.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A machine-implemented, network management method for managing a network of file servers where each file server has a data storage device for storing a plurality of data files and the respective data storage device of each file server contains a local catalog for describing each file currently stored in the respective data storage device at least by name and size, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting snapshots over time of the respective local catalogs of plural file servers of the network and storing said collected snapshots in a database memory so as to thereby create a historical database of collected snapshot information;
and
(b) automatically tracking changes across the historical database of snapshot information with respect to time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/590,528Filed 24 Jan 1996 · division

Priority

15 Nov 1993

Granted

14 Oct 1997

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 16/168
File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems: details of user interfaces specifically adapted…
Y10S 707/922
Applications of a database: communications
Y10S 707/951
Applications of a database: calendar or scheduling
Y10S 707/954
Organization of data: relational

Network management system having historical virtual catalog snapshots for overview of historical changes to files distributively stored across network domain

Life of this patent

Network management system having historical virtual catalog snapshots for overview of historical changes to files distributively stored across network domain

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4