US 5,948,055 A · Distributed internet monitoring system and method

Abstract

An internet monitoring system efficiently discovers topology data of a network by utilizing a distributed object model. The topology data represents the devices and interconnections of the network and can be used to display various conceptual views of the network at a management station. In accordance with the internet monitoring system, different sets of topology data are discovered with corresponding sets of computer-based stations, such as management stations or collection stations, by discovering the topology at respective regions of the network. Further, the different sets of topology data can be combined at a management station to derive a global view of the network. Both management and remote stations include a layout mechanism for receiving topology data and driving the output device based upon the topology data and a discovery mechanism for discovering and storing the topology data. The discovery mechanism includes a network monitor for discovering topology data corresponding with a particular station-specific region of the network, a topology database for storing topology data, and a topology manager for controlling the topology database. The management station, unlike the collection station, utilizes a replicator for communicating with at least one other station to receive topology data from a different region of the network and to forward the different set of topology data to its respective topology manager. The management station has algorithms for handling overlap in monitored regions through the choice of a primary station for each object monitored.

Claims57

Dependent claims

A system for permitting generation of a network management map of a data communication network, comprising:

first and second computers configured to determine respective first and second topology data by discovering devices and interconnections situated at respective first and second regions of said network;
and
a topology manager situated at one of said first and second computers for combining said first and second topology data into a merged set of topology data, said merged set of topology data defining a global view of network topology at said one computer.

A management station for generating a network management map of a data communication network, comprising:

a processor;
a memory;
an output device;
an interface interconnecting said processor, said memory, and said output device and capable of connecting to said network;
a layout mechanism stored in said memory and configured to receive topology data indicative of devices and interconnections of said network and to drive said output device based upon said topology data;
and
a discovery mechanism stored in said memory and configured to discover and store said topology data, said discovery mechanism including:
a network monitor configured to discover first topology data corresponding with a first region of said network;
a topology database configured to store first and second topology data;
a topology manager configured to control said topology database, to receive first topology data from said network monitor, and to receive second topology data corresponding with a second region of said network;
and
a replicator configured to communicate with at least one other computer to receive said second topology data and to forward said second topology data to said topology manager.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Distributed internet monitoring system and method

Life of this patent

Distributed internet monitoring system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims57