Vendor independent network configuration tool method, system, and product
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorDavid Paul Beyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, system, and product are described for configuring a computer network. A database is established which includes information about multiple network products. The network products are supplied by multiple different vendors. The computer network is then configured by selecting ones of the network products to implement the computer network. The computer network is thus configured utilizing products available from different vendors. Attributes are established which are used to evaluate network products. Each of the network products are assigned a weighted value for each of the attributes. A selection of network products is made utilizing the attributes and the weighted values assigned to the network products.
Claims18
A method in a computer system for configuring a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a database including information about a plurality of network products, said plurality of network products being supplied by a plurality of different vendors;
- selecting ones of said plurality of network products to use to configure said computer network, said computer network being configured utilizing products available from a plurality of different vendors;
- establishing a plurality of different network attributes, said plurality of network attributes being able to evaluative computer networks;
- assigning a weighting value for each of said plurality of network attributes, said weighting value indicating a relative importance of each of said plurality of network attributes;
- evaluating each of said plurality of network products with regard to each of said plurality of network attributes;
- assigning a weighting value for each of said plurality of network products for each of said plurality of network attributes;
- and
- for each of said plurality of network attributes for each of said plurality of network products, determining an attribute score utilizing said weighting value assigned to each of said plurality of network products for each of said plurality of network attributes and utilizing said weighting value for each of said plurality of network attributes.
A computer program product in a computer system for configuring a computer network, comprising:
- instruction means for establishing a database including information about a plurality of network products, said plurality of network products being supplied by a plurality of different vendors;
- instruction means for selecting ones of said plurality of network products to use to configure said computer network, said computer network being configured utilizing products available from a plurality of different vendors;
- instruction means for establishing a plurality of different network attributes, said plurality of network attributes being utilized evaluate computer networks;
- instruction means for assigning a weighting value for each of said plurality of network attributes, said weighting value indicating a relative importance of each of said plurality of network attributes;
- instruction means for evaluating each of said plurality of network products with regard to each of said plurality of network attributes;
- instruction means for assigning a weighting value for each of said plurality of network products for each of said plurality of network attributes;
- and
- for each of said plurality of network attributes for each of said plurality of network products, instruction means for determining an attribute score utilizing said weighting value assigned to each of said plurality of network products for each of said plurality of network attributes and utilizing said weighting value for each of said plurality of network attributes.
A computer system for configuring a computer network, comprising:
- a database within said computer system including information about a plurality of network products, said plurality of network products being supplied by a plurality of different vendors;
- ones of said plurality of network products being selected to use to configure said computer network, said computer network being configured utilizing products available from a plurality of different vendors;
- a plurality of different network attributes, said plurality of network attributes being utilized to evaluate computer networks;
- a weighting value being assigned for each of said plurality of network attributes, said weighting value indicating a relative importance of each of said plurality of network attributes;
- each of said plurality of network products being evaluated with regard to each of said plurality of network attributes;
- a weighting value being assigned for each of said plurality of network products for each of said plurality of network attributes;
- and
- for each of said plurality network attributes for each of said plurality of network products, an attribute store being determined utilizing said weighting value assigned to each of said plurality of network products for each of said plurality of network attributes and utilizing said weighting value for each of said plurality of network attributes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.