Middle-ware interface status tool and method for using same

An apparatus for identifying, monitoring and displaying the status of interfaces in a system, comprising:

• a middle-ware interface status tool (MIST) implemented in a data processing system that communicates with a system to determine interfaces in the system, monitor the interfaces, and generate an interface status graph (ISG) depicting a status of the interfaces, wherein the system includes at least one sub-system that includes at least one host and a plurality of data objects that are originated, produced and received within the system;
• an interface database (IDB), operatively connected to the MIST, the IDB comprising information that characterizes the system;
• a name server (NS), operatively connected to the MIST, wherein the NS includes a hierarchical directory of the plurality of data objects within the system and IIOP object references (ORs) for the data objects;
• one or more event channels, operatively connected to the MIST, wherein each event channel provides event channel status information including connection status, connection updates, and exception information to the MIST;
• and
• one or more middle-ware servers, operatively connected to the MIST, wherein each middle-ware server provides server object status to the MIST.

A method for monitoring status of a system, comprising steps of:

• retrieving information that characterizes a system, the system including at least one sub-system that includes at least one host and a plurality of data objects that are originated, produced and received within the system;
• populating data structures of a connectivity interface status graph (ISG) with the retrieved information;
• scanning objects and mapping the scanned objects to hosts and subsystems;
• updating the data structures of the ISG based on the mapping step;
• subscribing to an instrumented management interface (IMI) for each of a plurality of event channels;
• pinging Originators and Producers for status information;
• monitoring IMI event channels to determine event channel status information;
• monitoring servers to determine server object status information;
• and
• updating the ISG with the status information from the pinging and monitoring steps.

A method for monitoring status of a system, comprising:

• determining data groups and objects in the system by walking a name server, the name server mapping middle-ware objects to hostname objects;
• populating data structures of a connectivity interface status graph (ISG) with the determined structure;
• scanning objects and mapping objects to hosts and subsystems;
• updating the data structures in the ISG based on the mapping step;
• subscribing to an instrumented management interface (IMI) for each of a plurality of event channels;
• pinging Originators and Producers for status information;
• monitoring IMI event channels to determine event channel status information;
• monitoring servers to determine server object status information;
• and
• updating the ISG with the status information from the pinging and monitoring steps.