Method and apparatus for layered overview in visualization of large enterprise it environment

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for layered overview visualization of an IT environment having nodes and links related to the nodes, comprising:

• initializing a layered overview visualization of a computing environment having a plurality of elements, said elements comprising assets or groups of assets in the computing environment, said initializing comprising:
• defining a plurality of hierarchical levels including a first level and a second level below the first level;
• assigning a first element of the plurality of elements and a second element of the plurality of elements to the first level;
• and
• assigning a common element to the second level, wherein the common element is included within both the first element and the second element in the first level;
• and
• identifying an overlap between the first element and the second element of the first level as a result of the presence of the common element in the second level that is included in both the first element and the second element of the first level;
• and
• navigating the layered overview visualization, said navigating comprising:
• receiving a selection of a view of the computing environment;
• receiving a selection of the first level of the hierarchical levels within the selected view;
• receiving a selection of the overlap of the first element and the second element in the selected level and highlighting the overlapping elements;
• and
• displaying on a screen the selected level and the highlighted overlapping elements in the selected level.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer readable program code embodied therein that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
• initializing, using a processor, a layered overview visualization of a computing environment having a plurality of elements, said elements comprising assets or groups of assets in the computing environment, said initializing comprising:
• defining a plurality of hierarchical levels including a first level and a second level below the first level;
• assigning a first element of the plurality of elements and a second element of the plurality of elements to the first level;
• and
• assigning a common element to the second level, wherein the common element is included within both the first element and the second element in the first level;
• and
• identifying an overlap between the first element and the second element of the first level as a result of the presence of the common element in the second level that is included in both the first element and the second element of the first level;
• and
• navigating the layered overview visualization, said navigating comprising:
• receiving a selection of a view of the computing environment;
• receiving a selection of the first level of the hierarchical levels within the selected view;
• receiving a selection of the overlap of the first element and the second element in the selected level and highlighting the overlapping elements;
• and
• displaying on a screen the selected level and the highlighted overlapping elements in the selected level.