BACKGROUND

In the modern computer age, businesses rely on an electronic network to function properly. Computer network management and troubleshooting is complex. There are thousands of shell scripts and applications for different network problems. The available, but poorly documented solutions, can be overwhelming for junior network engineers. Most network engineers learn troubleshooting through reading the manufacture's manual or internal documentation from the company's documentation department. But the effectiveness varies. For instance, the troubleshooting knowledge captured in a document can only be helpful if the information is accurate and if the user correctly identifies the problem. Many companies have to conduct extensive training for junior engineers. The conventional way for network troubleshooting requires a network professional to manually run a set of standard commands and processes for each of the devices. However, to become familiar with those commands, along with each of its parameters takes years of practice. Also complicated troubleshooting methodology is often hard to share and transfer. Therefore even though a similar network problem happens again and again, each instance of troubleshooting may still have to start from scratch. However, networks are getting more and more complex and it is increasingly difficult to manage it efficiently with traditional methods and tools.

Networks are getting more and more complex but network engineers still depend on the traditional methods and tools, such as the text-based command-line interface (CLI), to manage their networks. To troubleshoot a network problem or to simply verify if a network functions, a network engineer still needs to manually log in to each of the network devices and issue a CLI command to gather the data, manually parse and analyze each of the output for key data, and manually eliminate each of the possible problem causes. With text-based CLI as the primary method for troubleshooting a network problem, a network professional usually needs to repetitively execute the same CLI commands and decode key data from the command output many times for many network devices. This process is error-prone, strenuous and time consuming.

To further complicate this already tangled process, many vendors and models of network hardware devices that exist in today's network, are providing different sets of CLI commands which output many different formats of data information. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a network engineer to simplify this process by writing a simple executable program to retrieve, parse and analyze the output data of each of these different devices. It is even more challenging to require a network engineer to master a programming language in a short time, and apply such skills in a reliable manner. For managed service providers (MSP), improving the efficiency of their troubleshooting processes means reduced training cost and increased reliability in providing services to their customers.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates generally to network management and graphic user interface (GUI) based automated procedures in network management. Specifically, network tasks may be automated and simplified based on an improved GUI that can dynamically retrieve and display dynamic network operating information.

In one embodiment, a dynamic data view template is used for improving network management. The embodiments may include a method for network management including generating a map displaying network devices and their connections, and providing an interface for defining a dynamic data view template. The definition of the dynamic data view template comprises associating one or more variables with one or more of the network devices or the connections. The method includes applying the dynamic data view template to the map, and modifying the map based on the application of the dynamic data view template to display the one or more variables with the associated one or more of the network devices or the connections. The displayed variables are selectable for displaying details about the associated one or more of the network devices or the connections related to the selected variable. Further embodiments include the interface providing an option for a static view rather than a dynamic view and providing an option for scheduling application of the dynamic data view template. The application of the dynamic data view template based on the scheduling. The application of the dynamic data view template can be interactive. The interface provides an option to append a note to at least one of the network devices or the connections and the note comprises a compound or compound overwrite note. The interface provides an option for establishing a condition under which the note is displayed. The interface provides an option to highlight at least one of the network devices or the connections. The interface provides an option for establishing a condition under which the highlight is displayed. The method further includes providing an option for a static data view that can modify the map for an individual one of the network devices or the connections.

In another embodiment, the dynamic data view template may include a method for displaying a map that includes network devices and connections of the network devices on the map, receiving a request for a dynamic data view template that can be applied to the map, receiving input variables and corresponding values as inputs for application of the dynamic data view template, applying, to the map, the dynamic data view template using the inputs and the corresponding values, and displaying modifications to the map from the application of the dynamic data view template. The modification to the map include displaying a data view detail pane with information about the input variables. The method further includes receiving a request for a static data view that comprises a display without live data, wherein the application of the dynamic data view template utilizes live data. The method further includes receiving a scheduling request for the dynamic data view template, wherein the application of the dynamic data view template is based on the scheduling request. The application of the dynamic data view template can use cached data or live data.

In another embodiment, the dynamic data view template may include a graphical user interface comprising a map displaying network devices and interfaces between each of the network devices, a data view template editor for creating a data view template based on qualifications or variables for modifying at least some of the network devices and the interfaces, and a data view template manager for displaying the qualifications or the variables for modifying at least some of the network devices and the interfaces. The application of the data view template modifies the map based on the qualifications or the variables. The data view template manager includes drill-down actions as part of the modification to the map.

In one embodiment, a drill-down menu for actions is used for improving network management. The embodiments may include a method for network management comprising displaying a map of network devices and connections between the network devices, associating one or more of the network devices or one or more of the connections with one or more drill-down actions, displaying each of the drill-down actions on the map at a location adjacent to the associated one or more network devices or the associated one or more connections, receiving a selection of one of the drill-down actions, and implementing a function provided by the selected drill-down action. The selection of the one of the drill-down actions further comprises a selection of the associated one or more network devices or the associated one or more connections. The function of the drill-down action is based on the selection of the associated one or more network devices or the associated one or more connections. The function is applied to the associated one or more network devices or the associated one or more connections. Each of the network devices is displayed as an icon on the map. The location at which the drill-down action is displayed comprises a link near the icon for the associated network device. The method includes receiving a condition upon which the drill-down action is applied, wherein the condition comprises one of always display, display upon an alert, or display upon selection of a particular variable.

In another embodiment, the drill-down actions may include a method comprising mapping one or more network devices and connections between those network devices, providing an interface for generating a data view template that includes pre-defined drill-down actions, receiving a selection from among the network devices or connections upon which to apply the pre-defined drill-down actions, applying the data view template to the mapping, and modifying the mapping to display the pre-defined drill-down actions. The display of the pre-defined drill-down actions comprises a selectable link. The selectable link is displayed adjacent to the selected network device or connection upon which the pre-defined drill-down action is applied. The display of the pre-defined drill-down actions is displayed as a recommended action for troubleshooting. The method includes receiving one or more input parameters for usage with the data view template application and for the pre-defined drill-down action.

In another embodiment, the drill-down actions may include a graphical user interface comprising a map displaying network devices and interfaces between the network devices, a data view template that includes a selection of drill-down actions associated with one or more of the network devices or one or more of the interfaces, and a display of the drill-down actions adjacent the associated one or more of the network devices or the one or more of the interfaces, wherein the display of the drill-down actions provides recommended actions for the end user. Application of the recommended actions provides further information displayed on the map. The data view template editor provides an option for establishing conditions upon which the drill-down actions are displayed. The conditions comprise always display, display upon an alert, or display upon selection of a particular variable. The alert comprises a golden baseline alert that occurs when current data varies from an established golden baseline for that data. The drill-down actions are displayed as selectable links. The network devices are displayed as icons for the map and the selectable links are adjacent a corresponding one of the icons.

In one embodiment, a single pane of glass function is provided for improving network management. The embodiments may include a graphical user interface comprising a map displaying network devices and interfaces between the network devices, a data view template that includes a selection of a single pane of glass action associated with one or more of the network devices or one or more of the interfaces, a single pane of glass action link that is displayed based on the association with the one or more of the network devices or the one or more of the interfaces, and a display, upon selection of the single pane of glass action link, of data for the associated network device or interface, wherein the data is displayed from a third party source related to the associated network device or interface. The single pane of glass action is one of a selection of drill-down actions. The third party is a manufacturer of the associated network device or interface. The data is retrieved from a website of the third party but displayed as part of the graphical user interface. The display is within a pane displayed for the map. The single pane of glass action link comprises references for one or more variables. The single pane of glass action link is displayed relative to an indication of the one or more variables.

In another embodiment, the single pane of glass function may include a graphical user interface for network management comprising a display of network devices on a map, wherein each of the network devices is displayed as an icon on the map, a list of drill-down actions adjacent a corresponding one of the network devices, wherein the drill-down actions for the corresponding network device apply to that corresponding network device, further wherein the drill-down actions are selectable for application to the corresponding network device, a single pane of glass option as part of the drill-down actions, and a display pane that displays third party information related to the corresponding network device upon selection of the single pane of glass option, wherein the display pane displays third party information from a plurality of third parties associated with different ones of the network devices. The third party comprises a manufacturer of the network device. The third party information comprises a website from the manufacturer. The single pane of glass option comprises a universal resource locator (URL).

In another embodiment, the single pane of glass function may include method of network management comprising mapping network devices and interfaces between the network devices, defining a single pane of glass link based on an association with at least one of the devices or interfaces and an association with at least one variable for that device or interface, receiving a selection of the single pane of glass link, retrieving, from a third party, additional information related to the associated device or interface, and providing a data view pane for displaying the additional information. The third party is related to the associated device or interface. The third party is a manufacturer of the associate device or interface. The additional information is from a website of the third party. The data view pane displays information from a plurality of websites from a plurality of third parties. The data view pane is displayed relative to the mapping. The selection of the single pane of glass link is from a list of drill-down actions that can be applied to at least a subset of the network devices or the interfaces.

In one embodiment, a golden baseline comparison is provided for improving network management and network troubleshooting. The embodiment may include a graphical user interface comprising a map displaying network devices and interfaces between the network devices, a data view template that includes a golden baseline rule for a particular variable to be associated with one or more of the network devices or one or more of the interfaces, a display, upon application of the data view template, of live data for the particular variable as compared with a golden baseline data from the golden baseline rule for the associated one or more of the network devices or the one or more of the interfaces, and a golden baseline alert that is displayed when the live data does not meet the condition established by the golden baseline rule. The golden baseline alert comprises a notification to a user of the one or more of the network devices or the one or more of the interfaces for which the golden baseline rule was triggered. The golden baseline alert comprises a notification to a user of the variable for which the golden baseline rule was triggered. The golden baseline alert comprises highlighting an icon representing the one or more of the network devices or the one or more of the interfaces for which the golden baseline rule was triggered. The interface includes a data detail pane for the display of the live data relative to the golden baseline data. The particular variables comprises a variable type of number, string, or table. The golden baseline rule comprises an equals operation in which the golden baseline rule is for the live data to equal the golden baseline data. The golden baseline rule comprises a not equals operation in which the golden baseline rule is for the live data to not equal the golden baseline data. The golden baseline data is automatically generated based on tracking of the live data. The golden baseline data is changed automatically based on the tracking of the live data.

In another embodiment, the golden baseline includes a method for network troubleshooting comprising, receiving network data for a plurality of network devices in a network, calculating, automatically, a golden baseline rule for at least one of the network devices based on the received network data for that network device, comparing the network data for the at least one of the network device with the automatically calculated golden baseline rule, and triggering an alert for troubleshooting when the comparison fails the golden baseline rule. The triggering of the alert is specific to the at least one of the network devices which failed the golden baseline rule. The golden baseline rule establishes a golden baseline for the network data, wherein the comparison fails when the network data is outside of the golden baseline. The automatic calculation requires a minimum number of network data points. The minimum number of network data points depends on a type of variable associated with the network data. The golden baseline rule can be manually modified by a user. The golden baseline rule establishes a healthy state for the at least one of the network device. The network devices further comprise connections between the network devices.

In another embodiment, the golden baseline includes a method for network troubleshooting comprising receiving data for a network device, tracking the received data for the network device, establishing, automatically, golden baseline data based on the tracked data, comparing subsequently received data with the golden baseline data, and triggering an alert when the subsequently received data fails the comparison with the golden baseline data. The establishing comprises a golden baseline rule for parameters of the golden baseline data, wherein the failing of the comparison comprises when the subsequently received data does not match the golden baseline rule.

