Method and System for Importing an Application and Server Map to a Business Systems Manager Display

Abstract

An automated system displays enables a user to observe the activities in a system based on information in the display. From this display, the user can quickly identify the source of problems for the purpose of troubleshooting without the need to manually determine the source and nature of the problem. In this system, data about the system is gathered through a plurality of agents positioned throughout the network. This data is analyzed and a system monitor deployment configuration is developed. This monitor deployment information along with information about the various devices in the system and any relationships of devices in the system are imported to the display system. The display system then displays this information showing the present relationships of the devices in the system.

1 . A method for displaying an application and server map on a systems manager display comprising the steps of:
 gathering data of computing system activities from a plurality of data gathering points on a computing system, the data including the identification of devices on the computing system, the functions of such devices and relationships between devices on the computing system;   generating a computing system monitoring configuration that identifies locations on the computing system for placement of monitors for tracking activities of the devices identified on the computing system;   deploying monitors on the computing in accordance to the generated computing system monitoring configuration;   importing to a computing systems manager display, generated computing system monitoring configuration information, device identity and characteristic information and information about relationships between devices identified on the computing system; and   generating a display of the computing system from information received during said information importing step.   
   
   
       2 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein said generating a computing system monitoring configuration step further comprises the steps of:
 identifying a device on the computing system;   identifying characteristics of the device;   identifying relationships between the device and other devices on the computing system;   customizing a monitor such that the monitor tracks specific activities of the device;   determining a deployment location such that the customized monitor can effectively track activities of the device.   
   
   
       3 . The method as described in  claim 2  wherein said monitor customizing step and said deployment determining step are determined from the identified device, identified device characteristics and the identified relationships between the device and other devices on the computing network. 
   
   
       4 . The method as described in  claim 2  further comprising after said data gathering step, the step of storing the gathered information in a database in a format in which based on relationships between devices in the computing system. 
   
   
       5 . The method as described in  claim 4  wherein said device, characteristics and relationships identifying steps further comprise the step of querying a database and retrieving information about the devices in the system. 
   
   
       6 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein said importing step further comprises the step of compartmentalizing by identifying applications and devices that are related to performing that function such that the systems manager displays these relationships. 
   
   
       7 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein said importing step further comprises the step of converting the computing systems manager display, generated computing system monitoring configuration information, device identity and characteristic information and information about relationships between devices identified on the computing system into a format for importation to the systems manager. 
   
   
       8 . The method as described in  claim 7  wherein the conversion format is XML. 
   
   
       9 . A system for displaying an application and server map on a systems manager display comprising:
 a configuration of a plurality of servers;   a relational database for storing data containing information about relationships between servers in the plurality of servers;   a server management program; and   a server configuration and operations display.   
   
   
       10 . The system as described in  claim 9  wherein said server management program monitors activities of the configuration of servers and conveys gathered information to said server configurations display. 
   
   
       11 . The system as described in  claim 10  wherein said server management program further comprises:
 a data-gathering module;   a monitor deployment module; and   an information importation module.   
   
   
       12 . The system as described in  claim 10  wherein said monitor deployment module retrieves information gathered by the data gathering module and generates a custom monitoring configuration to monitor server activities. 
   
   
       13 . The system as described in  claim 12  wherein said information importation module converts monitor deployment information and information about inter-relationships between devices into an acceptable importation format for display. 
   
   
       14 . A computer program product stored in a computer readable medium for displaying an application and server map on a systems manager display comprising
 instructions for gathering data of computing system activities from a plurality of data gathering points on a computing system, the data including the identification of devices on the computing system, the functions of such devices and relationships between devices on the computing system;   instructions for generating a computing system monitoring configuration that identifies locations on the computing system for placement of monitors for tracking activities of the devices identified on the computing system;   instructions for deploying monitors on the computing in accordance to the generated computing system-monitoring configuration;   instructions for importing to a computing systems manager display, generated computing system monitoring configuration information, device identity and characteristic information and information about relationships between devices identified on the computing system; and   instructions for generating a display of the computing system from information received during said information importing step.   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product as described in  claim 14  wherein said generating a computing system monitoring configuration instructions further comprises instructions for:
 identifying a device on the computing system;   identifying characteristics of the device;   identifying relationships between the device and other devices on the computing system;   customizing a monitor such that the monitor tracks specific activities of the device;   determining a deployment location such that the customized monitor can effectively track activities of the device.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product as described in  claim 15  wherein said monitor customizing instructions and said deployment determining instructions are determined from the identified device, identified device characteristics and the identified relationships between the device and other devices on the computing network. 
   
   
       17 . The computer program product as described in  claim 15  further comprising after said data gathering instructions, instructions for storing the gathered information in a database in a format in which based on relationships between devices in the computing system. 
   
   
       18 . The computer program product as described in  claim 17  wherein said device, characteristics and relationships identifying instructions further comprise instructions for querying a database and retrieving information about the devices in the system. 
   
   
       19 . The computer program product as described in  claim 15  wherein said importing instructions further comprise instructions for compartmentalizing by identifying applications and devices that are related to performing that function such that the systems manager displays these relationships. 
   
   
       20 . The computer program product as described in  claim 15  wherein said importing instructions further comprise instructions for converting the computing systems manager display, generated computing system monitoring configuration information, device identity and characteristic information and information about relationships between devices identified on the computing system into a format for importation to the systems manager.