Cross-layer troubleshooting of application delivery

Abstract

Techniques for cross-layer troubleshooting of application delivery are disclosed. In some embodiments, cross-layer troubleshooting of application delivery includes collecting test results from a plurality of distributed agents for a plurality of application delivery layers; and generating a graphical visualization of an application delivery state based on the test results for the plurality of application delivery layers (e.g., different application delivery layers).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a device, a first set of application performance test results indicative of application delivery performance of a distributed application at a network layer or a transport layer;   receiving, by the device, a second set of application performance test results indicative of application delivery performance of the distributed application at an application layer;   correlating, by the device, the first set of application performance test results and the second set of application performance test results using one or more shared criteria; and   identifying, by the device, a cross-layer performance issue associated with delivery of the distributed application based on the correlated first set of application performance test results and the second set of application performance test results.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein distributed agents perform one or more active is measurements of end-to-end network properties associated with the distributed application to generate the first set of application performance test results and the second set application performance test results. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the distributed agents are located in different geographies for performing different types of tests. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the distributed agents are located in different geographies for targeting different sites, locations, or metrics. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the distributed agents do not instrument a destination site associated with the distributed application. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shared criteria are selected from the group consisting of: a time domain and a space domain. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing, by the device, a graphical visualization of the cross-layer performance issue associated with delivery of the distributed application to be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI).   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the graphical visualization comprises a network topology that allows a user to drill down into one or more of a plurality of locations at different layers including the network layer, the transport layer, and the application layer. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the graphical visualization includes a timeline that comprises a navigation widget that enables a user to view an aggregate behavior of one or more is distributed agents over time at a particular layer. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more network interfaces to communicate with a distributed application of a computer network;   a processor coupled to the network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes; and   an apparatus memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
 receive a first set of application performance test results indicative of application delivery performance of the distributed application at a network layer or a transport layer; 
 receive a second set of application performance test results indicative of application delivery performance of the distributed application at an application layer; 
 correlate the first set of application performance test results and the second set of application performance test results using one or more shared criteria; and 
 identify a cross-layer performance issue associated with delivery of the distributed application based on the correlated first set of application performance test results and the second set of application performance test results. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein distributed agents perform one or more active measurements of end-to-end network properties associated with the distributed application to generate the first set of application performance test results and the second set application performance test results. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the distributed agents are located in different geographies for performing different types of tests. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the distributed agents are located in different geographies for targeting different sites, locations, or metrics. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the distributed agents do not instrument a destination site associated with the distributed application. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more shared criteria are selected from the group consisting of: a time domain and a space domain. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the process when executed further operable to:
 cause a graphical visualization of the cross-layer performance issue associated with delivery of the distributed application to be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI).   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the graphical visualization comprises a network topology that allows a user to drill down into one or more of a plurality of locations at different layers including the network layer, the transport layer, and the application layer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the graphical visualization includes a timeline that comprises a navigation widget that enables a user to view an aggregate behavior of one or more distributed agents over time at a particular layer. 
     
     
         19 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device in communication with a distributed application to execute a process comprising:
 receiving, by a device, a first set of application performance test results indicative of application delivery performance of a distributed application at a network layer or a transport layer;   receiving, by the device, a second set of application performance test results indicative of application delivery performance of the distributed application at an application layer;   correlating, by the device, the first set of application performance test results and the second set of application performance test results using one or more shared criteria; and   identifying, by the device, a cross-layer performance issue associated with delivery of the distributed application based on the correlated first set of application performance test results and the second set of application performance test results.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , the process further comprising:
 causing, by the device, a graphical visualization of the cross-layer performance issue associated with delivery of the distributed application to be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI).