Network mapping system

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method for generating a multi-layer network map from network configuration data. The method receives network configuration data that defines network components and connections between the network components for a network that spans one or more datacenters. Based on the received network configuration data, the method generates multiple data layers for a multi-layer interactive map of the network. Different data layers include different network components and connections. The method generates a visual representation of the network for each data layer. Each visual representation includes a map of the network at a different level of hierarchy.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for displaying a first logical network, the method comprising:
 receiving network configuration data for configuring a set of physical network elements in a shared physical network to implement a set of logical network elements for the first logical network that is defined over the shared physical network along with at least a second logical network; and   based on the received network configuration data, generating first and second visual representations of the first logical network and the physical network, the first visual representation displaying a set of logical network components and a set of links between the logical network components in the set, while the second visual representation displays the physical network components that implement the set of logical network components and the links between the displayed physical network components.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising generating a set of overlays for each visual representation, each overlay comprising an additional visual depiction of an aspect of the network represented by the visual representation. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein each overlay comprises at least one of a runtime aspect of the particular logical network or physical network and a configuration aspect of the particular logical network or physical network. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one overlay identifies an application of a policy specified by the network configuration data to a set of network components in the particular logical network or connections between the components in the set of network components. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one overlay visually identifies a current value of a network performance metric for a set of network components in the particular logical network or connections between the components in the set of network components. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a first visual representation comprises a set of links from the logical first network layer to the physical second network layer. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising generating a link from the logical first network layer to the physical second network layer by associating one or more logical network components of the logical first logical network layer with a link to the physical second network layer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein generating the visual representation of the logical first network layer comprises generating selectable items for the one or more logical network components that link to the visual representation of one or more physical network components of the physical second network layer. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the logical first network layer comprises a first set of the logical network components and the physical second network layer comprises a second set of the physical network components. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least each of set of logical network components is a logical switch or a logical router implemented by a several physical switches or physical routers. 
     
     
         31 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a program which when executed by at least one processing unit displays a first logical network, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
 receiving network configuration data for configuring a set of physical network elements in a shared physical network to implement a set of logical network elements for the first logical network that is defined over the shared physical network along with at least a second logical network; and   based on the received network configuration data, generating first and second visual representations of the first logical network and the physical network, the first visual representation displaying a set of logical network components and a set of links between the logical network components in the set, while the second visual representation displays the physical network components that implement the set of logical network components and the links between the displayed physical network components.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 31  the program further comprising a set of instructions for generating a set of overlays for each visual representation, each overlay comprising an additional visual depiction of an aspect of the network represented by the visual representation. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein each overlay comprises at least one of a runtime aspect of the particular logical network or physical network and a configuration aspect of the particular logical network or physical network. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein at least one overlay identifies an application of a policy specified by the network configuration data to a set of network components in the particular logical network or connections between the components in the set of network components. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein at least one overlay visually identifies a current value of a network performance metric for a set of network components in the particular logical network or connections between the components in the set of network components. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein a first visual representation comprises a set of links from the logical first network layer to the physical second network layer. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 36  the program further comprising a set of instructions generating a link from the logical first network layer to the physical second network layer by associating one or more logical network components of the logical first logical network layer with a link to the physical second network layer. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the set of instructions for generating the visual representation of the logical first network layer comprises a set of instructions for generating selectable items for the one or more logical network components that link to the visual representation of one or more physical network components of the physical second network layer. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the logical first network layer comprises a first set of the logical network components and the physical second network layer comprises a second set of the physical network components. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein at least each of set of logical network components is a logical switch or a logical router implemented by a several physical switches or physical routers.