Abstract: A path of a communication connection between a first node and a second node is determined. The path includes at least one connecting node. A first set of network performance data associated with the communication connection is obtained. Ones of a plurality of diagnostic rules is automatically evaluated based on the obtained first set of network performance data to identify a second set of network performance data to be collected.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for synchronizing clocks in a computer network. A first node clock is synchronized to a second node clock by establishing an initial value of a virtual second node clock at the first node. The initial value may be established based on the first node clock and a timing record received from the second node. A frequency bias adjustment factor is determined for the virtual second node clock based on a plurality of clock requests from the first node and a plurality of corresponding responses from the second node spaced apart in time. The responses from the second node include the timing record based on the second node clock. A time of the virtual second node clock is provided based on the frequency bias adjustment factor responsive to requests for the virtual second node clock at a time between requests.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for evaluating performance of a network that supports packetized communications. A network test protocol that is associated with the packetized communication is initiated and network performance data is obtained based on the initiated network test protocol. An overall network quality rating is generated based on the obtained performance data and a network impairment indicator is calculated based on the overall network quality rating.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for monitoring a task executing on a data processing system, the task having an associated work in process queue and an associated work pending queue. The task is configured to properly execute requests that are terminated in progress and restarted from an initial start point. A watchdog task determines if the task is executing properly and restarts the task if it is not executing properly. Restarting is provided by placing requests in the work in process queue of the terminated task in the work pending queue and clearing the work in process queue. Execution by the task of requests from the work pending queue is then reinitiated.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for evaluating network performance. A path of a communication connection between a first node and a second node is determined. The path includes at least one connecting node. A first set of network performance data associated with the communication connection is obtained. Ones of a plurality of diagnostic rules is automatically evaluated based on the obtained first set of network performance data to identify a second set of network performance data to be collected.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for monitoring a task executing on a data processing system, the task having an associated work in process queue and an associated work pending queue. The task is configured to properly execute requests that are terminated in progress and restarted from an initial start point. A watchdog task determines if the task is executing properly and restarts the task if it is not executing properly. Restarting is provided by placing requests in the work in process queue of the terminated task in the work pending queue and clearing the work in process queue. Execution by the task of requests from the work pending queue is then reinitiated.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for evaluating performance of a network that supports packetized communications. A network test protocol that is associated with the packetized communication is initiated and network performance data is obtained based on the initiated network test protocol. An overall network quality rating is generated based on the obtained performance data and a network impairment indicator is calculated based on the overall network quality rating.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which coordinate operations for a plurality of interrelated tasks executing on a computer using actual state objects and desired state objects. For each event including coordination between two of the plurality of interrelated tasks, a first (or initiator) task initiates operations by a second (or executor) task to carry out a desired sequence of operations. The initiator task sets a desired state object to the desired state and submits a request to the executor task. The executor task, in turn, operates on the request in order to update an actual state object to the desired state stored in the desired state object by the initiator task. Write control over the desired state object is therefore granted to the initiator task while write control over the actual state object is granted to the executor task.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for testing a network that supports packetized voice communications. Execution of a network test protocol associated with the packetized voice communications is initiated and obtained performance data for the network based on the initiated network test protocol is automatically received. The obtained performance data is mapped to terms of an overall transmission quality rating. The overall transmission quality rating is generated based on the mapped obtained performance data.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for synchronizing clocks in a computer network. A first node clock is synchronized to a second node clock by establishing an initial value of a virtual second node clock at the first node. The initial value may be established based on the first node clock and a timing record received from the second node. A frequency bias adjustment factor is determined for the virtual second node clock based on a plurality of clock requests from the first node and a plurality of corresponding responses from the second node spaced apart in time. The responses from the second node include the timing record based on the second node clock. A time of the virtual second node clock is provided based on the frequency bias adjustment factor responsive to requests for the virtual second node clock at a time between requests.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which test network performance by defining test schedules including test protocols to be implemented and when the protocols should be executed for a plurality of defined connections on a network. A connection may be defined between two endpoint nodes on the network. At times specified in the test schedule, the endpoint node pair executes the test protocol and measures the performance of the network connection between the two nodes without requiring any involvement of application software which may or may not be installed on the computer hardware supporting the endpoint node. The test protocol may define the type of network layer protocol to utilize (for example, TCP), and the test script or scripts to be communicated using the appropriate stack on the computer hardware supporting the endpoint node.