Abstract: A method and apparatus for network resource allocation is provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining a subscriber limit rate at which a subscriber computer can process updates received from a plurality of publisher computers, wherein each of the updates comprises an electronic digital message received over a computer network; determining, for each publisher computer of the plurality of publisher computers, a not-to-exceed rate of updates sent to the subscriber computer and storing a plurality of the offered rates; determining by the subscriber computer, for each publisher computer of the plurality of publisher computer, a utility of updates sent by the publisher computer and storing a plurality of the utilities; assigning to each publisher computer of the plurality of publisher computers a publisher limit rate at which the respective publisher computer sends updates to the subscriber computer using the offered rate and the utility of updates of the respective publisher computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing state data from monitored entities in a computing environment are described. In a push-based approach, a publisher computer obtains state data of an element from the monitored entities and sends the state data on to a subscriber computer. From the state data, the publisher computer generates one metadata record for the element that is updated as newer state data is obtained such that each element is associated with just one record. The publisher computer scores and ranks the records of the elements based on a time since previous state data was sent to the subscriber computer, a magnitude of a change, and the existence of one or more event flags. The publisher computer schedules and queues the state data according to their ranking. The highest priority record in a queue is sent only when a timing signal indicates that state data can be sent.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating a network complexity score. In one approach, a plurality of node configurations that includes a first node configuration and a second node configuration are analyzed. A network complexity score is generated for a network based, at least in part, on one or more of (a) a degree of similarity between the first node configuration and the second node configuration or (b) a dependency between the first node configuration and the second node configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for network resource allocation is provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining a subscriber limit rate at which a subscriber computer can process updates received from a plurality of publisher computers, wherein each of the updates comprises an electronic digital message received over a computer network; determining, for each publisher computer of the plurality of publisher computers, a not-to-exceed rate of updates sent to the subscriber computer and storing a plurality of the offered rates; determining by the subscriber computer, for each publisher computer of the plurality of publisher computer, a utility of updates sent by the publisher computer and storing a plurality of the utilities; assigning to each publisher computer of the plurality of publisher computers a publisher limit rate at which the respective publisher computer sends updates to the subscriber computer using the offered rate and the utility of updates of the respective publisher computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing state data from monitored entities in a computing environment are described. In a push-based approach, a publisher computer obtains state data of an element from the monitored entities and sends the state data on to a subscriber computer. From the state data, the publisher computer generates one metadata record for the element that is updated as newer state data is obtained such that each element is associated with just one record. The publisher computer scores and ranks the records of the elements based on a time since previous state data was sent to the subscriber computer, a magnitude of a change, and the existence of one or more event flags. The publisher computer schedules and queues the state data according to their ranking. The highest priority record in a queue is sent only when a timing signal indicates that state data can be sent.

Abstract: Autonomic network sentinels are disclosed. An occurrence of a particular network condition is detected at a network entity. The network entity compares the particular network condition with one or more sample set rules of a first sample set of rules associated with the first network entity. The first sample set of rules comprise one or more rules from a full set of rules stored at a rule base. Each rule from the full set of rules represents a network condition and an action to be taken in response to an occurrence of the network condition. In response to determining that the particular network condition matches a particular rule from the first sample set of rules, the network entity notifies the rule base or one or more second network entities of the match.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating a network complexity score. In one approach, a plurality of node configurations that includes a first node configuration and a second node configuration are analyzed. A network complexity score is generated for a network based, at least in part, on one or more of (a) a degree of similarity between the first node configuration and the second node configuration or (b) a dependency between the first node configuration and the second node configuration.

Abstract: Autonomic network sentinels are disclosed. An occurrence of a particular network condition is detected at a network entity. The network entity compares the particular network condition with one or more sample set rules of a first sample set of rules associated with the first network entity. The first sample set of rules comprise one or more rules from a full set of rules stored at a rule base. Each rule from the full set of rules represents a network condition and an action to be taken in response to an occurrence of the network condition. In response to determining that the particular network condition matches a particular rule from the first sample set of rules, the network entity notifies the rule base or one or more second network entities of the match.

Abstract: A method of providing performance trend information from a device in a packet-switched network to a network management station comprises maintaining in the device one or more state variables that store values associated with data processing functions of the device; storing in the device a trend indicator value and a trend tendency value, both associated with a particular state variable among the state variables; periodically sampling the particular state variable to obtain one or more sampled values; determining and updating the trend indicator value with a direction of change in the sampled values of the particular state variable over a particular time; determining and updating the trend tendency value with a rate of change in the one or more sampled values of the particular state variable over the particular time; and sending the trend indicator value and the trend tendency value to the network management station.

Abstract: Techniques for system (syslog) messages are provided. As syslog messages are generated a dual sequence number is maintained for each syslog message. The first sequence number is consistent for each syslog message and represents a total number of syslog messages received. The second sequence number is maintained as a total message count for a specific session for which a syslog message is assigned.

Abstract: A method for managing packet voice networks using a virtual switch approach and abstract information model approach is disclosed. A virtual switch object represents a virtual switch having a media gateway controller and one or more associated media gateways. User input specifies a configuration operation on the virtual switch and one or more parameter values. One or more configuration instructions are automatically issued to both the media gateway controller and the media gateway, resulting in configuring both the media gateway controller and the media gateway as specified in the user input. As a result, a user can configure or operate on a virtual switch as an atomic entity, for example, in a network management application, without involvement in complicated details of the actual network devices that provide a particular packet voice service.

Abstract: A uniquely configured data structure is used to store event information for each network entity, where logical and physical dependency relationships among entities are captured in the data structure. For each entity, the data structure is configured to store (a) a “genuine event set”, which includes a list of events that originated in association with the entity; and (b) a “derived event set”, which includes a list of records in which each record is associated with an event that originated in association with an entity that has a dependency relationship (e.g., layering or topological) with the entity. The derived event set may simply comprise references to the genuine event sets for entities that have a dependency relationship with the entity.