Abstract: Information processing techniques are disclosed for managing knowledge across a distributed entity. For example, a method comprises the following steps. A database of information is maintained representing knowledge attributable to at least one distributed entity. An interface is provided for presenting at least a portion of the information maintained in the database and for presenting one or more responses to one or more queries to the database. At least a portion of the one or more responses is indicative of at least one of an expansion, a transfer and a leveraging of the knowledge attributable to the at least one distributed entity.

Abstract: A virtual domain management system is provided which associates application, physical and virtual domains to enable propagation of events, symptoms and other information across the domains. The virtual domain manager collects events and symptom information across multiple domains by correlating domain topology models. Using a causality matrix and codebook technology the virtual domain manager uses the information to perform root cause and impact analysis across domains. Information from the analysis may be fed back into the domains to enhance domain management.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing scalability of a resource management and analysis system is disclosed. A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing scalability of a resource management and analysis system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving and storing information associated with each of the managed elements by a first system, determining a topology of the distributed system from the received managed element information, providing selected information regarding the topology to each of a second and a third system, wherein progressively less specific information is provided to the second and third systems, receiving, at the second system information, regarding status of the managed elements and determining an aggregated status of the managed components and performing, at the third system, an analysis based at least on the aggregated status information and the selected topology information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for logically representing and analyzing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in a plurality of functional representation layers is disclosed.

Abstract: A compliance lifecycle management system is provided that addresses policy management issues at each stage of policy maturity throughout a policy lifetime. The compliance lifecycle management system provides functionality for policy control at initialization by enabling specification and creation of policies including identifying redundant and sub/super sets of policies across domains. As an infrastructure and its associated policies mature and change, the compliance lifecycle management system monitors compliance to dynamic policies to check for policy conflicts. The compliance management process may further be used to simulate the introduction of policies into the infrastructure to view the resultant impact that a new or updated policies may have on a network. With such an arrangement, policy management practices become more responsive, predictable and efficient.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for logically representing and analyzing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in a plurality of functional representation layers is disclosed.

Abstract: A compliance lifecycle management system is provided that addresses policy management issues at each stage of policy maturity throughout a policy lifetime. The compliance lifecycle management system provides functionality for policy control at initialization by enabling specification and creation of policies including identifying redundant and sub/super sets of policies across domains. As an infrastructure and its associated policies mature and change, the compliance lifecycle management system monitors compliance to dynamic policies to check for policy conflicts. The compliance management process may further be used to simulate the introduction of policies into the infrastructure to view the resultant impact that a new or updated policies may have on a network. With such an arrangement, policy management practices become more responsive, predictable and efficient.

Abstract: A virtual domain management system is provided which associates application, physical and virtual domains to enable propagation of events, symptoms and other information across the domains. The virtual domain manager collects events and symptom information across multiple domains by correlating domain topology models. Using a causality matrix and codebook technology the virtual domain manager uses the information to perform root cause and impact analysis across domains. Information from the analysis may be fed back into the domains to enhance domain management.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for multi-realm system modeling (MRSM) for dividing systems into components, defining realms containing objects representing system components, defining relationships between the system components, defining relationships and/or associations between realms sufficient to unify objects in the realms, and unifying objects in the realms based on the relationships and/or associations.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for modeling distributed systems is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of a plurality of physical and logical elements as a plurality of objects, organizing the selected ones of the objects within each of the plurality of model layers, the model layers representing at least one function of the distributed network, determining behavioral relationships among objects within each of the model layers and determining behavioral relationships among selected ones of the objects among each of the model layers, said selected objects representing layer endpoints, wherein information between model layers is passed through said layer endpoints. The apparatus recites a processor for performing the steps of the disclosed method and the computer-program product provides code or instruction to a processor for executing the disclosed method steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating on a system containing a plurality of components in communication using at least one communication protocol is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of the plurality of components, the relationship among the components and the associated communication protocols, determining a mapping between a plurality of events and a plurality of observable events occurring among the components and among the communication protocols, wherein the mapping is represented as a value associating each event with each observable event, and performing the operation in conjunction with the events and observable events, wherein events associated with the communication protocols are distinguished from events associated with the components. The operations may be selected from the group of monitoring, discovering, managing, analyzing and displaying the components associated with the multicast protocols.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating on a system containing a plurality of components in communication using at least one communication protocol is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of the plurality of components, the relationship among the components and the associated communication protocols, determining a mapping between a plurality of events and a plurality of observable events occurring among the components and among the communication protocols, wherein the mapping is represented as a value associating each event with each observable event, and performing the operation in conjunction with the events and observable events, wherein events associated with the communication protocols are distinguished from events associated with the components. The operations may be selected from the group of monitoring, discovering, managing, analyzing and displaying the components associated with the multicast protocols.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer product for modeling and analyzing performance of a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) configuration, composed of a plurality of components, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method, device and computer product suitable for performing an analysis on a Grid Computer Network (GCN) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of a plurality of components and a relationship among the components in the GCN, providing a mapping between a plurality of events and a plurality of observable events occurring among the components, wherein the mapping is represented as a value associating each event with each observable event, and determining at least one likely causing event based on at least one of the plurality of observable events by determining a measure between each of a plurality of values associated with the plurality of observable events and the plurality of causing events.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for performing a system analysis of a system is disclosed.