Visualization of performance data over a network path

摘要

A system and technique for visualizing performance data over a network path are disclosed. More specifically, a network management system generates and displays an object that represents data for one or more performance characteristics related to a plurality of network nodes in the network path. In one embodiment, a graph having an x-axis and a y-axis is displayed, the x-axis being associated with two or more network nodes in the network path and the y-axis being associated with a first performance characteristic. Data corresponding to the first performance characteristic is plotted as data points corresponding to the network nodes associated with the x-axis. Data corresponding to a second performance characteristic may be represented via the size or the color of the data points. Alternatively, a characterization of the data corresponding to the first performance characteristic may be represented by the size or color of the data points.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
sending a request to each of a plurality of network nodes in a network path for data associated with one or more performance characteristics, wherein at least one of the network nodes is configured to monitor the one or more performance characteristics, wherein the one or more performance characteristics include at least one of a CPU utilization rate, memory utilization rate, and number of dropped data packets; receiving, from each of the plurality of network nodes in the network path, the requested data associated with the one or more performance characteristics; and generating an object within a graphical user interface (GU) to:
display, via a first type of representation within the object, data associated with a respective first performance characteristic of one or more of the plurality of network nodes in the network path; anddisplay, via a second type of representation within the object, either data associated with a second respective performance characteristic of one or more of the plurality of network nodes in the network path or a characterization of the data associated with the respective first performance characteristic of one or more of the plurality of network nodes in the network path, the second type of representation being distinct from the first type of representation wherein:
the object comprises a graph having an x-axis, associated with at least two of the network nodes, and a y-axis, associated with the respective first performance characteristic of the at least two of the network nodes;each of the at least two of the network nodes is represented by a distinct position on the x-axis, andeach respective first performance characteristic of each of the at least two of the network nodes is represented by a respective position on the y-axis.