METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HISTORY ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIVE CHANGE MANAGEMENT FOR ACCESS PATHS IN NETWORKS

摘要

A method and system for constructing and analyzing an access path event history and for predictively managing changes in a network is provided. Inconsistencies in the physical and logical access paths when making changes in the network are detected and analyzed. Component events associated with network appliances are recorded and an event sequence is constructed. Root causes for the inconsistencies are identified and the access paths are repaired in conformance with the network access path policy. For predictive change management, a configuration change can be specified and pre-validated according to the access path policy, before the actual changes are implemented. The conformance of the implemented configuration change with the access path policy is validated after implementation, because of possible consequential effects of the configuration change. If a change in one or more access paths is specified, then associated component events can be simulated before implementation, so that root causes for resulting access path violations can be detected and remedied before the changes are made. The disclosed systems and methods are useful for managing storage area networks (SAN).