US6249883B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for monitoring domain controllers
Assignee: Dell Products LP
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Filing: 1998-06-29
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Granted: 2001-06-19
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Expires: 2018-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A computer system having servers and coupled to a network supports a distributed directory and a directory monitor service. The monitor service may include a domain analyzer and domain model at each of several servers; and, a network administrator and network model on an enterprise server of the network. A domain analyzer monitors the network to detect messages associated with directory operations initiated or performed by the same or another server in the network. Methods performed by one or more servers predict system and network failures. One such method includes receiving a first message, receiving a second message, and conditionally raising an alert condition. The first message indicates the beginning of a replication of a portion of a directory and indicates a beginning time. The second message indicates completion of the replication of the portion of the directory and indicates an ending time. An alert condition is raised in response to comparing a first threshold value and the difference between the ending time and the beginning time. In other words, if the duration of a replication operation on the distributed directory takes longer than expected, an alert condition is raised.
Inventors
- 👤 James Cassidy
- 👤 Edward D. Harris
- 👤 Gilbert M. Kirkpatrick
- 👤 Michael K. Owings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/02; H04L41/0213; G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/008; H04L41/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for predicting a failure in a computer network having a distributed directory, the method comprising: receiving a first message that indicates beginning of replication of a portion of the directory, and identifies a first time; receiving a second message that indicates completion of replication of the portion of the directory, and identifies a second time; and raising an alert condition in response to comparing a first threshold value and a difference between the second time and the first time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for predicting a failure in a computer network having a distributed directory, the method comprising: receiving a first message that indicates beginning of replication of a portion of the directory, and identifies a first time; receiving a second message that indicates completion of replication of the portion of the directory, and identifies a second time; and raising an alert condition in response to comparing a first threshold value and a difference between the second time and the first time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the second message originates from a server of the computer network, the server having a stored object, and the method further comprises: receiving a third message that indicates a number of modifications of an attribute of the object over a predetermined period of time; and raising the alert condition in further response to at least one of: (a) comparing the first threshold and the difference between the second time and the first time; and (b) comparing the number and a second threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the second message originates from a server of the computer network, the server having storage for at least a portion of the directory, and the method further comprises: receiving a third message that indicates a number of modifications of the portion of the directory over a predetermined period of time; and raising the alert condition in further response to at least one of: (a) comparing the first threshold and the difference between the second time and the first time; and (b) comparing the number and a second threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the second message originates from a server of the computer network, the server having a system volume, and the method further comprises: receiving a third message that indicates an amount of free space on the system volume; and raising the alert condition in further response to at least one of: (a) comparing the first threshold and the difference between the second time and the first time; and (b) comparing the amount and a second threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the second message originates from a server of the computer network, the server having a volume for storage of a portion of the distributed directory, and the method further comprises: receiving a third message that indicates an amount of free space on the volume; and raising the alert condition in further response to at least one of: (a) comparing the first threshold and the difference between the second time and the first time; and (b) comparing the amount and a second threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the method is performed on a first server of the computer network; the first message is received from a second server of the computer network; and the second message is received from the second server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises: monitoring the distributed directory to identify a plurality of directory operations; determining a plurality of measurements, the plurality comprising a respective measurement of a quantitative characteristic for each identified directory operation; and determining the first threshold in accordance with a variance comprising the plurality of measurements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the method further comprises initiating the plurality of directory operations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises a replication operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises a search operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for predicting a failure in a computer network having a distributed directory service, the method comprising: monitoring directory operations of the distributed directory service to determine a duration of a replication; and raising an alert condition in response to comparing a first threshold value and the duration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for predicting a failure in a computer network having a distributed directory service, the method comprising: monitoring directory operations of the distributed directory service to determine a duration of a replication; and raising an alert condition in response to comparing a first threshold value and the duration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises: determining an extent of a resource of a server that receives the replication, the extent responsive to the replication; and raising the alert condition in further response to at least one of: (a) the first threshold value and the duration; and (b) comparing a second threshold value and the extent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises capacity to assign a relative identifier for securing an object, assignment being from unassigned relative identifiers, and the extent comprises a quantity of available relative identifiers for securing objects.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises availability of CPU cycles and the extent comprises a quantity of non-idle CPU cycles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises availability of memory and the extent comprises a quantity of page faults over a period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises availability of cache memory and the extent comprises a quantity of cache hits during a period of time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises a system volume and the extent comprises free space on the system volume.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises a volume providing storage for at least a portion of the replication and the extent comprises free space on the volume.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises a capacity to access objects of the replication and the extent comprises a length of an access control list queue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises a capacity to respond to directory accesses and the extent comprises a rate of directory accessing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the resource comprises a capacity to respond to directory lookups and the extent comprises a rate of directory lookups.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises initiating a plurality of replication operations to be monitored.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises initiating a plurality of replication operations to be monitored.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 11 wherein monitoring operations comprises receiving from an operating system indicia that a directory operation was performed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 11 wherein monitoring operations comprises receiving from a network indicia that a directory operation was performed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 11 further comprising: monitoring the distributed directory to identify a plurality of directory operations; determining a plurality of measurements, the plurality comprising a respective measurement of a quantitative characteristic for each identified directory operation; and determining the first threshold in accordance with a variance comprising the plurality of measurements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the method further comprises initiating the plurality of directory operations.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises a replication operation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises a search operation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
85 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for administering a computer network, the computer network comprising a monitor service and a distributed directory service, the monitor service having an alert condition threshold value, the method comprising: monitoring the directory service to identify a plurality of directory operations; determining a plurality of measurements, the plurality comprising a respective measurement of a quantitative characteristic for each identified directory operation; and determining the threshold value in accordance with a variance comprising the plurality of measurements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
85 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for administering a computer network, the computer network comprising a monitor service and a distributed directory service, the monitor service having an alert condition threshold value, the method comprising: monitoring the directory service to identify a plurality of directory operations; determining a plurality of measurements, the plurality comprising a respective measurement of a quantitative characteristic for each identified directory operation; and determining the threshold value in accordance with a variance comprising the plurality of measurements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 30 wherein the method further comprises initiating the plurality of directory operations.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 30 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises a replication operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 30 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises a search operation.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for predicting a failure in a computer network, the method comprising: detecting, at a first server at a first site, a failure of a second server at the first site; broadcasting a diagnostic message from the first server, the diagnostic message to be answered by the second server; raising an alert condition at a second site in response to detecting the diagnostic message at the second site.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for predicting a failure in a computer network, the method comprising: detecting, at a first server at a first site, a failure of a second server at the first site; broadcasting a diagnostic message from the first server, the diagnostic message to be answered by the second server; raising an alert condition at a second site in response to detecting the diagnostic message at the second site.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the alert condition is raised by a third server and the method further comprises, in response to the alert condition, refraining from sending from the third server a second message for the second server.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the diagnostic message comprises a ping.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the second server comprises a domain name service.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the second site comprises a third server that subscribes to notices of failure from the first server and detects the diagnostic message at the second site; and the method further comprises raising the alert condition in further response to at least one of: (a) detecting the diagnostic message; and (b) receiving notice of failure of the second server.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for predicting a failure in a computer network having a distributed directory service, the method comprising: determining at a first server indicia of the first server's availability for operations of the distributed directory service; providing a notice to a second server in accordance with a subscription from the second server, the notice being in accordance with the indicia of availability; and raising at the second server an alert condition in accordance with a threshold value and at least a portion of the notice.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for predicting a failure in a computer network having a distributed directory service, the method comprising: determining at a first server indicia of the first server's availability for operations of the distributed directory service; providing a notice to a second server in accordance with a subscription from the second server, the notice being in accordance with the indicia of availability; and raising at the second server an alert condition in accordance with a threshold value and at least a portion of the notice.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the indica of availability comprises a value of an SMB protocol variable.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the indicia of availability comprises a time that at least a backup was made of at least a portion of the distributed directory.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the indicia of availability corresponds to the extent of fragmentation of a directory information table.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
80 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for predicing a failure in a computer network having a distributed direcory service, the method comprising: forming a list of domain controllers; subscribing to each listed domain controller to receive notice comprising time of a particular replication being performed; receiving a plurality of notices during a time period; determining that a notice from a listed domain controller was not received; and raising an alert condition in response to the determinination.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
80 words
A programmed data storage device comprising indicia of a method for predicing a failure in a computer network having a distributed direcory service, the method comprising: forming a list of domain controllers; subscribing to each listed domain controller to receive notice comprising time of a particular replication being performed; receiving a plurality of notices during a time period; determining that a notice from a listed domain controller was not received; and raising an alert condition in response to the determinination.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device of claim 43 further comprising: sending a plurality of pings and making a plurality of measurements, a measurement being made for each ping, the measurement corresponding to a delay from a respective time a ping is sent to a respective time a response is received; determining the time period in accordance with a variance comprising the plurality of measurements.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 44 wherein the ping response is received from at least one of a listed domain controller and a server comprising a domain name service.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 43 wherein the method further comprises: initiating a plurality of directory operations and making a plurality of measurements, a measurement being made for each directory operation corresponding to a duration of the directory operation; determining the time period in accordance with a variance comprising the plurality of measurements.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 46 wherein the plurality of directory operations comprises at least one of a replication and a search.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-18 | 2004-12-18 | 2005-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-18 | 2008-12-18 | 2009-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-18 | 2012-12-18 | 2013-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |