SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY MANAGING AND SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS
Converged network management application and system is provided that delivers a management platform as a service that can view and/or manage all managed networks in the aggregate, or any one of them individually (including individual devices within the managed networks), in a secure and efficient manner, providing continuously available intelligence in real time on the managed networks and systems, and overcoming integration issues including conflicting address schemas, the need to avoid unnecessary infrastructure, and the need acquire all necessary information in real time within applicable memory and bandwidth constraints.
1 . A system for monitoring and managing a plurality of disparate networks and systems, comprising: a control element comprising a first intelligent gateway having facilities for monitoring and managing network operations locally and which is deployed at a centralized physical location that is separate from the location of any of the managed networks or systems and is adapted to communicate with similar gateways deployed within each managed network;
wherein
(a) the networks being managed by said system have been independently designed and operated and are not constrained to have compatible address schemes, designs or business functions;
(b) the management functions provided by said system comprise monitoring capabilities as well as the ability of said control element to direct commands to individual devices within said managed networks;
(c) said monitoring capabilities include the ability of said control element to acquire and store data in real time concerning events on each of said managed networks;
(d) said system may be deployed and operated without requiring any customer whose networks or systems are being managed to change any topological features or elements; and
(e) said system may be deployed without requiring a dedicated connection to any of the managed networks.
2 . A system as described in claim 1 , further comprising cascading, composite control, process and display elements that all incorporate the same base functionality and can be deployed or used at any depth.
3 . A system as described in claim 1 , further comprising an interface, through a single point of contact to the network, providing access to and control of any network or system element at any level (including the controlling element itself).