Network status visualization systems and methods
Systems and methods visualize a point to multi-point network, such as a network including Ethernet Ring Protection (ERP) using a visualization techniques used for point-to-point networks. For example, for a selected start and end node, intervening nodes may be identified and any protection rings also identified. A blocking port for each ring is identified and based thereon a path through the ring is identified. A trail between the start and end node is then generated using the current path through the protection rings. The trail may then be represented graphically. Unblocking of a blocked port of a ring may be detected and a new path through the ring may be determined and represented graphically. Status indicators may be included in the updated representation of the ring to indicate the presence of a failure condition.
1. A method for visualizing a network including one or more protection rings, the method comprising, by a computer system:
receiving a selection of a start node;
receiving a selection of an end node;
identifying first intervening nodes between the start and end node, the intervening nodes including at least one implicated protection ring of the one or more protection rings;
identifying a blocking port of the at least one implicated protection ring;
identifying a path through the at least one implicated protection ring based on the identified blocking port;
generating a first graphical representation of each node of the first intervening nodes including a representation of the at least one implicated protection ring using the identified path and excluding nodes of the at least one implicated protection ring not included in the path;
detecting unblocking of the blocking port of the at least one implicated protection ring by subscribing to events generated by an implicated node of the at least one implicated protection ring implicated by the unblocking; and
in response to detecting the unblocking of the blocking port, performing steps of
identifying an updated path through the at least one implicated protection ring having an unblocked blocking port, the updated path including second intervening nodes that include at least one node not included in the first intervening nodes;
generating an updated representation including representations of each node of the second intervening nodes including a representation of the updated path through the at least one implicated protection ring and excluding representations of nodes of the at least one implicated protection ring included in the first representation but not included in the updated path; and
transmitting the updated representation of the intervening nodes for display.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated representation includes an indicator of unblocking of the blocking port.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the indicator of unblocking of the blocking port is an updated title.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the indicator is a line style of a line representing the updated path through the at least one implicated protection ring.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the indicator is one or more status indicators indicating a failure condition of one or more of the intervening nodes.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of each node of the first intervening nodes includes:
representations of the first intervening nodes and start and end nodes; and
representations of connections between the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of the each node of the first intervening nodes includes:
representations of the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes;
representations of ports of the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes; and
representations of connections between the ports of the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of each node of the first intervening nodes includes:
representations of the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes;
representations of ports of the first intervening nodes for a plurality of levels of a protocol stack and the start and end nodes; and
representations of connections between the ports of the first intervening nodes for a plurality of levels of a protocol stack and the start and end nodes.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein unblocking of the blocking port is in response to detection of an error condition.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protection rings are Ethernet Ring Protection (ERP) rings.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first graphical representations is a first three-dimensional representation of the first intervening nodes and physical connections between the first intervening nodes;
the updated representations is a second three-dimensional representation of the second intervening nodes and physical connections between the second intervening nodes.
12. A system for visualizing a network, the network including a plurality of nodes and one or more protection rings, the system being in data communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes and comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices in data communication with the one or more processors, the one or more memory devices storing executable and operational data effective to cause the one or more processors to:
receive a selection of a start node;
receive a selection of an end node;
identify first intervening nodes between the start and end node, the intervening nodes including at least one implicated protection ring of the one or more protection rings;
identify a blocking port of the at least one implicated protection ring;
identify a path through the at least one implicated protection ring based on the identified blocking port;
generate a first graphical representation of each node of the first intervening nodes including a representation of the at least one implicated protection ring using the identified path and excluding nodes of the at least one implicated protection ring not included in the path; and
detect unblocking of the blocking port of the at least one implicated protection ring by subscribing to events generated by an implicated node of the at least one implicated protection ring implicated by the unblocking;
in response to detecting the unblocking of the blocking port, cause the one or more processors to
identify an updated path through the at least one implicated protection ring having an unblocked blocking port, the updated path including second intervening nodes that includes at least one node not included in the first intervening nodes;
generate an updated representation of the second intervening nodes including a representation of the updated path through the at least one implicated protection ring and excluding representations of nodes of the at least one implicated protection ring included in the first representation but not included in the updated path; and
transmit the updated representation of the intervening nodes for display.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first graphical representations is a first three-dimensional representation of the first intervening nodes and physical connections between the first intervening nodes;
the updated representations is a second three-dimensional representation of the second intervening nodes and physical connections between the second intervening nodes.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the updated representation includes an indicator of unblocking of the blocking port.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the indicator of unblocking of the blocking port is an updated title.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the indicator is a line style of a line representing the updated path through the at least one implicated protection ring.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the indicator is one or more status indicators indicating a failure condition of one or more of the intervening nodes.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first graphical representation of each node of the first intervening nodes includes:
representations of the first intervening nodes and start and end nodes; and
representations of connections between the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the graphical representation of each node of the first intervening nodes includes:
representations of the first intervening nodes and the start and end nodes;
representations of ports of the first intervening nodes for a plurality of levels of a protocol stack and the start and end nodes; and
representations of connections between the ports of the first intervening nodes for a plurality of levels of a protocol stack and the start and end nodes.
20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more protection rings are Ethernet Ring Protection (ERP) rings.