Managing and classifying assets in an information technology environment using tags
Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for managing and classifying assets in an information technology (“IT”) environment using a tag-based approach. The disclosed tag-based classification techniques can be implemented through a graphical user interface. Embodiments of the disclosed tag-based classification techniques can be used to allow a user to easily and quickly select and perform actions on groups of one or more assets (e.g., monitor policies, perform upgrades, etc.). For example, the tag-based classification techniques can automatically classify assets into “tag sets” (or “tagged sets”) based on node properties or user-selected criteria or conditions (e.g., criteria or conditions that are established in a user-created tagging profile or rule). The tagged assets can then be further filtered to identify even deeper relationships between the assets.
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving a plurality of sets of conditions to establish a tagging profile, each of the sets of conditions specifying a respective set of one or more conditions that must be satisfied by a node before the node is assigned a respective tag of a plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile, a first set of conditions of the plurality of sets of conditions including a geographic location for the node, and a second set of conditions of the plurality of sets of conditions including only one or more characteristics different than the geographic location for the node;
receiving identifications of the plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile;
applying the tagging profile to nodes in an information technology network, the applying the tagging profile comprising assigning one or more of the tags of the plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile to one or more nodes of the nodes in the information technology network that satisfy the respective sets of conditions specified in the tagging profile, thereby generating a tagged set of nodes; and
generating a data set in a database or file system arranged according to a hierarchical tree model that comprises the tagged set of nodes, wherein at least a first node in the tagged set of nodes satisfies both the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions, wherein the hierarchical tree model has a parent node being a tag associated with the first set of conditions, a first child node being a child of the parent node and comprising a tag associated with the second set of conditions, and a second child node being a child of the first child node and comprising the first node in the tagged set of nodes,
wherein the method is performed by a monitoring computer in the information technology network,
wherein the method further comprises applying a rule to the tagged set of nodes in the data set, the rule being applied by software agents at the nodes and identifying a criterion by which a configuration change to the node and detected by the software agent is to be transmitted to the monitoring computer, and
wherein each tag is a keyword or term, and the assigning the tag to one or more nodes comprises storing the keyword or term of the tag as metadata or as a field in a database storing nodal information for the information technology network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing the data set comprising the tagged set of nodes with an information technology compliance and configuration control tool.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each tag is a keyword or term, and the assigning the tag to one or more nodes comprises storing the keyword or term of the tag as metadata or as a field in a database storing nodal information for the information technology network.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a user interface, wherein the receiving a set of conditions or the receiving identifications of one or more tags is via the user interface.
5. A method implemented by a monitoring computer in an information technology network, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of sets of conditions to establish a tagging profile, each of the sets of conditions specifying a respective set of one or more conditions that must be satisfied by a node before the node is assigned a respective tag of a plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile, a first set of conditions of the plurality of sets of conditions including a geographic location for the node, and a second set of conditions of the plurality of sets of conditions including only one or more characteristics different than the geographic location for the node;
receiving identifications of the plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile;
assigning one or more of the tags of the plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile to one or more nodes of the nodes in the information technology network that satisfy the respective sets of conditions specified in the tagging profile, thereby generating a tagged set of nodes;
generating a data set in a database or file system arranged according to a hierarchical tree model that comprises the tagged set of nodes, wherein at least a first node in the tagged set of nodes satisfies both the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions, wherein the hierarchical tree model has a parent node being a tag associated with the first set of conditions, a first child node being a child of the parent node and comprising a tag associated with the second set of conditions, and a second child node being a child of the first child node and comprising the first node in the tagged set of nodes;
transmitting, by the monitoring computer, a rule to a monitored node of the tagged set of nodes; and
receiving, by the monitoring computer, notification of a configuration change to the monitored node, wherein the configuration change to the node is detected by a software agent at the monitored node.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising allowing a user to select whether the tagging profile is to be applied to a newly detected node in the information technology network automatically or manually.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the nodes to which the tagging profile is applied comprise one or more of a database server, directory server, file server, or network device.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the list of the one or more tags is displayed in a first panel of the multi-panel display and the list of the nodes associated with the respective one of the tags is displayed in a second panel of the multi-panel display.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise at least one of the following conditions:
that a node have a name or attribute that matches a user-selected keyword, and
that a node be tagged with a selected tag, the selected tag being different than the one or more tags associated with the tagging profile.
10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising allowing a user to select whether all conditions of the set or less than all conditions of the set must be satisfied before associating nodes with the one or more tags.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the instructions comprising:
instructions that cause the computer to receive a plurality of sets of conditions to establish a tagging profile, each of the sets of conditions specifying a respective set of one or more conditions that must be satisfied by a node before the node is assigned a respective tag of a plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile, a first set of conditions of the plurality of sets of conditions including a geographic location for the node, and a second set of conditions of the plurality of sets of conditions including only one or more characteristics different than the geographic location for the node;
instructions that cause the computer to receive identifications of the plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile;
instructions that cause the computer to assign one or more of the tags of the plurality of tags associated with the tagging profile to one or more nodes of the nodes in the information technology network that satisfy the respective sets of conditions specified in the tagging profile, thereby generating a tagged set of nodes;
instructions that cause the computer to generate a data set in a database or file system arranged according to a hierarchical tree model that comprises the tagged set of nodes, wherein at least a first node in the tagged set of nodes satisfies both the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions, wherein the hierarchical tree model has a parent node being a tag associated with the first set of conditions, a first child node being a child of the parent node and comprising a tag associated with the second set of conditions, and a second child node being a child of the first child node and comprising the first node in the tagged set of nodes;
instructions that cause the computer to transmit a rule to a monitored node of the tagged set of nodes; and
instructions that cause the computer to receive notification of a configuration change to the monitored node, wherein the configuration change to the node is detected by a software agent at the monitored node.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that cause the computer to allow a user to select whether the tagging profile is to be applied to a newly detected node in the information technology network automatically or manually.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the nodes to which the tagging profile is applied comprise one or more of a database server, directory server, file server, or network device.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the list of the one or more tags is displayed in a first panel of the multi-panel display and the list of the nodes associated with the respective one of the tags is displayed in a second panel of the multi-panel display.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise at least one of the following conditions:
that a node have a name or attribute that matches a user-selected keyword, and
that a node be tagged with a selected tag, the selected tag being different than the one or more tags associated with the tagging profile.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that cause the computer to allow a user to select whether all conditions of the set or less than all conditions of the set must be satisfied before associating nodes with the one or more tags.