Data model for automated server configuration

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a data model. The data model allows for modeling of all information relating to a computer network to be conveniently stored in a database in a manner which minimizes the effort associated with the addition of new devices to the network and maximizes software code reuse. The information relating to the network that may be modeled in the data model of the present invention include: software information, configuration information, monitoring information, hardware information, domain name server (DNS) information, network information, and information regarding queues that may be used by business logic, or intelligent agents in accessing and maintaining various portions of the network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hardware data model for relating hardware devices connected to a computer network with various device components and interfaces, and to monitoring, configuration, and software elements operating on the network, comprising: 
 devices entities that represent devices operating on a computer network;    a plurality of components entities that represent various components of each of the devices represented by said devices entities; and    a plurality of interface entities that represent various interface elements of the devices represented by said devices entities.    
     
     
         2 . The hardware data model of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of components entities are picked from the group consisting of: 
 memory components entities;    storage components entities;    bus components entities;    interface components entities;    interface cards entities;    device console entities; and    CPU components entities.    
     
     
         3 . The hardware data model of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interface entities are selected group consisting of: 
 interface type entities;    subinterfaces entities;    interface IPs entities; and    circuits entities.    
     
     
         4 . The hardware data model of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of components entities are related to said devices entities by way of may-to-one relationships.  
     
     
         5 . The hardware data model of  claim 1 , wherein said devices entities are related to a plurality of monitoring entities that represent a plurality of monitoring components for monitoring the devices represented by said devices entities.  
     
     
         6 . The hardware data model of  claim 1 , wherein said devices entities are related to a plurality of configuration entities that represent the configuration of the network to which the devices represented by the devices entities are connected.  
     
     
         7 . The hardware data model of  claim 1 , wherein said devices entities are optionally related to a plurality of software entities that may represent the software contained on the devices represented by said devices entities.  
     
     
         8 . A hardware data model for relating hardware objects of a computer network to other hardware objects, and for expressing the hardware objects of a computer network in a form accessible by other network components, comprising: 
 devices entities;    a plurality of components entities; and    a plurality of interface entities;    wherein said devices entities represent a plurality of hardware devices connected to the computer network;    wherein said components entities comprise a variety of components entities that represent a variety of components of the devices represented by said devices entities; and    wherein the interface entities represent various interfaces used by the devices represented by said devices entities.    
     
     
         9 . A computer readable set of instructions residing on a computer-readable medium that produces a hardware data model comprising: 
 devices entities;    a plurality of components entities; and    a plurality of interface entities;    wherein said devices entities represent a plurality of hardware devices connected to the computer network;    wherein said components entities comprise a variety of components entities that represent a variety of components of the devices represented by said devices entities; and    wherein the interface entities represent various interfaces used by the devices represented by said devices entities.    
     
     
         10 . A hardware data model for characterizing the interaction of all hardware elements of a computer network, comprising: 
 a plurality of memory components entities;    a plurality of storage components entities;    a plurality of bus components entities;    a plurality of interface components entities;    a plurality of interface cards entities;    a plurality of devices entities;    a plurality of interface type entities;    a plurality of device console entities;    a plurality of CPU components entities;    a plurality of SUB interfaces entities;    a plurality of circuits entities; and    a plurality of interface IPs entities.    
     
     
         11 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said memory components entities represent memory components, and wherein said memory components entities relate to said devices entities by a many-to-one relationship.  
     
     
         12 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said storage components entities represent storage components, and wherein said memory components entities relate to said devices entities by a many-to-one relationship.  
     
     
         13 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said bus components entities represent storage components, and wherein said bus components entities relate to said devices entities by a many-to-one relationship.  
     
     
         14 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said interface components entities represent interface components, and wherein said interface components entities relate to: 
 said interface cards entities by a many-to-one relationship;    said interface type entities by a many-to-one relationship; and said SUB interfaces entities by a one-to-many relationship.    
     
     
         15 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said interface cards entities represent interface cards for hardware devices, and wherein said interface cards entities relate to said devices entities by a many-to-one relationship.  
     
     
         16 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said devices entities represent hardware devices connected to the network, and wherein said devices entities relate to: 
 said memory components entities by a one-to-many relationship;    said storage components entities by a one-to-many relationship;    said bus components entities by a one-to-many relationship;    said interface cards entities by a one-to-many relationship;    said device console entities by a one-to-many relationship;    said CPU components entities by a one-to-many relationship;    a plurality of monitoring components by at least one one-to-many relationship; and    a plurality of configuration components by at least one one-to-many relationship and a many-to-one relationship.    
     
     
         17 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said interface type entities represent valid types of interfaces, and wherein said interface type entities relate to said interface components by a one-to-many relationship.  
     
     
         18 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said device console entities represent a device console, whereby a user may access devices represented by said devices entities, and wherein said device console entities relate to said devices entities by a many-to-one relationship.  
     
     
         19 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said CPU components entities represent hardware CPU components, and wherein said CPU components entities relate to said devices entities by a many-to-one relationship.  
     
     
         20 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said SUB interfaces entities represent virtual local area network (VLAN) interfaces between interface components represented by said interface components entities and interface IPs represented by said interface IPs, and wherein said SUB interfaces entities relate to: 
 said interface components entities by a many-to-one relationship; and    said interface IPs entities by a one-to-many relationship.    
     
     
         21 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said circuits entities represent specific hardware circuits, and wherein said circuits entities relates to said SUB interfaces entities by an optional one-to-many relationship.  
     
     
         22 . The data model of  claim 10 , wherein said interface IPs entities represents actual interface IP addresses associated with hardware devices, and wherein said interface IPs entities relate to: 
 a plurality of monitoring components by a one-to-many relationship; and    said SUB interfaces entities by a many-to-one relationship.