Network topology management using network element differential history

Abstract

A device that monitors a network element in a network topology of network elements within a software defined network (SDN) and identifies a first node state and a second node state for the network element. The device detects an occurrence of an error between the first node state and the second node state. The device determines a differential for the network element between the first node state and the second node state indicating changes to the network element occurring between the first node state and the second node state. The device, based on determining the differential, displays one or more attributes or the one or more relationships associated with the network element at the first node state, the second node state or the differential between states.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the device, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   determining a first node state of a network element in a network topology of a group of network elements within a software defined network (SDN);   displaying, on a graphical user interface, the first node state of the network element within the network topology;   determining a second node state of the network element in the network topology;   displaying, on the graphical user interface, the second node state of the network element within the network topology;   determining a differential between the first node state of the network element and the second node of the network element;   displaying, on the graphical user interface, the differential between the first node state of the network element and the second node of the network element;   determining a cause of the differential; and   providing first instructions to a portion of the group of network elements to resolve the differential.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first instructions comprise second instructions to adjust the network element from the second node state to a third node state. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first instructions comprise second instructions to adjust the network element from the second node state to the first node state. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise determining that the differential is caused by an error. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the operations comprise determining a root cause of the error. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first instructions comprise third instructions to adjust the network element to correct the error. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise obtaining a historical network topology of the group of network elements. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the operations comprise determining a previous node state of the network element from the historical network topology that did not cause the differential. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first instructions comprise fourth instructions to adjust the network element to the previous node state. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the differential comprises determining a group of errors associated with the network element exceeds an error threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the differential comprises determining an error type of an error associated with the network element. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the differential comprises determining that a bandwidth associated with the network element exceeds a bandwidth threshold. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a circuit, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 determining a first node state of a network element in a network topology of a group of network elements within a software defined network (SDN);   displaying, on a graphical user interface, the first node state of the network element within the network topology;   determining a second node state of the network element in the network topology;   displaying, on the graphical user interface, the second node state of the network element within the network topology;   determining a differential between the first node state of the network element and the second node of the network element;   displaying, on the graphical user interface, the differential between the first node state of the network element and the second node of the network element;   determining an error as a cause of the differential; and   providing first instructions to a portion of the group of network elements to resolve the error.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first instructions comprise second instructions to adjust the network element from the second node state to a third node state. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first instructions comprise second instructions to adjust the network element from the second node state to the first node state. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the operations comprise determining a root cause of the error. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first instructions comprise third instructions to adjust the network element to correct the error. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the operations comprise:
 obtaining a historical network topology of the group of network elements; and   determining a previous node state of the network element from the historical network topology that did not cause the error.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the first instructions comprise fourth instructions to adjust the network element to the previous node state. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a processing system including a processor, a first node state of a network element in a network topology of a group of network elements within a software defined network (SDN);   displaying, by the processing system, on a graphical user interface, the first node state of the network element within the network topology;   determining, by the processing system, a second node state of the network element in the network topology;   displaying, by the processing system, on the graphical user interface, the second node state of the network element within the network topology;   determining, by the processing system, a differential between the first node state of the network element and the second node of the network element;   displaying, by the processing system, on the graphical user interface, the differential between the first node state of the network element and the second node of the network element;   determining, by the processing system, an error as a cause of the differential;   obtaining, by the processing system, a historical network topology of the group of network elements;   determining, by the processing system, a previous node state of the network element from the historical network topology that did not cause the error; and   providing, by the processing system, first instructions to a portion of the group of network elements to resolve the error, wherein the first instructions comprise second instructions to adjust the network element to the previous node state.