Patent ID: 7664756
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of end-to-end configuration management, comprising: creating an inventory of servers of an enterprise; creating an inventory of network components of the enterprise, wherein the inventory of network components includes at least some information related to relationships, dependencies, and/or information flowing among assets of the enterprise; creating a first inventory of applications of the enterprise using a first inventory component executing on a processor including a tool configured to generate a list of applications deployed in the enterprise; creating a second inventory of the applications of the enterprise using a second inventory component executing on a processor to automatically scan systems of the enterprise for at least one selected from the group consisting of: executable files, residual files, directory trees, version files, and status reports, wherein the second inventory component is different from the first inventory component; cross-checking the first and second inventories of the applications of the enterprise to create a master inventory of applications of the enterprise, the master inventory of the applications including at least some information related to at least some of the servers whereon the applications reside; assigning a degree of confidence to each asset of the master inventory of applications based on the cross-checking, wherein the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first inventory and the second inventory are in agreement is higher than the degree of confidence assigned to assets where data of the first inventory and the second inventory are in conflict; cross-checking the inventory of servers and the at least some information related to the at least some of the servers whereon the applications reside from the master inventory of applications to create a master inventory of servers of the enterprise; creating an inventory of people of the enterprise and cross-referencing the people with other assets of the enterprise; creating an inventory of services provided by the enterprise, wherein each of the services provided by the enterprise is supported by at least one of the applications of the enterprise; identifying end-to-end relationships from at least some of the servers, to at least some of the network components, to at least some of the applications, to at least some of the people, and to at least some of the services provided by the enterprise using the master inventory of servers, the inventory of network components, the master inventory of applications, the inventory of people, and the inventory of services; and creating a map of the identified end-to-end relationships to graphically illustrate the identified relationships.