Patent ID: 8135815

Claim:
A computer implemented method performed by an analysis platform including a processor and a memory programmed to perform the method, the method comprising: determining by the analysis platform a plurality of network devices within a network arranged in a network topology, wherein the plurality of network devices includes a first application server hosting a first application; and a client computer hosting a client application; receiving by the analysis platform a policy for the network, wherein the policy comprises requirements; and wherein the requirements include a description of a first set of required network traffic associated with the first application server, the first application, the client computer and the client application; receiving by the analysis platform a plurality of configuration files associated with the plurality of network devices in the processor; building by the analysis platform an internal software configuration model of the network using the plurality of configuration files, the model comprising a plurality of network paths between at least one network gateway, the first application server and the client computer; analyzing the software network configuration model against the network policy, comprising: simulating, by the analysis platform, actions of the at least one network gateway relating to packets relating to the first set of required network traffic, comprising a request sent from the first client computer to the first application server; and simulating, by the analysis platform, a configuration of the first application server by preparing a response to the request and simulating the actions of the at least one network gateway when the response is sent from the fist application server to the first client computer determining by the analysis platform when the simulated actions of the plurality of network gateways processed the set of required network traffic as required by the policy; and generating by the analysis platform a report indicating whether the simulated actions of the plurality of network gateways processed the set of required network traffic as required by the policy.