Patent ID: 8887123

Claim:
A method of non-destructively updating an information technology infrastructure using an operations management environment, the method comprising: coupling an operations management environment with an existing information technology infrastructure through an adaptor, the coupling occurring while the information technology infrastructure is operating to perform one or more tasks related to operation of an enterprise; receiving data from the information technology infrastructure through the adapter, the data being generated by activity of existing artifacts included in the information technology infrastructure, the artifacts being configured to perform the one or more tasks; in response to receiving data through the adapter, determining relationships between the artifacts included in the information technology infrastructure based on data received through the adapter; creating the model of the information technology infrastructure according to determined relationships between the artifacts; determining a proposed modification to the information technology infrastructure based on an external change; identifying, from among the artifacts included in the information technology infrastructure, artifacts affected by the proposed modification; simulating, while the information technology infrastructure performs the one or more tasks, a response of artifacts identified as affected by the proposed modification using the model of the information technology infrastructure; monitoring the response of the artifacts to determine if the proposed modification implements the external change; generating a modification based on the proposed modification if the proposed modification implements the external change; and updating the information technology infrastructure with the modification by pushing the modification through the adaptor while the information technology infrastructure performs the one or more tasks.