Distributed internet monitoring system and method

Abstract

An internet monitoring system efficiently discovers topology data of a network by utilizing a distributed object model. The topology data represents the devices and interconnections of the network and can be used to display various conceptual views of the network at a management station. In accordance with the internet monitoring system, different sets of topology data are discovered with corresponding sets of computer-based stations, such as management stations or collection stations, by discovering the topology at respective regions of the network. Further, the different sets of topology data can be combined at a management station to derive a global view of the network. Both management and remote stations include a layout mechanism for receiving topology data and driving the output device based upon the topology data and a discovery mechanism for discovering and storing the topology data. The discovery mechanism includes a network monitor for discovering topology data corresponding with a particular station-specific region of the network, a topology database for storing topology data, and a topology manager for controlling the topology database. The management station, unlike the collection station, utilizes a replicator for communicating with at least one other station to receive topology data from a different region of the network and to forward the different set of topology data to its respective topology manager. The management station has algorithms for handling overlap in monitored regions through the choice of a primary station for each object monitored.