Network management event correlation in environments containing

Abstract

A network monitor for distinguishing between broken and inaccessible network elements. The network monitor includes one or more computer readable storage mediums, and computer readable program code stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums. The computer readable program code includes code for discovering the topology of a plurality of network elements, code for periodically polling a plurality of network interfaces associated with the plurality of network elements, code for computing or validating a criticalRoute attribute for each of the plurality of network interfaces, and code for analyzing a status of network interfaces identified by the criticalRoute attribute of an interface in question (IIQ) which is not responding to a poll or ping. The computer readable program code may also include code for establishing a slowPingList and placing in-memory representations of broken or failed network interfaces thereon, thereby reducing the amount of information which is presented to a network administrator from inaccessible elements not responding to a network interface poll. A means for correlating and/or suppressing events in response to the determination of whether a network interface is failed or broken is also provided. Information which is not critical to a network administrator may be suppressed, and then viewed in a 'drill down' of a particular network interface.