Introduction
“Group-by” filters allow you to organize and analyze network data in a way that highlights specific patterns or relationships among nodes in the network.
When you use a grouping filter, you are essentially creating visual subset of the network data based on a specific characteristic or attribute. For example, you might group nodes in a network by their geographic location or the network they belong to.
Fig 1: Grouping filters dropdown for hops on IP Network graph.
Groupings Filters for IP & AS Network Graph
The AS Network and IP Network visualizations in teh Smartboard allow you to view the network path with different groupings. Below is the list of supported grouping filters:
IP Network Graph
- Sources grouped by:
- Node [Default] - A individual path for each node is drawn.
- ASN - Aggregate network paths based on network ASN.L
- Location - Aggregate network paths based on Location. Based on availability City, Country details will be used.
- Location & ASN - Aggregate network paths based on Location and network ASN.
- Hops grouped by:
- IP Address [Default] - plots each individual hop without any grouping.
- ASN - Aggregate network paths based on network ASN.
- Location - Aggregate network paths based on Location. Based on availability City, Country details will be used.
- Location & ASN - Aggregate network paths based on Location and network ASN.
- Destinations grouped by:
- IP Address [Default] - plots each individual destination without any grouping.
- ASN - Aggregate network paths based on network ASN.
- Location - Aggregate network paths based on Location. Based on availability City, Country details will be used.
- Location & ASN - Aggregate network paths based on Location and network ASN.
AS Network Graph
- Sources grouped by:
- Node [Default] - A individual path for each node is drawn.
- ASN - Aggregate network paths based on network ASN.
- Location - Aggregate network paths based on Location. Based on availability City, Country details will be used.
- Location & ASN - Aggregate network paths based on Location and network ASN.
- Hops grouped by:
- ASN [Default] - Aggregate network paths based on network ASN.
- Location - Aggregate network paths based on Location. Based on availability City, Country details will be used.
- Location & ASN - Aggregate network paths based on Location and network ASN.
- Destinations grouped by:
- IP Address [Default] - plots each individual path without any grouping.
- ASN - Aggregate network paths based on network ASN.
- Location - Aggregate network paths based on Location. Based on availability City, Country details will be used.
- Location & ASN - Aggregate network paths based on Location and network ASN.
Grouping Visualizations
IP Network Graph
When you apply a grouping filter, groups of sources, hops, and destination will be represented with a slightly larger node in the network which includes a count of grouped items.
Fig 2: Legends for Sources, Hops and Destinations with grouping.
The grouped visual components can be ungrouped using the “Expand Grouping” option from the hovercards. The hovercards also display the number of hops grouped together. The other metrics on the hovercards are displayed if their values are available.
Fig 3: Grouping hover card on a grouped hop with expand grouping option.
The grouping can be applied as a path filter using the hovercard. When it's applied as a path filter, the inline filter will display each item from the group. This will make it easier to add or remove items from the inline filter.
Fig 4: Group component applied as path filter.
AS Network Graph
Within the AS Network there will be no visual component updates. In its current state the AS Network already has a visual style that supports grouping functionality.
Fig 5: AS Network graph with hovercard
AS Network does not support ungrouping as this visual does not support the individual hop-level visual. But like the IP Network graph, you can use the hovercard to view metrics when they are available, and each grouping can be applied as a path filter.
Undo Action for IP & AS Network Graph
Both graphs support many different types of filters that can be used when troubleshooting. During the troubleshooting process you may try different filters and need to go back to the previous state quickly. Now we support a button that allows you to go back to the previous state of the graph. It supports up to fifty undo actions, but will erase states when you move between AS and IP network graph. The undo button will be visible when at least one filter is applied.
Fig 6: Undo Button
Fig 7: IP Network graph with grouping applied on hops.