Network based system for analyzing a client system and generating a configuration diagram which describes the client system

摘要

System and method for characterizing a system. Electronic communication is established between a server computer and a client system over a network. The client system includes a plurality of devices coupled together, where at least one of the devices includes one or more programs, e.g., graphical, text-based, and/or hardware configuration programs. The server programmatically determines presence of the devices and programs of the client system, and programmatically generates a diagram which visually represents the client system. The diagram includes device icons representing the devices, link icons indicating coupling between the devices, and program icons representing the programs. The program icons are displayed proximate to the device icons representing the devices which store and/or execute the respective programs. The server transmits the diagram to the client system. The diagram is displayed on a display of the client system. The diagram is used to document, modify, and/or debug the client system configuration.