1. A method of generating a user interface having a graphical topological representation of an information system, the method comprising: collecting information regarding connections or dependencies between components in the information system, the components including a hardware component or a logical component; classifying the components into a plurality of classes by classifying first components to a first class, and classifying second components to a second class; displaying the graphical topological representation of the information system in the user interface, by performing operations comprising: (1) selecting one of the first components; (2) selecting two or more of the second components, which are connected to or depending from the one of the first components in the information system; (3) determining display positions of second icons representing the two or more of the second components, in a second column for the second class; (4) determining a display position of a first icon representing the one of the first components, in a first column for the first class; (5) determining a height of the first icon representing the one of the first components based on heights of the second icons representing the two or more of the second components, which are connected to or depending from the one of the first components in the information system; and (6) displaying the first icon and the second icons with the determined display positions and heights, wherein: the graphical topological representation of the information system is displayed with a predetermined number of columns, and the predetermined number of columns are predefined and fixed for display in the interface, and scaled to fit within a display provided on a computer monitor; providing a sorting or filtering menu as part of the user interface; and displaying a modified graphical topological representation of the information system in the user interface in accordance with the selected sorting or filtering criteria.