Method and apparatus to facilitate fast network management protocol replies in large tables

• US 20030023605A1
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Network General Technology
• Original Assignee: Network General Technology
• Inventors: Tung, Steven C., Sternin, Jeffrey Y., Qi, Yongping
• Granted Patent: US 6,789,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates fast network management protocol replies in large tables. The system operates by first receiving a request for a next row from a network management protocol table. The system then compares the object identifier in the request with a pre-calculated object identifier. If the object identifier matches the pre-calculated object identifier, the system responds to the request with a pre-calculated response. If the object identifier does not match the pre-calculated object identifier, the system searches a management information base for the next row in the network management protocol table. Next, the system calculates a response, which includes data from requested columns of the next row. The system then responds to the request.

Claims

1. A method to facilitate fast network management protocol replies in large tables, comprising:

receiving a request for a next row in a network management protocol table;

comparing an object identifier in the request with a pre-calculated object identifier; and

if the object identifier matches the pre-calculated object identifier,

responding to the request with a pre-calculated response, otherwise

searching a management information base for the next row in the network management protocol table,

calculating a response, wherein the response includes data from requested columns of the next row, and

responding to the request with the response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for the next row from the network management protocol table includes:

locating a protocol data unit in the request; and

determining the object identifier within the protocol data unit.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

before responding to the request with the pre-calculated response or responding to the request with the response,

selecting a candidate next row in the network management protocol table,

creating the pre-calculated object identifier for the candidate next row,

saving the pre-calculated object identifier,

creating the pre-calculated response for the candidate next row, wherein the pre-calculated response includes data from requested columns of the candidate next row, and

saving the pre-calculated response.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the next row in the network management protocol table includes:

decoding the object identifier in the protocol data unit; and

searching for an object related to the object identifier in the management information base.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the request is one of a series of related requests.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein saving the pre-calculated object identifier includes saving the pre-calculated object identifier in a table of pre-calculated object identifiers, whereby pre-calculated object identifiers can be saved for more than one series of related requests.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein saving the pre-calculated response includes saving the pre-calculated response in a table of pre-calculated responses, whereby pre-calculated responses can be saved for more than one series of related requests.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method to facilitate fast network management protocol replies in large tables, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a next row in a network management protocol table;

comparing an object identifier in the request with a pre-calculated object identifier; and

if the object identifier matches the pre-calculated object identifier,

responding to the request with a pre-calculated response, otherwise

searching a management information base for the next row in the network management protocol table,

calculating a response, wherein the response includes data from requested columns of the next row, and

responding to the request with the response.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein receiving the request for the next row from the network management protocol table includes:

locating a protocol data unit in the request; and

determining the object identifier within the protocol data unit.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising:

before responding to the request with the pre-calculated response or responding to the request with the response,

selecting a candidate next row in the network management protocol table,

creating the pre-calculated object identifier for the candidate next row,

saving the pre-calculated object identifier,

creating the pre-calculated response for the candidate next row, wherein the pre-calculated response includes data from requested columns of the candidate next row, and

saving the pre-calculated response.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein determining the next row in the network management protocol table includes:

decoding the object identifier in the protocol data unit; and

searching for an object related to the object identifier in the management information base.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the request is one of a series of related requests.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein saving the pre-calculated object identifier includes saving the pre-calculated object identifier in a table of pre-calculated object identifiers, whereby pre-calculated object identifiers can be saved for more than one series of related requests.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein saving the pre-calculated response includes saving the pre-calculated response in a table of pre-calculated responses, whereby pre-calculated responses can be saved for more than one series of related requests.

15. An apparatus that facilitates fast network management protocol replies in large tables, comprising:

a receiving mechanism that is configured to receive a request for a next row in a network management protocol table;

a comparing mechanism that is configured to compare an object identifier in the request with a pre-calculated object identifier;

a responding mechanism that is configured to respond to the request with a pre-calculated response;

a searching mechanism that is configured to search a management information base for the next row in the network management protocol table;

a calculating mechanism that is configured to calculate a response, wherein the response includes data from requested columns of the next row; and

wherein the responding mechanism is further configured to respond to the request with the response.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a locating mechanism that is configured to locate a protocol data unit in the request; and

a determining mechanism that is configured to determine the object identifier within the protocol data unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a selecting mechanism that is configured to select a candidate next row in the network management protocol table;

a creating mechanism that is configured to create the pre-calculated object identifier for the candidate next row;

a saving mechanism that is configure to save the pre-calculated object identifier;

wherein the creating mechanism is further configured to create the pre-calculated response for the candidate next row, wherein the pre-calculated response includes data from requested columns of the candidate next row; and

wherein the saving mechanism is further configured to save the pre-calculated response.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a decoding mechanism that is configured to decode the object identifier in the protocol data unit; and

wherein the searching mechanism is further configured to search for an object related to the object identifier in the management information base.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the request is one of a series of related requests.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein saving the pre-calculated object identifier includes saving the pre-calculated object identifier in a table of pre-calculated object identifiers, whereby pre-calculated object identifiers can be saved for more than one series of related requests.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein saving the pre-calculated response includes saving the pre-calculated response in a table of pre-calculated responses, whereby pre-calculated responses can be saved for more than one series of related requests.