System and method for describing network components and their associations

• US 20040267921A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sistla, Amber D., Rover, Jeremy L.
• Application Number:
  US10/611,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267921A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A system and method for describing network components and their associations is provided. The network management layer receives descriptions of network components and places at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections of an electronic list of network components. Each of the plurality of sections has a standard format.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a description of a network component; and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections of an electronic list of network components, each of the plurality of sections having a standard format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a dynamic network device;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a dynamic network device section of the electronic list of network components.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein

the dynamic network device section includes a dynamic network device section element to describe a dynamic network device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein

the dynamic network device section element includes a data element to describe a network interface of the dynamic network device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

the data element includes an information element to store a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network interface of the dynamic network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a non-dynamic network device;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a non-dynamic network device section of the electronic list of network components.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the non-dynamic network device section includes a non-dynamic network device section element to describe a non-dynamic network device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein

the non-dynamic network device section element includes a data element to store IP address information associated with the non-dynamic network device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a power management device;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a power management device section of the electronic list of network components.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein

the power management device section includes a list of power management devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

the power management device list includes an association element to specify a network component associated with the described power management device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a hub;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a hub section of the electronic list of network components.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein

the hub section includes a hub section element to describe a hub.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

the hub section element includes a data element having an association element to specify network components associated with the described hub.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) switch;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a VLAN switch section of the electronic list of network components.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein

the VLAN switch section includes

a data element to describe the VLAN switch;

and

a data element to describe a port of the VLAN switch.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

the data element includes an association element to specify a network component associated with the described port.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a router;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a router section of the electronic list of network components.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein

the router section includes

a data element to specify a router;

and

a router interface data element to describe a router interface of the specified router.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the description of the network component includes receiving a description of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server;

and

placing at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes placing the received description in a DHCP server section of the electronic list of network components.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein

the DHCP server section includes a DHCP server section element to describe the DHCP server.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein

the DHCP server section element includes

a data element to specify the DHCP server;

and

a DHCP server interface data element to describe an interface of the DHCP server.

23. A network comprising:

a first network component; and

a second network component in electrical communication with the first network component, the second network component having a processor and logic executable thereon to

receive a description of the first network component; and

place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections an electronic list of network components, each of the plurality of sections having a standard format.

24. The network of claim 23, wherein

the first network component is a dynamic network device;

and

to place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes to place the received description in a dynamic network device section of the electronic list of network components.

25. The network of claim 24, wherein

the dynamic network device section includes a dynamic network device section element to describe the dynamic network device.

26. The network of claim 25, wherein

the dynamic network device section element includes a data element to describe a network interface of the dynamic network device.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein

the data element includes an information element to store a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network interface of the dynamic network device.

28. The network of claim 23, wherein

the first network component is a power management device;

and

to place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes to place the received description in a power management device section of the electronic list of network components.

29. The network of claim 28, wherein

the power management device section element includes an association element to specify a network component associated with the described power management device.

30. The network of claim 23, wherein

the first network component is a router;

and

to place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes to place the received description in a router section of the electronic list of network components.

31. The network of claim 30, wherein

the router section includes

a data element to specify the router;

and

a router interface data element to describe a router interface of the specified router.

32. The network of claim 23, wherein

the first network component is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server;

and

to place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes to place the received description in a DHCP server section of the electronic list of network components.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein

the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to

receive the description of the network component includes instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to receive a description of a dynamic network device;

and

to place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to place the received description in a dynamic network device section of the electronic list of network components.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 34, wherein

the dynamic network device section element includes a data element to describe a network interface of the dynamic network device.

33. An article of manufacture comprising:

an electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to

receive a description of a network component; and

place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections of an electronic list of network components, each of the plurality of sections having a standard forrnat.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein

the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to

receive the description of the network component includes instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus receive a description of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) switch;

and

place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes instructions that, when executed by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to place the received description in a VLAN switch section of the electronic list of network components.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein

the VLAN switch section includes

a data element to describe the VLAN switch;

and

a port data element to describe a port of the VLAN switch.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 37, wherein

the port section element includes an association element to specify a network component associated with the described port.

39. A system comprising:

a first network component; and

a second network component coupled with the first network element through a wireless local area network, the second network component having a processor and logic executable thereon to

receive a description of the first network component; and

place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections of an electronic list of network components, each of the plurality of sections having a standard format.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein

the first network component is a dynamic network device;

and

to place at least a portion of the received description into one of a plurality of sections includes to place the received description in a dynamic network device section of the electronic list of network components.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein

the dynamic network device section includes a dynamic network device section element to describe the dynamic network device.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein

the dynamic network device section element includes a data element to describe a network interface of the dynamic network device.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein

the data element includes an information element to store a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network interface of the dynamic network device.