Automatic configuration of the network devices via connection to specific switch ports

• US 20050114474A1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, James William, Pruett, Gregory Brian, Schneider, Elena, Daisley, Allan, Sommer, Ethan Joshua
• Application Number:
  US10/718,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and system for automatically configuring devices in a network is disclosed. A network management software application is provided that enables a user to associate policy settings with physical locations in the network. During an operational mode of the network management application, the application automatically detects when a network device is plugged into the network, and determines a location of the device in the network. The device is then automatically configured based on the policy settings associated with the corresponding location.

Claims

1. A method for automatically configuring devices in a network, comprising:

(a) associating preconfigured policy settings with physical locations in the network;

(b) automatically detecting when a network device is plugged into the network and determining a location of the device in the network; and

(c) automatically configuring the device based on the policy settings associated with the corresponding location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further includes the step of:

displaying a configuration screen that allows the user to create different policy settings that specify what configuration actions are to be taken.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (a) further includes the step of:

saving the policy settings in a database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

detecting and locating the network device by transmitting SNMP queries from a router to the switches that traverse the network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

determining which port on the network the device is plugged into.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

detecting any combination of newly added devices including routers, switches, computers, and server blades.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

detecting processor blades and switches added to existing server blades.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further includes the step of:

retrieving from a database the policy setting associated with the port location of the new device.

9. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for automatically configuring devices in a network, the program instructions for:

(a) associating preconfigured policy settings with physical locations in the network;

(b) automatically detecting when a network device is plugged into the network and determining a location of the device in the network; and

(c) automatically configuring the device based on the policy settings associated with the corresponding location.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein instruction (a) further includes the instruction of:

displaying a configuration screen that allows the user to create different policy settings that specify what configuration actions are to be taken.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein instruction (a) further includes the instruction of:

saving the policy settings in a database.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

detecting and locating the network device by transmitting SNMP queries from a router to the switches that traverse the network.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

determining which port on the network the device is plugged into.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

detecting any combination of newly added devices including routers, switches, computers, and server blades.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

detecting processor blades and switches added to existing server blades.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein instruction (c) further includes the instruction of:

retrieving from a database the policy setting associated with the port location of the new device.

17. An automatic network configuration system, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of network devices connected to the network, including routers, switches, and computers; and

a network management application executing on one of the devices for,

allowing a user to establish and associate policy settings with physical locations in the network,

automatically detecting when a device is plugged into the network and determining a location of the device in the network, and

automatically configuring the device based on the policy settings associated with the corresponding location.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the network management application displays a configuration screen that allows the user to create different policy settings that specifies what configuration actions are to be taken.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the network management application saves the policy settings in a database.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the network management application detects and locates the network device by transmitting SNMP queries from a router to the switches that traverse the network.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the network management application determines which port on the network the device is plugged into.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the network management application detects any combination of newly added devices including routers, switches, computers, and server blades.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the network management application further detects processor blades and switches added to existing server blades.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the network management application retrieves the policy setting associated with the port location of the new device from a database.