Global network management configuration
First Claim
1. An automated setup method in a first configurable network device (CND) associated with device-specific setup information (DSSI), the CND operably coupled to a distributed network comprising a DSSI server having a DSSI server identifier, a policy server having a policy server identifier, and an authentication server having an authentication server identifier, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing substantially all the DSSI at the DSSI server, the DSSI comprising the policy server identifier and the authentication server identifier;
storing policy information for the CND at the policy server;
storing authentication information for the CND at the authentication server;
inputting the DSSI server identifier to the CND; and
retrieving the DSSI for the CND from the DSSI server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are disclosed for remotely storing information for initializing a configurable network device at a direct server in the network. The information for initializing the configurable network device is automatically retrieved and used by the network device to self-initialize after the network address of the directory server is provided. Included in the information in some embodiments are the network addresses of a policy server and an authentication server, thereby allowing the network device to automatically retrieve policy information and authentication information as needed. Remote storage of substantially all information used to setup and run the network device substantially reduces the effort needed to backup or change information for large distributed networks including numerous configurable network devices.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An automated setup method in a first configurable network device (CND) associated with device-specific setup information (DSSI), the CND operably coupled to a distributed network comprising a DSSI server having a DSSI server identifier, a policy server having a policy server identifier, and an authentication server having an authentication server identifier, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing substantially all the DSSI at the DSSI server, the DSSI comprising the policy server identifier and the authentication server identifier;
storing policy information for the CND at the policy server;
storing authentication information for the CND at the authentication server;
inputting the DSSI server identifier to the CND; and
retrieving the DSSI for the CND from the DSSI server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A configurable network device (CND) associated with device-specific setup information (DSSI);
- wherein the CND is operably coupled to a distributed network comprising a DSSI server with an associated DSSI server identifier, a policy server with an associated policy server identifier, and an authentication server with an associated authentication server identifier, the CND comprising;
a local memory for retaining the DSSI server identifier;
an update manager adapted for;
retrieving the DSSI associated with the CND from the DSSI server using the DSSI server identifier, wherein the DSSI comprises the policy server identifier; and
caching, in the local memory, the DSSI information acquired in the DSSI retrieving step;
retrieving policy information from the policy server using the policy server identifier; and
caching, in the local memory, the policy information acquired in the policy retrieving step. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- wherein the CND is operably coupled to a distributed network comprising a DSSI server with an associated DSSI server identifier, a policy server with an associated policy server identifier, and an authentication server with an associated authentication server identifier, the CND comprising;
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21. A method for configuring a first node in a communication network having a plurality of nodes, comprising the steps of:
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storing on a second node first configuration information for the first node;
storing on a third node second configuration information for the first node;
retrieving by a fourth node the first and second configuration information in response to a configuration request received by the fourth node from the first node; and
applying the first and second configuration information to configure the first node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification