System and method for selecting of versions for SNMP communication

• US 20060015587A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Check Point Software Technologies Incorporated (Check Point Software Technologies Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nokia, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bose, Vaijayanti
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,177 B2
• 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 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards enabling and/or disabling a selection of a version of a network management protocol, such as SNMP. When a networking system is configured using an earlier version of SNMP, such as version 1 or 2, and is to be reconfigured to employ a later version such as version 3, certain options are to be reconfigured. Such options for example, include usage of a community string. When the networking system is to be configured back to the earlier version, the options are again reconfigured. The present invention enables an administrator of the computing system to manage such changes, in part, by abstracting the switching details, without the need to track a progression of events. Moreover, a state of the versions is tracked, such that if the networking system is switched back to version 1 or 2, the last configured community string value is restored.

Claims

1. A method for managing a network management protocol, comprising:

providing an interface employable for selecting from a plurality of versions of the network management protocol;

using the interface to select a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing, through the interface, an option associated with the selected first version;

inhibiting access within the interface to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions; and

saving a configuration associated with the first version, wherein the configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the provided option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network management protocol comprises at least one of Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP), High-Level Entity Management Systems (HEMS), and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the interface to select a second version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing, through the interface, a second option associated with the selected second version;

inhibiting access within the interface to the option associated with the first version;

saving another configuration associated with the second version, wherein the other configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the provided second option.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

using the interface to reselect the first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

inhibiting access within the interface to the second option associated with the second version; and

restoring the saved configuration associated with the first version, including the selected option associated with the first version.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises at least one of a graphical user interface, a command line interface, an application interface, an applet, and a script.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of versions of the network management protocol further comprises at least one of SNMP v1, SNMP v2, and SNMP v3.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing an option further comprises providing at least one of community string option, and an encryption option.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected first version further comprises a selection from one of SNMP v1/v2, and SNMP v3.

9. A method of managing a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), comprising:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) employable for selecting from a plurality of versions of SNMP;

using the GUI to select a first version of SNMP from the plurality of versions;

providing within the GUI a first option associated with the selected first version;

inhibiting access within the GUI to another option associated with another version of SNMP within the plurality of versions;

saving a first configuration associated with the first version, wherein the first configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the first option;

using the GUI to select a second version of SNMP from the plurality of versions;

providing within the GUI a second option associated with the selected second version;

inhibiting access within the GUI to the first option associated with the first version;

saving a second configuration associated with the second version, wherein the second configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the second option;

using the GUI to reselect the first version of SNMP from the plurality of versions;

inhibiting access within the GUI to the second option associated with the second version; and

restoring the first configuration associated with the first version, including the first option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first version further comprises a selection from one of SNMP v1, SNMP v2, SNMP v1/v2, and SNMP v3.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the graphical user interface is browser-based.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending at least a portion of the first configuration to an SNMP agent.

13. A server for managing a network management protocol over a network, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to a managed device; and

a version manager that is configured to perform actions, including;

providing an interface employable for selecting from a plurality of versions of the network management protocol;

receiving a selection of a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing, through the interface, an option associated with the selected first version;

inhibiting access within the interface to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions;

saving a configuration associated with the first version based, in part, on a selection of the provided option; and

sending information associated with the option and the selected version to another component, wherein the other component is operable to employ the selected version of the network management protocol.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein the network management protocol comprises at least one of Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP), High-Level Entity Management Systems (HEMS), and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

15. The server of claim 13, wherein the plurality of versions of the network management protocol further comprises at least one of SNMP v1, SNMP v2, and SNMP v3.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the other component further comprises at least one of a network manager, and a network agent.

17. The server of claim 13, wherein providing, through the interface, an option further comprises providing at least one of community string option, and an encryption option.

18. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of providing and selecting a network management protocol configuration on the display, comprising:

retrieving a set of menu entries for selecting from a plurality of versions of the network management protocol;

displaying a menu on the display the set of menu entries;

receiving a menu entry selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device indicating a selection of a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

displaying on the display an option associated with the selected first version of the network management protocol;

inhibiting access within the graphical user interface to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions;

receiving information associated with the option on the display, and displaying the received information;

enabling a determination of a configuration of the first version of the network management protocol, based on the received information; and

enabling the configuration associated with the first version to be tracked.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the network management protocol comprises at least one of Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP), High-Level Entity Management Systems (HEMS), and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of versions of the network management protocol further comprises at least one of SNMP v1, SNMP v2, and SNMP v3.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein providing an option further comprises providing at least one of community string option, and an encryption option.

22. An apparatus for configuring a network management protocol, comprising:

an interface means employable for selecting from a plurality of versions of the network management protocol;

a means for selecting a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

a means for providing an option associated with the selected first version;

a means for inhibiting access to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions; and

a means for saving a configuration associated with the first version, wherein the configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the provided option.