System and method for configuring a network device
First Claim
1. A method for configuring network infrastructure comprising:
- receiving a request to alter an operation of the network infrastructure, wherein the network infrastructure includes a plurality of network devices;
determining a quantity of the plurality of network devices to configure so as to ensure the operation is correctly altered;
determining an order in which the quantity of the plurality of network devices are configured;
configuring each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices in the order;
checking each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices so as to determine whether any commands are needed from corresponding configuration templates to properly configure of the quantity of the plurality of network devices; and
applying, in response to the checking, any necessary commands to each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for communicating with network devices without regard to the device type and/or manufacturer is described. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a global graphical user interface (GUI) for communicating with various network devices. The global GUI includes an intuitive interface driven by a template library. For each device type and each device manufacturer, this template library can store both the attribute fields required for device configuration and the format for communicating those attribute fields. When a network administrator wants to communicate with a particular network device, the template associated with that device can be retrieved from the template library. The network administrator can then populate the attribute fields of that template with the appropriate data. This attribute data can be formatted and provided to the network device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for configuring network infrastructure comprising:
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receiving a request to alter an operation of the network infrastructure, wherein the network infrastructure includes a plurality of network devices;
determining a quantity of the plurality of network devices to configure so as to ensure the operation is correctly altered;
determining an order in which the quantity of the plurality of network devices are configured;
configuring each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices in the order;
checking each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices so as to determine whether any commands are needed from corresponding configuration templates to properly configure of the quantity of the plurality of network devices; and
applying, in response to the checking, any necessary commands to each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for communicating with a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving a notification request to communicate with a network device;
retrieving a configuration template associated with the received notification, wherein the retrieved configuration template comprises at least an attribute field;
populating the attribute field with attribute data;
formatting the attribute data; and
providing the formatted attribute data to the network device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions;
- the instructions comprising;
a header portion; and
a payload portion, wherein the payload portion is formed by;
retrieving an attribute field from a central repository, the attribute field being associated with a network device, wherein the central repository is configured to store a plurality of attribute fields each corresponding to at least one of a plurality of network devices;
retrieving a formatting instruction, the formatting instruction being associated with the network device;
populating the attribute field with attribute data; and
generating a network device instruction wherein-he generated network device instruction comprises at least an indication of the populated attribute field and wherein the generated configuration instruction is formatted according to the retrieved formatting instruction. - View Dependent Claims (9)
- the instructions comprising;
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10. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer readable medium;
a plurality of instructions stored on the computer readable medium, the plurality of instructions configured to cause a processor to;
process a received a network device identifier, the network device identifier corresponding to a network device;
retrieve a configuration template associated with the received network device identifier, wherein the retrieved configuration template comprises at least an attribute field;
populate the attribute field with attribute data;
format the attribute data; and
provide the formatted attribute data to the network device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for communicating with a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving a generic instruction to alter an operation of the network device, the generic instruction being independent of both a vendor and an operating system of the network device;
generating a command that is specific to the network device utilizing attribute data from a command-format template that is associated with the network device; and
providing the command to the network device to as to alter the operation of the network device.
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18. A method for configuring network infrastructure comprising:
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identifying commands needed to correctly configure a network device;
organizing the commands in a correct order so as to enable the commands to correctly configure the network device;
obtaining attribute data needed to correctly configure the network device;
assembling the commands in the correct order along with the attribute data so as to generate a configuration template; and
storing the configuration template in a repository.
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Specification