System and method for configuring a network device

• US 20060031435A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Focus Global Solutions LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Intelliden, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Tindal, Glen D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0273 using web services for network management, e.g. simple object access protocol [SOAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• 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 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving configuration event notifications when applying the necessary commands from the corresponding configuration templates;

determining whether each of the configuration event notifications is correct by consulting a policy manager; and

rolling back a previous configuration or saving an applied configuration based on a response from the policy manager.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising:

checking a running state of each the quantity of the plurality of network devices after the configuring is complete;

saving all configuration data; and

notifying a submitter of the request to alter the operation of the network infrastructure of changes.

4. A method for communicating with a network device, the method comprising:

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.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the notification request is received from a network administrator.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the notification request is received from a another computer system.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the notification request is received from a another network device.

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.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the payload portion is formed by:

retrieving a configuration record associated with the network device; and

extracting the attribute data from the retrieved configuration record.

10. An article of manufacture comprising:

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.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to retrieve the configuration template by:

retrieving the configuration template from a central repository, wherein the central repository is configured to store a plurality of configuration templates, each of which correspond to at least one of a plurality of network devices.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming an XML message comprising at least an indication of the formatted attribute data.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming an HTTP message comprising at least an indication of the network device identifier.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming a frame comprising the XML message and the HTTP message.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming a frame comprising at least an indication of the formatted attribute data and at least an indication of the network device identifier; and

comparing the generated frame to a desired configuration template result.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

alter the operation of the network device in accordance with the attribute data;

compare an altered configuration record to an expected altered configuration template;

return the network device to a previous operational state if the comparing indicates the alteration is not implemented correctly; and

store the altered configuration record in a data repository.

17. A method for communicating with a network device, the method comprising:

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.

18. A method for configuring network infrastructure comprising:

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.