Method and apparatus for remotely configuring network devices

• US 20060080425A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Borowski, Olaf, Wood, Frank J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A preferred embodiment apparatus for configuring network devices in a network includes a controller provided at a remote location on the network for receiving a configuration request from a user to configure a select user defined device. The controller translates the configuration request to another configuration request, and issues the translated configuration request to a select network device corresponding to the select user defined device for configuring the select network device. A translation enabling part allows the controller to translate the first configuration request received from the user to the second configuration request issued to the select network device.

Claims

1. A method for remotely configuring at least one network device on the network, said method comprising:

issuing a first configuration request from a remote location on the network to configure a select user defined device;

determining a select network device on the network corresponding to said select user defined device;

translating said first configuration request to a second configuration request; and

issuing said second configuration request from the remote location to said select network device on the network for configuring said select network device.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first configuration request is in a first language understandable by a user, and said second configuration request is in a second language operatively understandable by said select network device.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said translation from said first configuration request to said second configuration is through a software plug-in specific to said select network device.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising, storing said first configuration request in a database when said select network device has been configured in accordance with said second configuration request.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

retrieving said first configuration request stored in said database when said select network device corresponding to said user defined device requires reconfiguration in accordance with said second configuration request;

translating said first configuration request to said second configuration request; and

issuing said second configuration request to said select network device for reconfiguring said select physical network.

6. The method as defined in claim 5 further comprising, storing said first configuration request in said database when said select network device has been reconfigured in accordance with said second configuration request.

7. The method as defined in claim 5;

wherein said first configuration request is in a first language understandable by a user, and said second configuration request is in a second language operatively understandable by said select network device.

8. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said translation from said first configuration request to said second configuration is through a software plug-in specific to said select network device.

9. The method as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

retrieving said first configuration request stored in said database when a replacement network device for said select network device requires configuration in accordance with said second configuration request;

translating said first configuration request to said second configuration request; and

issuing said second configuration request to said replacement network device for configuring said replacement network network.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 further comprising,

storing said first configuration request in said database when said replacement network device has been reconfigured in accordance with said second configuration request.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said first configuration request is in a first language understandable by a user, and said second configuration request is in a second language operatively understandable by said select network device.

12. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said translation from said first configuration request to said second configuration is through a software plug-in specific to said select network device.

13. An apparatus for remotely configuring network devices on the network, comprising:

a controller located at a remote location on the network for receiving a first configuration request from a user to configure a select user defined device, translating said first configuration request to a second configuration request, and issuing said second configuration request to a select network device corresponding to said select user defined device for configuring said select network device; and

,

means for enabling said controller to translate said first configuration request to said second configuration request.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said first configuration request is in a first language understandable by the user, and said second configuration request is in a second language operatively understandable by said select network device.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said enabling means comprises a plurality of software plug-ins corresponding to the network devices in the network including a plug-in corresponding to said select network device.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a database for storing said first configuration request when said select network device has been configured in accordance with said second configuration request.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said controller retrieves said first configuration request stored in said database when said select network device corresponding to said select user defined device requires reconfiguration in accordance with said second configuration request, translates said first configuration request to said second configuration request, and issues said second configuration request to said select network device for reconfiguring said select network device.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said controller stores said first configuration request in said database when said select network device has been reconfigured in accordance with said second configuration request.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said first configuration request is in a first language understandable by the user, and said second configuration request is in a second language operatively understandable by said select network device.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said enabling means comprises a plurality of software plug-ins corresponding to the network devices in the network including a plug-in corresponding to said select network device.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said controller retrieves said first configuration request stored in said database when a replacement network device for said select network device requires configuration in accordance with said second configuration request, translates said first configuration request to said second configuration request, and issues said second configuration request to said replacement network device for configuring said replacement network device.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said controller stores said first configuration request in said database when said replacement physical network device has been configured in accordance with said second configuration request.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said first configuration request is in a first language understandable by the user, and said second configuration request is in a second language operatively understandable by said select network device.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said enabling means comprises a plurality of software plug-ins corresponding to the network devices in the network including a plug-in corresponding to said select network device.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said enabling means is a database, a look-up table or a software library.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said controller is incorporated into a server connected to the network.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said controller is a stand-alone device in communication with the network.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the network comprises a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).