Self configuring network management system

• US 20060092861A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ScienceLogic
• Original Assignee: ScienceLogic
• Inventors: Ginter, Karl, Link, David, Chart, Richard, Corday, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,077,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/256
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0246 Exchanging or transporting network management information using the Internet; Embedding network management web servers in network elements; Web-services-based protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0273 using web services for network management, e.g. simple object access protocol [SOAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• 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 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5048 Automatic or semi-automatic definitions, e.g. definition templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5058 Service discovery by the service manager
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Systems, software, and methods for managing networks of connected electronic devices are described. In one example, network management policy and network management applications are downloaded automatically upon detection and identification of a new device on the network. In another example, information related to at least one aspect of the network is obtained by a network management device, and at least one applicable management policy is identified by the device; and the identified policy is used to manage at least one aspect of the network'"'"'s operation.

Claims

1. A method for managing the operation of electronic devices connected to a network, comprising:

obtaining information related to at least one aspect of the network , instantiating a management program, and using said management program to manage at least one aspect of the network

2. A method of claim {1}, where instantiation of the management program includes a downloading from a server step.

3. A method of claim {1}, where instantiation of the management program includes an installation step.

4. A method of claim {1}, where the management program replaces a previously configured management program upon the basis of the newly obtained information related to an aspect of the network.

5. A method of claim {1 }, where the instantiated management program is selected, at least in part, based upon the information related to at least one aspect of the network.

6. A method for managing the operation of electronic devices connected to a network, comprising:

obtaining information related to at least one aspect of the network, identifying at least one applicable management policy, and using said policy to manage at least one aspect of the network.

7. The method of claim {6}, wherein said policy parameter limits include limits associated with enterprise-defined policies for any of electronic device configuration, electronic device security, electronic device performance, electronic device events, electronic device availability, network utilization, network availability, or network service quality.

8. The method of claim {6}, wherein said management policy is downloaded.

9. The method of claim {8}, wherein said management policy is stored by a network-connected service.

10. A method for managing the operation of an electronic device connected to a network, comprising:

identifying at least one applicable template, and using said template to manage at least one aspect of the network.

11. The method of claim {10}, wherein said management policy is stored in a directory service.

12. The method of claim {10}, wherein said template may be used to specify:

a managed electronic device configuration, electronic device security, electronic device availability, network utilization, network availability, or network service quality.

13. The method of claim {10}, wherein said template is downloaded.

14. The method of claim {10}, wherein said template is used, at least in part, to form an association with a management program.

15. The method of claim {14}, wherein said template is used to define the association.

16. The method of claim {14}, said usage further comprising comparing information contained in said template with information obtained from said electronic devices connected to a network.

17. The method of claim {16} said usage further comprising generating an event in response to said comparing.

18. The method of claim {17}, said usage further comprising generating an event, wherein said template is used, at least in part, to generate said event.

19. The method for managing the operation of electronic devices connected to a network, comprising:

identifying a management program associated with an aspect of an electronic device, dynamically forming an association between the identified management program and said electronic device connected to a network, and using said formed association to instantiate said management program to manage the electronic device connected to a network.

20. The method of claim {19}, wherein said dynamically forming comprises identifying characteristics of said electronic device, generating a template of said electronic device from said characteristics, and locating said management program using said template.

21. A method for configuring a data store, comprising:

using a template to determine, at least in part, the configuration of the data store.

22. A method for populating a data store, comprising:

using a template to determine, at least in part, the information to be stored in a data store.

23. A method for managing a data store that is configured to relate elements among a plurality of data stores, comprising:

using a downloadable template to determine, at least in part, the relationship between a first element in a first data store, and a second element in a second data store.

24. A method for managing the operation of electronic devices connected to a network, comprising:

providing at least one data store;

providing operation parameter limits;

obtaining status information about electronic devices connected to a network, electronic device applications, network servers, and network services operably connected to said network;

storing said information in at least one data store;

comparing said status information with policy operation parameter limits, and taking an action based upon the results of said comparison.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said network operation parameter limits are associated with policies at an organizational level selected from the group consisting of:

enterprise, division, network, electronic device, and combinations thereof.