Method and apparatus for device class discovery in a network

• US 20070002767A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Cuong, Holman, Jermel
• Application Number:
  US11/172,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements

Abstract

A system and method for discovering a specific set, or class of, network devices based on predetermined criteria or attributes without performing a full network scan. The present invention uses network device classification information stored in the MAC address of Layer 3 and/or hybrid Layer 2/3 network devices to discover predetermined devices within a network faster than current approaches, while generating minimal network traffic.

Claims