NETWORK DEVICE MANAGEMENT

• US 20070130286A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pure Networks, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hynoski, Joel, Holt, Nick, Hopmann, Alex, Marl, Brett, Tebbs, Matthew, Bush, Steve, Yakeley, Ashley
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A network device management tool that allows a client, such as a network management tool or network device setup utility, to reliably obtain information about a network device. Variations of the network device management tool may alternately or additionally allow a client to deliver information to the network device, such as instructions to control the operation of the network device. The network device management tool may be incorporated into the network device.

Claims

1. A method of providing information for a network device, comprising:

receiving a request at a network device for information; and

in response to receiving the request, transmitting a reply confirming that the network device hosts a network device management tool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for information employs an HTTP GET request.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the HTTP GET request is received without authentication at a Universal Resource Locator address hosted by the network device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the reply to the request includes results of a method call referenced in the request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method is a request to obtain values of settings associated with the network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for includes an instruction for the network device to perform an operation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operation includes changing a setting on the network device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request to perform an operation includes an HTTP POST to a web server hosted by the network device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the request to perform an operation includes a message header and a message body.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the message header includes a SOAPAction field, and the message body comprises an XML block containing data for the request.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the message body comprises an XML block containing data for the request.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting data referenced in the request.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitted data includes one or more setting values that are to be employed by the network device in performing the operation.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the reply to the request includes a message indicating the request was properly handled.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restarting the network device prior to transmitting the reply.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the request from a network management tool that manages a one or more devices in network associated with the network device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the request from a network device setup tool configured to setup the network device for operation.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving setting values for setting up the network device, and

implementing the setting values on the network device.

14. The method of claim 15, wherein the reply to the request from the network device includes a message selected from the group consisting of:

a message indicating that the request was properly handled, a message indicating the request was not properly handled, a message indicating the request was properly handled and the network device is going to restart to implement setting values specified in the request, and a message indicating that the request attempted to set more setting values for the network device than supported by the network device management tool.

21. A system for configuring a network device for a network comprising:

a network device including

a network device management tool, and

a computing device connected to a network; and

a network management tool hosted on a computer device connected to the network and connected to the network device management tool via a network connection.

23. The network device received in claim 21, wherein the network management tool is further configured to

receive requests from a client contain instructions to enter new information into the memory and the new information to be entered into the memory, and

reply to the requests by entering the new information into the memory.

22. A network device, comprising:

a memory containing one or more setting values associated with the operation of the network device; and

a network management tool configured to

receive requests from a client to retrieve existing information from the memory,

retrieve the existing information from the memory, and

reply to the requests with the existing information retrieved from the memory.