Distributed Network Management System and Method

• US 20080201462A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SubCom, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tyco Telecommunications Us Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Liss, Jonathan M., Sabet, Sameh A., Bodner, Renata F., Alves, Ricardo E., Cereja, Nevton
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0668 by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0695 the faulty arrangement being the maintenance, administration or management system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1051 Group master selection mechanisms

Abstract

A system and method for method of managing a network. Each of a plurality of servers includes an element management system (EMS) function for managing network elements within the network and a network management system (NMS) function for managing ones of the plurality of servers running the EMS function. An NMS function is activated on one of the servers when the plurality of servers shares a one network domain. When the network domain is divided into multiple domains, e.g. by a network failure, an NMS function is activated on at least one other one of the plurality of servers whereby each of the multiple network domains has at least one associated active NMS function.

Claims

1. A distributed network management system comprising:

a plurality servers, each of said plurality of servers comprising an element management system (EMS) function for managing network elements within the network and a network management system (NMS) function for managing ones of said plurality of servers running said EMS function,

said plurality of servers being configured to ensure that said NMS function is active on one of said plurality of servers and inactive on the others of said plurality of servers when said plurality of servers share one network domain, and when said one network domain is separated into multiple domains said plurality of servers being configured to automatically activate said NMS function on one of said plurality of servers associated with each of said multiple domains and ensure that said NMS function on the others of said servers comprising each of said plurality of network domains is inactive.

2. A system according to claim 1, said plurality of servers being configured to deactivate an NMS function associated with each of a plurality of said multiple domains when said multiple domains are combined into said one network domain to ensure that said NMS function is active on a host one of said plurality of servers.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of servers is configured to ensure that said EMS function is active on ones of said plurality of servers where said NMS function is inactive.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said NMS function is configured to automatically discover a network topology of a domain in which said NMS function is active.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of servers do not maintain a persistent database of network information for use by said NMS function.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said NMS function is configured to automatically discover termination points in a domain in which said NMS function is active and connect said termination points to establish network trails for said domain in which said NMS function is active.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said NMS function is configured to perform fault management for said network using said network trails.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein each said plurality of servers further comprises a client workstation function (WSF) for displaying status of said network to a user.

9. A method of managing a network comprising:

providing on each of a plurality of servers an element management system (EMS) function for managing network elements within the network and a network management system (NMS) function for managing ones of said plurality of servers running said EMS function;

activating said NMS function on one of said servers when said plurality of servers share a one network domain; and

activating said NMS function automatically on at least one other one of said plurality of servers when said one network domain is divided into multiple network domains, whereby each of said multiple network domains has at least one associated active NMS function.

10. A method according to claim 9, said method further comprising automatically deactivating an NMS function associated with each of a plurality of said multiple domains when said multiple domains are combined into said one network domain.

11. A method according to claim 9, said method further comprising activating said EMS function on ones of said plurality of servers where said NMS function is inactive.

12. A method according to claim 9, said method further comprising discovering automatically a network topology in ones of said servers where said NMS function is active.

13. A method according to claim 9, said method further comprising discovering automatically termination points in ones of said servers where said NMS function is active and connecting said termination points to establish network trails.

14. A method according to claim 13, said method further comprising performing fault management for said network using said network trails.

15. A method according to claim 9, said method further comprising providing on each of said plurality of servers a client workstation function (WSF) for displaying status of said network to a user.

16. A method of assigning a host server in a distributed network management system including a plurality of servers, each of said plurality of servers comprising an element management system (EMS) function for managing network elements within the network and a NMS function for managing ones of said plurality of servers running said EMS function, said method comprising:

operating a first one of said plurality of servers for requesting runtime status of an NMS function of a remote one of said plurality of servers;

receiving a response from said remote one of said servers;

comparing runtime status of said first one of said plurality of servers to said runtime status of said remote one of said servers; and

initializing said first one as a host server in response to said comparing runtime status.

17. A method according to claim 16, said method further comprising discovering automatically a network topology associated with said plurality of servers.

18. A method according to claim 16, said method further comprising discovering automatically termination points associated with said plurality of servers and connecting said termination points to establish network trails.

19. A method according to claim 18, said method further comprising performing fault management for said network using said network trails.

20. A machine-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to perform a method of assigning a host server in a distributed network management system including a plurality of servers, each of said plurality of servers comprising an element management system (EMS) function for managing network elements within the network and a NMS function for managing ones of said plurality of servers running said EMS function, said method comprising:

operating a first one of said plurality of servers for requesting runtime status of an NMS function of a remote one of said plurality of servers;

receiving a response from said remote one of said servers;

comparing runtime status of said first one of said plurality of servers to said runtime status of said remote one of said servers; and

initializing said first one as a host server in response to said comparing runtime status.

21. A machine readable medium according to claim 21, said method further comprising discovering automatically a network topology associated with said plurality of servers.

22. A machine readable medium according to claim 21, said method further comprising discovering automatically termination points associated with said plurality of servers and connecting said termination points to establish network trails.

23. A machine readable medium according to claim 22, said method further comprising performing fault management for said network using said network trails.