METHOD AND APPARATUS TO AUTOMATE CONFIGURATION OF NETWORK ENTITIES

• US 20090094521A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs San Jose, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Christine, Hung, Grace, Dang, Annie, Lyou, Desyang L., Wu, Christina S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,595,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automating the configuration of network entities with a network management system. More particularly, a graphical user interface incorporates a template to allow administrators to configure attributes of network entities. The graphical user interface and template reduce the number of blocks required to configure network entities and also minimize user errors. The graphical user interface also allows an administrator to add and manage templates for future use. The method and apparatus are also for monitoring the progress of configuring network entities and generating an operation log.

Claims

1. A network configuration apparatus facilitating the configuration of network entities comprising:

a graphical user interface that includes a graphical template allowing configuration of administrator modifiable areas of the graphical template corresponding to template attributes; and

a template handler that extracts the template attributes from the graphical template and sends messages to agents of network elements, which configure attributes of the network entities to match the extracted template attributes.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes a graphical template management menu facilitating the addition and management of graphical templates created by the template handler.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes a graphical progress dialog for monitoring the application of the extracted template attributes to the network entities based on the messages sent by the template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the template handler checks the extracted template attributes for a valid configuration before sending the messages.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a network management system generates an operation log based on the messages sent by the template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

6. A method of configuring network entities comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface that includes a graphical template allowing configuration of administrator modifiable areas of the graphical template corresponding to template attributes;

extracting the template attributes from the graphical template; and

applying the extracted template attributes to the network entities by sending messages to agents of network elements, which configure attributes of the network entities to match the extracted template attributes.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein displaying a graphical user interface includes displaying a graphical template management menu facilitating the addition and management of graphical templates created by a template handler.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein displaying a graphical user interface includes displaying a graphical progress dialog for monitoring the application of the extracted template attributes to the network entities based on messages sent by a template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

9. A method as in claim 6, wherein applying the extracted template attributes to the network entities includes checking the extracted template attributes for a valid configuration before sending the messages.

10. A method as in claim 6, wherein applying the extracted template attributes to the network entities includes generating an operation log based on messages sent by a template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

11. A computer readable medium including a stored computer executable program, the computer executable program comprising:

code to display a graphical user interface that includes a graphical template allowing configuration of administrator modifiable areas of the graphical template corresponding to template attributes;

code to extract the template attributes from the graphical template; and

code to apply the extracted template attributes to the network entities by sending messages to agents of network elements, which configure attributes of the network entities to match the extracted template attributes.

12. The computer executable program of claim 11, wherein the code to display a graphical user interface includes code to display a graphical template management menu facilitating the addition and management of graphical templates created by a template handler.

13. The computer executable program of claim 11, wherein the code to display a graphical user interface includes code to display a graphical progress dialog for monitoring the application of the extracted template attributes to the network entities based on messages sent by a template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

14. The computer executable program of claim 11, wherein the code to apply the extracted template attributes to the network entities includes code to check the extracted template attributes for a valid configuration.

15. The computer executable program of claim 11, wherein the code to apply the extracted template attributes to the network entities includes code to generate an operation log based on messages sent by a template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

16. A programmed computing apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing a graphical user interface, a graphical template, administrator input, template attributes, a network entity list, and a computer executable method; and

a processor for executing the computer executable method stored in the memory;

wherein the computer executable method comprises displaying the graphical user interface that includes a graphical template allowing configuration of administrator modifiable areas of the graphical template corresponding to template attributes,

extracting the template attributes from the graphical template, and

applying the extracted template attributes to network entities by sending messages to agents of network elements, which configure attributes of the network entities to match the extracted template attributes.

17. The programmed computing apparatus of claim 16, wherein displaying a graphical user interface includes displaying a graphical template management menu facilitating the addition and management of graphical templates created by a template handler.

18. The programmed computing apparatus of claim 16, wherein displaying a graphical user interface includes displaying a graphical progress dialog for monitoring the application of the extracted template attributes to the network entities based on messages sent by a template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.

19. The programmed computing apparatus of claim 16, wherein applying the extracted template attributes to the network entities includes checking the extracted template attributes for a valid configuration.

20. The programmed computing apparatus of claim 16, wherein applying the extracted template attributes to the network entities includes generating an operation log based on messages sent by a template handler and confirmations received by the template handler.