NETWORKING AS A SERVICE: DELIVERING NETWORK SERVICES USING REMOTE APPLIANCES CONTROLLED VIA A HOSTED, MULTI-TENANT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20090187970A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerohive Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mayhew, Steven Couch, Palmer, Matthew Alan, Mower, Carl Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,347,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Networking as a Service (NaaS) delivers network services using remote appliances controlled by a hosted, multi-tenant management system. The system may include a heartbeating process for communication between a web-based server and appliances, in which the appliances periodically contact the management system on the server. The heartbeating process allows the appliances to maintain a completely up-to-date configuration. Furthermore, heartbeating allows for comprehensive monitoring of appliances and for software distribution. The system may also include means for authenticating appliances, without the need for pre-installed PSKs or certificates.

Claims

1. A hosted multi-tenant management system for delivering network services comprising:

a server; and

means for authenticating remote appliances.