SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATED CONSOLE MANAGEMENT INTERFACE

• US 20100306334A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Peck, William F., DeHaan, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/022 Multivendor or multi-standard integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for integrated console management in networks populated by a diverse set of console types. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or other clients, servers, hosts, and/or other machines, can be managed by a network management platform. Different machines populating the managed network can be accessed or controlled by different types of network management consoles, or client interfaces for monitoring and controlling different sets of machines. The network management platform or other node can maintain a console management engine which interacts with the various console types connected or assigned to underlying target machines. The console management engine can maintain a console translation table which invokes particular interfaces, data formats, ports, and/or other parameters of specific console packages used for underlying sets of machines. The console management engine can thereby present a unified interface to systems administrators or other users.

Claims

1. A method of managing console operations in a network, comprising:

receiving a set of target configuration data comprising a console assignment record for respective sets of target machines;

initiating a console management session for at least one set of target machines via an integrated console interface;

accessing a console translation table storing a set of console classes assigned to respective sets of targets in a managed network to identify a console class for the at least one set of target machines; and

generating a set of control data for transmission to the at least one set of target machines using the console class for the at least one set of target machines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the sets of target machines comprises at least one of a set of client machines, a set of virtual machines, and a set of supervisory hosts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the console management session is initiated via at least one of a network management platform, a supervisory host, and a target machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data generated for transmission to the set of targets comprises at least one of a set of hardware configuration commands, a set of monitoring commands, and a set of software installation commands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the console translation table is extensible.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the console assignment record comprises a port assignment for communicating with a set of target machines via a console class.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a console management session for at least one remote machine external to the managed network via the integrated console interface.

8. A console management platform, comprising:

an interface to a managed network having sets of target machines; and

a console management engine, communicating with the sets of target machines via the interface, the console management engine being configured to-

receive a set of target configuration data comprising a console assignment record for respective sets of target machines,

initiate a console management session for at least one set of target machines via an integrated console interface,

access a console translation table storing a set of console classes assigned to respective sets of targets in a managed network to identify a console class for the at least one set of target machines, and

generate a set of control data for transmission to the at least one set of target machines using the console class for the at least one set of target machines.

9. The console management platform of claim 8, wherein each of the sets of target machines comprises at least one of a set of client machines, a set of virtual machines, and a set of supervisory hosts.

10. The console management platform of claim 8, wherein the console management session is initiated via at least one of a network management platform, a supervisory host, and a target machine.

11. The console management platform of claim 8, wherein the control data generated for transmission to the set of targets comprises at least one of a set of hardware configuration commands, a set of monitoring commands, and a set of software installation commands.

12. The console management platform of claim 8, wherein the console translation table is extensible.

13. The console management platform of claim 8, wherein the console assignment record comprises a port assignment for communicating with a set of target machines via a console class.

14. The console management platform of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises initiating a console management session for at least one remote machine external to the managed network via the integrated console interface.

15. A set of target machines in a managed network, the set of target machines being managed via a method of:

receiving a set of target configuration data comprising a console assignment record for the set of target machines;

initiating a console management session for the set of target machines via an integrated console interface;

accessing a console translation table storing a set of console classes assigned to the set of target machines to identify a console class for the set of target machines; and

generating a set of control data for transmission to the set of target machines using the console class for the set of target machines.

16. The set of target machines of claim 15, wherein each of the sets of target machines comprises at least one of a set of client machines, a set of virtual machines, and a set of supervisory hosts.

17. The set of target machines of claim 15, wherein the console management session is initiated via at least one of a network management platform, a supervisory host, and a target machine.

18. The set of target machines of claim 15, wherein the control data generated for transmission to the set of targets comprises at least one of a set of hardware configuration commands, a set of monitoring commands, and a set of software installation commands.

19. The set of target machines of claim 15, wherein the console translation table is extensible.

20. The set of target machines of claim 15, wherein the console assignment record comprises a port assignment for communicating with a set of target machines via a console class.