PROVISIONING

• US 20160036638A1
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allied Telesis Holdings KK
• Original Assignee: Allied Telesis Holdings KK, Allied Telesis Incorporated (Allied Telesis Holdings KK)
• Inventors: Campbell, Graeme Keith, Savory, Michael Owen, Hoggarth, Gregory James, Varley, Samuel Gordon
• Application Number:
  US14/446,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20160036638A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods described herein are configured for creating or generating a configuration for a device that is to be newly added to a network and configured for configuration (e.g., automatic) of the device. In some embodiments, the systems, apparatus and methods described herein are further configured for setting up on or more devices to provide information about a configuration (e.g., location) and hostname or other identifier to the newly added network device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending from an electronic system, a configuration associated with a device that is to be newly added to a network; and

sending a communication comprising;

an identifier associated with the device that is to be newly added to the network; and

a location of the configuration associated with the device that is to be newly added to the network.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the device is not a replacement for a failed device.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the communication further comprises an indicator associated with a location within the network where the device that is to be newly added to the network is to be coupled.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration associated with the device is created manually.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration associated with the device is generated from a cloning process.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration associated with the device is not associated with another device that is coupled to the network.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration associated with the device comprises a software release.

8. The method as described in claim 7, wherein the configuration associated with the device further comprises a license.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration associated with the device is validated via a simulation.

10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the identifier associated with the device is selected from the group consisting of a model identifier, a MAC address, and a port enumeration.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic system, an identifier associated with the electronic system from a device within a network, wherein the electronic system is unconfigured and wherein the electronic system is coupled to the network for a first time;

receiving a location of a configuration associated with the electronic system, wherein the configuration associated with the electronic system was created prior to coupling of the electronic system to the network;

sending a request for the configuration based on the location of the configuration associated with the electronic system;

receiving the configuration associated with the electronic system; and

configuring the electronic system based on the configuration associated with the electronic system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving of the identifier associated with the electronic system is based on a location of the electronic system within the network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic system is not replacing a failed electronic system.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

signaling a lighting element according to a first pattern during the configuring.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

signaling the lighting element according to a second pattern in response to a configuration failure.

16. A system comprising:

a configuration module configured for creating a configuration associated with a first device that is to be newly added to a network; and

a communication module configured for sending to a second device, an identifier associated with the first device that is to be newly added to the network and further sending a location of the configuration associated with the first device that is to be newly added to the network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the configuration module is configured for validating the configuration.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the configuration module is configured for simulating a configuration operation based on the configuration associated with the first device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the configuration module is configured for creating the configuration associated with the first device that is to be newly added to the network based on a cloning operation.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first device is configured to automatically configure the first device based on the configuration associated with the first device.

21. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a storage module configured for storing the configuration associated with the first device.