Method and Apparatus for Discovering Network Devices
First Claim
1. A method implemented in a network monitoring device, the method comprising:
- identifying a protocol for communicating with a device communicatively connected to a communications network, wherein identifying the protocol comprises;
sending a request message to a plurality of IP addresses using a plurality of different protocols, wherein each IP address is within a predetermined range of IP addresses, and wherein one of the plurality of IP addresses is assigned to the device;
identifying the protocol based on a response message received from the device;
determining, based on information received in the response message, a memory location at the device that stores metrics data collected by the device;
retrieving the metrics data collected by the device from the memory location; and
determining an identity of the device based on an analysis of the metrics data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring computer automatically identifies and communicates with one or more network-based devices to determine metric information collected and stored by those devices. The monitoring computer performs these functions even in cases where it does not know how to retrieve the information it needs to monitor a given network device, or even initially communicate with the device. Particularly, the monitoring computer autonomously determines the information needed to communicate with the devices and retrieve measurement data collected by those devices, and then uses that information and data to identify the device and subsequently configure itself to monitor that device.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method implemented in a network monitoring device, the method comprising:
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identifying a protocol for communicating with a device communicatively connected to a communications network, wherein identifying the protocol comprises; sending a request message to a plurality of IP addresses using a plurality of different protocols, wherein each IP address is within a predetermined range of IP addresses, and wherein one of the plurality of IP addresses is assigned to the device; identifying the protocol based on a response message received from the device; determining, based on information received in the response message, a memory location at the device that stores metrics data collected by the device; retrieving the metrics data collected by the device from the memory location; and determining an identity of the device based on an analysis of the metrics data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computing device comprising:
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a communications interface circuit configured to communicate data with a plurality of devices connected to a communications network; and a processing circuit configured to; receive a message from a first device via the communications interface circuit, wherein the message comprises information indicating a memory location storing metrics data collected by the first device; identify a protocol for communicating with the first device responsive to receiving the message; retrieve the metrics data collected by the first device from the memory location; and determine an identity of the first device based on an analysis of the metrics data retrieved from the first device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable code that, when executed by a processing circuit of a computing device, configures the processing circuit to:
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send a request message via a communications network to a destination IP address, wherein the request message is formatted according to a selected protocol; and determine whether a device associated with the destination IP address has sent a response message in response to the request message, wherein the response message comprises information indicating a memory location at the device; if the device associated with the destination IP address has sent a response message; retrieve metrics data from the memory location at the device, wherein the metrics data comprises data points representing selected operating parameters and are collected and stored by the device; identify the selected protocol used to format the request message as being a protocol for use in communicating with the device; and determine an identity of the device based on the metrics data retrieved from the memory location at the device.
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Specification