Method and apparatus for discovering network devices using internet protocol and producing a corresponding graphical network map

• US 6,442,144 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Viswa H., Cochran, Charles W., Hansen, Peter A., Schunicht, Geoffery A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US09/098,026
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255, 370/256, 370/257, 370/258, 370/389, 370/401, 370/475, 707/103.R, 709/224, 709/223, 709/226, 709/245, 714/2
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for discovering, identifying and graphically representing network devices on a network. The devices are discovered by obtaining the gateway address of the management workstations and then reading the internet protocol address table and the ARP cache from each gateway via SNMP. Each address read is compared with existing IP addresses, and if new, device IDs are created and assigned. Select attributes are then assigned to each device and then the devices are then identified. The devices are identified by making a DNS request on the corresponding IP address to determine the network name of the device. The SNMP then obtains the system name and object ID (OID) for each of the devices. The OID is then compared and matched with known OIDs to identify the device. the devices are graphically connected and laid out by creating a submap based on the IP address and mask pairs for each device. The routers connected, the bridges are then connected and finally the repeaters are connected. Interface-level and port-level detailed connections are determined by comparing the connected device MAC address to the routing/ARP table entries in the case of a router, the forwarding database in the case of a switch/bridge, or the MAC address table in a repeater/hub.

Claims

1. A method for discovering network devices on a network, said method comprising:

obtaining a gateway address for each of at least one management workstations;

reading an internet protocol address table from each gateway via a management protocol;

assigning a device identification for each unique address read from the internet protocol address table; and

identifying the device corresponding to each assigned device identification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining is accomplished through default gateway application calls.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining is accomplished by broadcasting a routing information protocol route request packet and monitoring for replies.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining is accomplished by reading previous user entered entries.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining is accomplished by being obtained from a user via user interface communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of reading is accomplished via simple network management protocol.

7. A system for discovering network devices on a network, said system comprising:

gateway address identifier obtainers for obtaining a gateway address for at least one management workstation;

protocol address table readers for reading an internet protocol address table from each gateway via a management protocol;

device identification assigners, which assign device identifications for each unique address read from the protocol address table; and

device identifiers that use an algorithm to identify a particular device type.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said gateway address identifier obtainers comprise default gateway application calls.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said gateway address identifier obtainers comprise routing information protocol route request packet broadcasters and reply monitors.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said gateway address identifier obtainers comprise previous user entered entry readers.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said gateway address identifier obtainers comprise dialog communicators.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said protocol address table readers comprise simple network management protocol readers.