System for monitoring and managing devices on a network from a management station via a proxy server that provides protocol converter

• US 6,480,901 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weber, Bret S., Delaney, William P., DeKoning, Rodney A., Jantz, Ray M., Courtright, William V. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/350,515
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/225, 709/230, 709/246, 709/212, 709/201, 709/240, 710/18, 710/1, 710/302, 711/114, 714/5, 370/362
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/028 for synchronisation between service call and response

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring and managing devices on a network. The system and method preferably comprises a proxy server connected to the network and a managed device connected to the proxy server. The system further comprises storage means for storing a device management application program associated with the managed device, and a management station in communication with the managed device via the proxy server and in communication with the storage means. The management station preferably is configured to retrieve the device management application program from the storage means and process the device management application program. As the management station processes the device management application program, the management station is able to monitor and manage the managed device. In particular, the management station can send management commands to a controller of the managed device via the proxy server, and the management station can receive notifications from the managed device, also via the proxy server.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and managing devices on a network, comprising:

a proxy server connected to said network;

a managed device connected to said proxy server via a communication connection;

storage means for storing a device management application program associated with said managed device; and

a management station in communication with said managed device via said proxy server and in communication with said storage means, said management station configured to retrieve said device management application program from said storage means and process said device management application program;

wherein the processing of said device management application program by said management station allows said management station to monitor and manage said managed device;

wherein said managed device includes a controller for controlling said managed device, and wherein the processing of said device management application program by said management station allows said management station to send management commands to said controller via said proxy server;

wherein said proxy server comprises routing means for receiving commands from said management station and routing said commands to said controller of said managed device;

wherein said device management application program communicates with said proxy server using a first communication protocol, and said proxy server communicates with said managed device using a second communication protocol, and wherein said proxy server comprises a protocol converter for converting communication messages directed from said device management application program to said managed device from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol, and for converting communication messages directed from said managed device to said device management application program from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol; and

wherein said first communication protocol is remote procedure call (R-PQ and said second communication protocol is universal transport mechanism (UTM), and wherein said protocol converter comprises an RPC-to-UTM conversion application.

2. A method for managing devices connected to a proxy server, comprising the steps of,

(a) providing a proxy server connected to a network;

(b) providing a management station for managing one or more managed devices connected to said proxy server;

(c) said management station locating said proxy server on said network;

(d) said management station obtaining from said proxy server a list of said one or more managed devices connected to said proxy server;

(e) displaying said one or more managed devices connected to said proxy server on a display associated with said management station;

(f) selecting one of said one or more managed devices to be managed;

(g) retrieving a management application program associated with said selected one of said one or more managed devices form a storage means;

(h) running said retrieved management application program on said management station;

(i) sending management commands from said management station to said selected one of said one or more managed devices via said proxy server;

wherein said management station communicates with said proxy server with a first communication protocol and said proxy server communicates with said selected one of said one or more managed devices with a second communication protocol,

(j) said proxy server converting said management commands form said management station form said first communication protocol format to said second communication protocol format;

(k) said proxy server sending said management commands to said selected one of said one or more managed devices in said second communication protocol format;

wherein said first communication protocol is remote procedure call (RPC) and said second communication protocol is universal transport mechanism (UTM).