Directory services network management locator

• US 6,560,644 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denny, Mark, Lautmann, John
• Primary Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/396,958
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/222, 709/238-242, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]

Abstract

A complete management system for specialized routers such as, for example, DLSw routers is provided. The management system uses a server to maintain a DLSw Directory, for example an LDAP directory. Whenever a DLSw router is booted, the DLSw router sends a registration message to the Server giving the network address of the DLSw router. The Server then maintains a directory of all DLSw routers in the network (the DLSw Directory). The information maintained in the DLSw Directory has the network address of each DLSw router, as received when the router is booted up. Also, at later times, the DLSw router sends a message to the DLSw Directory giving further information about the DLSw router. The further information comprises data such as: the types of encapsulation being received and routed by the router, etc.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a directory of routers connected to a computer network comprising:

executing a boot script by a selected router to bring said selected router into operation;

transmitting, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said selected router to a directory service in a directory server, said registration message containing registration information about said selected router;

creating by said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, an entry for said selected router in a database of routers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting said registration message using TCP/IP protocol.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement message (ACK message) from said directory service indicating that an entry had been created in response to receipt of said registration message.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

expiring an ACK timer in said selected router in the event that no ACK message is received from said directory server within an ACK timing interval, and in response to expiration of said ACK timer in said selected router, retransmitting said registration message.

5. The method as in claim 4 further comprising:

transmitting, by said selected router, an inquiry message to peer routers known by said selected router, said inquiry message asking for an IP address of a directory service.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting by said selected router, in response to receiving a message from a peer router giving said selected router an IP address of a directory service, a registration message to register said selected router with said directory service.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an update message by said selected router to said directory server to transfer additional information about said selected router to said database server.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of transmitting an update message further comprises, periodically transmitting said update message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting by said directory service, an update request to said selected router.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining said database of routers in an X.500 format database.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

communicating by said selected router and said directory service using an LDAP format.

12. A computer readable media having written thereon a program to execute the method of claim 1.

13. Electromagnetic signals transmitted over a computer network carrying information to establish a program in a computer to execute the method of claim 1.

40. Electromagnetic Signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:

said electromagnetic signals carrying information having instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of in claim 1 or claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19.

41. Computer readable media, comprising:

said computer readable media having information written thereon, said information having instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 1 or claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19.

14. A router, comprising:

means for executing a boot script by a selected router to bring said selected router into operation;

means four transmitting, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said selected router to a directory service, said registration message containing registration information about said selected router;

means for creating by said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, an entry for said selected router in a database of routers, in order to establish a directory of routers connected to a computer network.

15. A router, comprising:

a CPU to execute a boot script to bring said router into operation;

network circuits in said router to transmit, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said router to a directory service, said registration message containing registration information about said router;

wherein a computer executing a server function and maintaining said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, creates an entry for said router in a database of routers, in order to establish a directory of routers connected to a computer network.

16. A data structure stored in a computer memory, comprising:

an entry received from a router as said router executes a boot script, said entry containing a Layer 2 address of said router and a Layer 3 IP address of said router;

a field in said entry containing a time at which said entry was created;

said entry being one of many entries, each created as each router of a plurality of routers transmits a registration message to said computer, as said each router executes a boot script, and as a timer expires in said each router.

17. A method for establishing a directory of routers connected to a computer network comprising:

executing a boot script by a selected router to bring said selected router into operation;

transmitting, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said selected router to a directory service, said registration message containing registration information about said selected router, and for said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, to create an entry for said selected router in a database of routers.

18. A method for establishing a directory of routers connected to a computer network comprising:

executing a boot script by a selected router to bring said selected router into operation;

transmitting, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said selected router to a directory service, said registration message containing registration information about said selected router for said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, to create an entry for said selected router in a database of routers;

receiving by said selected router an acknowledgement message (ACK message) from said directory service, said ACK message indicating that said selected router has been registered in said directory service, and in the event that said ACK message is not received during a timeout time interval, said selected router transmitting an inquiry message to peer routers of said selected router, said inquiry message arranged to cause a peer router receiving said inquiry message to transmit to said selected router an address of a directory service of routers;

transmitting, using said address of a directory service of routers received from a peer router, a registration message to said directory service.

19. A method for operating a router, comprising:

executing a boot script by said router to establish a directory of routers connected to a computer network;

transmitting, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said router to a directory service in a directory server, said registration message containing registration information about said router,

creating, by said directory service in response to receiving said registration message, an entry for said router in a database of routers.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgment message (ACK message) from said directory service indicating that an entry had been created in response to receipt of said registration message.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

expiring an ACK timer in said router in the event that no ACK message is received from said directory server within an ACK timing interval, and in response to expiration of said ACK timer, retransmitting said registration message.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting an inquiry message to peer routers known by said router, said inquiry message asking for an IP address of a directory service, said directory service maintaining a database of routers.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting, in response to receiving a message from a peer router giving an IP address of a directory service, a registration message to register with said database of routers in said directory service.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting an update message to said directory server to transfer additional information about said router to said directory server.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving from said directory service an update request.

26. A router, comprising:

means for executing a boot script to bring said router into operation;

means for transmitting, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said router to a directory service in a directory server, said registration message containing registration information about said router, said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, creating an entry for said router in a database of routers.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a receiving port to receive an acknowledgment message (ACK message) from said directory service indicating that an entry had been created in response to receipt of said registration message.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

an ACK timer, said ACK timer expiring in the event that no ACK message is received from said directory server within an ACK timing interval, and in response to expiration of said ACK timer, retransmitting said registration message.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a port to transmit an inquiry message to peer routers known by said router, said inquiry message asking for an IP address of a directory service, said directory service maintaining a database of routers.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a processor to transmit, in response to receiving a message from a peer router giving an IP address of a directory service, a registration message to register with said database of routers in said directory service.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a processor to transmit an update message to said directory server to transfer additional information about said router to said directory server.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a receiving port to receive from said directory service an update request.

33. A router, comprising:

a processor to execute a boot script to bring said router into operation;

a port to transmit, in response to executing said boot script, a registration message by said router to a directory service in a directory server, said registration message containing registration information about said router, said directory service, in response to receiving said registration message, creating an entry for said router in a database of routers.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a receiving port to receive an acknowledgment message (ACK message) from said directory service indicating that an entry had been created in response to receipt of said registration message.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

an ACK timer, said ACK timer expiring in the event that no ACK message is received from said directory server within an ACK timing interval, and in response to expiration of said ACK timer, retransmitting said registration message.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a port to transmit an inquiry message to peer router known by said router, said inquiry message asking for an IP address of a directory service, said directory service maintaining a database of routers.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a processor to transmit, in response to receiving a message from a peer router giving an IP address of a directory service, a registration message to register with said database of routers in said directory service.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a processor to transmit an update message to said directory server to transfer additional information about said router to said directory server.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a receiving port to receive from said directory service an update request.