Method and system for managing an AIX UNIX server using an SNMP interface

• US 6,604,112 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Kurt Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, JOON H
• Application Number:
  US09/276,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/10, 707/103.R, 707/100-104, 707/8, 709/212, 709/223-226, 709/238, 709/245, 709/313, 709/321, 709/331-332, 709/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A method and system for allowing a server to be configured using a standard protocol is disclosed. The server includes a proprietary database having a plurality of classes. Each of the plurality of classes is capable of including at least one object instance. The at least one object instance is described by at least one descriptor. The proprietary database is for managing the server. The method and system include reading the proprietary database and saving a first plurality of locations of the plurality of classes and a second plurality of locations of the at least one object instance in a standard database accessible using the standard protocol. Via the standard protocol, the standard database can be used to manage the server using the proprietary database.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interface that allows a server to be configured using a standard protocol, the server including a proprietary database having a plurality of classes, each of the plurality of classes capable of including at least one object instance, the at least one object instance being described by at least one descriptor, the proprietary database for managing the server, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) reading the proprietary database; and

(b) hierarchically saving a first plurality of locations of the plurality of classes and a second plurality of locations of the at least one object instance in a standard database accessible using the standard protocol;

wherein, via the standard protocol, the standard database can be used to manage the server using the proprietary database;

wherein the proprietary database is an object instance data manager (ODM) and the standard protocol is an SNMP protocol;

wherein the standard database is a management information base (MIB).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one object instance is characterized by at least one descriptor;

and wherein the saving step (b) further includes the step of;

(b1) saving the at least one descriptor in the standard database.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(c) synchronizing the standard database with the proprietary database.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the synchronizing step (c) further includes the steps of:

(c1) rereading the proprietary database; and

(c2) mapping a change in the proprietary database to the standard database.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(c) allowing a user to perform commands on the server using the standard protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the server is an AIX UNIX server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the server further includes a persistent storage and wherein the method further includes the step of:

(c) saving a copy of the standard database in the persistent storage of the server.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(c) locking the proprietary database to prevent modifications of the proprietary database prior to reading the proprietary database.

9. A system for providing an interface that allows a server to be configured using a standard protocol, the server including a proprietary database having a plurality of classes, each of the plurality of classes capable of including at least one object instance, the at least one object instance being described by at least one descriptor, the proprietary database for managing the server using a manager, the system comprising:

a standard database accessible using the standard protocol;

means for interfacing the manager with the server, the interfacing means being capable of reading the proprietary database and hierarchically saving a first plurality of locations of the plurality of classes and a second plurality of locations of the at least one object instance in the standard database; and

wherein, via the standard protocol, the standard database created by the interfacing means can be used to manage the server using the proprietary database;

wherein the proprietary database is an object instance data manager (ODM) and the standard protocol is an SNMP protocol;

wherein the standard database is a management information base (MIB).

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one object instance is characterized by at least one descriptor;

and wherein the interfacing means further save the at least one descriptor in the standard database.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the interfacing means further synchronize the standard database with the proprietary database.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the interfacing means synchronize the standard database and the proprietary database by rereading the proprietary database and mapping a change in the proprietary database to the standard database.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the interfacing means further allow a user to perform commands on the server using the standard protocol.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the server is an AIX UNIX server.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the server further includes a persistent storage and wherein the interfacing means further saves a copy of the standard database in the persistent storage of the server.

16. The system of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

wherein the interfacing means further lock the proprietary database to prevent modifications of the proprietary database prior to reading the proprietary database.

17. A computer readable medium containing a program for providing an interface that allows a server to be configured using a standard protocol, the server including a proprietary database having a plurality of classes, each of the plurality of classes capable of including at least one object instance, the at least one object instance being described by at least one descriptor, the proprietary database for managing the server, the program including instructions for:

(a) reading the proprietary database; and

(b) hierarchically saving a first plurality of locations of the plurality of classes and a second plurality of locations of the at least one object instance in a standard database accessible using the standard protocol;

wherein, via the standard protocol, the standard database can be used to manage the server using the proprietary database;

wherein the proprietary database is an object instance data manager (ODM) and the standard protocol is an SNMP protocol;

wherein the standard database is a management information base (MIB).

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the at least one object instance is characterized by at least one descriptor;

and wherein the saving instruction (b) further includes instructions for;

(b1) saving the at least one descriptor in the standard database.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the program further includes instructions for:

(c) synchronizing the standard database with the proprietary database.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the synchronizing instruction (c) further includes instructions for:

(c1) rereading the proprietary database; and

(c2) mapping a change in the proprietary database to the standard database.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising the step of:

(c) locking the proprietary database to prevent modifications of the proprietary database prior to reading the proprietary database.