Bulk configuring a virtual private network

• US 6,701,358 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Milillo, James M., Desroches, Melissa L., Poisson, Matthew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/285,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4675 Dynamic sharing of VLAN information amongst network nodes configuration of the network or of network elements H04L41/08

Abstract

Managing a virtual private network includes transmitting configuration information for at least one virtual private network function to multiple computers providing the at least one virtual private network function.

Claims

1. A method of managing a virtual private network, the method comprising:

receiving user input describing configuration information for at least one virtual private network function through a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a wizard having a preprogrammed set of dialogs that enable a user to configure the at least one virtual private network function by querying the user for information;

generating a configuring script from the user input received through the wizard, the configuring script having one or more script commands for configuring a computer in accordance with the configuration information for the at least one virtual private network function; and

transmitting the configuring script to multiple computers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private network function comprises authentication.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting configuration information comprises transmitting configuration information for configuring at least one of RADlUS authentication and/or LDAP authentication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private network function comprises tunneling.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmitting the configuring script comprises transmitting configuration information for configuring at least one of the following types of tunnels:

PPTP, IPSec, L2F, and L2TP.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private network function comprises network security.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitting the configuring script comprises transmitting configuration information for SNMP traps.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of computers and

wherein the transmitting the configuring script comprises transmitting the configuring script to computers in the selection.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the configuration information received through the wizard; and

wherein the transmitting the configuring script is performed in response to the user specifically exporting the configuration information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple computers comprise extranet switches.

11. A method of configuring a virtual private network, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of extranet switches from a list of virtual private network extranet switches;

receiving user input describing extranet switch tunneling characteristics via a graphical user interface comprising a wizard having a preprogrammed series of dialogs;

generating a script in response to receiving user input via the graphical user interface comprising the wizard; and

transmitting the script corresponding to the received user input to the selected extranet switches for processing.

12. A computer program product, disposed on a computer readable medium, for configuring a virtual private network, the computer program including instructions for causing a processor to:

receive user input describing configuration information for at least one virtual private network function through a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a wizard having a preprogrammed set of dialogs that enable a user to configure the at least one virtual private network function by querying the user for information;

generate a configuring script from the user input received through the wizard, the configuring script having one or more script commands for configuring a computer in accordance with the configuration information for the at least one virtual private network function; and

transmit the configuring script to multiple computers.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the virtual private network function comprises at least one of authentication and/or providing a tunnel.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to receive a selection of computers, and

wherein the instructions that cause the processor to transmit the configuring script comprise instructions for causing the processor to transmit the configuring script to computers in the selection.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the instructions for causing the processor to transmit the configuring script to multiple computers comprise instructions for causing the processor to transmit the configuring script to multiple extranet switches.