Method and apparatus for managing a network using link state information
First Claim
1. A method for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to be interconnected to one another, the method comprising:
- a management device receiving link state information about a link state for each network element in the plurality of network elements, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to a routing protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information;
the management device determining whether any of the plurality of network elements are unreachable, based only on the link state information; and
the management device configuring a management policy for at least one of the network elements, the management policy identifying if any of the plurality of network elements are determined as being unreachable;
wherein the management device is not a router.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, where the network elements are configured to be interconnected to one another. A data structure is maintained that includes information about a link state for each network element in the plurality of network elements. The link state for each network element describes a connection between that network element and at least one other network element designated to be connected to that network element. A management policy is configured for the plurality of network elements by using link state information in the data structure to detect if any of the plurality of network elements are unreachable.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to be interconnected to one another, the method comprising:
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a management device receiving link state information about a link state for each network element in the plurality of network elements, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to a routing protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information; the management device determining whether any of the plurality of network elements are unreachable, based only on the link state information; and the management device configuring a management policy for at least one of the network elements, the management policy identifying if any of the plurality of network elements are determined as being unreachable; wherein the management device is not a router. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to be interconnected to one another, the network including a management device to manage at least one of the network elements using one or more policies, the method comprising:
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operating the plurality of network elements using a link state protocol that causes link state information to be generated, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to the link state protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information; and the management device detecting if any of the network elements are unreachable using only the link state information which is provided by the network elements operating the link state protocol; wherein the management device is not a router. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to be interconnected to one another, the method comprising:
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a management device receiving link state information automatically from the plurality of network elements operating a link state protocol, the link state information from each network element indicating a status of a connection with an adjacent network element in the plurality of network elements, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to the link state protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information; and the management device configuring a management policy for the plurality of network elements by subsequently determining, based only on the link state information, if one or more of the plurality of network elements are reachable; wherein the management device is not a router. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements, the computer system comprising:
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a processor; a network interface to receive, at a management device that is not a router, link state information for the plurality of network elements, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to a routing protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information; and a storage medium coupleable to the processor, the storage medium carrying instructions for; determining, at the management device, whether any of the plurality of network elements are unreachable, based only on the link state information, and for configuring a management policy for at least one of the network elements, the management policy identifying if any of the plurality of network elements are determined as being unreachable. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-readable medium for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to be interconnected to one another, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions for performing:
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receiving, at a management device, link state information about a link state for each network element in the plurality of network elements, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to a routing protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information; determining, at the management device, whether any of the plurality of network elements are unreachable, based only on the link state information; and configuring, from the management device, a management policy for at least one of the network elements, the management policy identifying if any of the plurality of network elements are detected as being unreachable; wherein the management device is not a router. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer system for managing a network, the network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to be interconnected to one another, the computer system comprising:
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means for receiving, at a management device, link state information about a link state for each network element in the plurality of network elements, wherein only data that was inherently communicated according to a routing protocol, between two or more of the plurality of network elements, was used to generate the link state information; means for determining, at the management device, whether any of the plurality of network elements are unreachable, based only on the link state information; and means for configuring, from the management device, a management policy for at least one of the network elements, the management policy identifying if any of the plurality of network elements are detected as being unreachable; wherein the management device is not a router.
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Specification