Method and system for auto discovery of IP-based network elements

• US 6,992,985 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Das, Debashis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hom, Shick
• Application Number:
  US09/895,357
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241.1, 370/242, 370/244, 370/252, 370/254, 370/390, 370/432, 370/503, 370/510
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

A system and method for discovering network elements are disclosed where each network element includes a multicast packet sender for issuing a multicast packet addressed to a unique group, including a local register host, located in a common subnet. A packet analyzer in the local register host determines the identification of the issuing network element for comparison with entries in a local register host device table. The device table is continually synchronized with a master device table resident in a central management station by either adding a new entry in the master device table if the issuing network element has come ‘online’ or by deleting an existing entry for a network element which has not issued a multicast packet within a specified time.

Claims

1. A method for discovering network elements in a network having a plurality of subnets, each network element periodically issuing a unique multicast packet within its subnet, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multicast packet from an issuing network element;

deriving an identification for said issuing network element from information included within said received multicast packet;

searching a subnet database for a table entry corresponding to said issuing network element identification;

adding said issuing network element identification to said subnet database if no corresponding said table entry is found in said subnet database; and

synchronizing a network database with said subnet databases,

wherein the multicast packet comprises an element from the group consisting of the identification of the issuing network element, an internet protocol address, and a port number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of synchronizing said network database comprises the step of adding an entry to said network database.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification of the issuing network element comprises either a null value or a globally-unique identification.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said table entry comprises a member of the group consisting of a network element identification, an internet protocol address, a port number, and a lease expire time.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

deleting said table entry if said lease expire time is less than current time; and

synchronizing said network database with said subnet database if said table entry is deleted from said subnet database.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of synchronizing said network database comprises the step of deleting an entry from said network database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of deriving the identification for said issuing network element comprises the step of assigning a globally-unique identification to said issuing network element if said multicast packet comprises a null value.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of updating a lease period if a corresponding said table entry is found in said subnet database.

9. A system for managing network elements in a network having a plurality of subnets, said system comprising:

a multicast packet sender resident in each network element to be discovered, said multicast packet sender for periodically issuing a unique multicast packet within a subnet corresponding to the multicast packet sender;

at least one local register host in each subnet for receiving said multicast packet and for generating a synchronization data packet therefrom; and

a central management station in communication with each subnet, said central management station for receiving said synchronization data packet from said at least one local register host,

such that the presence of a particular functioning network element is conveyed to said central management station with the receipt of a respective said synchronization data packet.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said multicast packet comprises an element from the group consisting of an identification, an internet protocol address, and a port number.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one local register host includes a multicast packet listener for receiving said multicast packets and producing therefrom at least one member of the group consisting of an identification, an internet protocol address, a port number, a null value, and a globally-unique identification.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one local register host includes a packet analyzer for determining whether said identification comprises a null value.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one local register host includes a device identification generator for assigning a globally-unique identification to said identification.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one local register host includes a network element client for sending a query to any of the network elements in a common subnet.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said system further comprises a management agent resident in each network element in said common subset, each said management agent for receiving said query and providing requested information in response thereto.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one local register host includes a device table having entries for the network elements to be managed.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said at least one local register host includes a device table manager for handling requests for data access from said device table.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said at least one local register host includes a device table synchronizer for sending at least one said synchronization data packet to said central management station in response to either an addition of an entry to or a deletion of an entry from said device table.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein said central management station includes a master device table updater for receiving said synchronization data packets.

20. A program storage device readable by a computer for performing a method for discovering network elements in a network having a plurality of subnets, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving multicast packets within a respective subnet, each said received multicast packet including an identification associated with the network element issuing said multicast packet;

sending a new network element entry including said identification to a network database if said network element issuing said multicast packet is not listed in a subnet database; and

deleting a corresponding network database entry for a non-issuing network element if no multicast packet received from said non-issuing network element within a predefined table check time interval.

21. The program storage device of claim 20 wherein said method further comprises the step of requesting information from the network element issuing said multicast packet.

22. The program storage device of claim 20 wherein said method further comprises the step of assigning a globally-unique identification to the network element issuing said multicast packet if said identification included in said multicast packet is a null identification.

23. The program storage device of claim 20 further comprising the step of updating a lease period if a corresponding said table entry is listed in said subnet database.