Processing network management data in accordance with metadata files

• US 7,222,147 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Inventors: Black, Darryl, Winiewicz, Anne K
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Halim, Sahera
• Application Number:
  US09/637,800
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/224, 709/238, 709/201, 709/203, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

The present invention provides a management system internal to a network device that sends various management data files and corresponding metadata files to a management system external to the network device. The external management system then uses the metadata files to process the management data files. As a result, the external management system dynamically learns how to manage a network device through the metadata files. Moreover, new types of management data files—perhaps corresponding to new hardware within the network device—may be sent from the internal management system to the external management system along with corresponding new metadata files and the external management system will be able to process the new management files without having to be re-booted or restarted. In addition, multiple network devices coupled with the external management system may send various different types of management data to the external management system and using the metadata files from each network device, the external management system will be able to process the various management data types. In one embodiment, the metadata files are JAVA class files.

Claims

1. A method of operating a telecommunications system, comprising:

sending a first metadata file from a network device to an external management system, wherein the first metadata file enables the external management system to learn how to configure the network device and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the network device;

generating a first management data file within the network device;

sending the first management data file from the network device to the external management system;

processing the first management data file in accordance with the first metadata file in the external management system for managing the network device;

sending a second metadata file from one of the network device and a second network device to the external management system, wherein the second metadata file enables the external management system to learn how to configure the network device and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the network device;

generating a second management data file within the network device;

sending the second management data file from the network device to the external management system; and

processing the second management data file in accordance with one of the first metadata file and the second metadata file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first management data file is generated asynchronously with respect to the processing of the first management data file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first management data file is generated synchronously with respect to the processing of the first management data file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first metadata file is a JAVA class file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the first metadata file and first management data file from the network device to the external management system comprises:

sending the first metadata file and first management data file from the network device to an external file transfer system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the first management data file comprises:

executing a file transfer protocol push.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the first metadata file comprises:

executing a file transfer protocol push.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first data summary file corresponding to the first management data file; and

sending the first data summary file to the external management system, wherein the first management data file is processed in accordance with both the first data summary file and the first metadata file.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the first data summary file comprises:

executing a file transfer protocol push.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding a hardware module to the network device;

downloading a second metadata file to the network device corresponding to the hardware module;

sending the second metadata file from the network device to the external management system, wherein the second metadata file enables the external management system to learn how to configure the hardware module and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the hardware module;

generating a second management data file within the network device;

sending the second management data file from the network device to the external management system; and

processing the second management data file in accordance with the second metadata file.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a modified first metadata file to the network device;

sending the modified first metadata file from the network device to the external management system, wherein the modified first metadata file enables the external management system to learn how to configure the network device and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the network device;

generating a second management data file within the network device;

sending the second management data file from the network device to the external management system; and

processing the second management data file in accordance with the modified first metadata file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the external management system comprises a data collector server.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the external management system comprises a network manager server.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the external management system comprises a billing server.

15. A method of operating a telecommunications system, comprising:

sending a first plurality of metadata files from a first network device to an external management system, wherein the first plurality of metadata files enable the external management system to learn how to configure the first network device and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the first network device;

generating a first plurality of management data files within the first network device;

sending the first management data files from the first network device to the external management system;

processing each of the first management data files in accordance with a corresponding one of the first metadata files in said external management system for managing the network device;

sending a second plurality of metadata files from a second network device to the external management system, wherein the second plurality of metadata files enable the external management system to learn how to configure the second network device and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the second network device;

generating a second plurality of management data files within the second network device;

sending the second management data files from the second network device to the external management system; and

processing each of the second management data files in accordance with a corresponding one of the second metadata files.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first management data files are generated asynchronously with respect to the processing of the first management data files.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first management data files are generated synchronously with respect to the processing of the first management data files.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first metadata files are JAVA class files.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

adding a hardware module to the first network device;

downloading a second plurality of metadata files to the network device corresponding to the hardware module;

sending a second metadata files from the network device to the external management system, wherein the second metadata files enable the external management system to learn how to configure the hardware module and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the hardware module;

generating a second plurality of management data files within the network device;

sending the second management data files from the network device to the external management system; and

processing each of the second management data files in accordance with a corresponding one of the second metadata files.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the external management system comprises a data collector server.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the external management system comprises a network manager server.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the external management system comprises a billing server.

23. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a network device including an internal management subsystem capable of generating a management data file; and

an external management system, wherein the internal management subsystem is capable of pushing the management data file and a corresponding metadata file to the external management system and the external management system is capable of processing data in the management data file in accordance with one of the metadata file and a metadata file received from another network device for managing and configuring the network device;

wherein the metadata files enable the external management system to learn how to configure the network device and how to manage accounting data, statistics, security, and fault logging from the network device.

24. The telecommunications system of claim 23, wherein the metadata file comprises a JAVA class file.