System and method for configuring a network device

• US 7,246,163 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Focus Global Solutions LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Intelliden, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Tindal, Glen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot; Bharat
• Application Number:
  US11/216,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709220-224, 709238-242, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0273 using web services for network management, e.g. simple object access protocol [SOAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

A system and method for communicating with network devices without regard to the device type and/or manufacturer is described. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a global graphical user interface (GUI) for communicating with various network devices. The global GUI includes an intuitive interface driven by a template library. For each device type and each device manufacturer, this template library can store both the attribute fields required for device configuration and the format for communicating those attribute fields. When a network administrator wants to communicate with a particular network device, the template associated with that device can be retrieved from the template library. The network administrator can then populate the attribute fields of that template with the appropriate data. This attribute data can be formatted and provided to the network device.

Claims

1. A method for configuring network infrastructure comprising:

receiving a request to alter an operation of the network infrastructure, wherein the network infrastructure includes a plurality of network devices;

determining a quantity of the plurality of network devices to configure so as to ensure the operation is correctly altered;

determining an order in which the quantity of the plurality of network devices are configured;

configuring each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices in the order;

checking each of the quantity of the plurality of network devices so as to determine whether any commands are needed to properly configure the quantity of the plurality of network devices;

retrieving, in response to commands being needed to properly configure a particular one of the plurality of network devices, a command-format template for the particular one of the plurality of network devices;

generating, using the retrieved command-format template, device-specific commands for the particular one of the plurality of network devices; and

applying the device-specific commands to the particular one of the plurality of network devices.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving a configuration event notification when applying the device-specific commands to the particular one of the plurality of network devices;

determining whether the configuration event notification is correct by consulting a policy manager; and

rolling back a previous configuration or saving an applied configuration based on a response from the policy manager.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising:

checking a running state of each the quantity of the plurality of network devices after the configuring is complete;

saving all configuration data; and

notifying a submitter of the request to alter the operation of the network infrastructure of changes.

4. A method for communicating with a network device, the method comprising:

receiving a notification request to communicate with a network device;

retrieving a command-format template associated with the received notification, wherein the retrieved command-format template indicates how to construct a device-specific command for the network device and includes at least an attribute field;

identifying attribute data corresponding to the attribute field;

generating the device-specific command for the network device using the retrieved command-format template and the identified attribute data; and

providing the generated device-specific command to the network device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the notification request is received from a network administrator.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the notification request is received from another computer system.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the notification request is received from another network device.

8. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;

process a received network device identifier, the network device identifier corresponding to a network device;

retrieve a command-format template associated with the received network device identifier, wherein the retrieved command-format template indicates how to format commands for the network device;

populate the attribute field with attribute data;

format, using the command-format template, the attribute data so as to generate attribute data specifically formatted for the network device; and

provide the formatted attribute data to the network device.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to retrieve the configuration template by:

retrieving the configuration template from a central repository, wherein the central repository is configured to store a plurality of configuration templates, each of which correspond to at least one of a plurality of network devices.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming an XML message comprising at least an indication of the formatted attribute data.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming an HTTP message comprising at least an indication of the network device identifier.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming a frame comprising the XML message and the HTTP message.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to cause the processor to format the attribute data by:

forming a frame comprising at least an indication of the formatted attribute data and at least an indication of the network device identifier; and

comparing the generated frame to a desired configuration template result.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

alter the operation of the network device in accordance with the attribute data;

compare an altered configuration record to an expected altered configuration template;

return the network device to a previous operational state if the comparing indicates the alteration is not implemented correctly; and

store the altered configuration record in a data repository.

15. A method for communicating with a network device, the method comprising:

receiving a generic instruction to alter an operation of the network device, the generic instruction being independent of both a vendor and an operating system of the network device;

generating a command that is specific to the network device utilizing attribute data from a command-format template that is associated with the network device; and

providing the command to the network device to as to alter the operation of the network device.