Automated bulk configuration of network devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a selection of a group of devices in a data communication network to be configured in accordance with a previously-stored common configuration profile, the devices of the group being situated in different locations within the data communications network, the common configuration profile having previously-stored configuration data that specifies, as to each device of the group, values for multiple configuration parameters corresponding to desired operation of that device;
automatically opening a network connection with each of the devices of the group;
automatically retrieving identifying data from each of the devices of the group;
automatically mapping, for each device of the group and subsequent to receiving the selection, the retrieved identifying data to a corresponding one of multiple configuration profile deployment routine sets, whereinthe retrieved identifying data of each device corresponds to a different configuration profile deployment routine set, andeach configuration profile deployment routine set includes programming instructions to convert the configuration data from the common configuration profile into device-specific commands to configure the device having the corresponding retrieved identifying data;
automatically generating device-specific commands for each device of the group, wherein the device-specific commands for each device are generated subsequent to the automatic mapping for that device and are generated using the previously-stored configuration data of the common configuration profile and the configuration profile deployment routine set corresponding to the identifying data for that device; and
automatically transmitting the device-specific commands to each device of the group.
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Abstract
Multiple devices within a data communication network can be configured according to a single configuration profile. Configuration profile data is stored in a configuration file. Connections are made to individual devices, and the data in the configuration file is transformed into device-specific commands.
94 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a selection of a group of devices in a data communication network to be configured in accordance with a previously-stored common configuration profile, the devices of the group being situated in different locations within the data communications network, the common configuration profile having previously-stored configuration data that specifies, as to each device of the group, values for multiple configuration parameters corresponding to desired operation of that device; automatically opening a network connection with each of the devices of the group; automatically retrieving identifying data from each of the devices of the group; automatically mapping, for each device of the group and subsequent to receiving the selection, the retrieved identifying data to a corresponding one of multiple configuration profile deployment routine sets, wherein the retrieved identifying data of each device corresponds to a different configuration profile deployment routine set, and each configuration profile deployment routine set includes programming instructions to convert the configuration data from the common configuration profile into device-specific commands to configure the device having the corresponding retrieved identifying data; automatically generating device-specific commands for each device of the group, wherein the device-specific commands for each device are generated subsequent to the automatic mapping for that device and are generated using the previously-stored configuration data of the common configuration profile and the configuration profile deployment routine set corresponding to the identifying data for that device; and automatically transmitting the device-specific commands to each device of the group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a group of devices in a data communication network to be configured in accordance with a previously-stored common configuration profile, the devices of the group being situated in different locations within the data communications network, the common configuration profile having previously-stored configuration data that specifies, as to each device of the group, values for multiple configuration parameters corresponding to desired operation of that device; automatically opening a network connection with each of the devices of the group; automatically retrieving identifying data from each of the devices of the group; automatically mapping, for each device of the group and subsequent to receiving a selection, the retrieved identifying data to a corresponding one of multiple configuration profile deployment routine sets, wherein the retrieved identifying data of each device corresponds to a different configuration profile deployment routine set, and each configuration profile deployment routine set includes programming instructions to convert the configuration data from the common configuration profile into device-specific commands to configure the device having the corresponding retrieved identifying data; automatically generating device-specific commands for each device of the group, wherein the device-specific commands for each device are generated subsequent to the automatic mapping for that device and are generated using the previously-stored configuration data of the common configuration profile and the configuration profile deployment routine set corresponding to the identifying data for that device; and automatically transmitting the device-specific commands to each device of the group. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor programmed to configure multiple network control devices by
receiving a selection of a group of devices to be configured in accordance with a previously-stored common configuration profile, the devices of the group being situated in different locations within the network, the common configuration profile having previously-stored configuration data that specifies, as to each device of the group, values for multiple configuration parameters corresponding to desired operation of that device, automatically opening a network connection with each of the devices of the group, automatically retrieving identifying data from each of the devices of the group, automatically mapping, for each device of the group and subsequent to receiving a selection, the retrieved identifying data to a corresponding one of multiple configuration profile deployment routine sets, wherein the retrieved identifying data of each device corresponds to a different configuration profile deployment routine set, and each configuration profile deployment routine set includes programming instructions to convert the configuration data from the common configuration profile into device-specific commands to configure the device having the corresponding retrieved identifying data, automatically generating device-specific commands for each device of the group, wherein the device-specific commands for each device are generated subsequent to performance of the automatic mapping for that device and are generated using the previously-stored configuration data of the common configuration profile and the configuration profile deployment routine set corresponding to the identifying data for that device, and automatically transmitting the device-specific commands to each device of the group. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- a processor programmed to configure multiple network control devices by
Specification