System and method for selecting of versions for SNMP communication

• US 7,472,177 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Check Point Software Technologies Incorporated (Check Point Software Technologies Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nokia, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bose, Vaijayanti
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Application Number:
  US10/875,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 707/513, 707/500, 709/238, 709/250, 709/223, 709/249, 709/220, 700/90, 726/5, 345/772
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards enabling and/or disabling a selection of a version of a network management protocol, such as SNMP. When a networking system is configured using an earlier version of SNMP, such as version 1 or 2, and is to be reconfigured to employ a later version such as version 3, certain options are to be reconfigured. Such options for example, include usage of a community string. When the networking system is to be configured back to the earlier version, the options are again reconfigured. The present invention enables an administrator of the computing system to manage such changes, in part, by abstracting the switching details, without the need to track a progression of events. Moreover, a state of the versions is tracked, such that if the networking system is switched back to version 1 or 2, the last configured community string value is restored.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an interface configured to enable selecting from a plurality of versions of a network management protocol;

using the interface to select a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing, through the interface, an option associated with the selected first version;

inhibiting access within the interface to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions; and

saving a configuration associated with the first version, wherein the configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the provided option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network management protocol comprises at least one of a common management information protocol, high-level entity management systems and a simple network management protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the interface to select a second version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing, through the interface, a second option associated with the selected second version;

inhibiting within the interface to the option associated with the first version; and

saving another configuration associated with the second version, wherein the another configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the provided second option.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

using the interface to reselect the first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

inhibiting access within the interface to the second option associated with the second version; and

restoring the saved configuration associated with the first version, including the selected option associated with the first version.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises:

at least one of a graphical user interface, a command line interface, an application interface, an applet, and a script.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of versions of the network management protocol comprises at least one of a simple network management protocol v1, a simple network management protocol v2, and a simple network management protocol v3.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an option comprises providing at least one of a community string option and an encryption option.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected first version comprises one of a simple network management protocol v1/v2and a simple network management protocol v3.

9. A method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface employable for selecting from a plurality of versions of simple network management protocol;

using the graphical user interface to select a first version of simple network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing within the graphical user interface a first option associated with the selected first version;

inhibiting access within the graphical user interface to another option associated with another version of simple network management protocol within the plurality of versions;

saving a first configuration associated with the first version, wherein the first configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the first option;

using the graphical user interface to select a second version of simple network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

providing within the graphical user interface a second option associated with the selected second version;

inhibiting access within the graphical user interface to the first option associated with the first version;

saving a second configuration associated with the second version, wherein the second configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the second option;

using the graphical user interface to reselect the first version of simple network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

inhibiting access within the graphical user interface to the second option associated with the second version; and

restoring the first configuration associated with the first version, including the first option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first version comprises a selection from one of simple network management protocol v1, simple network management protocol v2, simple network management protocol v1/v2, and simple network management protocol v3.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the graphical user interface is browser-based.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending at least a portion of the first configuration to a simple network management protocol agent.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive and send information to a managed device; and

a version manager configured to

provide an interface configured to enable selection of a plurality of versions of a network management protocol,

receive a selection of a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions,

provide, through the interface, an option associated with the selected first version,

inhibit access within the interface to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions,

save a configuration associated with the first version based, in part, on a selection of the provided option, and

send information associated with the option and the selected version to another component, wherein the another component is operable to employ the selected version of the network management protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the network management protocol comprises at least one of a common management information protocol, high-level entity management systems and a simple network management protocol.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of versions of the network management protocol comprises at least one of a simple network management protocol v1 a simple network management protocol v2, and a simple network management protocol v3.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the other component comprises at least one of a network manager and a network agent.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the option associated with the selected first version comprises at least one of community string option and an encryption option.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform operations comprising:

retrieving a set of menu entries configured to enable selecting from a plurality of versions of a network management protocol;

displaying a menu on a display, the menu comprising a set of menu entries;

receiving a menu entry selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device indicating a selection of a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

displaying on the display an option associated with the selected first version of the network management protocol;

inhibiting access within the graphical user interface to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions;

receiving information associated with the option on the display, and displaying the received information;

enabling a determination of a configuration of the first version of the network management protocol, based on the received information; and

enabling the configuration associated with the first version to be tracked.

19. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the network management protocol comprises at least one of a common management information protocol, high-level entity management systems and a simple network management protocol.

20. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the plurality of versions of the network management protocol comprises at least one of a simple network management protocol v1, a simple network management protocol v2, and a simple network management protocol v3.

21. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the providing an option comprises providing at least one of a community string option and an encryption option.

22. An apparatus comprising:

an interface means for selecting from a plurality of versions of a network management protocol;

a selecting means for selecting a first version of the network management protocol from the plurality of versions;

a providing means for providing an option associated with the selected first version;

an inhibiting means for inhibiting access to another option associated with another version of the network management protocol within the plurality of versions; and

a saving means for saving a configuration associated with the first version, wherein the configuration is based, in part, on a selection of the provided option.