Method and apparatus providing automatic connection announcement from a modular network device to a network management point
First Claim
1. A method of provisioning modular network devices, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving a configuration at a modular network device on a data network, wherein the modular network device comprises a plurality of slots into which one or more modules is plugged, and wherein the configuration comprises commands for configuring a plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device;
at the modular network device, performing the steps of;
setting one interface of the plurality of network interfaces as a current interface;
configuring the current interface with at least one command associated with the configuration;
attempting to connect with a management point over the data network through the current interface;
determining whether the current interface can connect to the management point;
in response to determining that the current interface cannot connect to the management point;
setting a next interface of the plurality of network interfaces as the current interface, andrepeating the step of configuring and the step of attempting to connect for the current interface; and
in response to determining that the current interface can connect to the management point, the modular network device automatically communicating, to the management point, an inventory of each interface of the plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of provisioning modular network devices is described. A generic configuration is placed on a device; the configuration comprises commands for configuring interfaces associated the device. At the device, each interface associated with the device is configured with at least one command associated with the configuration. The device then attempts to connect with a management point through the current interface. If the current interface can connect to the management point, then an inventory of all interfaces associated with the device is self-initiated and automatically communicated by the device to the management point. In other embodiments, based on the inventory information, a configuration template containing relative interface references may be resolved into a permanent device configuration that includes absolute interface references. As a result, modular network devices in which interfaces of various types are installed at different slot locations may acquire a permanent configuration automatically from a remote management station.
59 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of provisioning modular network devices, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving a configuration at a modular network device on a data network, wherein the modular network device comprises a plurality of slots into which one or more modules is plugged, and wherein the configuration comprises commands for configuring a plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device; at the modular network device, performing the steps of; setting one interface of the plurality of network interfaces as a current interface; configuring the current interface with at least one command associated with the configuration; attempting to connect with a management point over the data network through the current interface; determining whether the current interface can connect to the management point; in response to determining that the current interface cannot connect to the management point; setting a next interface of the plurality of network interfaces as the current interface, and repeating the step of configuring and the step of attempting to connect for the current interface; and in response to determining that the current interface can connect to the management point, the modular network device automatically communicating, to the management point, an inventory of each interface of the plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable medium, which is a volatile or a non-volatile memory storing one or more sequences of instructions for provisioning modular network devices, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
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receiving a configuration at a modular network device on a data network, wherein the modular network device comprises a plurality of slots into which one or more modules is plugged, and wherein the configuration comprises commands for configuring a plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device; at the modular network device, performing the steps of; setting one interface of the plurality of network interfaces as a current interface; configuring a current interface with at least one command associated with the configuration; attempting to connect with a management point over the data network through the current interface; determining whether the current interface can connect to the management point; in response to determining that the current interface cannot connect to the management point; setting a next interface of the plurality of network interfaces as the current interface, and repeating the step of configuring and the step of attempting to connect for the current interface; and in response to determining that the current interface can connect to the management point, the modular network device automatically communicating, to the management point, an inventory of each interface of the plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for provisioning modular network devices, comprising:
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a processor; means for receiving a configuration at a modular network device on a data network, wherein the modular network device comprises a plurality of slots into which one or more modules is plugged, and wherein the configuration comprises commands for configuring a plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device; means for performing at the modular network device, the steps of; setting one interface of the plurality of network interfaces as a current interface; configuring a current interface with at least one command associated with the configuration; attempting to connect with a management point over the data network through the current interface; determining whether the current interface can connect to the management point; in response to determining that the current interface cannot connect to the management point; setting a next interface of the plurality of network interfaces as the current interface, and repeating the step of configuring and the step of attempting to connect for the current interface; and in response to determining that the current interface can connect to the management point, the modular network device automatically communicating, to the management point, an inventory of each interface of the plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for provisioning modular network devices comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom; a processor; one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of; receiving a configuration at a modular network device on a data network, wherein the modular network device comprises a plurality of slots into which one or more modules is plugged, and wherein the configuration comprises commands for configuring a plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device; at the modular network device, performing the steps of; setting one interface of the plurality of network interfaces as a current interface; configuring a current interface with at least one command associated with the configuration; attempting to connect with a management point over the data network through the current interface; determining whether the current interface can connect to the management point; in response to determining that the current interface cannot connect to the management point; setting a next interface of the plurality of network interfaces as the current interface, and repeating the step of configuring and the step of attempting to connect for the current interface; and in response to determining that the current interface can connect to the management point, the modular network device automatically communicating, to the management point, an inventory of each interface of the plurality of network interfaces associated with the modular network device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification