Method and system for automating collateral configuration in a network

• US 8,078,679 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kajekar, Preetham, Sathyanarayana, Krishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Clayton R
• Application Number:
  US11/403,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for automating collateral configuration in a network is provided. A service is configured on a network device (termed as service providing device). The service providing device sends a Collateral Configuration Request Protocol (CCRP) message to other network devices (termed as service accessing devices). The service accessing devices process the CCRP message for their automatic collateral configuration in order to access the configured service on the service providing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

configuring, on a service providing device, a service that is to be provided in a network;

generating, using the service providing device and based on configuring the service, a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network, is accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including;

information for facilitating an auto-configuration of the network devices accepting the CCRP message,

instructions for configuring the network devices such that the network devices are configured to access the service from the service providing device, and reasoning information for sending the instructions; and

transmitting, using the service providing device, the CCRP message to the network such that the CCRP message is accepted by at least one network device associated with the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the CCRP message to have instructions for collateral configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating the CCRP message on a basis of the configured service prior to sending the CCRP message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the CCRP message indicates a kind of network device and a role of the network device that the CCRP message is intended for.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the CCRP message to have an automatic collateral configuration that is a static collateral configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the CCRP message to have an automatic collateral configuration that is a dynamic collateral configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reasoning information comprises

information related to the instructions that are distinct from the instructions.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message from a service providing device, wherein the service providing device is configured to generate and send the CCRP message, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network, is accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including instructions for collateral configuration and reasoning information for sending the instructions; and

processing the received CCRP message to enable an automatic collateral configuration, wherein information in the CCRP message is processed by a service accessing device, the service accessing device being a network device of the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message, the information causing the service accessing device to configure itself such that the service accessing device is able to access a service at the service providing device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising creating the CCRP message on a basis of the service that is configured using the service providing device prior to sending the CCRP message.

10. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising securing the CCRP message.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing the CCRP message comprises:

receiving the CCRP message, wherein the CCRP message is received by a service accessing device, the service accessing device being a network device;

determining, using the service accessing device, whether a type of the service accessing device matches the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message;

based on determining that the type of the service accessing device matches the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message, accepting the CCRP message;

classifying, by the service accessing, the CCRP message, wherein the CCRP message is classified to determine a reaction of the service accessing device to the CCRP message; and

configuring the service accessing device, wherein the service accessing device is configured based on the instructions contained in the CCRP message, such that the service accessing device is able to access the configured service at the service providing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein classifying the CCRP message comprises:

authenticating the CCRP message; and

abstracting the CCRP message.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the automatic collateral configuration to be a static collateral configuration.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the automatic collateral configuration to be a dynamic collateral configuration.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor coupled to a plurality of network devices via a network; and

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including one or more instructions executable by the processor for;

configuring a service on a service providing device, wherein the configuring is performed by the service providing device, the service being configured to be provided in a network; and

transmitting a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message to at least one network device in response to the configured service, wherein the CCRP message is configured to enable an automatic collateral configuration, wherein the service providing device is configured to generate and send the CCRP message, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network, is configured to be accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including instructions for configuring the network devices and reasoning information for transmitting the instructions,

wherein the CCRP message is configured to cause the at least one network device to configure itself based on the instructions included in the CCRP message such that the network device is able to access the configured service at the service providing device, and wherein the automatic collateral configuration occurs without requiring an administrator to manually perform the automatic collateral configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

at least one additional apparatus for automating collateral configuration in the network, the at least one additional apparatus comprising;

a second processor coupled to a plurality of network devices via a network; and

another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including one or more instructions executable by the second processor for receiving and processing the CCRP message to configure the at least one additional apparatus to access the configured service.

17. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to at least one service providing device in a network, where a service providing device comprises a network device; and

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including one or more instructions executable by the processor for;

receiving a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message in response to configuring a service at the service providing device, wherein the service providing device is configured to generate and send the CCRP message, wherein the CCRP message is configured to enable an automatic collateral configuration, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message is configured to be accepted by network devices of the type indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including instructions for configuring the network devices and reasoning information for sending the instructions, wherein the CCRP message is configured to cause the network device to configure itself based on the instructions included in the CCRP message such that the network device is enabled to access the service at the service providing device, and wherein the automatic collateral configuration occurs without a requirement for an administrator to manually perform the automatic collateral configuration; and

processing the CCRP message to allow at least one service accessing apparatus to access the service.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising one or more service accessing devices, the one or more service accessing devices being configured to receive the CCRP message from the service providing device, wherein the one or more service accessing devices comprise:

a receiver for receiving the CCRP message;

the processor for authenticating the received CCRP message;

the processor for abstracting the received CCRP message; and

means for collaterally configuring the one or more service accessing devices.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the service providing device includes:

at least one processor;

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including one or more instructions executable by the at least one processor for;

configuring the service;

creating the CCRP message after configuring the service, wherein the CCRP message is created on a basis of the configured service;

securing the CCRP message; and

sending the CCRP message.

20. A method comprising:

receiving, using a service accessing device, a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message, the service accessing device being a network device, wherein the CCRP message is generated by a service providing device based on configuring a service, the CCRP message including a destination field indicating a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network by the service providing device, is accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including;

information for an auto-configuration of the network devices accepting the CCRP message,

instructions for configuring the network devices such that the network devices are configured to access the service at the service providing device, and

reasoning information for sending the instructions;

determining, using the service accessing device, whether a type of the service accessing device matches the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message;

based on determining that the type of the service accessing device matches the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message, accepting the CCRP message;

classifying, using the service accessing device, the CCRP message, wherein the CCRP message is classified to determine a reaction of the service accessing device to the CCRP message; and

configuring the service accessing device, wherein the service accessing device is configured based on the instructions contained in the CCRP message, such that the service accessing device is enabled to access the configured service at the service providing device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein classifying the CCRP message comprises:

authenticating the CCRP message; and

abstracting the CCRP message.

22. A method comprising:

configuring, on a service providing device, a service that is to be provided in a network;

generating, using the service providing device and based on configuring the service, a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network, is accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including;

information for facilitating an auto-configuration of the network devices accepting the CCRP message,

instructions for configuring the network devices such that the network devices are configured to access the service from the service providing device, and

reasoning information for sending the instructions; and

sending, using the service providing device, the CCRP message to the network such that the CCRP message is received by at least one network device associated with the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message.

23. A method comprising:

configuring, on a service providing device, a service that is to be provided in a network;

generating, using the service providing device and based on configuring the service, a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network, is accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including;

information for facilitating an auto-configuration of the network devices accepting the CCRP message,

instructions for configuring the network devices such that the network devices are configured to access the service from the service providing device, and

information related to the instructions that are distinct from the instructions,

wherein the information comprises reasoning information for sending the instructions; and

sending, using the service providing device, the CCRP message to the network such that the CCRP message is accepted by at least one network device associated with the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message.

24. A method comprising:

configuring, on a service providing device, a service that is to be provided in a network;

generating, using the service providing device and based on configuring the service, a collateral configuration request protocol (CCRP) message, wherein the CCRP message includes a destination field that indicates a type of network device that the CCRP message is intended for such that the CCRP message, upon being transmitted in the network, is accepted by network devices associated with the type of network device indicated by the destination field, the CCRP message further including;

information for facilitating an auto-configuration of the network devices accepting the CCRP message,

instructions for configuring the network devices such that the network devices are configured to access the service from the service providing device, and

information related to the instructions that are distinct from the instructions, wherein the information comprises reasoning information for sending the instructions; and

transmitting, using the service providing device, the CCRP message to the network such that the CCRP message is accepted by at least one network device associated with the type indicated by the destination field in the CCRP message.