Application of an embedded instrumentation interface definition language

• US 8,255,932 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clemm, L. Alexander, Tjong, Jung Sauw
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seye, Abdou
• Application Number:
  US12/337,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 719/328
• US Class Current: 719/329
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/54 Link editing before load time

Abstract

In one example embodiment, a system and method are illustrated that includes defining an interface that is independent of a management interface associated with a management agent. This interface is configured to instrument a network device component. The system and method also includes generating an API from the interface. The system and method further includes binding the management agent and the API to implement the management interface associated with the management agent.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining an interface that is independent of and is not dedicated to a management interface associated with a management agent configured to process network management instructions in a particular network management protocol, the interface configured to instrument a network device component;

generating an Application Programming Interface (API) from the interface;

binding the management agent with the API to implement the management interface associated with the management agent;

compiling the interface into a component skeleton of a feature of a managed device, the feature accessed by the management agent through the API;

binding a function of the management agent with a function of the API to create a managed resource instrumentation application;

generating an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data model used in conjunction with the management agent, the management agent using a Netconf protocol; and

binding the XML data model with the API.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the binding of the management agent comprises the mapping of the management agent to the function included in the API.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the binding of the management agent comprises referencing the management agent to the function included in the API.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of the API includes at least one of a retrieval function, a modification function, a relationship-traversal function, an action-invocation function, an event-modification function, or a meta-data function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature includes at least one of operational data, configuration data, actions, relationship data, or events.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the function of the API to access the managed resource instrumentation application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is defined using an Embedded Instrumentation Interface Definition (EI2D) language.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the API is a set of functions provided to support requests made by a software application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the management agent is an application that processes a network management instruction that requests information relating to the feature of the managed device.

10. A computer system comprising:

a network device component;

a library engine to define an interface that is independent of and is not dedicated to a management interface associated with a management agent configured to process network management instructions in a particular network management protocol, the interface configured to instrument the network device component;

a generator to generate an Application Programming Interface (API) from the interface;

a function mapping engine to bind the management agent with the API to implement the management interface associated with the management agent;

a compiler to compile the interface into a component skeleton of a feature of a managed device, the feature accessed by the management agent through the API;

an additional function mapping engine to bind a function of the management agent and a function of the API to create a managed resource instrumentation application;

a data model engine to generate an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data model used in conjunction with the management agent, the management agent using a Netconf protocol; and

a data model mapping engine to bind the XML data model and the API.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the function of the API includes at least one of a retrieval function, a modification function, a relationship-traversal function, an action-invocation function, an event-modification function, or a meta-data function.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the feature includes at least one of operational data, configuration data, actions, relationship data, or events.

13. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising a management agent engine to execute the function of the API to access the managed resource instrumentation application.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the interface is defined using an Embedded Instrumentation Interface Definition (EI2D) language.

15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the API is a set of functions provided to support requests made by a software application.

16. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the management agent is an application that processes a network management instruction that requests information that relates to the feature of the managed device.

17. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is a development platform.

18. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory in communication with the at least one processor, the memory including logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution, and when executed operable to;

define an interface that is independent of and is not dedicated to a management interface associated with a management agent configured to process network management instructions in a particular network management protocol, the interface configured to instrument a network device component;

generate an Application Programming Interface (API) from the interface;

bind the management agent and the API to implement the management interface associated with the management agent;

compiling the interface into a component skeleton of a feature of a managed device, the feature accessed by the management agent through the API;

binding a function of the management agent with a function of the API to create a managed resource instrumentation application;

generating an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data model used in conjunction with the management agent, the management agent using a Netconf protocol; and

binding the XML data model with the API.