Systems and methods for distributed node detection and management
First Claim
1. A method of detecting and managing nodes within a network group, comprising:
- providing an administrative computer system, a network group, and a communication pathway for electronic communication between the administrative computer system and the network group, wherein a communication limiting device in the communication pathway prevents the administrative computer system from detecting a first node within the network group;
managing a second node within the network group using a management agent to enable the administrative computer system to communicate with and manage the second node through the communication limiting device;
from the second node within the network group, detecting, by a discovery agent installed on the second node, the first node within the network group, wherein the discovery agent is separate and distinct from the management agent;
obtaining, at the second node, identifying data to identify the first node, wherein the identifying data comprises an address of the first node;
transferring the address of the first node to the administrative computer system;
transferring an installable management agent from the second node to the first node;
transferring the discovery agent to the first node, wherein the discovery agent is transferred after the transfer of the installable management agent to the first node, and wherein the discovery agent on the first node is executable to detect additional nodes, wherein the identifying data is obtained at the second node before the installable management agent and the discovery agent are transferred to the first node, wherein the address of the first node is obtained by the second node and transferred from the second node to the administrative computer system before the discovery agent is transferred to the first node;
installing and maintaining the installable management agent on the first node to enable the administrative computer system to communicate with and manage the first node through the communication limiting device; and
maintaining the discovery agent on the first node to detect additional nodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A discovery agent is running on a node within the network group. The network group is shielded from an administrative system by a communication limiting device. The communication limiting device prevents the administrative system from detecting nodes within the network group. The communication limiting device, however, does not prevent the node running the discovery agent from identifying other nodes within the network group. The discovery agent detects one or more nodes within the network group and transmits data identifying these nodes to the administrative system. Accordingly, the administrative system may identify and manage the newly detected nodes using a management agent installed on the nodes.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of detecting and managing nodes within a network group, comprising:
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providing an administrative computer system, a network group, and a communication pathway for electronic communication between the administrative computer system and the network group, wherein a communication limiting device in the communication pathway prevents the administrative computer system from detecting a first node within the network group; managing a second node within the network group using a management agent to enable the administrative computer system to communicate with and manage the second node through the communication limiting device; from the second node within the network group, detecting, by a discovery agent installed on the second node, the first node within the network group, wherein the discovery agent is separate and distinct from the management agent; obtaining, at the second node, identifying data to identify the first node, wherein the identifying data comprises an address of the first node; transferring the address of the first node to the administrative computer system; transferring an installable management agent from the second node to the first node; transferring the discovery agent to the first node, wherein the discovery agent is transferred after the transfer of the installable management agent to the first node, and wherein the discovery agent on the first node is executable to detect additional nodes, wherein the identifying data is obtained at the second node before the installable management agent and the discovery agent are transferred to the first node, wherein the address of the first node is obtained by the second node and transferred from the second node to the administrative computer system before the discovery agent is transferred to the first node; installing and maintaining the installable management agent on the first node to enable the administrative computer system to communicate with and manage the first node through the communication limiting device; and maintaining the discovery agent on the first node to detect additional nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for detecting and managing nodes within a network group, comprising:
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a first and a second node within a network group, the first and second nodes being in electronic communication with each other; an administrative computer system; a communication pathway for electronic communication between the network group and the administrative computer system; a communication limiting device in the communication pathway that prevents the administrative computer system from detecting the first node within the network group, wherein the second node and administrative system include a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for detecting and managing nodes within the network group, the instructions being executable to; manage the second node within the network group using a management agent to enable the administrative system to communicate with and manage the second node through the communication limiting device; from the second node within the network group, detect, by a discovery agent installed on the second node, the first node within the network group, wherein the discovery agent is separate and distinct from the management agent; obtain, at the second node, identifying data to identify the first node, wherein the identifying data comprises an address of the first node; transfer the address of the first node to the administrative computer system; transfer an installable management agent from the second node to the first node; transfer the discovery agent to the first node, wherein the discovery agent is transferred after the transfer of the management agent to the first node, and wherein the discovery agent on the first node is executable to detect additional nodes, wherein the identifying data is obtained at the second node before the management agent and the discovery agent are transferred to the first node, wherein the address of the first node is obtained by the second node and transferred from the second node to the administrative computer system before the discovery agent is transferred to the first node; install and maintain the installable management agent on the first node to enable the administrative computer system to communicate with and manage the first node through the communication limiting device; and maintain the discovery agent on the first node to detect additional nodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for detecting and managing nodes within a network group, the instructions being executable to:
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provide an administrative computer system, a network group, and a communication pathway for electronic communication between the administrative computer system and the network group, wherein a communication limiting device in the communication pathway prevents the administrative computer system from detecting a first node within the network group; manage a second node within the network group using a management agent to enable the administrative system to communicate with and manage the second node through the communication limiting device; from the second node within the network group, detect, by a discovery agent installed on the second node, the first node within the network group, wherein the discovery agent is separate and distinct from the management agent; obtain, at the second node, identifying data to identify the first node, wherein the identifying data comprises an address of the first node; transfer the address of the first node to the administrative computer system; transfer an installable management agent from the second node to the first node; transfer the discovery agent to the first node, wherein the discovery agent is transferred after the transfer of the installable management agent to the first node, and wherein the discovery agent on the first node is executable to detect additional nodes, wherein the identifying data is obtained at the second node before the management agent and the discovery agent are transferred to the first node, wherein the address of the first node is obtained by the second node and transferred from the second node to the administrative computer system before the discovery agent is transferred to the first node; install and maintain the installable management agent on the first node to enable the administrative computer system to communicate with and manage the first node through the communication limiting device; and maintain the discovery agent on the first node to detect additional nodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification