Systems and methods for integrated console management interface

• US 8,566,459 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: DeHaan, Michael P., Peck, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Tauqir
• Application Number:
  US12/475,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/022 Multivendor or multi-standard integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for integrated console management in networks populated by a diverse set of console types. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or other clients, servers, hosts, and/or other machines, can be managed by a network management platform. Different machines populating the managed network can be accessed or controlled by different types of network management consoles, or client interfaces for monitoring and controlling different sets of machines. The network management platform or other node can maintain a console management engine which interacts with the various console types connected or assigned to underlying target machines. The console management engine can maintain a console translation table which invokes particular interfaces, data formats, ports, and/or other parameters of specific console packages used for underlying sets of machines. The console management engine can thereby present a unified interface to systems administrators or other users.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a user via an integrated console interface, a command associated with managing a selected target machine of a set of target machines, wherein the integrated console interface comprises a portable layer providing access to the set of target machines from any of the set of target machines;

initiating a console management session for the selected target machine using the integrated console interface;

accessing a console translation table storing a set of console classes assigned to respective sets of target machines in a network to identify a console class for the selected target machine;

translating, using the console translation table, the command for communication with the identified console class for the selected target machine;

generating, using a hardware processor, the translated command for transmission to the selected target machine; and

storing, in the console translation table, the translated command in association with the identified console class.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of target machines comprises at least one of a set of client machines, a set of virtual machines, or a set of supervisory hosts.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the console management session using at least one of a network management platform, a supervisory host, or a target machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the translated command comprises at least one of a set of hardware configuration commands, a set of monitoring commands, or a set of software installation commands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the console translation table is extensible.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the translated command comprises a port assignment for communicating with the selected target machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the console management session is initiated for a remote machine external to the network using the integrated console interface.

8. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

a hardware processor, coupled to the memory and the interface, the hardware processor to execute the instructions to;

receive, from a user via an integrated console interface, a command associated with managing a selected target machine of a set of target machines, wherein the integrated console interface comprises a portable layer providing access to the set of target machines from any of the set of target machines,

initiate a console management session for the selected target machine using the integrated console interface,

access a console translation table storing a set of console classes assigned to respective sets of target machines in a network to identify console configuration data associated with a console class for the selected target machine,

translate, using the console translation table, the command for communication with the identified console class for the selected target machine,

generate, using the hardware processor, the translated command for transmission to the selected target machine; and

store, in the console translation table, the translated command in association with the identified console class.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the set of target machines comprises at least one of a set of client machines, a set of virtual machines, or a set of supervisory hosts.

10. The system of claim 8, the hardware processor to:

initiate the console management session using at least one of a network management platform, a supervisory host, or a target machine.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the translated command comprises at least one of a set of hardware configuration commands, a set of monitoring commands, or a set of software installation commands.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the console translation table is extensible.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the translated command comprises a port assignment for communicating with the selected target machine.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the console management session is initiated for a remote machine external to the network using the integrated console interface.