Network device configuration

• US 8,671,172 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Christenson, David A., Gloe, Christopher T., Jongekryg, Brian E., Kasperski, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BIAGINI, CHRISTOPHER D
• Application Number:
  US12/499,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for configuring a network device on a private network. A network device broadcasts a status message to the private network. The network device receives a request from a client and sends a response. The network device and the client establish a direct message route wherein one or more network configuration settings are exchanged between the client computer and the network device.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for configuring a network device on a private network, comprising configuring one or more processors to perform an operation, comprising:

broadcasting a self-identifying status message to the private network;

receiving from a client computer, in response to the self-identifying status message, an open path request to establish a direct message route including a private network key;

verifying authenticity of the open path request by comparing the received private network key with a stored private network key;

if the authenticity of the open path request is verified;

responding to the received open path request with a open path response and establishing the direct message route with the client computer for obtaining at least one or more network configuration settings, and

receiving, via the direct message route, the one or more network configuration settings from the client computer; and

automatically updating the direct message route via the direct message route and maintaining connectivity without interruption, between the network device and client computer if an IP address or a subnet is changed.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more network configuration settings from a DHCP server.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising receiving one or more network configuration settings from a gateway router.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the network configuration settings include a client IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway router IP address, a list of DNS servers, a set of proxy settings, a current time zone, and a language value.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the self-identifying status message includes a network device serial number, a hostname, a UDP listening port, and the IP address.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the IP address is received from a DHCP server on the private network.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the IP address is automatically generated if a DHCP server is not available on the private network.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the open path request and the open path response are in the form of a UDP packet.

9. A computer readable storage device containing a program, which when executed performs an operation for configuring a network device on a private network, comprising:

broadcasting a self-identifying status message to the private network;

receiving from a client computer, in response to the self-identifying status message, an open path request to establish a direct message route including a private network key;

verifying authenticity of the open path request by comparing the received private network key with a stored private network key;

if the authenticity of the open path request is verified;

responding to the received open path request with a open path response and establishing the direct message route with the client computer for obtaining at least one or more network configuration settings, and

receiving, via the direct message route, the one or more network configuration settings from the client computer; and

automatically updating the direct message route via the direct message route and maintaining connectivity without interruption, between the network device and client computer if an IP address or a subnet is changed.

10. The computer readable storage device of claim 9, further comprising receiving one or more network configuration settings from a gateway router.

11. The computer readable storage device of claim 10, further comprising receiving one or more network configuration settings from a DHCP server.

12. The computer readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the self-identifying status message includes a network device serial number, a hostname, a UDP listening port, and the IP address.

13. The computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the IP address is received from a DHCP server on the private network.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the IP address is automatically generated if a DHCP server is not available on the private network.

15. The computer readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the network configuration settings include a client IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway router IP address, a list of DNS servers, a set of proxy settings, a current time zone, and a language value.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the open path request and the open path response are in the form of a UDP packet.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the processor is configured to perform an operation for configuring a network device on a private network, comprising;

broadcasting a self-identifying status message to the private network;

receiving from a client computer, in response to the self-identifying status message, an open path request to establish a direct message route including a private network key;

verifying authenticity of the open path request by comparing the received private network key with a stored private network key;

if the authenticity of the open path request is verified;

responding to the received open path request with a open path response and establishing the direct message route with the client computer for obtaining at least one or more network configuration settings, and

receiving, via the direct message route, the one or more network configuration settings from the client computer; and

automatically updating the direct message route via the direct message route and maintaining connectivity without interruption, between the network device and client computer if an IP address or a subnet is changed.