Dynamic network action based on DHCP notification

• US 8,725,852 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infoblox Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Infoblox Incorporated
• Inventors: Bailey, Stuart M., Boddu, Navin, Kagan, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shiu, Ho
• Application Number:
  US13/250,982
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS

Abstract

Techniques for providing DHCP updates are provided. In various embodiments, a DHCP notification is received from a DHCP server, the notification includes a network address and a unique device identifier combination of a device. A second notification is generated in response to receiving the first notification, the second notification includes the network address and the unique device identifier combination.

Claims

1. A method for providing a DHCP update, comprising:

receiving a DHCP notification from a DHCP server, the notification includes a network address and a unique device identifier combination of a device;

generating a second notification that includes the network address and the unique device identifier combination to a client, wherein the client is separate from the device; and

storing the network address and unique device identifier combination in a continuous database, wherein the continuous database is a graph database, wherein the storing of the network address and unique device identifier combination in the continuous database includes;

synthesizing an identifier corresponding with a root identifier; and

linking the network address and unique device identifier combination to the synthesized identifier, wherein all identifiers (representing nodes) of the graph database are linked to the synthesized identifier directly or indirectly,

wherein the second notification is subscribed by an IF-MAP client,

wherein the IF-MAP client is executed on a CMDB server,

wherein the IF-MAP client is coupled to a network component configured to conduct dynamic network actions based on the network address and device identifier combination, and

wherein the network component is a discovery engine configured to use the network address and unique device identifier combination to perform device discovery and assessment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is pushed by the DHCP server to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCP notification is published by the DHCP server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCP notification is published by the DHCP server based on a subscription.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification is sent to an IF-MAP client subscribing to the second notification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the discovery engine is in communication with a configuration management data base (CMDB database) configured to store the DHCP update information and discovery results.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCP notification is received at an IF-MAP server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCP notification is received at an IF-MAP server, and wherein an IF-MAP client executed on the DHCP server publishes the DHCP updates to the IF-MAP server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes an update to a network address lease add/drop information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes an IP/MAC addresses combination.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address includes an IPv4 address, the unique device identifier includes a MAC address of the device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address includes an IPv6 address, the unique device identifier includes a GUID identifier of the device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the network address and unique device identifier combination in a continuous database.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCP notification is a real-time update sent out by the DHCP server instantaneously when a DHCP lease add/drop status change on the DHCP server.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification is a real-time update sent to a client instantaneously when the DHCP notification is received from the DHCP server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification is triggered by the occurrence of one or more predefined events.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a dynamic network action based on the received second notification.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the graph database includes a plurality of synthesized identifiers.

19. A system for providing a DHCP update, comprising a memory coupled to a processor configured to perform the steps of:

receiving a DHCP notification from a DHCP server, the notification includes a network address and a unique device identifier combination of a device;

generating a second notification that includes the network address and the unique device identifier combination to a client, wherein the client is separate from the device; and

storing the network address and unique device identifier combination in a continuous database, wherein the continuous database is a graph database, wherein the storing of the network address and unique device identifier combination in the continuous database includes;

synthesizing an identifier corresponding with a root identifier; and

linking the network address and unique device identifier combination to the synthesized identifier, wherein all identifiers (representing nodes) of the graph database are linked to the synthesized identifier directly or indirectly,

wherein the second notification is subscribed by an IF-MAP client,

wherein the IF-MAP client is executed on a CMDB server,

wherein the IF-MAP client is coupled to a network component configured to conduct dynamic network actions based on the network address and device identifier combination, and

wherein the network component is a discovery engine configured to use the network address and unique device identifier combination to perform device discovery and assessment.

20. A computer program product for managing network information in an IF-MAP database, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory, computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a DHCP notification from a DHCP server, the notification includes a network address and a unique device identifier combination of a device;

generating a second notification that includes the network address and the unique device identifier combination to a client, wherein the client is separate from the device; and

storing the network address and unique device identifier combination in a continuous database, wherein the continuous database is a graph database, wherein the storing of the network address and unique device identifier combination in the continuous database includes;

synthesizing an identifier corresponding with a root identifier; and

linking the network address and unique device identifier combination to the synthesized identifier, wherein all identifiers (representing nodes) of the graph database are linked to the synthesized identifier directly or indirectly,

wherein the second notification is subscribed by an IF-MAP client,

wherein the IF-MAP client is executed on a CMDB server,

wherein the IF-MAP client is coupled to a network component configured to conduct dynamic network actions based on the network address and device identifier combination, and

wherein the network component is a discovery engine configured to use the network address and unique device identifier combination to perform device discovery and assessment.