Method and apparatus for automatic discovery of network devices with data forwarding capabilities
First Claim
1. A method for automatic discovery of network devices within a managed network comprising the steps of:
- selecting a first network address from a first set comprising a plurality of network addresses;
sending a first message to said first network address requesting information about any device associated with said first network address;
awaiting a first appropriate response to said first message;
receiving a first appropriate response from a first device associated with said first network address;
making said first device available for selection for management by a network management system;
selecting a second address from said first set of network addresses;
repeating said sending, and awaiting steps for said second network address.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for automatic discovery of network devices with data forwarding capabilities. In one embodiment, the present invention sends SNMP queries to sets and/or ranges of IP numbers to determine whether a network device exists at each IP number and whether the network device has IP forwarding capabilities. The set of IP numbers searched may be specified by specifying ranges or subnets or by providing a list of discrete IP numbers. When a new network device with IP forwarding capabilities is discovered, that network device (identified by its IP number and SNMP description field) is added to a list of discovered network devices. The list is displayed to the network manager, who has the option of selecting none, one, or more than one of the network devices on the network device list for management by the network manager'"'"'s network management system. In one embodiment, in addition to discovering newly added devices via IP number polling, the invention also discovers newly added devices from SNMP messages (“traps”) broadcast by a newly added device. In one embodiment, each network device discovered as a result of a SNMP trap is added to the newly discovered device list, regardless of whether or not the network device has data forwarding capabilities.
77 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for automatic discovery of network devices within a managed network comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first network address from a first set comprising a plurality of network addresses;
sending a first message to said first network address requesting information about any device associated with said first network address;
awaiting a first appropriate response to said first message;
receiving a first appropriate response from a first device associated with said first network address;
making said first device available for selection for management by a network management system;
selecting a second address from said first set of network addresses;
repeating said sending, and awaiting steps for said second network address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for automatic discovery of network devices within a managed network comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first message from a first device associated with a first network address;
making said first device available for selection for management by a network management system.
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- 26. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of receiving said fifth message from said fifth device comprises receiving a SNMP message.
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31. An apparatus for automatic discovery of network devices within a managed network comprising:
a display device comprising a discovery range window for displaying a network address range for discovery of network devices and a discovered devices window for displaying identification information for devices discovered within said network address range. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Specification