Apparatus and method for remotely monitoring a computer network
First Claim
22-1. The method of providing remote computer network monitoring as recited in claim 1, the steps further comprising:
- h) updating said network-monitoring appliance from said remote monitoring center.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for remotely monitoring a computer network. Monitoring is performed using an inside out approach from behind firewalls and other security devices. The monitoring appliance is shipped to a client site preconfigured and typically requires no technically trained person for installation. Collected network data is periodically transmitted to a remote monitoring facility where it is recorded and analyzed. Both the monitoring appliance and the remote center maintain the configuration data. Typically, no client data is transmitted to the remote monitoring site. If the monitoring appliance fails, a completely configured replacement may be shipped to the site and easily installed. The monitoring appliance is optionally equipped to provide network services. Services such as web hosting, file server, print server, virtual private network (VPN), shared Internet access, web content filtering, anti-virus, spam e-mail elimination, and IP telephony services as well as other such services may be easily provided.
497 Citations
57 Claims
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22-1. The method of providing remote computer network monitoring as recited in claim 1, the steps further comprising:
h) updating said network-monitoring appliance from said remote monitoring center.
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23-2. The method of providing remote computer network monitoring as recited in claim 1, wherein said remote monitoring center is adapted to monitor a plurality of computer networks each of said computer networks being equipped with a respective network-monitoring appliance.
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27. A network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network, comprising:
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a) a processor;
b) at least one interface operatively connected to said processor and adapted to communicate with at least one of;
a monitored computer network, and a remote data center;
c) a storage device operatively connected to said processor and adapted to store at least configuration information associated with said monitored computer network;
d) means for monitoring at least one of;
said appliance, at least one network service operating on said monitored computer network, and a device attached to said monitored computer network, operatively connected to said processor, said means for monitoring producing an output representative of an operational parameter of a monitored device or service; and
e) means for alerting operatively connected to said means for monitoring and responsive to said output therefrom, said alerting means producing an alert signal when said operational parameter is outside a predetermined, acceptable range of values, said means for alerting being operatively connected to said data center and adapted to provide said alert signal thereto via said at least one interface. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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34-3. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 27, further comprising:
f) a power supply comprising an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) comprising a battery, said UPS being connected to an external source of electrical power and comprising means for monitoring at least one of said external source of electrical power and said battery, said UPS being operably connected to said means for monitoring of said network-monitoring appliance.
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35-4. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 27, wherein said storage device comprises at least one hard disk drive.
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36-5. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 35, wherein said at least one hard disk drive comprises at least two hard disk drives disposed in a mirroring configuration.
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37-6. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 36, wherein said mirroring configuration comprises a RAID configuration.
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38-7. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 37, wherein said RAID configuration comprises a RAID Level 1 configuration.
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39-8. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 36, wherein said at least one hard disk drive comprises a hard disk controller.
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40-9. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 39, wherein said hard disk controller comprises a SMART hard disk controller.
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41-10. The network-monitoring appliance to facilitate remotely monitoring a computer network as recited in claim 27, wherein said device attached to said monitored computer network comprises a client program installed and run thereon, said client program being adapted to interact with said means for monitoring.
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43. A method of providing remote computer network monitoring, the steps comprising:
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a) installing a network-monitoring appliance in a computer network to be monitored thereby creating a monitored computer network, said network-monitoring appliance being adapted to selectively monitor an information packet being transferred on said monitored computer network;
b) redirecting an information packet by said network-monitoring appliance to alter the operation of at least one of;
said computer network, a device attached to said computer network, a process running in said network-monitoring appliance, and a process running on a device attached to said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A method of providing network-monitoring services to a customer, the steps comprising:
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a) providing a network-monitoring appliance to a customer for installation in a computer network;
b) installing said network-monitoring appliance in said network;
c) establishing communications between said network-monitoring appliance and a monitoring center; and
d) periodically charging a fee to said customer for providing said monitoring service. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification