Internet based network topology discovery
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a server coupled with a client, the server having a console having a managing device to manage one or more network devices; and
a search engine coupled with the managing device via a network including the Internet, the search engine capable of being accessed via the client, wherein the console to formulate an Extensible Markup Language (XML) discovery information query, wherein the XML discovery information query is initiated automatically by the client, send the XML discovery information query to the search engine to facilitate searching of discovery information relevant to the one or more network devices, wherein at least one of the one or more network devices includes an XML discovery information file, wherein at least one of the one or more network devices does not include the XML discovery information file, in response to sending the XML discovery information query, receive one or more of the following via the search engine;
first discovery information from the one or more network devices having the XML discovery information file, and second discovery information from a proxy device for the one or more network devices not including the XML discovery information files, and generate a network topology map for the one or more network devices via the retrieved first and second discovery information.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for internet-based network topology discovery. A server in communication with a client, the server having a console having a managing device is provided to manage one or more network devices. A search engine is provided that is in communication with the managing device via a network including the Internet, the search engine capable of being accessed via the client. The console is used to formulate an Extensible Markup Language (XML) discovery information query, wherein the XML discovery information query is initiated automatically by the client. The console is further to send the XML discovery information query to the search engine to facilitate searching of discovery information relevant to the one or more network devices, wherein at least one of the one or more network devices includes an XML discovery information file, wherein at least one of the one or more network devices does not include the XML discovery information file. In response to sending the XML discovery information query, the console to receive one or more of the following via the search engine: first discovery information from the one or more network devices having the XML discovery information file, and second discovery information from a proxy device for the one or more network devices not including the XML discovery information files. The console is further used to generate a network topology map for the one or more network devices via the retrieved first and second discovery information.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a server coupled with a client, the server having a console having a managing device to manage one or more network devices; and
a search engine coupled with the managing device via a network including the Internet, the search engine capable of being accessed via the client, wherein the console to formulate an Extensible Markup Language (XML) discovery information query, wherein the XML discovery information query is initiated automatically by the client, send the XML discovery information query to the search engine to facilitate searching of discovery information relevant to the one or more network devices, wherein at least one of the one or more network devices includes an XML discovery information file, wherein at least one of the one or more network devices does not include the XML discovery information file, in response to sending the XML discovery information query, receive one or more of the following via the search engine;
first discovery information from the one or more network devices having the XML discovery information file, and second discovery information from a proxy device for the one or more network devices not including the XML discovery information files, and generate a network topology map for the one or more network devices via the retrieved first and second discovery information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising:
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one or more network devices, each network device having stored thereon one or more files containing discovery information; and
a search engine coupled with the one or more network device via a network including the Internet, the search engine to search the discovery information of the one or more files stored on the one or more network devices via a discovery information query, wherein the search engine includes a query formulation device to input one or more of the following parameters;
type of the one or more network devices, status of the one or more network devices, and capabilities of the one or more network devices, wherein the discovery information query is formulated at a console or at the one or more network devices, the console including a managing device to manage the one or more network devices, wherein the discover information query is initiated automatically via a client, and the discovery information query is sent to the search engine to facilitate the searching of the discovery information relevant to the one or more network devices, wherein the discovery information includes Internet Protocol (IP) addresses corresponding with the one or more network devices, andgenerate a network topology map for the one or more network devices via the discovery information. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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inputting one or more of type of one or more network devices, status of the one or more network devices, and capabilities of the one or more network devices via a query formulation device of a search engine, wherein the search engine coupled with the one or more network devices via a network including the Internet, the search engine to search discovery information of one or more files stored on the one or more network devices via a discovery information query, wherein the discovery information query is formulated at a console or at the one or more network devices, the console including a managing device to manage the one or more network devices, wherein the discover information query is initiated automatically via a client, and the discovery information query is sent to the search engine to facilitate the searching of the discovery information relevant to the one or more network devices, wherein the discovery information includes Internet Protocol (IP) addresses corresponding with the one or more network devices; and
generating a network topology map for the one or more network devices via the discovery information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:
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input one or more of type of one or more network devices, status of the one or more network devices, and capabilities of the one or more network devices via a query formulation device of a search engine, wherein the search engine coupled with the one or more network devices via a network including the Internet, the search engine to search discovery information of one or more files stored on the one or more network devices via a discovery information query, wherein the discovery information query is formulated at a console or at the one or more network devices, the console including a managing device to manage the one or more network devices, wherein the discover information query is initiated automatically via a client, and the discovery information query is sent to the search engine to facilitate the searching of the discovery information relevant to the one or more network devices, wherein the discovery information includes Internet Protocol (IP) addresses corresponding with the one or more network devices; and
generate a network topology map for the one or more network devices via the discovery information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification