Method and apparatus for viewing and managing a configuration of a computer network
First Claim
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1. A method for viewing a configuration of a computer network, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of workstations communicating by frames and packets though a plurality of links connected to a plurality of switches and a plurality of routers, each of said plurality of switches having a MAC database storing information regarding the quantity of frames received by a respective said switch and indicating where a frame received on one of said links of said respective switch is transferred to another of said links of a respective said switch, said packets having an IP address of a destination workstation, each of said plurality of routers having an IP database storing information regarding the quantity of packets received by a respective said router and indicating onto which of said links a received packet having a specific IP address is to be transferred to;
polling said plurality of switches and routers to obtain copies of each of said MAC and IP lookup tables;
combining said polled lookup tables;
determining from said combined lookup tables a status of each of said links, said switches and said routers;
graphically displaying said plurality of workstations, links, switches and routers according to physical connectivity and status, each status being displayed differently.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for viewing a configuration of a computer network by polling a plurality of switches and routers present in the network to obtain copies of information stored in databases on the switches and routers. The present invention determines from this combined database is the status of the links, switches and routers, as well as uses software tools to determine the status of the network and its devices. The devices are then graphically displayed according to physical connectivity and status. Each status being displayed differently.
549 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for viewing a configuration of a computer network, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of workstations communicating by frames and packets though a plurality of links connected to a plurality of switches and a plurality of routers, each of said plurality of switches having a MAC database storing information regarding the quantity of frames received by a respective said switch and indicating where a frame received on one of said links of said respective switch is transferred to another of said links of a respective said switch, said packets having an IP address of a destination workstation, each of said plurality of routers having an IP database storing information regarding the quantity of packets received by a respective said router and indicating onto which of said links a received packet having a specific IP address is to be transferred to; polling said plurality of switches and routers to obtain copies of each of said MAC and IP lookup tables; combining said polled lookup tables; determining from said combined lookup tables a status of each of said links, said switches and said routers; graphically displaying said plurality of workstations, links, switches and routers according to physical connectivity and status, each status being displayed differently. - 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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Specification