Apparatus and method of configuring a network device

• US 6,684,241 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Squire, Matthew B., Poduri, Kedarnath, Sandick, Haldon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US09/408,380
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/224, 709/227, 709/238, 709/244, 709/245, 370/389, 370/401, 370/254, 370/229
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration

Abstract

An apparatus and method of configuring a first network device that is a part of a subnet ascertains configuration data from packets in a subnet having configuration dat. More particularly, the packets, which are transmitted by a second network device in the subnet, first are retrieved and then parsed to ascertain the configuration data. At least a portion of the configuration data is stored in a configuration database. In addition, at least one datum from the configuration data is processed to produce additional configuration data that also is stored in the configuration database. The first network device consequently operates in accord with the data in the configuration database.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an unconfigured first network device that is a part of a subnet, the subnet having a second network device, the method comprising:

retrieving packets having configuration data at the unconfigured first network device, the retrieved packets being transmitted by the second network device;

parsing the retrieved packets to ascertain the configuration data;

storing at least a portion of the configuration data parsed from the retrieved packets in a configuration database associated with the unconfigured first network device;

utilizing at least one datum of the configuration data to produce additional configuration data; and

storing the additional configuration data in the configuration database, the first network device operating in accord with the data in the configuration database.

2. The method as defined by claim 1 further comprising:

configuring the first network device to operate in accord with the data in the configuration database.

3. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the subnet is a local area network having a plurality of other network devices in addition to the second network device.

4. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the retrieved packets are transmitted in accord with an inter-router protocol.

5. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the retrieved packets are control packets.

6. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the retrieved packets are data packets.

7. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the retrieved packets have a field with a destination address, the first network device setting an interface to have the destination address.

8. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the second network device includes memory for storing configuration data.

9. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the first network device includes an inter-router protocol module, the act of retrieving comprising:

retrieving packets having configuration data relating to the inter-router protocol.

10. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the subnet is coupled to a network.

11. An apparatus for configuring an unconfigured first network device that is a part of a subnet, the subnet having a second network device, the method comprising:

a monitoring module that monitors subnet traffic, the monitoring module retrieving packets having configuration data at the unconfigured first network device, the retrieved packets being transmitted by the second network device;

a data parser operatively coupled with the monitoring module, the data parser parsing the retrieved packets to ascertain the configuration data;

a processor operatively coupled with the data parser, the processor utilizing at least one datum of the configuration data to produce additional configuration data; and

data storage operatively coupled with the data parser, the data storage having a configuration database associated with the unconfigured first network device that stores at least a portion of the configuration data parsed from the retrieved packets, the configuration database also storing the additional configuration data, the first network device operating in accord with the data in the configuration database.

12. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 further comprising:

a configuration module operatively coupled with the configuration database, the configuration module retrieving configuration data and additional configuration data to configure the first network device.

13. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the subnet is a local area network having a plurality of other network devices in addition to the second network device.

14. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the retrieved packets are transmitted in accord with an inter-router protocol.

15. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the retrieved packets are control packets.

16. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the retrieved packets are data packets.

17. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the retrieved packets have a field with a destination address, the first network device having an interface that is set to have the destination address.

18. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the second network device includes memory for storing configuration data.

19. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 further including:

an inter-router protocol module; and

a packet retrieving module that retrieves packets having configuration data relating to the inter-router protocol.

20. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the subnet is coupled to a network.

21. A computer program product for use on a computer system for configuring an unconfigured first network device that is a part of a subnet, the subnet having a second network device, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

program code for retrieving packets having configuration data at the unconfigured first network device, the retrieved packets being transmitted by the second network device;

program code for parsing the retrieved packets to ascertain the configuration data;

program code for storing at least a portion of the configuration data parsed from the retrieved packets in a configuration database associated with the unconfigured first network device;

program code for utilizing at least one datum of the configuration data to produce additional configuration data; and

program code for storing the additional configuration data in the configuration database, the first network device operating in accord with the data in the configuration database.

22. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 further comprising:

program code for configuring the first network device to operate in accord with the data in the configuration database.

23. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the subnet is a local area network having a plurality of other network devices in addition to the second network device.

24. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the retrieved packets are control packets.

25. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the retrieved packets are data packets.

26. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the retrieved packets have a field with a destination address, the first network device setting an interface to have the destination address.

27. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the second network device includes memory for storing configuration data.

28. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the first network device includes an inter-router protocol module, the program code for retrieving comprising:

program code for retrieving packets having configuration data relating to the inter-router protocol.

29. The computer program product as defined by claim 21 wherein the subnet is coupled to a network.

30. A method of configuring an unconfigured first network device that is a part of a subnet, the subnet having a second network device, the method comprising:

retrieving packets having configuration data at the unconfigured first network device, the retrieved packets being transmitted by the second network device;

parsing the retrieved packets to ascertain the configuration data;

storing the configuration data in a memory associated with the unconfigured first network device;

utilizing at least one datum of the configuration data to produce additional configuration data; and

utilizing the configuration data and additional configuration data to control the operation of the first network device.

31. The method as defined by claim 30 further comprising:

storing the configuration data and additional configuration data in a configuration database.

32. The method as defined by claim 30 wherein the retrieved packets are at least one of control packets and data packets.

33. The method as defined by claim 30 wherein the retrieved packets have a field with a destination address, the first network setting an interface to have the destination address.

34. A computer program product for use on a computer system for configuring an unconfigured first network device that is a part of a subnet, the subnet having a second network device, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

program code for retrieving packets having configuration data at the unconfigured first network device, the retrieved packets being transmitted by the second network device;

program code for parsing the retrieved packets to ascertain the configuration data;

program code for storing the configuration data in a memory associated with the unconfigured first network device;

program code for utilizing at least one datum of the configuration data to produce additional configuration data; and

program code for utilizing the configuration data and additional configuration data to control the operation of the first network device.

35. The computer program product as defined by claim 34 further comprising:

storing the configuration data and additional configuration data in a configuration database.

36. The computer program product as defined by claim 34 wherein the retrieved packets are at least one of control packets and data packets.

37. The computer program product as defined by claim 34 wherein the retrieved packets have a field with a destination address, the first network setting an interface to have the destination address.

38. The computer program product as defined by claim 34 further comprising:

program code for actively retrieving configuration data.

39. A method of configuring an unconfigured first network device that is a part of a subnet, the subnet having a second network device, the method comprising:

the second network device transmitting packets having configuration data;

monitoring packet traffic in the subnet;

retrieving packets monitored in the subnet at the unconfigured first network device;

parsing the retrieved packets to ascertain the configuration data;

storing at least a portion of the configuration data parsed from the retrieved packets in a configuration database associated with the unconfigured first network device;

utilizing at least one datum of the configuration data to produce additional configuration data; and

storing the additional configuration data in the configuration database, the first network device operating in accord with the data in the configuration database.