Facility to transmit network management data to an umbrella management system

• US 6,871,224 B1
• Filed: 01/04/1999
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Leslie Alan, Sitaraman, Aravind, Sthothra Bhasham, Sampath Kumar, Chu, Jie
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US09/225,262
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 370/244, 707/10, 709/203, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0609 based on severity or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/028 by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for conveying data communications network management information to an umbrella management system whereby network management information events are published on an information bus and received at a subscribing monitor interface located on the information bus. The monitor interface then converts the network management information events into umbrella management system-useable information and communicates the umbrella management useable information to the umbrella management system. In this manner, the umbrella management system is able to import valuable information pertaining to the devices and services that comprise the overall network. The monitor interface includes an adapter located on the information bus that subscribes to network management information events, a converter that formats the network management information events into data useable by the umbrella management system, and a forwarder that communicates the umbrella management system-useable data to the umbrella management system.

Claims

1. A method for managing a data communications network comprising:

starting a network management application program;

starting an access database adapter in communication with said network management application program;

starting a master daemon in communication with said access database adapter;

starting a control adapter with said master daemon;

monitoring said control adapter with said master daemon until said control adapter stops;

restarting said control adapter with said master daemon should said control adapter ever stop;

starting at least one service with said control adapter, said service including a service adapter in communication with said control adapter and said access database adapter; and

starting a monitor interface adapter, said monitor interface adapter in communication with said control adapter, said service adapter, said access database adapter, and an umbrella management system.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

publishing at said control adapter, said service adapter and said access database adapter network management information events on to an information bus;

subscribing at said monitor interface adapter to said network management information events;

receiving said network management information events at said monitor interface adapter;

converting said network management information events into umbrella management system information useable by said umbrella management system; and

communicating said umbrella management system information to said umbrella management system.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

publishing events at said monitor interface adapter on to said information bus.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said master daemon is defined as a parent process and said control adapter is defined as a child process of the master daemon.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

selecting certain information from certain network management events, said filter in communication with said adapter.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting events across said information bus by a publisher in communication with said adapter.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

filtering said network management information events to communicate selected information in said events to said umbrella management system.

4. A data communications network comprising:

a first processor including;

a network management application,

an access database adapter in communication with said network management application and an information bus, said access database adapter publishing events onto said information bus, and

a database in communication with said network management application and said access database adapter; and

a monitor interface in communication with said information bus and an umbrella management system, said monitor interface comprising;

an adapter that subscribes to and captures network management events off of said information bus,

a converter in communication with said adapter that formats said events into umbrella management system information, and

a forwarder in communication with said converter that conveys said umbrella management system information to said umbrella management system.

5. The data communications network as defined in claim 4, wherein said monitor interface further comprises:

a filter in communication with said adapter, said filter selecting certain information from certain network management events.

6. The data communications network as defined in claim 4, wherein said monitor interface further comprises:

a publisher in communication with said adapter, said publisher transmitting events across said information bus.

7. A data communications network comprising:

a first processor including;

a network management application,

an access database adapter in communication with said network management application and an information bus, said access database adapter publishing events onto the information bus, and

a database in communication with said network management application and said access database adapter;

a second processor including;

a control adapter in communication with said information bus, said control adapter publishing events onto the information bus,

a service adapter in communication with said information bus and said control adapter, said service adapter started by said control adapter service, said service adapter publishing events onto the information bus, and

at least one service running on said second processor, said service in communication with said service adapter; and

a monitor interface including;

a monitor interface adapter in communication with said information bus, said monitor interface adapter subscribing to and capturing events published by said access database adapter, said control adapter, and said service adapter,

a converter in communication with said monitor interface adapter, said converter converting said events into umbrella management system information, and

a forwarder in communication with said converter, said forwarder conveying said network management information to an umbrella management system.

8. A program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing a data communications network, the method comprising:

starting a network management application program;

starting an access database adapter in communication with said network management application program;

starting a master daemon in communication with said access database adapter;

starting a control adapter with said master daemon;

monitoring said control adapter with said master daemon until said control adapter stops;

restarting said control adapter with said master daemon should said control adapter ever stop;

starting at least one service with said control adapter, said service including a service adapter in communication with said control adapter and said access database adapter; and

starting a monitor interface adapter, said monitor interface in communication with said control adapter, said service adapter, said access database adapter, and an umbrella management system.

13. A data communications network comprising:

a first processor means including;

a network management application module running on said first processor means, and

means, in communication with said network management application module and an information bus, for publishing events onto said information bus; and

a second processor means including;

a monitor interface module running on said second processor means, said monitor interface module in communication with said information bus and an umbrella management system, said monitor interface comprising;

means for subscribing to and capturing network management events off of said information bus, and

means, in communication with said means for subscribing, for converting said network management events into umbrella management system formatted information.

14. The data communications network as defined in claim 13, wherein said monitor interface module further comprises:

means, in communication with said means for converting, for forwarding said umbrella management system formatted information to said umbrella management system.

15. The data communications network as defined in claim 13, wherein said monitor interface module further comprises:

means, in communication with said means for subscribing and capturing, for filtering certain information from certain network management events.

16. The data communications network as defined in claim 13, wherein said monitor interface module further comprises:

means, in communication with said means for subscribing and capturing, for publishing events across said information bus.