Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-04
2001-11-13
Lintz, Paul R. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317743
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of digital data networks, and more particularly to systems and methods for facilitating the efficient retrieval of network management information from various locations in the network to a single location that serves as a management information server, conversion of the information into a common or useable format and loading of the converted information into the management information server's working memory for use in connection with selected management operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In modem “enterprise” digital data processing systems, that is, computer systems for use in an office environment in a company, a number of personal computers, workstations, and other devices such as mass storage subsystems, network printers and interfaces to the public telephony system, are typically interconnected in a computer network. The personal computers and workstations (generally, “computers”) are used by individual users to perform processing in connection with data and programs that may be stored in the network mass storage subsystems. In such an arrangement, the computers, operating as clients, access the data and programs from the network mass storage subsystems for processing. In addition, the computers will enable processed data to be uploaded to the network mass storage subsystems for storage, to a network printer for printing, to the telephony interface for transmission over the public telephony system, or the like. In such an arrangement, the network mass storage subsystems, network printers and telephony interface operate as servers, since they are available to service requests from all of the clients in the network. By organizing the network in such a manner, the servers are readily available for use by all of the computers the network. Such a network may be spread over a fairly wide area, with the computers being interconnected by communication links such as electrical wires or optic fibers.
Typically in a network, information that a network administrator or other manager may need in order to manage the network is distributed over a number of computers in the network and may be in a number of schemas and formats. To provide a central location for the management information, a network administrator will to retrieve the files containing the management information from the disparate locations throughout the network at which they are located and copy them to a management information server, and convert them to a standard schema and format. Currently, each of these operations is handled separately, with the network administrator using separate tools to copy the files to the management information server, compilers to perform the file conversion, and loaders to load the management information from the converted files into the management information server's working memory. A problem can develop in that use of these diverse tools can lead be complex and prone to error.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a new and improved system and method for facilitating the efficient retrieval of network management information from various locations in the network to a single location that serves as a management information server, conversion of the information into a common or useable format and loading of the converted information into the management information server's working memory for use in connection with selected management operations.
In brief summary, a management information loader in accordance with the invention is used in connection with a management information server, the management information server using management information in connection with performing least one management operation in connection with a network comprising a plurality of interconnected devices. The management information loader comprises an operator interface module, a plurality of compilers and a control module. The operator interface module enables an operator to provide a management information file identification identifying at least one management information file containing management information to be used by the management information server. Each of the compilers facilitates conversion of files containing management information from a respective format to a common format. The control module receives the management information file identifications as provided by the operator from the operator interface module and retrieves the management information files identified by the respective management information file identifications from their respective current storage location on the network. IN addition, for each management information file, the control module enables the compiler that is appropriate to the respective file's format to perform any necessary conversion of the retrieved management information file from its current format to the common format, and loads management information from the management information file, as in the common format, into a working memory in the management information server.
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Bromberg & Sunstein LLP
Lintz Paul R.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
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