Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-08
2001-12-11
Luu, Le Hien (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330600
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to network management systems and methods, and more particularly to a configuration synchronization system and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Communication networks are ubiquitous in our society. The continuing development of new technologies and investment in new infrastructure increases the connectivity and availability of networks that deliver voice, video, and data services to more customers. This new infrastructure includes a variety of network elements that have become increasingly more complex and more dependent on their interaction with other components in the network. As such, communication service providers must coordinate the operation of network elements to provision reliable and effective communication services to their customers. Often, this coordination of network elements is performed by a collection of hardware and software known as a network management system.
Most network management systems include a network manager that manages and coordinates the operation of network elements in a communication network. The network manager allows the service provider to install, monitor, upgrade, and configure network elements to provide the desired communication services. To accomplish these tasks, the network manager accesses an accurate view or status of provisioned equipment in the field, often in the form of a Management Information Base (MIB). Timely access to accurate configuration information stored in the MIB is important to manage network elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for updating a memory storing configuration information of a network element is provided that substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages or problems associated with previously developed network management systems and methods.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for updating a memory storing configuration information of a network element includes a network element that stores configuration information. A network manager coupled to the network element using a communication network stores a portion of the configuration information in memory. The network manager receives a state variable from the network element and compares the received state variable to a stored state variable. The network manager receives selected configuration information from the network element to update a selected part of the memory if the received state variable does not match the stored state variable.
Technical advantages of the present invention include a system and method that update a memory storing configuration information of a network element using one or more state variables retrieved from the network element. In a particular embodiment, a network management server maintains configuration information for a managed network element locally and provides access to the configuration information by one or more clients in a client/server environment. The server, clients, and managed network elements communicate messages (e.g., SNMP messages) over a management network, such as an Ethernet, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, or any suitable communication network. To improve access to configuration information, the server maintains one or more caches of selected configuration information readily available to clients, as well as a persistent storage of full configuration information in a database.
Other technical advantages of the present invention include the ability to reconcile configuration information received in a variety of ways to maintain a consistent and accurate view of the managed network element. For example, the server may receive configuration information in the form of traps autonomously generated by the network element indicating an alarm condition, alarm clear, or module insertion event. The server may also poll the network element for configuration information or receive updates of the configuration information from a client managing the network element. Also, the server may be notified of changes in the network element configuration made by another network management device or system. The present invention manages all of this information to achieve a consistent and accurate view of the network element in both a cache of information immediately available to clients and a database.
Another particular advantage of the present invention is the ability to perform a partial update of configuration information maintained by the server by comparing retrieved checksums associated with data subsets of configuration information, and updating only those data subsets in which the checksums indicate an altered state. The server also includes processes that manage the processing of traps received from the network element. In a particular embodiment, the server identifies missed or out-of-sequence traps and, if necessary, reissues alarms to maintain the consistency of configuration information stored in the cache and database. Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.
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Matchefts Marco J.
Pleshek Ronald A.
Taylor Robert C.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Cisco Technology Inc.
Luu Le Hien
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