Systems and methods for managing a network

1. A method for providing a managed network, comprising:

in a management center, setting at least one configuration of a first network management device located at a first location, the at least one configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a corresponding at least one managed network service for a first network after the at least one configuration is transmitted to the first network management device, wherein setting the at least one configuration comprises setting at least one of:

a virtual private network (VPN) configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a VPN service, the VPN service to enable the first network management device to communicate with at least one of: a second network management device located at a second location, a remote access client, and the management center; and

an internet protocol (IP) routing and network interface configuration to cause the first network management device to provide an IP routing and network interface service;

storing the at least one configuration in the management center; and

automatically transmitting the stored at least one configuration to the first network management device via a second network in response to receiving an activation key at the management center, the activation key transmitted from the first network management device to the management center via the second network after the first network management device is connected to the second network at the first location;

wherein the management center is external to the first network and to the first and second locations, and wherein the management center comprises a shared infrastructure for simultaneously providing managed network services to users of multiple networks at multiple locations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting at least one configuration of a first network management device comprises generating the activation key.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting at least one configuration of a first network management device comprises setting at least one of:

an anti-virus configuration to cause the first network management device to provide an anti-virus service;

a content filtering configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a content filtering service;

an anti-spam configuration to cause the first network management device to provide an anti-spam service;

a quality of service (QOS) configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a QOS service; and

a device monitoring configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a device monitoring service, the device monitoring service to monitor one or more network elements, the one or more network elements connected to the first network and external to the network management device.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising receiving log information from the first network management device, the log information associated with at least one managed network service.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:

correlating the received log information; and

determining one or more of a real time performance and a historical performance of the first network based on the correlated log information.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving performance information from the first network management device;

correlating the received performance information; and

determining one or more of a real time performance and a historical performance of the first network based on the correlated information.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving performance information from the first network management device comprises receiving at least one of the following:

a CPU utilization value;

a memory utilization; and

a network interface bandwidth utilization value.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving performance information from the first network management device comprises receiving performance information gathered from the one or more network elements.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving performance information gathered from the one or more network elements comprises receiving at least one of the following:

a reachability value;

a latency value; and

a CPU utilization value.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising updating the at least one configuration within the first network management device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein updating the at least one configuration within the first network management device comprises:

periodically polling the first network management device;

determining whether the at least one configuration of the first network management device is current;

setting a new configuration for each of the at least one configuration that is not current; and

transmitting the new configurations to the first network management device.

12. A computer-readable disk or device having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

in a management center, set at least one configuration of a first network management device located at a first location, the at least one configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a corresponding at least one managed network service for a first network after the at least one configuration is transmitted to the first network management device, wherein the at least one configuration comprises at least one of:

a virtual private network (VPN) configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a VPN service, the VPN service to enable the first network management device to communicate with at least one of: a second network management device located at a second location, a remote access client, and the management center; and

an internet protocol (IP) routing and network interface configuration to cause the first network management device to provide an IP routing and network interface service;

store the at least one configuration in the management center; and

automatically transmit the stored at least one configuration to the first network management device via a second network in response to receiving an activation key at the management center, the activation key transmitted from the first network management device to the management center via the second network after the first network management device is connected to the second network at the first location;

wherein the management center is external to the second network and to the first and second locations, and wherein the management center comprises a shared infrastructure for simultaneously providing managed network services to users of multiple networks at multiple locations.

13. A system for managing a network, the system comprising:

a first network management device located at a first location and comprising a processor and a memory; and

a management center to communicate with the first network management device via the Internet, the management center to:

set at least one configuration for the first network management device, the at least one configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a corresponding at least one managed network service for a first network after the at least one configuration is transmitted to the first network management device, wherein the at least one configuration comprises at least one of:

a virtual private network (VPN) configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a VPN service, the VPN service to enable the first network management device to communicate with at least one of: a second network management device located at a second customer location, a remote access client, and the management center; and

an internet protocol (IP) routing and network interface configuration to provide an IP routing and network interface configuration service;

store the at least one configuration; and

automatically transmit the stored at least one configuration to the network management device via the Internet in response to receiving an activation key at the management center, the activation key transmitted from the first network management device to the management center via the Internet after the network management device is connected to the Internet;

wherein the management center is external to the first network and to the first and second locations, and wherein the management center comprises a shared infrastructure for simultaneously providing managed network services to users of multiple networks at multiple locations.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one configuration includes at least one of:

an anti-virus configuration to cause the first network management device to provide an anti-virus service;

a content filtering configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a content filtering service;

an anti-spam configuration to cause the first network management device to provide an anti-spam service;

a quality of service (QOS) configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a QOS service; and

a device monitoring configuration to cause the first network management device to provide a device monitoring service, the device monitoring service to monitor one or more network elements, the one or more network elements connected to the first network and external to the network management device.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the management center is to:

receive performance information from the network management device;

correlate the received performance information; and

determine one or more of a real time performance and a historical performance of the first network based on the correlated information.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein performance information comprises at least one of the following:

a CPU utilization value;

a memory utilization value; and

a network interface bandwidth utilization value.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the performance information comprises performance information gathered from the one or more network elements.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the performance information comprises at least one of the following:

a reachability value;

a latency value; and

a CPU utilization value.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the network management device is to gather performance information from the one or more network elements utilizing Internet control message protocol.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the network management device is to gather performance information from the one or more network elements utilizing simple network management protocol.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the management center is to update the at least one configuration within the network management device.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the management center is to:

periodically poll the network management device;

determine whether the at least one configuration of the network management device is current;

set a new configuration for each of the at least one configuration that is not current; and

transmit the new configurations to the network management device.

23. The system of claim 13 , wherein the management center is to receive log information from the network management device, the log information associated with the at least one managed network service.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the management center is to:

correlate the received log information; and

determine one or more of a real time performance and a historical performance of the first network based on the correlated log information.