Method and system for providing automatic disabling of network debugging

1. A method comprising:

receiving a debugging command for initiating debugging of a router that includes a processor configured to execute a debugging procedure;

monitoring utilization of the processor;

determining whether the utilization exceeds a utilization threshold; and

disabling the debugging procedure based on the determination that the utilization threshold is exceeded.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a network management object is assigned to track the utilization of the processor, the method further comprising:

periodically polling the network management object to determine the utilization.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network management object is defined according to a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the steps of monitoring, determining and disabling are executed according to an event policy.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the event policy includes an applet that is configured to execute the steps of monitoring, determining and disabling.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of determining is executed using a counter event detector configured to track utilization of the processor.

7. A computer-readable storage medium bearing instructions that are arranged, upon execution, to cause one or more processors to perform the method of claim 1 .

8. An apparatus comprising:

a switching fabric configured to route packets; and

a processor coupled to the switching fabric, and configured to execute a debugging procedure for debugging the switching fabric according to an event policy,

wherein the event policy is executed to monitor utilization of the processor and terminate the debugging procedure if the utilization exceeds a utilization threshold.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein a network management object is assigned to track the utilization of the processor, the network management object being polled periodically to determine the utilization.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the network management object is defined according to a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the event policy defines an event and an action corresponding to the utilization of the processor, the event policy including an applet to terminate the debugging procedure.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

a counter event detector configured to track utilization of the processor; and

an event manager coupled to the counter event detector and configured to monitor the processor.

13. A system comprising:

a router including,

a switching fabric configured to route packets; and

a processor coupled to the switching fabric, and configured to execute a debugging procedure for debugging the router according to an event policy,

wherein the event policy is executed to monitor utilization of the processor and terminate the debugging procedure if the utilization exceeds a utilization threshold; and

a network management system coupled to the router and configured to initiate the debugging procedure.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein a network management object is assigned to track the utilization of the processor, the network management object being polled periodically to determine the utilization.

15. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the network management object is defined according to a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

16. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the event policy defines an event and an action corresponding to the utilization of the processor, the event policy including an applet to terminate the debugging procedure.

17. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the router further includes,

a counter event detector configured to track utilization of the processor, and

an event manager coupled to the counter event detector and configured to monitor the processor.

18. A system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the system is maintained by a service provider and serves a plurality of subscribers.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 , wherein one or more of the subscribers are authorized to initiate the debugging procedure.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the router is shared by the plurality of subscribers.