Using a remote procedure call (RPC) service to provide data on neighboring devices
A software agent executing on a computing device receives a request from a client to provide data associated with neighboring devices to the computing device. The client includes a scan engine to perform a network scan of a network that includes the computing device. The software agent accesses device data in a cache of an operating system command, determines, based on the device data, an identifier associated with each device that is neighboring the computing device, converts the device data into a standardized format to create neighboring device data, and sends the neighboring device data to the client.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a software agent executing on a computing device, a request from a client to provide data associated with neighboring devices, the client including a scan engine to perform a network scan of a network that includes the computing device;
accessing, by the software agent, device data in a cache of an operating system command, wherein the operating system command is specific to an operating system of the computing device;
determining, by the software agent and based on the device data, at least one identifier associated with each device that is neighboring the computing device;
converting, by the software agent, the device data into a standardized format to create neighboring device data, wherein the standardized format is a same format for a plurality of different operating systems; and
sending, by the software agent, the neighboring device data to the client.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating system command comprises:
a Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) command.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating system command comprises:
an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) command.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises:
a media access control (MAC) address.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises:
an internet protocol (IP) address.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request from the client to provide the data associated with the neighboring devices is received at an application programming interface (API) endpoint.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one device that is neighboring the computing device includes a device firewall that is configured to not respond to the network scan;
an intermediary firewall prevents the network scan from reaching the at least one device that is neighboring the computing device;
the network scan is not configured to scan an address associated with the at least one device that is neighboring the computing device; or
any combination thereof.
8. A computing device comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request from a client to provide data associated with neighboring devices, the client including a scan engine to perform a network scan of a network that includes the computing device;
accessing device data in a cache of an operating system command, wherein the operating system command is specific to an operating system of the computing device;
determining, based on the device data, at least one identifier associated with each device that is neighboring the computing device;
converting the device data into a standardized format to create neighboring device data, wherein the standardized format is a same format for a plurality of different operating systems; and
sending the neighboring device data to the client.
9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the operating system command comprises:
a Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) command.
10. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the operating system command comprises:
an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) command.
11. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises:
a media access control (MAC) address.
12. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises: an internet protocol (IP) address.
13. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein:
at least one device that is neighboring the computing device includes a device firewall that is configured to not respond to the network scan;
an intermediary firewall prevents the network scan from reaching the at least one device that is neighboring the computing device;
the network scan is not configured to scan an address associated with the at least one device that is neighboring the computing device; or
any combination thereof.
14. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions executable by one or more processors of a computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request from a client to provide data associated with neighboring devices, the client including a scan engine to perform a network scan of a network that includes the computing device;
accessing device data in a cache of an operating system command, wherein the operating system command is specific to an operating system of the computing device;
determining, based on the device data, at least one identifier associated with each device that is neighboring the computing device;
converting the device data into a standardized format to create neighboring device data, wherein the standardized format is a same format for a plurality of different operating systems; and
sending the neighboring device data to the client.
15. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14 , wherein the operating system command comprises:
a Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) command.
16. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14 , wherein the operating system command comprises:
an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) command.
17. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises:
a media access control (MAC) address.
18. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises:
an internet protocol (IP) address.
19. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14 , wherein the request from the client to provide the data associated with the neighboring devices is received at an application programming interface (API) endpoint.
20. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14 , wherein:
at least one device that is neighboring the computing device includes a device firewall that is configured to not respond to the network scan;
an intermediary firewall prevents the network scan from reaching the at least one device that is neighboring the computing device;
the network scan is not configured to scan an address associated with the at least one device that is neighboring the computing device; or
any combination thereof.