Network apparatuses, networks, computer program products, and management station operational methods
View Patent ↗Network apparatuses, networks, computer program products, and management station operational methods are provided. One aspect of the invention provides a network apparatus including a management station adapted to couple with a network including a plurality of managed devices, the management station being configured to output a plurality of initial commands for application to respective managed devices, the initial commands being configured to stimulate initial responses from the managed devices, the management station being further configured to receive the initial responses, to identify responding ones of the managed devices responsive to the received initial responses, and to provide an asset table containing the identified managed devices. Another aspect provides a management station operational method including providing a network comprising a plurality of managed devices; outputting a plurality of initial commands to the managed devices using a management station to stimulate initial responses from the managed devices; receiving the initial responses from the managed devices using the management station; and identifying the managed devices using the management station responsive to the receiving the initial responses.
1. A method comprising:
communicating an initial command to a managed device of a network;
identifying the managed device based upon an initial response from the managed device;
transmitting a subsequent command to the managed device only if the identity of a device type of the managed device is not determined, wherein the subsequent command is different from the initial command;
providing an asset table containing the identified managed device; and
comparing the initial response with a plurality of identifiers to identify the device type of the managed device, wherein the plurality of identifiers are specified in a state transition table.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a device table is maintained corresponding to the managed device.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the received initial response comprises a failed response.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the managed device is among a plurality of managed devices, further comprising:
applying a plurality of management commands to respective identified managed devices, the applied management commands individually correspond to respective device types of the identified managed devices.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein a node table is maintained, the node table comprising a plurality of node locations for respective managed devices.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to communicate an initial command to a managed device of a network, to identify the managed device based upon an initial response from the managed devices, and to transmit a subsequent command to the managed device only if the identity of a device type of the managed device is not determined, wherein the subsequent command is different from the initial command; and
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store an asset table containing the identified managed device,
wherein the processor is further configured to compare the received initial response with a plurality of identifiers to identify the device type of the managed device, wherein the plurality of identifiers are specified in a state transition table.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the memory is further configured to store a device table corresponding to the managed devices.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the received initial responses comprise failed responses.
9. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the managed device is among a plurality of managed devices, and the processor is further configured to apply a plurality of management commands to respective identified managed devices, the applied management commands individually correspond to respective device types of the identified managed devices.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the memory is further configured to store a node table that comprises a plurality of node locations for respective managed devices.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial response from the managed device includes an identification state that indicates a group of device types without specifically identifying a model and a manufacturer.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the state transition table includes device state identifications.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the state transition table includes commands, responses, next actions, or a combination thereof.
14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the commands is selected to trigger or stimulate at least one of the responses from the managed device corresponding to the device type.
15. A system comprising:
a network management station configured to communicate a plurality of initial commands to a plurality of managed devices of a network, to identify the managed devices based upon a plurality of initial responses from the managed devices, and to transmit subsequent commands to the responding ones of the managed devices only if the identities of device types of the respective responding managed devices are not determined, wherein the subsequent commands are different from the initial commands; and
a database coupled to the station and configured to store an asset table containing the identified managed devices,
wherein the station is further configured to compare the received initial responses with a plurality of identifiers to identify the device types of the respective responding managed devices, wherein the plurality of identifiers are specified in a state transition table.
16. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the memory is further configured to store a device table corresponding to the managed devices.
17. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the received initial responses comprise failed responses.
18. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the station is further configured to apply a plurality of management commands to respective identified managed devices, the applied management commands individually correspond to respective device types of the identified managed devices.
19. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the memory is further configured to store a node table that comprises a plurality of node locations for respective managed devices.
20. A method comprising:
selecting one of a plurality of commands for transmission to one of a plurality of managed devices to trigger a response unique to the one managed device;
determining whether a combination of the one command and an associated response from the one managed device uniquely identifies a device type of the one managed device;
comparing the response with a plurality of identifiers to identify the device type of the one managed device; and
selectively issuing another one of the plurality of commands for transmission to the one managed device only if the device type of the one managed device is not uniquely identified, the other command being different from the one command.
21. A method according to claim 20 , further comprising:
performing a look-up in a device table to determine device type information associated with the one managed device.
22. A method according to claim 21 , further comprising:
storing the device type information in an asset table based on the determined device type information.
23. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the commands and responses are compliant with a Simple Network Management Protocol.
24. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the commands and responses are conveyed over the network according to Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol communications.