Methods for auto-configuring a router on an IP subnet
View Patent ↗An autoconfiguring data router is connected to a communications network subnet having a second network data router. The autoconfiguring data router includes a configuration determination module that determines configuration attributes for operably connecting the autoconfiguring data router to the subnet, and an autoconfiguration module that configures the autoconfiguring data router according to the configuration attributes so that the autoconfiguring data router is operably connected to the subnet.
1. A method of determining configuration information to support configuration of a network device for connection to a communication network subnet, the method comprising, in the communication network subnet:
listening to control traffic on the communication network subnet, at least some of the control traffic not comprising an address of the network device; and
determining, from the control traffic, configuration attributes for connecting the network device to the communication network subnet.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control traffic comprises routing protocol messages.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the routing protocol messages comprise Internet Protocol (IP) routing protocol messages.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control traffic comprises spanning tree messages.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying control traffic based on at least one of a broadcast address, a multicast address and a TCP/UDP port.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein listening to control traffic comprises determining source addresses in control traffic packets to identify active network devices.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting the determined configuration attributes to an operator interface.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein presenting the determined configuration attributes to the operator interface comprises presenting the determined configuration attributes with at least some explanatory information.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise information unique to each attached communication network subnet.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise an IP subnet mask.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise at least one of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) forwarding data and a DHCP server address.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise virtual local area network (VLAN) information.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the VLAN information comprises at least one of tag identifications, types, protocols, addresses, and port-to-VLAN mappings.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) information.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the STP information comprises at least one of an indication that an SIP is enabled, 802.ID VLAN information and source MAC addresses used for Multi Link Trunking configurations.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise Routing Information Protocol (RIP) information.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the RIP information comprises an indication that a RIP is enabled.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) time information.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the OSPF information comprises at least one of an indication that an OSPF is enabled, a subnet mask, a OSPF hello timer and a OSPF router dead timer.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) information.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the VRRP information comprises at least one of an indication that a VRRP is enabled, a VR identifier, a VR IP address, at least one priority of another router and an advertisement interval.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration attributes comprise Topology Discovery Protocol (TDP) information.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the TDP information comprises adjacent IP addresses.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the configuration attributes comprises analyzing routing protocol control packets detected by the network device.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein listening to the control traffic in the communication network subnet comprises listening to the control traffic at the network device.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the configuration attributes from the control traffic in the communication network subnet comprises determining the determined configuration attributes at the network device.
27. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining configuration information from at least one configuration server of the communication network subnet.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the at least one configuration server is a central management system of the communication network subnet.
29. The method of claim 27 , further comprising adjusting the determined configuration attributes from the control traffic using the configuration information obtained from the configuration server subnet.
30. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the configuration information from at least one router of the communication network subnet.
31. The method of claim 30 , comprising receiving the configuration information directly from the at least one router.
32. The method of claim 30 , further comprising adjusting the determined configuration attributes from the control traffic using the configuration information obtained from the at least one router.