초록 ▼

Mechanisms for network device information collection and change detection are disclosed. A data Collection Engine is coupled to a database and a network having comprising devices such as switches and routers. The Collection Engine receives a network device name and queries the network to locate the

Mechanisms for network device information collection and change detection are disclosed. A data Collection Engine is coupled to a database and a network having comprising devices such as switches and routers. The Collection Engine receives a network device name and queries the network to locate the named device. Based upon a device type identifier, the Collection Engine identifies the class of the device and a group of information sets that describe information needed from the device. The Collection Engine requests information described by the information sets and stores it in the database. A change detection mechanism compares the received information to a prior version in the database, and develops metadata describing changes in the versions. Accordingly, only a subset of all the information that a device can deliver is received and stored, based on the needs of an application using the mechanisms. A carrier wave may carry software program instructions that carry out the foregoing functions from a remote location.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of collecting information about a managed device in a data network for storage in a database, the managed device comprising a plurality of MIB values stored in one or more Management Information Bases, comprising the steps of:(A) obtaining a device type identifie

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of collecting information about a managed device in a data network for storage in a database, the managed device comprising a plurality of MIB values stored in one or more Management Information Bases, comprising the steps of:(A) obtaining a device type identifier from the managed device by sending an SNMP request to the managed device based upon basic device data to the device over the network, testing whether the device is contacted in the network, and receiving an SNMP reply containing detailed device data relating to the device;(B) mapping the device type identifier to one or more MIBs that are associated with the device type identifier, wherein the MIBs are selected from a larger plurality of MIBs based on the device type identifier and a device class into which the device type identifier is classified;(C) obtaining current values for only the mapped MIBs from the managed device using an SNMP request; and(D) storing said current values in a current MIB value table of the database in association with the device type identifier.