Network management interface for a network element with network-wide information
AssigneeExtreme Networks, Inc.
InventorsNick G. Suizo, Ajit Parthan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses enable a network of traffic control devices to be viewed as a network of services. A web client sends a query compatible with an open API to a traffic control device. The traffic control device responds to the request by providing the requested service, and indicating an additional, related service that is available externally to the responding traffic control device. Thus, the traffic control device provides network information to the web client, which is traditionally only available via a network management system. The web client can then access the external service.
Claims15
A method, comprising:
- receiving, at a first network traffic control element and from a network device, a query for a web service of the first network traffic control element;
- identifying a web client hosted on the first network traffic control element that provides the web service;
- interacting with a second traffic control element via exchange of switching data packets in traffic control operations;
- based on the exchanged switching data packets, identifying, an external resource on the second network traffic control element, the external resource providing an additional function used in conjunction with the web service;
- providing, to the network device, the web client to enable access to the web service of the first network traffic control element;
- and
- indicating the external resource is available on the second network traffic control element to the network device.
A first network traffic control element, comprising:
- a network traffic port configured to exchange messages with a network device, wherein the exchange messages comprise a query for a web service available from the first network traffic control element;
- a storage device configured to host a web client on the first network traffic control element, wherein the web client is configured to:
- provide an internal web service available from the first network traffic control element;
- identify an external web service available from a second network traffic control element, wherein the external web service is configured to provide an additional function used in conjunction with the internal web service;
- and
- a web service agent communicatively coupled to the network traffic port and configured to:
- process the query for the web service available from the first network traffic control element;
- interact with the second network traffic control element via exchange of switching data packets in traffic control operations;
- based on the exchanged switching data packets, identify the external web service available on the second network traffic control element;
- provide the web client to the network device in response to the query;
- and
- indicate the external web service is available from the second network traffic control element to the network device.
A method for network management, comprising:
- sending a query to a first network traffic control element to access a web client hosted on the first network traffic control element, wherein the query provides web service information for the first network traffic control element;
- interacting, between the first network traffic control element and a second network traffic control element, via exchange of switching data packets in traffic control operations;
- based on the exchanged switching data packets, identifying an external web service on the second network traffic control element, the external web service providing an additional function used in conjunction with the web service;
- receiving access to the web client in response to the query, the web client providing information indicating an internal web service available from the first network traffic control element, and indicating the external web service available from the second network traffic control element;
- and
- accessing the external web service in response to receiving the indication from the web client.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.