Network revision evaluator

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage device;
• and
• a program comprising a plurality of instructions stored in the storage device that are executed by the processor to:
• receive a request to perform a revision on plural network devices of a computer network to which the computer system has access, at least some of the plural network devices having at least a first feature with different predefined characteristics;
• identify at least a first group of the plural network devices having the first feature with a first predefined characteristic;
• select a first network device of the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices;
• send to the first network device a non-executable inquiry including at least a first command, formatted in a format that prevents the first network device from executing the first command upon receipt of the inquiry, the inquiry causing the first network device to produce a valid response if the network device is capable of executing the revision and an invalid response if the network device is not capable of executing the revision;
• based on whether the response from the first network device is valid or invalid, store on an electronic storage device a record of whether the revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices;
• and
• perform the revision on each device in the first group of the plural network devices if the response to the inquiry indicates that the revision can be successfully performed on the first network device.

At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program instructions embodied therewith, the computer readable program instructions, when read by a processor, configuring the processor to:

• receive a request to perform a revision on plural network devices of a computer network to which the processor has access, at least some of the plural network devices having at least a first feature with different predefined characteristics;
• identify at least a first group of the plural network devices having the first feature with a first predefined characteristic;
• select a first network device of the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices;
• send to the first network device a non-executable inquiry including at least a first command formatted in a format that prevents the first network device from executing the first command upon receipt of the inquiry, the inquiry causing the first network device to produce a valid response if the network device is capable of executing the revision and an invalid response if the network device is not capable of executing the revision;
• based on whether the response from the first network device is valid or invalid, store on an electronic storage device a record of whether the revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices;
• and
• perform the revision on each device in the first group of the plural network devices if the response to the inquiry indicates that the revision can be successfully performed on the first network device.