Hosted physical layer management or automated infrastructure management system having software only configuration and/or local hardware appliance

A method comprising:

• executing a respective hosted management application for each respective network of a plurality of networks as a hosted service on one or more server computers maintained by a third party, wherein each respective network of the plurality of networks is operated by a different enterprise of a plurality of enterprises, wherein each respective network of the plurality of networks is distinct from a network that includes the one or more server computers;
• wherein the respective hosted management application for each respective network of the plurality of networks is configured to include a documentation function to document connections to one or more devices in the respective network made using cables in the respective network and a workflow management function to direct a technician in moving, adding, or changing connections made using cables in the respective network, wherein the one or more devices in a first network of the plurality of networks include a managed device that includes a physical layer information acquisition technology for automatically obtaining physical layer information related to cabling that is attached to the managed device;
• wherein the method further comprises configuring the respective hosted management application for the first network of the plurality of networks to support a software only configuration in which all interaction with the documentation and workflow management functions included in the respective hosted management application by entities associated with the first network occurs only using client software executing on one or more client devices associated with the first network, wherein physical layer information related to cabling that is attached to the managed device of the first network is provided to the documentation function using the client software executing on one or more client devices associated with the first network.

A system comprising:

• one or more server computers operated by a third party, wherein the one or more server computers are configured to aggregate physical layer information about each respective network of a plurality of networks as a hosted service, wherein each respective network of the plurality of networks is operated by a different respective enterprise of a plurality of enterprises;
• devices deployed in a first network included in the plurality of networks, the devices comprising physical layer information data acquisition technology to automatically capture physical layer information about cables used to make connections using the devices;
• and
• an appliance deployed in the first network, wherein the appliance is a distinct component from the devices deployed in the first network and communicatively coupled to the devices deployed in the first network, wherein the appliance is configured to run a local agent configured to receive physical layer information from the devices deployed in the first network, wherein the physical layer information is acquired using the physical layer information data acquisition technology in the devices deployed in the first network, wherein the appliance is further configured to communicate at least some of the received physical layer information from the devices deployed in the first network to a hosted management application for the first network, wherein the hosted management application is hosted on the one or more server computers operated by the third party in a network distinct from the first network, wherein the appliance is configured to appear and function, from the perspective of the devices deployed in the first network, as a management application that is locally deployed in the first network.

An appliance for use in a network maintained by an enterprise, the appliance comprising:

• a programmable processor configured to execute software;
• and
• a network interface configured to communicate over the network with devices included in the network that include physical layer information data acquisition technology to automatically capture physical layer information about cables used to make connections at the devices, wherein the appliance is a distinct component from the devices included in the network, wherein the network interface is further configured to communicate with a hosted management application associated with the network that is running on one or more servers maintained by a third party, the one or more servers not being a part of the network maintained by the enterprise;
• wherein the software is configured to cause the appliance to receive at least some physical layer information from the devices included in the network, wherein the physical layer information is acquired by the physical layer information data acquisition technology included in the devices included in the network, wherein the software is further configured to cause the appliance to communicate at least some of the received physical layer information from the devices included in the network to the hosted management application associated with the network, wherein the appliance is configured to appear and function, from the perspective of the devices included in the network, as a management application that is locally deployed in the network.