Method and system for initializing an internal storage table containing access information used by multiple implementations of protocol access functions to extract information from networked devices

A system for managing information configured to be used by a selected communication protocol to extract information related to a monitored device among distinct devices communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

• means for retrieving, from a first memory, a plurality of implementation identifiers, wherein each implementation identifier identifies (1) a first access function configured to access the monitored device using the selected communication protocol to obtain vendor and model information of the monitored device, and (2) a second access function configured to access the monitored device using the selected communication protocol to obtain status information of the monitored device;
• means for selecting an implementation identifier among the plurality of implementation identifiers;
• means for accessing an external information storage unit to obtain support information for accessing the monitored device using at least one of the first access function and the second access function using the selected communication protocol, the support information including precondition information used for obtaining the status or the vendor and model information from the monitored device;
• and
• means for storing the support information in at least one internal storage table,
• wherein the precondition information restricts a location of a type of information of interest obtainable from the monitored device.

A computer program product storing instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by the computer system, causes the computer system to manage information configured to be used by a selected communication protocol to extract information related to a monitored device among distinct devices communicatively coupled to a network, the computer program product comprising:

• instructions for retrieving, from a first memory, a plurality of implementation identifiers, wherein each implementation identifier identifies (1) a first access function configured to access the monitored device using the selected communication protocol to obtain vendor and model information of the monitored device, and (2) a second access function configured to access the monitored device using the selected communication protocol to obtain status information of the monitored device;
• instructions for selecting an implementation identifier among the plurality of implementation identifiers;
• instructions for accessing an external information storage unit to obtain support information for accessing the monitored device using at least one of the first access function and the second access function using the selected communication protocol, the support information including precondition information used for obtaining the status or the vendor and model information from the monitored device;
• and
• instructions for storing the support information in at least one internal storage table, wherein the precondition information restricts a location of a type of information of interest obtainable from the monitored device.