Virtual Console-Port Management
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsYves Louis, Patrick Wetterwald, Patrick Grossetete, Maurizio Portolani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are providing for managing and optimizing the configuration of network devices. At a management device in a network, a message is received from a first network device via a wireless link or a power line communication link between the management device and the first network device. The new network device is classified as belonging to one of a plurality of network device zones based on evaluating the message. A response message is then sent to the new network device via the wireless link or the power line communication link to ensure secure access to a virtual console-port is provided for the management device and the network devices in the network device zones.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- at a management device in a network, receiving a message from a new network device of interest in the network via a wireless link between the management device and the new network device or a power line communication link between the management device and the first network device;
- classifying the new network device as belonging to one of a plurality of network device zones based on evaluating the message;
- and
- sending a response message to the new network device via the wireless link or the power line communication link to ensure secure access to a virtual console-port is provided for the management device and network devices in the network device zones.
A method comprising:
- at a first network device in a network, receiving a message from a second network device in the network, wherein the message includes an authentication key and a network device zone identifier;
- sending the message with the authentication key and the network device zone identifier to a management device in the network via a wireless link between the management device and the first network device or a power line communication link between the management device and the first network device;
- and
- receiving a response message from the management device in the network via the wireless link or the power line communication link to ensure secure access to a virtual console-port is provided for the management device and network devices in the network device zones.
A method comprising:
- at a network device in a network, sending a broadcast request message to a management device in the network via a wireless link between the management device and the network device or a power line communication link between the management device and the network device, wherein the broadcast request message comprises an indication that the network device is not assigned to a network device zone;
- and
- receiving from the management device a response message via the wireless link or the power line communication link, wherein the response message comprises address identifier information if the network device is not preconfigured with address information and information indicating a new network device zone to which the network device is assigned to ensure secure access to a virtual console-port is provided for the management device and the network device.
An apparatus comprising:
- a wireless interface configured to enable wireless communications via a wireless link;
- a power interface configured to couple to a power line communication link;
- a wireless interface configured to enable wireless communications via a wireless link;
- a memory;
- and
- a processor coupled to the power interface, wireless interface and memory, and configured to:
- receive a message from a new network device in a network via the wireless link or the power line communication link;
- classify the new network device as belonging to one of a plurality of network device zones based on evaluating the message;
- and
- send a response message to the new network device via the wireless link or the power line communication link to ensure secure access to a virtual console-port is provided for network devices in the network device zones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.