Method and apparatus for managing parameter settings for multiple network devices

A method of displaying parameter settings for more than one interface on more than one network device, said method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a list of network devices on a display screen;
• receiving user input that selects from said more than one network device to generate a set of selected network devices;
• and
• displaying a set of interfaces associated with said set of selected network devices;
• receiving user input that selects a subset from said set of interfaces associated with said set of selected network devices to generate a selected subset of interfaces;
• and
• displaying a set of parameters for said set of selected network devices on said display screen, said step of displaying comprising displaying the parameters alternatively in a first manner or a second manner, said first manner indicating that the parameters have identical values for all of said set of selected network devices, and said second manner indicating that the parameters are not identical in all of said set of selected network devices.

An apparatus for displaying parameter settings for more than one network device, said apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to said processor;
• a bus coupled to said processor;
• a user input device coupled to said bus;
• a display controller coupled to said bus, said display controller controlling a visual display screen;
• a network controller coupled to said bus, said network controller coupled to a computer network that comprises a plurality of network devices;
• and
• a network management program residing in said memory, said network management program for performing the steps of:
• displaying a list of network devices on said visual display screen;
• receiving user input from said user input device that selects a set from said more than one network devices to generate a set of selected network devices;
• and
• displaying a set of parameters for said set of selected network devices on said display screen, said step of displaying comprising displaying the parameters alternatively in a first manner or a second manner, said first manner indicating that the parameters have identical values for all of said set of selected network devices, and said second manner indicating that the parameters are not identical in all of said set of selected network devices.