Configurable graphical user interface useful in managing devices connected to a network

A system for managing network devices comprising

• a plurality of said network devices connected to a network,
• one or more servers connected to said network,
• each said server receiving messages from and sending messages to a respective set of said network devices assigned to a said server, said messages from said network devices indicating the states of said network devices, said network devices and respective servers communicating via a standard server/device protocol, and
• one or more clients connected to said network and communicating with one or more said servers via a client/server protocol and providing a user interface for receiving requests from a user and displaying information to said user relating to said network devices,
• each said client being programmed to initiate a graphical user interface in response to a user input by sending an initiation message to said server,
• each said server being programmed to respond to said initiation message by sending resource information establishing a context for interpretation and for display of data relating to said network devices to said client and to thereafter send a data stream of data relating to the current state of said network devices,
• each said client being programmed to create a graphical user interface that provides a display relating to the state of said network devices based upon said resource information and data in said data stream, said resource information providing a context for data in said data stream.