US 6,275,853 B1 · System and method for extending communications features using generic management information base objects

Abstract

A system and method for managing a network using generic objects in a network device management information base (MIB). The generic objects may be used to communicate commands that perform tasks that are not addressed by the specific device objects in the MIB. The generic objects include a command script object for sending commands to a device. The generic objects also include a status object for retrieving a status of the commands and a results object for retrieving the results of the command. The generic object uses device commands that may include commands and features that have been added or updated since the MIB was defined. The generic objects provide the network manager with flexibility in extending network management tasks to include features and capabilities that are not supported by the specific device MIB.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system for managing a network comprising:

at least one network device communicably connected to a network medium, said at least one network device being operable to execute a plurality of device commands;
a management information base corresponding to said at least one network device, said management information base comprising at least one network object for maintaining device information and a generic object for performing tasks using at least one of said device commands;
and
a management station for issuing commands to retrieve and to modify the network objects of the network devices.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for extending communications features using generic management information base objects

Life of this patent

System and method for extending communications features using generic management information base objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15