Network management using abstract device descriptions

A method of computing and storing a result value used to describe a device in a tree representation in a network management system, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• creating and storing an abstract textual description of a network device, wherein the description includes a logical expression comprising a plurality of references to a value that is associated with a MIB value stored in the network device;
• creating and storing, as part of the description, a definition of a slot within the network device that may receive a hardware or software element selected from among a plurality of compatible hardware or software elements;
• compiling the abstract textual description into one or more program source code files, based on a language specification of a grammar for the abstract textual description;
• automatically compiling the program source code files to result in generating executable code for the network management that, at runtime, will cause the network management system to carry out the steps of:
• creating and sending one SNMP request for the MIB value to the network device;
• computing the result value for the expression using, for each of the plurality of references to a value, a response value that is received from the network device in response to the SNMP request;
• creating and storing a tree representation of the device having a first node that represents the slot, wherein a child node of the first node is selected from among the plurality of compatible hardware or software elements based on the result value that is computed and stored by evaluating the logical expression.

A network management system, comprising:

• an abstract textual description of a device in a network that is managed by the network management system;
• an abstract description compiler associated with the network management system for compiling the abstract textual description into one or more program source code files for the network management system, based on a language specification for the abstract textual description;
• a containment tree, generated by the network management system at runtime based on a logical expression in the description that represents the device, the containment tree comprising a first node that is associated with the logical expression, wherein a child node of the first node is selected from among a plurality of sub-component nodes based on a result value that is created and stored by evaluating the logical expression using a value that is associated with a MIB value stored in the device;
• executable computer program code in the network management system that carries out network management functions using the containment tree to determine a configuration of the device.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for creating and storing information that represents a logical description of a network device for use in a network management system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• creating and storing an abstract textual description of a network device, wherein the description includes a logical expression comprising a plurality of references to a value that is associated with a MIB value stored in the network device;
• compiling the abstract textual description into one or more program source code files, based on a language specification of a grammar for the abstract textual description;
• automatically compiling the program source code files to result in generating executable code for the network management system that, at runtime, will cause the network management system to carry out the steps of:
• creating and sending one SNMP request for the MIB value to the network device;
• computing a result value for the expression using, for each of the plurality of references to a value, a response value that is received from the network device in response to the SNMP request;
• and
• creating and storing a tree that represents the device comprising a first node that is associated with the logical expression, wherein a child node of the first node is selected from among a plurality of sub-components based on the result value that is computed and stored by evaluating the logical expression.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for creating and storing information that represents a logical description of a network device for use in a network management system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• creating and storing an abstract textual description of a network device, wherein the description includes a logical expression comprising a plurality of references to a value that is associated with a MIB value stored in the network device;
• creating and storing, as part of the description, a definition of a slot within the network device that may receive a hardware or software element selected from among a plurality of compatible hardware or software elements;
• compiling the abstract textual description into one or more program source code files, based on a language specification of a grammar for the abstract textual description;
• automatically compiling the program source code files to result in generating executable code for the network management that, at runtime, will cause the network management system to carry out the steps of:
• creating and sending one SNMP request for the MIB value to the network device;
• computing a result value for the expression using, for each of the plurality of references to a value, a response value that is received from the network device in response to the SNMP request;
• creating and storing a tree representation of the device having a first node that represents the slot, wherein a child node of the first node is selected from among the plurality of compatible hardware or software elements based on the result value that is computed and stored by evaluating the logical expression.