Network management system and method of operation
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsHang Zhang, Avinash J. Marathe, Duc M. Pham
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Abstract
A network management server manages multiple network devices coupled to a communication network. A simulation device coupled to the communication network uses virtual network addresses to simulate multiple network devices in two respects. First, the simulation device uses virtual network addresses to simulate the generation of alarm signals from multiple network devices in the network environment. Second, the simulation device uses virtual network addresses to simulate responses to polling requests issued by the network management server. In this respect, the simulation device simulates the operation of multiple network devices to test the scaleability, performance, and reliability of the network management server.
Claims31
A network management system, comprising:
- a network management server coupled to a communication network;
- and
- a simulation device coupled to the communication network, the simulation device having a physical network address and operable to communicate an alarm signal to the network management server using a communication connection established between the network management server and the physical network address, wherein the alarm signal is associated with a virtual network address that is distinct from the physical network address and the physical and virtual network addresses are both on a single network layer.
A method for communicating alarm signals, comprising:
- storing a physical network address associated with a simulation device;
- storing a plurality of virtual network addresses;
- and
- communicating an alarm signal to a network management server using a communication connection established between the network management server and the physical network address, the alarm signal associated with a virtual network address that is distinct from the physical network address, wherein the physical and virtual network addresses are both on a single network layer.
A simulation device, comprising:
- a memory operable to store a physical network address associated with the simulation device and a plurality of virtual network addresses;
- and
- a controller operable to communicate to a network management server a first alarm signal associated with the physical network address and a second alarm signal associated with a particular virtual network address, wherein the first and second alarm signals are communicated using a communication connection established between the network management server and the physical network address, the particular virtual network address is distinct from the physical network address, and the physical and virtual network addresses are both on a single network layer.
A method for communicating network messages in response to a request, comprising:
- receiving, at a simulation device having a physical network address, a request from a network management server;
- in response to the request, generating a plurality of responses, wherein at least one of the responses is associated with a virtual network address distinct from the physical network address and the physical and virtual network addresses are both on a single network layer;
- and
- communicating the responses to the network management server using a communication connection between the network management server and the physical network address of the simulation device.
Software embodied in a computer readable medium operable to perform the steps of:
- storing a physical network address associated with a simulation device;
- storing a plurality of virtual network addresses;
- and
- communicating an alarm signal to a network management server using a communication connection established between the network management server and the physical network address, the alarm signal associated with a virtual network address that is distinct from the physical network address, wherein the physical and virtual network addresses are both on a single network layer.
A system, comprising:
- means for storing a physical network address associated with a simulation device;
- means for storing a plurality of virtual network addresses;
- and
- means for communicating an alarm signal to a network management server using a communication connection established between the network management server and the physical network address, the alarm signal associated with a virtual network address that is distinct from the physical network address, wherein the physical and virtual network addresses are both on a single network layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.