Apparatus and method for redirection of network management messages in a cluster of network devices

An apparatus for managing a cluster of network devices, comprising:

• means for selecting a plurality of network devices to form a cluster, each of the network devices being capable of interfacing at least two computer networks, and capable of receiving and processing a network management request message from a management console, each of the network devices being assigned with an intra-cluster identifier;
• means for selecting a first network device from among the plurality of the network devices to be a commander network device, the commander network device having a public IP address, each of the remaining network devices being a cluster member network device, each cluster member network device having a non-public network address;
• means for receiving at the commander network device a network management request message from the management console, wherein the network management request message includes a source address field containing an IP address of the management console, a destination address field containing the IP address of the commander network device, a request identification field containing an original request identifier uniquely identifying the network management request message, and an indication of an intra-cluster identifier;
• and
• means for forwarding the network management request message to the cluster member network device identified by the intra-cluster identifier using the non-pubic IP address of the cluster member network device.

A first network device for redirecting network management messages in a cluster of network devices, the cluster including a plurality of network devices, each of the network devices being capable of interfacing at least two computer networks, and capable of receiving and processing a network management request message from a management console, each of the network devices being assigned with an intra-cluster identifier, said first network device comprising:

• a public IP address, said first network device being selected from among the plurality of the network devices, each of the remaining network devices being a cluster member network device, each cluster member network device having a non-public network address;
• network management request reception logic adapted to receive a network management request message from a management console, wherein the network management request message includes a source address field containing an IP address of the management console, a destination address field containing the IP address of the first network device, a request identification field containing an original request identifier uniquely identifying the network management request message, and an indication of an intra-cluster identifier;
• and
• logic circuitry adapted to forward for the network management request message to the cluster member network device identified by the intra-cluster identifier using the non-pubic network address of the cluster member network device.

A cluster of network devices, comprising:

• a cluster management console capable of transmitting a network management request message;
• and
• at least two network devices capable of interfacing at least two computer networks, and capable of receiving and processing the network management request message, each of the network devices being assigned with a unique intra-cluster identifier, said network devices including:
• a commander network device having a public IP address and receiving the network management request, the network management request including a source address field containing an IP address of said management console, a destination address field containing the IP address of said commander network device, a request identification field containing an original request identifier uniquely identifying the network management request message, and an indication of an intra-cluster identifier;
• and
• at least one cluster member network device, each cluster member network device having a non-public network address, wherein said commander network device forwards the network management request to the cluster member network device identified by the intra-cluster identifier using the non-pubic network address of the cluster member network device.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing a cluster of network devices, the method comprising:

• selecting a plurality of network devices to form a cluster, each of the network devices being capable of interfacing at least two computer networks, and capable of receiving and processing a network management request message from a management console, each of the network devices being assigned with an intra-cluster identifier;
• selecting a first network device from among the plurality of the network devices to be a commander network device, the commander network device having a public IP address, each of the remaining network devices being a cluster member network device, each cluster member network device having a non-public network address;
• receiving at the commander network device a network management request message from the management console, wherein the network management request message includes a source address field containing an IP address of the management console, a destination address field containing the IP address of the commander network device, a request identification field containing an original request identifier uniquely identifying the network management request message, and an indication of an intra-cluster identifier;
• and
• forwarding the network management request message to the cluster member network device identified by the intra-cluster identifier using the non-pubic network address of the cluster member network device.