System and method for configuring a network device

A method for configuring a network device located in a network formed of a plurality of network devices, the method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving an attribute field from a central repository, the attribute field being associated with the network device;
• retrieving a command-format template from a repository containing a plurality of command-format templates, wherein the command-format template indicates how to construct a device-specific command for the network device;
• populating the retrieved attribute field with attribute data;
• generating the device-specific command for the network device using the retrieved command-format template, wherein the generated device-specific command comprises at least an indication of the populated attribute field and is in the proper syntax and format for the network device;
• and
• providing the generated device-specific command to the network device.

A computer program product comprising:

• a header portion;
• and
• a payload portion, wherein the payload portion is formed by:
• receiving a network device identifier, the network device identifier corresponding to a network device;
• retrieving a command-format template associated with the received network device identifier, wherein the retrieved command-format template comprises at least an attribute field and a command-format instruction;
• populating the attribute field with attribute data;
• and
• generating a device-specific command according to the command-format instruction and the attribute data.

A computer program product comprising:

• a header portion;
• and
• a payload portion, wherein the payload portion is formed by:
• retrieving an attribute field from a central repository, the attribute field being associated with the network device;
• retrieving a command-format template from a repository containing a plurality of command-format templates, wherein the command-format template indicates how to construct a device-specific command for the network device;
• populating the retrieved attribute field with attribute data;
• generating the device-specific command for the network device using the retrieved command-format template, wherein the generated device-specific command comprises at least an indication of the populated attribute field and is in the proper syntax and format for the network device;
• and
• providing the generated device-specific command to the network device.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• a plurality of instructions stored on the computer readable medium, the plurality of instructions configured to cause a processor to:
• retrieve a command-format template from a repository containing a plurality of command-format templates, wherein the command-format template indicates how to construct a device-specific command for the network device and includes an attribute field;
• identify attribute data corresponding to the attribute field;
• generate the device-specific command for the network device using the retrieved command-format template and the identified attribute data;
• and
• provide the generated device-specific command to the network device.