US 7,606,888 B2Granted

Approach for managing network device configuration data

AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.

InventorsDavid Anthony Tanner, Jasvinder Singh Bhasin, Ping Wang

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Abstract

An approach is provided for managing network device configuration data by functional area. Functional areas supported by a network device are determined. A determination is also made whether a client and the network device support compatible configuration application program interfaces (APIs) for each functional area supported by the network device. User interface objects are generated and displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI). Each user interface object corresponds to one of the functional areas that is supported by the network device and for which the client and network device have compatible configuration APIs. A set of bulk editing functions allows changes to be readily made to multiple configuration data objects and to facilitate creating new configuration data objects.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A method for managing configuration data for a router, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

a client querying the router to determine a plurality of functional areas supported by the router;
the client receiving, from the router, data indicating the plurality of functional areas supported by the router;
the client generating and displaying a plurality of user interface objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each user interface object from the plurality of user interface objects corresponds to configuration data for one of the plurality of functional areas supported by the router;
wherein generating and displaying the plurality of user interface objects further comprises, based on the data indicating the plurality of functional areas supported by the router, determining which user interface objects to generate and display;
wherein determining which user interface objects to generate and display comprises identifying user interface objects (a) that correspond to the plurality of functional areas supported by the router;
and (b) for which the client and the router have compatible application program interfaces;
and
in response to detecting a user selection of a particular user interface object from the plurality of user interface objects, the client:
allowing the user to modify the configuration data corresponding to the particular user interface object to generate modified configuration data;
and
sending the modified configuration data to the router.

8 more elements

A method for managing network device configuration data, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

a client determining which of a plurality of functional areas are supported by a network device;
and
the client generating and displaying a plurality of user interface objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each user interface object from the plurality of user interface objects corresponds to configuration data for one of the plurality of functional areas that is supported by the network device;
wherein generating and displaying the plurality of user interface objects further comprises, based on which of the plurality of functional areas are determined to be supported by the network device, determining which user interface objects to generate and display;
and
wherein determining which user interface objects to generate and display comprises identifying user interface objects (a) that correspond to the plurality of functional areas supported by the network device;
and (b) for which the client and the network device have compatible application program interfaces.

4 more elements

A machine-readable storage medium for managing network device configuration data, the machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors at a client, cause the one or more processors at the client to perform the steps of:

determining which of a plurality of functional areas are supported by a network device;
and
generating and displaying a plurality of user interface objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each user interface object from the plurality of user interface objects corresponds to configuration data for one of the plurality of functional areas that is supported by the network device;
wherein generating and displaying the plurality of user interface objects further comprises, based on which of the plurality of functional areas are determined to be supported by the network device, determining which user interface objects to generate and display;
and
wherein determining which user interface objects to generate and display comprises identifying user interface objects (a) that correspond to the plurality of functional areas supported by the network device;
and (b) for which the client and the network device have compatible application program interfaces.

4 more elements

An apparatus for managing network device configuration data, the apparatus comprising one or more processors and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors at the client, cause the one or more processors at the client to perform the steps of:

determining which of a plurality of functional areas are supported by a network device;
and
generating and displaying a plurality of user interface objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each user interface object from the plurality of user interface objects corresponds to configuration data for one of the plurality of functional areas that is supported by the network device;
wherein generating and displaying the plurality of user interface objects further comprises, based on which of the plurality of functional areas are determined to be supported by the network device, determining which user interface objects to generate and display;
and
wherein determining which user interface objects to generate and display comprises identifying user interface objects (a) that correspond to the plurality of functional areas supported by the network device;
and (b) for which the client and the network device have compatible application program interfaces.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.