Method and device to process network data

A method for providing translation data to a network device, the method comprising:

• receiving at a remote translator at least one script from a network management device via network, the at least one script being to convert BNF strings to at least one other format;
• storing the at least one script at the remote translator;
• receiving at the remote translator a translation request from a network device, the translation request including at least one identifier, the translation request identifying a format into which network data on the network device is to be translated, the translation request further including at least one of an Internetwork Operating System (IOS) version provided on the network device or a hardware inventory of the network device, the network data comprising an input string which is a string output from an IOS;
• communicating the at least one script to the network device, to execute the at least one script on the network device to translate the input data string to a selected format.

A network device to process network data, the network device comprising:

• an identification module to identify when translation is required for the network data, the network data comprising an input string;
• a transmitter to communicate a translation request including at least one identifier to a remote translator, the translation request identifying a format into which the network data is to be translated, at least one of an Internetwork Operating System (IOS) version provided on the network device or a hardware inventory of the network device being operably communicated to the remote translator;
• a receiver to receive at least one script from the remote translator, the at least one script being identified using the at least one identifier, and the at least one script being to convert BNF strings to at least one other format;
• and
• a processor to execute the at least one script on the network device to translate the input string to a selected format.

A network device to process network data, the network device comprising:

• memory to store at least one data schema;
• a processor to:
• identify when the network device is unable to process the network data by use of the at least one data schema in order to route or switch the network data, the network data comprising an input string;
• communicate a translation request including at least one identifier to a remote translator, the translation request identifying a format into which the network data is to be translated, translation request further including at least one of an Internetwork Operating System (IOS) version provided on the network device or a hardware inventory of the network device to the remote translator;
• receive at least one script form the remote translator, the at least one script being identified using the at least one identifier, and the at least one script being to convert BNF strings to at least one other format;
• and
• executing the at least one script on the network device to translate the input string to a selected format.

A remote translator device to process network data, the remote translator device comprising:

• memory to store translation data;
• a processor to:
• receive at the translator device at least one script from a network management device via a network, the at least one script being to convert BNF strings to at least one other format, and store the at least one script in the memory;
• receive a translation request from a network device, the translation request including at least one identifier, the translation request identifying a format into which network data on the network device is to be translated, the network data comprising an input data string which is a string output from an IOS, the translation request further including at least one of an Internetwork Operating System (IOS) version provided on the network device or a hardware inventory of the network device;
• and
• communicate the at least one script to the network device, to execute the at least one script on the network device to translate the input string to a selected format.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

• receive network data at a network device, the network data comprising an input string, the network device being a router, a bridge, or a switch;
• communicate a translation request including at least one identifier to a remote translator when the network device is unable to process the network data, the translation request identifying a format into which the network data is to be translated, the translation request further including at least one of an Internetwork Operating System (IOS) version provided on the network device or a hardware inventory of the network device;
• receive at least one script from the remote translator, the at least one script being identified using the at least one identifier, and the at least one script being to convert BNF strings to at least one other format;
• and
• execute the at least one script on the network device to translate the input string to a selected format.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

• receive at least one script from a network management device via a network, the at least one script being to convert BNF strings to at least one other format;
• store in a memory the at least one script;
• receive a translation request from a network device, the translation request including at least one identifier, the translation request identifying a format into which network data on the network device is to be translated, the network data comprising an input data string which is a string output from an IOS, the translation request further including at least one of an Internetwork Operating System (IOS) version provided on the network device or a hardware inventory of the network device;
• communicate at least one script to the network device, to execute the at least one script on the network device to translate the input data string to a selected format.