Network management across a NAT or firewall

Apparatus for communicating operational information for use in a network management system across a NAT or firewall connecting a first and a second network, the apparatus comprising:

• an information generator arranged to generate information indicating a detected operational condition of a device or equipment in the first network;
• an inserter arranged to insert the generated information in a keep alive message for maintaining a NAT bind or firewall pinhole in the NAT or firewall;
• and
• an output interface arranged to send the keep alive message across the NAT or firewall from the first network to an entity in the second network.

A method of communicating network management control commands across a NAT or firewall connecting a first and a second network, the method comprising the steps of:

• an entity in the second network receiving a network management control command for a device in the first network;
• the entity inserting the control command in a keep alive message for maintaining a NAT bind or firewall pinhole in the NAT or firewall;
• and
• the entity sending the keep alive message across the NAT or firewall to the device.

A hardware device for communicating network management control commands across a NAT or firewall connecting a first and a second network, the server comprising:

• an input interface arranged to receive a network management control command for a device in the first network;
• an inserter arranged to insert the control command in a keep alive message for maintaining a NAT bind or firewall pinhole in the NAT or firewall;
• and
• an output interface arranged to send the keep alive message across the NAT or firewall from the first network to the second network.

A method of communicating network management control commands across a NAT or firewall connecting a first and a second network, the method comprising the steps of:

• a device in the first network receiving a keep alive message from an entity in the second network, the keep alive message being for maintaining a NAT bind or firewall pinhole in the NAT or firewall;
• the device detecting that the received keep alive message comprises a network management control command for the device or for another device or equipment in the first network;
• and
• the device initiating execution of the network management control command in response to the detecting.

A server for communicating network management control commands across a NAT or firewall connecting a first and a second network, the server comprising:

• an input interface arranged to receive a keep alive message from an entity in the second network, the keep alive message being for maintaining a NAT bind or firewall pinhole in the NAT or firewall;
• a command detector arranged to detect if the received keep alive message comprises a network management control command for the device or for another device or equipment in the first network;
• and
• a command executor arranged to initiate execution of the network management control command in response to the detecting.