Method and system for managing network elements

A system, comprising:

• a processor of a computing system executing a management application for generating a management request complying with a first protocol, the management request seeking information about a network device;
• a processor executable agent executed by the computing system configured to encapsulate the management request using a second protocol;
• the network device configured to receive the encapsulated management request via a third protocol using a link used by the computing system to send input or output requests for reading and writing data to a storage device;
• wherein the network device de-encapsulates the management request to provide the management request complying with the first protocol to a management module of the network device that prepares a response to the management request complying with the first protocol;
• a processor executable service at the network device configured to encapsulate the response using the second protocol and the encapsulated response is transmitted to the computing system using the third protocol across the same link used by the computing system to send input or output requests for reading and writing data;
• and
• wherein the response complying with the first protocol is extracted from the encapsulated response and then provided to the management application;
• whereby the processor executable agent and the processor executable service alleviate the need for a second link for handling management requests.