Abstract: A network system including at least one managed device participating in a network; and a first management server participating in the network. The management server includes a collection of notices indicative of at least one of a network event, the status of the network and the status of at least one of the devices participating in the network. The management server also includes operation logic that filters the collection of notices based on at least one criteria and that generates at least one operation indicative of a state change of the network including the at least one managed device. The operation logic further generates at least one job that references the at least one operation that invokes a helper process to facilitate execution of the at least one operation.

Abstract: A programmable operational system for managing devices participating in a network including a collection of notices, operation logic that filters the collection of notices based on at least one criteria and that generates at least one operation indicative of a state change of the network, and an automation engine that uses the at least one operation to perform at least one process in response one or more operations. The collection of notices, generated by a plurality of routines, are indicative of the state of hardware, software, and user actions that comprise the network including the state or status of one or more of the devices participating in the network. The operation logic may include an operation engine and one or more operational groups. Each operational group may further include one or more operations, each including a filter and configuration information. The operation logic may further generate at least one job and store the job into memory, where each job references an operation.

Abstract: An in-band/out-of-band alert delivery system for a computer system manager includes an alert log which maintains a record of alerts to be delivered and the status of those alerts, an alert manager for making a first attempt to deliver each alert, and a retry manager for making subsequent attempts to deliver alerts as becomes necessary and appropriate. The alert delivery system may also include a bus master interface manager for making in-band alert deliveries and a communications manager for making out-of-band alert deliveries. Telephone numbers are provided to the communications manager by an alert destination list. Out-of-band alert deliveries may be made via a modem, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter, or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of managing conditions in a network of network devices. A management system identifies conditions on the network by periodically polling the network devices or in response to a message from a network device. The management system maintains an event list that keeps track of the network conditions. The event list is automatically updated (entries added or removed) by the management system as conditions appear or become resolved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying devices on a network. A management device is configured to multicast a query message to request identification of network devices. Each of the network devices is configured to respond to the management device multicast message by transmitting a reply message containing identification information of the responding device. The management device includes a directory containing the identification information of the network devices. The network protocol can include the TCP/IP protocol, and the packets have a format complying with a bootstrap protocol.

Abstract: A management server for a network that facilitates and performs programmable event driven processing including event detection logic that receives and processes any of a plurality of event notifications transmitted via the network and that invokes at least one corresponding construction. Each event notification corresponds to the occurrence of management events and supports registration of listeners of each management event. The management server further includes executable components that each performs a basic function and a construction editor that enables access of the plurality of executable components. The construction editor facilitates defining a relationship between the executable components to generate constructions and performs registration of the constructions with the event detection logic as a listener of management events. Each construction, when invoked, executes its components according to the defined relationship to perform at least one desired management operation.

Abstract: A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.

Abstract: A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.

Abstract: An in-band/out-of-band alert delivery system for a computer system manager includes an alert log which maintains a record of alerts to be delivered and the status of those alerts, an alert manager for making a first atop to deliver each alert, and a retry manager for making subsequent attempt to deliver alerts as becomes necessary and appropriate. The alert delivery system may also include a bus master interface manager for making in-band alert deliveries and a communications manager for making out-of-band alert deliveries. Telephone numbers are provided to the communications manager by an alert destination list. Out-of-band alert deliveries nay be made via a modem, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter, or the like.

Abstract: A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.

Abstract: A method for use in upgrading a resource of a computer from an existing version of the resource to a later version of the resource. The method includes the steps of (a) digitally storing upgrade information which identifies the later version and describes features of the later version relative to one or more earlier versions of the resource, (b) digitally storing in the computer information identifying the existing version, by computer, automatically determining which of the earlier versions is the existing version, and (c) based on the results of the comparing step, automatically determining, or displaying to a user at least some of the upgrade information to aid the user in determining, whether to perform an upgrade. The upgrade information may be stored on a portable medium along with copies of the resources and the upgrade information may include instructions, in accordance with a predefined common syntax, for installing each of the resources.

Abstract: A protocol for communicating messages between a manager for a computer system and a remote facility asynchronously connected with the system manager and a method for exchanging messages using the protocol. The protocol determines whether the system manager is ready to exchange messages with the remote facility, determines whether the remote facility is ready to exchange messages with the system manager and exchanges messages between the system manager and the remote facility. To exchange messages, a command message which includes a first field for identifying a command transmitted by the command message and a second field for identifying the command message is transmitted. In response, a command reply message which includes a first field for identifying the command to which the command reply message is in response to, a second field for matching the command response message to the command message and a third field for transmitting a response to the command message is transmitted.

Abstract: A remote console emulation for a computer system manager operates by transferring video screen images from system memory to the remote console and by inserting keystrokes from the remote console into the system keyboard controller. This emulation constitutes a marked improvement over prior art emulations because it does not require software on the host system.

Abstract: A remote system reboot facility effects reboots by resetting the central processing unit within a local or host console and by effecting a bus reset. The remote system reboot facility is actuated by signals transmitted over an asynchronous line from a remote console to a computer system manager within the host. The computer system manager, and possibly also a keyboard controller associated with the computer system manager, generates or generate the reset signals. Effectively, cold booting is accomplished by the remote simulating the effect of power cycling on the host and warm booting is accomplished by emulation of "control"--"alt"--"del" keystrokes.

Abstract: A system for innately monitoring a computer system. All address and data signals transferred over the system bus. Certain ones of the address signals are selected as related to the operating conditions of the computer system. A data filter selects data signals which correspond to the selected address signals and the selected address and data signals related to operating conditions of the computer system are then stored, either in a register if the selected address and data signals are composed of dynamic information requiring frequent status updates or in a first-in, first-out memory, when the selected address and data signals are composed of less dynamic information.

Abstract: A system manager for a computer system. The system manager transparently monitors signals transferred between computer system components along a system bus and stores objects related to the monitored signals in an object space. Information related to operating conditions within the system can then be provided from the object space. Later, the object space can be updated and the updated object space used to provide updated information regarding the operating conditions of the system.

Abstract: A power supply for a computer system manager, wherein the power supply has its own secondary power source operable when input power to the system manager no longer meets preset threshold values. The power supply functions in one of a discrete number of power modes depending upon the amount of energy available from either the computer input power or the secondary power source. The power supply switches to one of the group of power modes to conserve secondary power when the computer input power is no longer available. The power modes are controlled by a power mode controller which selectively directs power to discrete components of the system manager as a power conservation technique. The power mode controller always energizes the random access memory of the system manager in order to maintain data integrity.

Abstract: A protocol for communicating messages between a manager for a computer system and a remote facility asynchronously connected with the system manager and a method for exchanging messages using the protocol. The protocol determines whether the system manager is ready to exchange messages with the remote facility, determines whether the remote facility is ready to exchange messages with the system manager and exchanges messages between the system manager and the remote facility. To exchange messages, a command message which includes a first field for identifying a command transmitted by the command message and a second field for identifying the command message is transmitted. In response, a command reply message which includes a first field for identifying the command to which the command reply message is in response to, a second field for matching the command response message to the command message and a third field for transmitting a response to the command message is transmitted.