Abstract: A computer network device (such as an access point, a switch or a router) that has multiple user interfaces is described. During operation, the computer network device may execute program instructions for the user interfaces and a shared messaging module, where a given user interface includes an agent corresponding to an application. When a message associated with the application is received via a user interface in the user interfaces, the corresponding agent in the user interface may extract a command or operation from the message. Then, the shared messaging module may translate the command or operation into a common format of the application. Moreover, the shared messaging module may provide (or route) the translated command or operation addressed to the application via a single communication path associated with the application and the agents for the application in the user interfaces.

Abstract: A computer network device (such as an access point, a switch or a router) that has multiple user interfaces is described. During operation, the computer network device may execute program instructions for the user interfaces and a shared messaging module, where a given user interface includes an agent corresponding to an application. When a message associated with the application is received via a user interface in the user interfaces, the corresponding agent in the user interface may extract a command or operation from the message. Then, the shared messaging module may translate the command or operation into a common format of the application. Moreover, the shared messaging module may provide (or route) the translated command or operation addressed to the application via a single communication path associated with the application and the agents for the application in the user interfaces.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing intelligent hardware assisted ICMP request processing in a network device are provided. According to one embodiment, the network device can receive an ICMP request packet and write the packet to a protocol buffer configured to queue packets for processing by a management CPU. When the ICMP request packet is ready to be processed by the management CPU, a hardware-based ICMP request handler of the network device can determine whether the ICMP request packet matches any entries in an ICMP table. If the ICMP request packet does match an entry in the ICMP table, the ICMP request handler can generate an ICMP response packet for replying to the ICMP request packet, without sending the ICMP request packet to the management CPU.