Abstract: In a computer network, processing modules exchange data with a peripheral device using managers at the processing module having different management protocols and one or more different management protocol agents in a network interface at the managed device. Data descriptive of the characteristics of the managed device is generated in the network interface in response to a request from a processing module manager. The generated descriptive data is sent to the requesting manager by the agent having the same management protocol as the requesting manager and a managed device description file is formed from the generated descriptive data by the processing module manager to control the managed device.

Abstract: In a computer network, processing modules exchange data with a peripheral device using managers at the processing module having different management protocols and one or more different management protocol agents in a network interface at the managed device. Data descriptive of the characteristics of the managed device is generated in the network interface in response to a request from a processing module manager. The generated descriptive data is sent to the requesting manager by the agent having the same management protocol as the requesting manager and a managed device description file is formed from the generated descriptive data by the processing module manager to control the managed device.

Abstract: In a computer network, processing modules exchange data with a peripheral device using managers at the processing module having different management protocols and one or more different management protocol agents in a network interface at the managed device. Data descriptive of the characteristics of the managed device is generated in the network interface in response to a request from a processing module manager. The generated descriptive data is sent to the requesting manager by the agent having the same management protocol as the requesting manager and a managed device description file is formed from the generated descriptive data by the processing module manager to control the managed device.

Abstract: In a system in which processing modules are coupled to each other and to peripheral devices through a network and wherein the operation of the peripheral device is managed by processing module managers employing different management protocols, the peripheral device includes plural agents each with a different management protocol to exchange data with the managers having the same management protocol. The plural agents are coupled to the managed device by an instrumentation interface which operates to translate request messages from the manager into calling signals for the managed device controller, to receive status and attribute signals from the managed device controller and to send data messages on the status and attribute signals to the requesting agent having the same management protocol as the requesting processing module manager.