Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for network security involves determining whether a device connected to a network port of a switch of a network is a native device or a non-native device for the network and in response to determining whether the device is the native device or the non-native device for the network, performing native device authentication or non-native device authentication.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of network device troubleshooting involves at a cloud server, assigning a troubleshooting task for troubleshooting a network device deployed at a customer site to an operator, at the cloud server, receiving data regarding an issue in the network device that is gathered by the operator at the customer site, and, at the cloud server, recommending a remedy action for the issue in the network device to the operator based on the data regarding the issue in the network device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for network device authentication involves using Remote Procedure Call (RPC) proxies of network devices of a network at a customer site, accessing identity certificates from Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) of the network devices, and using the RPC proxies, sequentially establishing Transport Layer Security (TLS) connections between the network devices to perform mutual authentication between the network devices based on the identity certificates.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of network device deployment involves receiving an installation job at a mobile application of an installer device, using the mobile application, scanning a code of a network device at a customer location to obtain network device information, and sending the network device information and location information of the network device at the customer location to a cloud server for location specific configuration of the network device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of communications involves at a head end (HE), receiving an authentication message from a wireless access point (AP) deployed at a customer site and at the HE, receiving an authentication response from an authentication server in response to the authentication message.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for network device troubleshooting involves at a cloud server, connecting to a neighboring network device of a faulty network device, where the neighboring network device and the faulty network device are located within a network deployed at a customer site, and where the neighboring network device communicates with the faulty network device according to a short-range wireless communications protocol, and at the cloud server, performing a network device troubleshooting operation on the faulty network device using the neighboring network device as a proxy.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of communications involves from a wireless sensor deployed at a customer site, connecting to a wireless access point (AP) deployed at the customer site and based on a private key stored in the wireless sensor, performing mutual authentication between the wireless sensor and an authentication server connected to the wireless AP.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for automatically building an internet protocol (IP) network involves at a first network element, obtaining a first IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, at the first network element, receiving a DHCP request from a second network element on an unnumbered interface of the first network element, and at the first network element, forwarding the DHCP request from the second network element to the DHCP server using the first IP address as a relay IP address.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for switch management involves connecting switches to form a switch ring, and within the switch ring, configuring each of the switches to participate equally in network communications.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of network diagnostic of a network deployed at a customer site involves at a cloud server connected to the network deployed at the customer site, collecting connectivity state information of the network deployed at the customer site and at the cloud server, performing a network diagnostic operation based on the connectivity state information.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for network segmentation of a network deployed at a customer site involves establishing a tunnel between a network device of the network deployed at the customer site and a network port of a switch of the network deployed at the customer site, when a wired device is plugged into the network port of the switch, transmitting network traffic between the wired device and the network device through the tunnel, facilitating a security operation regarding the wired device, and based on a result of the security operation, performing a network segmentation operation regarding the wired device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for network traffic management of a network deployed at a customer site involves establishing a wired traffic overlay tunnel between an access switch (AS) of the network deployed at the customer site and a head end (HE) of the network deployed at the customer site, establishing a wireless traffic overlay tunnel between a wireless access point (AP) of the network deployed at the customer site and the HE of the network deployed at the customer site, and conveying network traffic associated with a network device through the wired traffic overlay tunnel or the wireless traffic overlay tunnel based on whether the network device connects to the network through a wired link or connects to the network wirelessly.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of network device name management involves at a cloud server, determining a device name of a network device to be deployed at a customer site based on site survey result information of the customer site, at the cloud server, receiving network device information of the network device after the network device is deployed at the customer site, and at the cloud server, associating the device name of the network device with the network device information of the network device.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and a system to validate a change in a computer networking system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method to validate a change in a computer networking system includes identifying, at a network management system, at least one candidate device, where a candidate device has a network connection to a device that is a target of the change in the computer networking system, collecting, at the network management system, metrics related to the at least one candidate device, triggering, by the network management system, the change at a target device, and validating, at the network management system, the change in the computer networking system using the metrics of the at least one candidate device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of network deployment involves at a cloud server, receiving network device information of a network device when the network device is connected into a network, and at the cloud server, automatically performing network topology deviation detection for the network device based on a planned network design, the network device information, and port type information of a network port of the network device through which the network device is connected to the network.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of automatic network service initiation involves pairing a first network device of a network service block (NSB) with an installer device at a customer site, at the first network device of the NSB, obtaining first network service configuration information from the installer device, performing automatic network service initiation of the first network device of the NSB based on the first network service configuration information, at a second network device of the NSB that is connected with the first network device of the NSB, obtaining address information of a cloud server from the first network device of the NSB, at the second network device of the NSB, obtaining second network service configuration information from the cloud server based on the address information, and performing automatic network service initiation of the second network device of the NSB based on the second network service configuration information.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for managing a network deployed at a customer site involves at a cloud server connected to the network, receiving wireless signal strength information that are detected by wireless sensors of wireless access points (APs) of the network deployed at the customer site; and at the cloud server, automatically disabling service-level agreement (SLA) scanning and probing of a first wireless sensor of a first wireless AP of the wireless APs when the wireless signal strength information indicates that wireless signal strength of each neighbor wireless AP of the first wireless AP is below a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for automatic network service configuration involves using a packet manager of a switch in a network, receiving a packet containing dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request information from a network device in the network, and using the packet manager of the switch in the network, obtaining routing configuration and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) configuration of the network device in response to the packet containing the DHCP request information.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of communications involves at a head end (HE), receiving an authentication message from a wireless access point (AP) deployed at a customer site and at the HE, receiving an authentication response from an authentication server in response to the authentication message.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for network coverage management of a network deployed at a customer site involves at a cloud server connected to the network, receiving network coverage information of the network deployed at the customer site from wireless sensors deployed at the customer site and at the cloud server, automatically determining a service-level agreement (SLA) network coverage metric based on the network coverage information.