Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a network management program (80) is provided that manages the communication of data packets between an intranetwork (44) and an internetwork (40). An operator of a computer connected to the intranetwork (44) inputs vital information regarding users of computers connected to the intranetwork (44), mapping information regarding computers connected to the intranetwork (44), and policies to be applied against those users and computers, using a graphical user interface (GUI 70). The GUI (70) communicates the vital user information, mapping information and policies to a database (72) which stores and organizes the vital user information, mapping information and policies. A filter executive (76) optimizes the policies stored in the database (72) into a set of rules for each user and passes the rules to a filter engine (78).

Abstract: A naming service manager (46) is provided for resolving mapping information regarding a plurality of computers connected to a local area network (LAN 24) and their users. The naming service manager 46 collects mapping information, i.e., user login names, domain names, computer names and IP addresses, from a plurality of naming service agents 50 located on the LAN (24) and correlates the mapping information into a current computer-to-user assignment or "mapping" for each user of the LAN 24 and/or a current IP address-to-computer assignment or "mapping" for each computer connected to the LAN 24. The naming service manager (46) serves the correlated mapping information to a plurality of naming service applications (48) which process the correlated mapping information in accordance with their own needs and requirements.