Abstract: The gateway devices in a VPN require configuration when the VPN is set up and to reflect changes. To process the configuration tasks efficiently, a method is described of configuring a virtual private network (VPN) within a shared network, in which a queue of configuration tasks is created for gateway devices belonging to the VPN. The configuration tasks include sending static network routing information to said gateway devices. The tasks are deployed by retrieving a next task from the queue, and interrogating the gateway device to which the task relates, to identifying any change in subnetworks connected thereto since the task was created. If no change is identified, the retrieved task is performed. If, on the other hand, a change is identified, update configuration tasks are created for all relevant gateway devices in the VPN.

Abstract: Ingress to egress network traffic ratios are determined for at least some devices within a network and server-like devices are selected on the basis of the determined ratios or a figure derived from the determined ratios. Selecting the server-like devices includes the step of selecting those devices having a value of ratio above a selected value and includes ranking the devices in order of their ratios and determining discontinuities in the values of the ratios of the ranked devices. The server-like devices are connected to a port of another device and the ingress to egress network traffic ratio is determined by determining the network traffic through the port using SNMP.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program for automated detection of server-like devices within a network, comprising the steps of determining the ingress to egress network traffic ratio for at least some of the devices and selecting the server-like devices on the basis of said determined ratios or a figure derived from said ratios.