Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for network management that allows the configuration of IP links in one step, via a GUI form, even though the management protocols available at the two end links (routers) may differ. According to one embodiment, the method comprises gathering information from the user, validating this information, and then sending this information to the appropriate router(s). According to one embodiment, the method enables a user to specify various configurations when provisioning an IP link, for example, the type of IP link (Point-to-Point, Point-to-IP, or Point-to-Subnet), the numbering type (Numbered or Unnumbered), the application type (MPLS and/or IP Forwarding), and the sub-layer interfaces to be used (Packet Over Sonet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, GigEthernet, and others).

Abstract: The solution provides automated Command Line Interface (CLI) based configuration management of managed communications network entities. The automation eliminates manual CLI command entry and provides support for independently-developed multi-vendor equipment by using multiple CLI command vocabularies and CLI command dictionaries associated therewith. The solution reduces communications network entity management costs, downtime, and training time for analysts. The advantages are derived from a generic design of software applications and a manageable object type derivation hierarchy, reducing operational over heads by shielding thereof from updates to the CLI command grammar and/or vocabulary. The methods and apparatus presented herein remove the need for software applications and manageable object type derivation hierarchy to be hard-coded with knowledge of attribute dependencies of CLI commands for each vendor equipment/type supported.

Abstract: A method of interacting with a managed data network entity is provided. The method includes a sequence of steps. A change in the operational state of the managed data network entity is detected. A CLI dictionary entry is retrieved form a CLI dictionary associated with the data network entity. Based on the retrieved CLI dictionary entry, CLI commands are extracted therefrom to configure the managed data network entity to reflect the detected change in the operational state. A CLI command sequence is built from the extracted CLI commands. Each CLI command in the command sequence is sent to the managed data network entity for execution. CLI command responses are monitored. Based on a successful execution of CLI commands send, subsequent CLI commands in the CLI command sequence are sent for execution. The solution provides automated configuration management of data network entities from different vendors when SNMP is not a viable option.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for network management that allows the configuration of IP links in one step, via a GUI form, even though the management protocols available at the two end links (routers) may differ. According to one embodiment, the method comprises gathering information from the user, validating this information, and then sending this information to the appropriate router(s). According to one embodiment, the method enables a user to specify various configurations when provisioning an IP link, for example, the type of IP link (Point-to-Point, Point-to-IP, or Point-to-Subnet), the numbering type (Numbered or Unnumbered), the application type (MPLS and/or IP Forwarding), and the sub-layer interfaces to be used (Packet Over Sonet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, GigEthernet, and others).

Abstract: A method of interacting with a managed data network entity is provided. The method includes a sequence of steps. A change in the operational state of the managed data network entity is detected. A CLI dictionary entry is retrieved form a CLI dictionary associated with the data network entity. Based on the retrieved CLI dictionary entry, CLI commands are extracted therefrom to configure the managed data network entity to reflect the detected change in the operational state. A CLI command sequence is built from the extracted CLI commands. Each CLI command in the command sequence is sent to the managed data network entity for execution. CLI command responses are monitored. Based on a successful execution of CLI commands send, subsequent CLI commands in the CLI command sequence are sent for execution. The solution provides automated configuration management of data network entities from different vendors when SNMP is not a viable option.

Abstract: The solution provides automated Command Line Interface (CLI) based configuration management of managed communications network entities. The automation eliminates manual CLI command entry and provides support for independently-developed multi-vendor equipment by using multiple CLI command vocabularies and CLI command dictionaries associated therewith. The solution reduces communications network entity management costs, downtime, and training time for analysts. The advantages are derived from a generic design of software applications and a manageable object type derivation hierarchy, reducing operational over heads by shielding thereof from updates to the CLI command grammar and/or vocabulary. The methods and apparatus presented herein remove the need for software applications and manageable object type derivation hierarchy to be hard-coded with knowledge of attribute dependencies of CLI commands for each vendor equipment/type supported.