Abstract: A network router management interface for use in configuring a router and obtaining operational information provides an application programming interface (API) that permits clients to formulate requests and receive replies according to an extensible markup language such as XML. The router may transform a login stream at a router command line interface (CLI) to implement the XML-based API. For example, the management server accepts input from the CLI and, upon receipt of a particular command from the client, transforms the CLI into a programmatic interface for exchange of XML-tagged requests and XML-tagged replies according to the XML-based API. Providing access to the XML-based API via the CLI login shell enables the use of standard login, security, authentication and authorization techniques.

Abstract: Processing of numeric addresses is facilitated by using a user interface, rather than system modules, to handle name resolution. Processing the addresses at the user interface level avoids delays and packet blocking problems associated with using system modules to perform the task. Relieving the system modules from the responsibility of processing numeric addresses allows them to process other requests, improving overall system efficiency.

Abstract: A network management system is described for assuring that a network device complies with a device-specific configuration policy. One example of the network management system contains one or more business rules that describe a business policy regarding a computer network in a network-independent form. In general, the business rules refer to high-level business requirements and not to device-specific configuration information. The network management system uses the business rule to determine which business policies are currently in force. In addition, the network management system contains one or more network design rules that describe relationship between the business policy and one or more device-specific configuration policies. The network management server uses the network design rules to determine whether to deploy a device-specific configuration policies.

Abstract: An interface permitting users (i) to create a group (also referred to as a “source”) containing configuration statements and (ii) to direct the inheritance of that group's statements in the rest of the configuration information (also referred to as a “target”). The same group can be applied to different sections of the configuration information. Different sections of one group's configuration statements can be inherited in different places in the configuration information. Supporting such configuration groups allows users to create smaller, more logically constructed configuration files, thereby making it easier to configure and maintain data forwarding device software. For example, users can group together statements that are repeated in many places in the configuration, such as when configuring interfaces, and thereby limit updates to just the group.

Abstract: A network router management interface for use in configuring a router and obtaining operational information provides an application programming interface (API) that permits clients to formulate requests and receive replies according to an extensible markup language such as XML. The router may transform a login stream at a router command line interface (CLI) to implement the XML-based API. For example, the management server accepts input from the CLI and, upon receipt of a particular command from the client, transforms the CLI into a programmatic interface for exchange of XML-tagged requests and XML-tagged replies according to the XML-based API. Providing access to the XML-based API via the CLI login shell enables the use of standard login, security, authentication and authorization techniques.

Abstract: A network router management interface offers two different presentation modes for viewing configuration and operational information encoded in extensible markup language output obtained from a network router. The network router management interface provides an application programming interface (API) that permits client applications to formulate configuration and operational requests according to an extensible markup language, such as XML. In response to the configuration and operational requests submitted by a client application, the router produces XML output. On a selective basis, the user may elect to view or archive the XML output in either a rendered or unrendered format. In this manner, clients such as network administrators, installation technicians and applications developers can view raw XML output on a selective basis for use in development and debugging.

Abstract: A network router management interface offers two different presentation modes for viewing configuration and operational information encoded in extensible markup language output obtained from a network router. The network router management interface provides an application programming interface (API) that permits client applications to formulate configuration and operational requests according to an extensible markup language, such as XML. In response to the configuration and operational requests submitted by a client application, the router produces XML output. On a selective basis, the user may elect to view or archive the XML output in either a rendered or unrendered format. In this manner, clients such as network administrators, installation technicians and applications developers can view raw XML output on a selective basis for use in development and debugging.

Abstract: A network router management interface for use in configuring a router and obtaining operational information provides an application programming interface (API) that permits clients to formulate requests and receive replies according to an extensible markup language such as XML. The router may transform a login stream at a router command line interface (CLI) to implement the XML-based API. For example, the management server accepts input from the CLI and, upon receipt of a particular command from the client, transforms the CLI into a programmatic interface for exchange of XML-tagged requests and XML-tagged replies according to the XML-based API. Providing access to the XML-based API via the CLI login shell enables the use of standard login, security, authentication and authorization techniques.