Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network access device is provided. Embedded within the access device are three distinct software layers. The first layer is a combined text-interface generator and Hypertext Transport Protocol client. The second layer is a combined Hypertext Transport Protocol server and Simple Network Management Protocol manager. The third layer is a Simple Network Management Protocol agent that has direct access to the configuration data of the access device. A user can manage the device through the embedded text-interface generator, by using an external HTTP client to communicate with the embedded HTTP server, or by using an external SNMP manager to communicate with the embedded SNMP agent. Techniques are disclosed for embedding SNMP information in messages passed between HTTP clients and servers.

Abstract: A method of establishing and maintaining a consistent configuration state of a first processor, running on a first version of operating software, and a second processor, running on a second version of operating software, is described. The method involves determining a current configuration state of the first processor, where the configuration state comprises a list of configuration commands. The method also involves performing a syntax check for each command in the current configuration, using the second processor and the second version of operating software, with the syntax check resulting in a pass or a fail result. For every command which results in a fail result, an entry is added to a mismatched configuration list (MCL). Embodiments of this invention can be utilized to keep the configurations consistent during an upgrade or downgrade of the operating software.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network access device is provided. Embedded within the access device are three distinct software layers. The first layer is a combined text-interface generator and Hypertext Transport Protocol client. The second layer is a combined Hypertext Transport Protocol server and Simple Network Management Protocol manager. The third layer is a Simple Network Management Protocol agent that has direct access to the configuration data of the access device. A user can manage the device through the embedded text-interface generator, by using an external HTTP client to communicate with the embedded HTTP server, or by using an external SNMP manager to communicate with the embedded SNMP agent. Techniques are disclosed for embedding SNMP information in messages passed between HTTP clients and servers.