Common command interface

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/803,783, filed Mar. 12, 2001, now abandoned entitled “VPI/VCI Availability Index”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/789,665 filed Feb. 21, 2001, entitled “Out-Of-Band Network Management Channels” still pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/777,468, filed Feb. 5, 2001, entitled “Signatures for Facilitating Hot Upgrades of Modular Software Components”, still pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/756,936, filed Jan. 9, 2001, entitled “Network Device Power Distribution Scheme”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/718,224, filed Nov. 21, 2000, entitled “Internal Network Device Dynamic Health Monitoring, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/711,054, filed Nov. 9, 2000, entitled “Network Device Identity Authentication”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/703,856, filed Nov. 1, 2000, entitled “Accessing Network Device Data Through User Profiles”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/687,191, filed Oct. 12, 2000 entitled “Utilizing Managed Object Proxies in Network Management Systems”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/669,364, filed Sep. 26, 2000 entitled “Distributed Statistical Data Retrieval in a Network Device”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/663,947, filed Sep. 18, 2000, entitled “Network Management System Including Custom Object Collections, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/656,123, filed Sep. 6, 2000, entitled “Network Management System Including Dynamic Bulletin Boards”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/653,700, filed Aug. 31, 2000, entitled “Network Management System Including SONET Path Configuration Wizard”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/637,800, filed Aug. 11, 2000, entitled “Processing Network Management Data In Accordance with Metadata Files”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/633,675, filed Aug. 7, 2000, entitled “Integrating Operations Support Services with Network Management Systems”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/625,101, filed Jul. 24, 2000, entitled “Model Driven Synchronization of Telecommunications Processes”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/616,477, filed Jul. 14, 2000, entitled “Upper Layer Network Device Including a Physical Layer Test Port”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/613,940, filed Jul. 11, 2000, entitled “Network Device Including Central and Distributed Switch Fabric Sub-Systems”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/596,055, filed Jun. 16, 2000, entitled “A Multi Layer Device in One Telco Rack”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/593,034, filed Jun. 13, 2000, entitled “A Network Device for Supporting Multiple Upper Layer Protocols Over a Single Network Connection”, which is a continuation and part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/574,440, filed May 20, 2000, entitled Vertical Fault Isolation in a Computer System” and U.S. Ser. No. 09/591,193, filed Jun. 9, 2000 entitled “A Network Device for Supporting Multiple Redundancy Schemes”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/588,398, filed Jun. 6, 2000, entitled “Time Synchronization Within a Distributed Processing System”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/574,341, filed May 20, 2000, entitled “Policy Based Provisioning of Network Device Resources” and U.S. Ser. No. 09/574,343, filed May 20, 2000, entitled “Functional Separation of Internal and External Controls in Network Devices”.

[0002] Initially, telecommunications and data communications equipment (hereinafter referred to as network devices) were administered/controlled through a Command Line Interface (CLI) that provided the user (i.e., administrator) with a textual interface through which the administrator could type in commands. CLI connections are typically made either directly with the device through a console or remotely through a telnet connection. With the growth of the Internet, web interfaces were also created to allow administrators to remotely control network devices through web pages. In general, web interfaces provide easier access with a more visually rich format through Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). For example, commands may be grouped and displayed according to particular categories and hyperlinks may be used to allow the administrator to jump between different web pages.

[0003] To accommodate the preferences of a large number of users and because both interfaces have advantages, often, both a CLI interface and a web interface are provided to a network device. Additional interfaces may also be provided. This flexibility, however, can be costly to maintain because although many of the commands provided on the interfaces are the same, the applications corresponding to the commands must include separate code for each interface. Thus, within, for example, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) application, a command such as “Show ATM Stats” is essentially multiple commands: a different one for each interface. While some functions may be shared, for the most part the code for each command/interface is separate. Thus, if a command needs to be changed or upgraded, each set of code must be modified. Similarly, to add a single, new command, the application writer must develop a set of code for each interface.

[0004] In addition, applications running on the network device must maintain an Application Programming Interface (API) for each external interface and must be knowledgeable about the source of each received command so that responses will be provided in the appropriate format, for example, HTML for a web interface or ASCII for a CLI. If an interface is modified or the interaction between the interface and the command within the application changes, the application will likely need to be changed. For certain software architectures, this may require a new release of the software running the network device, and the network device may need to be brought down while the software is re-installed. Thus, providing different types of interfaces increases flexibility but also increases the complexity of maintaining consistent commands across each interface and the complexity of responding to commands.

[0005] A common command interface (CCI) provides an interface abstraction allowing network device applications to maintain one set of code for each command regardless of which command interface (e.g., web, CLI, NMS, etc.) initiates the command. That is, the command code in each application may be shared across multiple command interfaces. The interface abstraction allows new applications including additional commands to be added to a network device and existing applications to be dynamically upgraded to include new and/or modified commands without having to modify the CCI. Thus, the network device may provide the increased flexibility of having multiple command interfaces while minimizing the complexity required to maintain commands across those interfaces. In addition, a community command interface may be used to connect the common command interfaces of multiple network devices.

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of managing a telecommunications network device including registering at least one command executable by an application with a command interface, receiving the command at the command interface from a user interface, forwarding the command to the application, and completing execution of the command.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of managing a telecommunications network device including registering at least one command executable by an application with a first command proxy, wherein the first command proxy is local to the application, registering the command through the first command proxy with a central command daemon, receiving the command at a user interface, forwarding the command to a second command proxy, wherein the second command proxy is local to the user interface, forwarding the command through the second command proxy to the central command daemon, forwarding the command through the central command daemon to the first command proxy, forwarding the command through the first command proxy to the application, and completing execution of the command.

[0008] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of managing a telecommunications network including a first network device and a second network device including executing a community command daemon on one of the first or second network devices, executing a first application on the first network device, executing a second application on the second network device, registering a first command executable by the first application with a first command interface on the first network device, registering a second command executable by the second application with a second command interface on the second network device and registering the first and second commands with the community command daemon.

[0009] In still another aspect, the present invention provides a telecommunications network device including an application capable of executing a command and a common command interface, wherein the application is capable of registering the command with the common command interface and the common command interface is capable of receiving the command from a user interface and forwarding the received command to the application.

[0010] In another aspect, the present invention provides a telecommunications network device including a common command interface and an application capable of executing a command, wherein the application includes a command application programming interface (API) for registering the command with the common command interface.

[0011] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a telecommunications network including a first network device, a second network device connected to the first network device, a community command daemon executing on the first or second network device, and a first common command interface executing on the first network device and capable of registering a first command with the community command daemon, and a second common command interface executing on the second network device and capable of registering a second command with the community command daemon.

Modular Software:

[0099] A modular software architecture solves some of the more common scenarios seen in existing architectures when software is upgraded or new features are deployed. Software modularity involves functionally dividing a software system into individual modules or processes, which are then designed and implemented independently. Inter-process communication (IPC) between the processes is carried out through message passing in accordance with well-defined application programming interfaces (APIs) generated from the same logical system model using the same code generation system. A database process is used to maintain a primary data repository within the computer system/network device, and APIs for the database process are also generated from the same logical system model and using the same code generation system ensuring that all the processes access the same data in the same way. Another database process is used to maintain a secondary data repository external to the computer system/network device; this database receives all of its data by exact database replication from the primary database.

[0100] A protected memory feature also helps enforce the separation of modules. Modules are compiled and linked as separate programs, and each program runs in its own protected memory space. In addition, each program is addressed with an abstract communication handle, or logical name. The logical name is location-independent; it can live on any card in the system. The logical name is resolved to a physical card/process during communication. If, for example, a backup process takes over for a failed primary process, it assumes ownership of the logical name and registers its name to allow other processes to re-resolve the logical name to the new physical card/process. Once complete, the processes continue to communicate with the same logical name, unaware of the fact that a switchover just occurred.

[0101] Like certain existing architectures, the modular software architecture dynamically loads applications as needed. Beyond prior architectures, however, the modular software architecture removes significant application dependent data from the kernel and minimizes the link between software and hardware. Instead, under the modular software architecture, the applications themselves gather necessary information (i.e., metadata and instance data) from a variety of sources, for example, text files, JAVA class files and database views, which may be provided at run time or through the logical system model.

[0102] Metadata facilitates customization of the execution behavior of software processes without modifying the operating system software image. A modular software architecture makes writing applications—especially distributed applications—more difficult, but metadata provides seamless extensibility allowing new software processes to be added and existing software processes to be upgraded or downgraded while the operating system is running (hot upgrades and downgrades). In one embodiment, the kernel includes operating system software, standard system services software and modular system services software. Even portions of the kernel may be hot upgraded under certain circumstances. Examples of metadata include, customization text files used by software device drivers; JAVA class files that are dynamically instantiated using reflection; registration and deregistration protocols that enable the addition and deletion of software services without system disruption; and database view definitions that provide many varied views of the logical system model. Each of these and other examples are described below.

[0103] The embodiment described below includes a network computer system with a loosely coupled distributed processing system. It should be understood, however, that the computer system could also be a central processing system or a combination of distributed and central processing and either loosely or tightly coupled. In addition, the computer system described below is a network switch for use in, for example, the Internet, wide area networks (WAN) or local area networks (LAN). It should be understood, however, that the modular software architecture can be implemented on any network device (including routers) or other types of computer systems and is not restricted to a network switch.

[0104] A distributed processing system is a collection of independent computers that appear to the user of the system as a single computer. Referring to FIG. 1, computer system 10 includes a centralized processor 12 with a control processor subsystem 14 that executes an instance of the kernel 20 including master control programs and server programs to actively control system operation by performing a major portion of the control functions (e.g., booting and system management) for the system. In addition, computer system 10 includes multiple line cards 16a–16n. Each line card includes a control processor subsystem 18a–18n, which runs an instance of the kernel 22a–22n including slave and client programs as well as line card specific software applications. Each control processor subsystem 14, 18a–18n operates in an autonomous fashion but the software presents computer system 10 to the user as a single computer.

[0105] Each control processor subsystem includes a processor integrated circuit (chip) 24, 26a–26n, for example, a Motorola 8260 or an Intel Pentium processor. The control processor subsystem also includes a memory subsystem 28, 30a–30n including a combination of non-volatile or persistent (e.g., PROM and flash memory) and volatile (e.g., SRAM and DRAM) memory components. Computer system 10 also includes an internal communication bus 32 connected to each processor 24, 26a–26n. In one embodiment, the communication bus is a switched Fast Ethernet providing 100 Mb of dedicated bandwidth to each processor allowing the distributed processors to exchange control information at high frequencies. A backup or redundant Ethernet switch may also be connected to each board such that if the primary Ethernet switch fails, the boards can fail-over to the backup Ethernet switch.

[0106] In this example, Ethernet 32 provides an out-of-band control path, meaning that control information passes over Ethernet 32 but the network data being switched by computer system 10 passes to and from external network connections 31a–31xx over a separate data path 34. External network control data is passed from the line cards to the central processor over Ethernet 32. This external network control data is also assigned a high priority when passed over the Ethernet to ensure that it is not dropped during periods of heavy traffic on the Ethernet.

[0107] In addition, another bus 33 is provided for low level system service operations, including, for example, the detection of newly installed (or removed) hardware, reset and interrupt control and real time clock (RTC) synchronization across the system. In one embodiment, this is an Inter-IC communications (I²C) bus.

[0108] Alternatively, the control and data may be passed over one common path (in-band).

Network/Element Management System (NMS):

[0109] Exponential network growth combined with continuously changing network requirements dictates a need for well thought out network management solutions that can grow and adapt quickly. The present invention provides a massively scalable, highly reliable comprehensive network management system, intended to scale up (and down) to meet varied customer needs.

[0110] Within a telecommunications network, element management systems (EMSs) are designed to configure and manage a particular type of network device (e.g., switch, router, hybrid switch-router), and network management systems (NMSs) are used to configure and manage multiple heterogeneous and/or homogeneous network devices. Hereinafter, the term “NMS” will be used for both element and network management systems unless otherwise noted. To configure a network device, the network administrator uses the NMS to provision services. For example, the administrator may connect a cable to a port of a network device and then use the NMS to enable the port. If the network device supports multiple protocols and services, then the administrator uses the NMS to provision these as well. To manage a network device, the NMS interprets data gathered by programs running on each network device relevant to network configuration, security, accounting, statistics, and fault logging and presents the interpretation of this data to the network administrator. The network administrator may use this data to, for example, determine when to add new hardware and/or services to the network device, to determine when new network devices should be added to the network, and to determine the cause of errors.

[0111] Preferably, NMS programs and programs executing on network devices perform in expected ways (i.e., synchronously) and use the same data in the same way. To avoid having to manually synchronize all integration interfaces between the various programs, a logical system model and associated code generation system are used to generate application programming interfaces (APIs)—that is integration interfaces/integration points—for programs running on the network device and programs running within the NMS. In addition, the APIs for the programs managing the data repositories (e.g., database programs) used by the network device and NMS programs are also generated from the same logical system model and associated code generation system to ensure that the programs use the data in the same way. Further, to ensure that the NMS and network device programs for managing and operating the network device use the same data, the programs, including the NMS programs, access a single data repository for configuration information, for example, a configuration database within the network device.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 2a, in the present invention, the NMS 60 includes one or more NMS client programs 850a–850n and one or more NMS server programs 851a–851n. The NMS client programs provide interfaces for network administrators. Through the NMS clients, the administrator may configure multiple network devices (e.g., computer system 10, FIG. 1; network device 540, FIGS. 35a–35b). The NMS clients communicate with the NMS servers to provide the NMS servers with configuration requirements from the administrators. In addition, the NMS servers provide the NMS clients with network device management information, which the clients then make available to the administrators. “Pushing” data from a server to multiple clients synchronizes the clients with minimal polling. Reduced polling means less management traffic on the network and more device CPU cycles available for other management tasks. Communication between the NMS client and server is done via Remote Method Invocation (RMI) over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a reliable protocol that ensures no data loss.

[0113] The NMS client and server relationship prevents the network administrator from directly accessing the network device. Since several network administrators may be managing the network, this mitigates errors that may result if two administrators attempt to configure the same network device at the same time.

[0114] The present invention also includes a configuration relational database 42 within each network device and an NMS relational database 61 external to the network device. The configuration database program may be executed by a centralized processor card or a processor on another card (e.g., 12, FIG. 1; 542, FIGS. 35a–35b) within the network device, and the NMS database program may be executed by a processor within a separate computer system (e.g., 62, FIG. 13b). The NMS server stores data directly in the configuration database via JAVA Database Connectivity (JDBC) over TCP, and using JDBC over TCP, the configuration database, through active queries, automatically replicates any changes to NMS database 61. By using JDBC and a relational database, the NMS server is able to leverage database transactions, database views, database journaling and database backup technologies that help provide unprecedented system availability. Relational database technology also scales well as it has matured over many years. An active query is a mechanism that enables a client to post a blocked SQL query for asynchronous notification by the database when data changes are made after the blocked SQL query was made.

[0115] Similarly, any configuration changes made by the network administrator directly through console interface 852 are made to the configuration database and, through active queries, automatically replicated to the NMS database. Maintaining a primary or master repository of data within each network device ensures that the NMS and network device are always synchronized with respect to the state of the configuration. Replicating changes made to the primary database within the network device to any secondary data repositories, for example, NMS database 61, ensures that all secondary data sources are quickly updated and remain in lockstep synchronization.

[0116] Instead of automatically replicating changes to the NMS database through active queries, only certain data, as configured by the network administrator, may be replicated. Similarly, instead of immediate replication, the network administrator may configure periodic replication. For example, data from the master embedded database (i.e., the configuration database) can be uploaded daily or hourly. In addition to the periodic, scheduled uploads, backup may be done anytime at the request of the network administrator.

[0117] Referring again to FIG. 2a, for increased availability, the network device may include a backup configuration database 42′ maintained by a separate, backup centralized processor card (e.g., 12, FIG. 1; 543, FIGS. 35a–35b). Any changes to configuration database 42 are replicated to backup configuration database 42′. If the primary centralized processor card experiences a failure or error, the backup centralized processor card may be switched over to become the primary processor and configuration database 42′ may be used to keep the network device operational. In addition, any changes to configuration database 42 may be written immediately to flash persistent memory 853 which may also be located on the primary centralized processor card or on another card, and similarly, any changes to backup configuration database 42′ may be written immediately to flash persistent memory 853′ which may also be located on the backup centralized processor card or another card. These flash-based configuration files protect against loss of data during power failures. In the unlikely event that all copies of the database within the network device are unusable, the data stored in the NMS database may be downloaded to the network device. Instead of having a single central processor card (e.g., 12, FIG. 1; 543, FIGS. 35a–35b), the external control functions and the internal control functions may be separated onto different cards as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/574,343, filed May 20, 2000 and entitled “Functional Separation of Internal and External Controls in Network Devices”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIGS. 41a and 41b, the chassis may support internal control (IC) processor cards 542a and 543a and external control (EC) processor cards 542b and 543b. In this embodiment, configuration database 42 may be maintained by a processor on internal control processor card 542a and configuration database 42′ may be maintained by a processor on internal control processor card 543a, and persistent memory 853 may be located on external control processor card 542b and persistent memory 853′ may be located on external control processor card 543b. This increases inter-card communication but also provides increased fault tolerance.

[0118] The file transfer protocol (FTP) may provide an efficient, reliable transport out of the network device for data intensive operations. Bulk data applications include accounting, historical statistics and logging. An FTP push (to reduce polling) may be used to send accounting, historical statistics and logging data to a data collector server 857, which may be a UNIX server. The data collector server may then generate network device and/or network status reports 858a–858n in, for example, American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format and store the data into a database or generate Automatic Message Accounting Format (AMA/BAF) outputs.

[0119] Selected data stored within NMS database 61 may also be replicated to one or more remote/central NMS databases 854a–854n, as described below. NMS servers may also access network device statistics and status information stored within the network device using SNMP (multiple versions) traps and standard Management Information Bases (MIBs and MIB-2). The NMS server augments SNMP traps by providing them over the conventional User Datagram Protocol (UDP) as well as over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which provides reliable traps. Each event is generated with a sequence number and logged by the data collector server in a system log database for in place context with system log data. These measures significantly improve the likelihood of responding to all events in a timely manner reducing the chance of service disruption.

[0120] The various NMS programs—clients, servers, NMS databases, data collector servers and remote NMS databases—are distributed programs and may be executed on the same computer or different computers. The computers may be within the same LAN or WAN or accessible through the Internet. Distribution and hierarchy are fundamental to making any software system scale to meet larger needs over time. Distribution reduces resource locality constraints and facilitates flexible deployment. Since day-to-day management is done in a distributed fashion, it makes sense that the management software should be distributed. Hierarchy provides natural boundaries of management responsibility and minimizes the number of entities that a management tool must be aware of. Both distribution and hierarchy are fundamental to any long-term management solution. The client server model allows for increased scalability as servers and clients may be added as the number of network managers increase and as the network grows.

[0121] The various NMS programs may be written in the JAVA programming language to enable the programs to run on both Windows/NT and UNIX platforms, such as Sun Solaris. In fact the code for both platforms may be the same allowing consistent graphical interfaces to be displayed to the network administrator. In addition to being native to JAVA, RMI is attractive as the RMI architecture includes (RMI) over Internet Inter-Orb Protocol (IIOP) which delivers Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) compliant distributed computing capabilities to JAVA. Like CORBA, RMI over IIOP uses IIOP as its communication protocol. IIOP eases legacy application and platform integration by allowing application components written in C++, SmallTalk, and other CORBA supported languages to communicate with components running on the JAVA platform. For “manage anywhere” purposes and web technology integration, the various NMS programs may also run within a web browser. In addition, the NMS programs may integrate with Hewlett Packard's (HP's) Network Node Manager (NNM™) to provide the convenience of a network map, event aggregation/filtering, and integration with other vendor's networking. From HP NNM a context-sensitive launch into an NMS server may be executed.

[0122] The NMS server also keeps track of important statistics including average client/server response times and response times to each network device. By looking at these statistics over time, it is possible for network administrators to determine when it is time to grow the management system by adding another server. In addition, each NMS server gathers the name, IP address and status of other NMS servers in the telecommunication network, determines the number of NMS clients and network devices to which it is connected, tracks its own operation time, the number of transactions it has handled since initialization, determines the “top talkers” (i.e., network devices associated with high numbers of transactions with the server), and the number of communications errors it has experienced. These statistics help the network administrator tune the NMS to provide better overall management service.

[0123] NMS database 61 may be remote or local with respect to the network device(s) that it is managing. For example, the NMS database may be maintained on a computer system outside the domain of the network device (i.e., remote) and communications between the network device and the computer system may occur over a wide area network (WAN) or the Internet. Preferably, the NMS database is maintained on a computer system within the same domain as the network device (i.e., local) and communications between the network device and the computer system may occur over a local area network (LAN). This reduces network management traffic over a WAN or the Internet.

[0124] Many telecommunications networks include domains in various geographical locations, and network managers often need to see data combined from these different domains to determine how the overall network is performing. To assist with the management of wide spread networks and still minimize the network management traffic sent over WANs and the Internet, each domain may include an NMS database 61 and particular/selected data from each NMS database may be replicated (or “rolled up”) to remote NMS databases 854a–854n that are in particular centralized locations. Referring to FIG. 2b, for example, a telecommunications network may include at least three LAN domains 855a–855c where each domain includes multiple network devices 540 and an NMS database 61. Domain 855a may be located in the Boston, Mass. area, domain 855b may be located in the Chicago, Ill. area and domain 855c may be located in the San Francisco, Calif. area. NMS servers 851a–851f may be located within each domain or in a separate domain. Similarly, one or more NMS clients may be coupled to each NMS server and located in the same domain as the NMS server or in different domains. In addition, one NMS client may be coupled with multiple NMS servers. For example, NMS servers 851a–851c and NMS clients 850a–850k may be located in domain 856a (e.g., Dallas, Tex.) while NMS servers 851d–851f and NMS clients 850m–850u may be located in domain 856b (e.g., New York, N.Y.). Each NMS server may be used to manage each domain 855a–855c or, preferably, one NMS server in each server domain 856a–856b is used to manage all of the network devices within one network device domain 855a–855c. A single domain may include network devices and NMS clients and servers.

[0125] Network administrators use the NMS clients to configure network devices in each of the domains through the NMS servers. The network devices replicate changes made to their internal configuration databases (42, FIG. 2a) to a local NMS database 61. In addition, the data collector server copies all logging data into NMS database 61 or a separate logging database (not shown). Each local NMS database may also replicate selected data to central NMS database(s) 854a–854n in accordance with instructions from the network administrator. Other programs may then access the central database to retrieve and combine data from multiple network devices in multiple domains and then present this data to the network administrator. Importantly, network management traffic over WANs and the Internet are minimized since all data is not copied to the central NMS database. For example, local logging data may only be stored in the local NMS databases 61 (or local logging database) and not replicated to one of the central NMS database.

NMS Out-Of-Band Management Channels:

[0126] Typically communication between an NMS client and server starts with the client connecting to the server through an application programming interface (API). For security purposes, the client generally provides a password and other user credentials, and the server provides the client with a handle. The client uses the handle in all subsequent asynchronous API calls to the server, and in each call, the client provides the server with a call back address. The server uses the call back address to respond to the client after executing the client request included in the call. Synchronous interfaces may also be provided by the server for operations that require the client to wait for a server response before proceeding. In addition, clients may register for traps with a server such that network devices connected to that server may asynchronously notify the server and, hence, clients of problems.

[0127] For each client connected to a server, the server allocates certain resources such as the handle assigned to each client and memory space. In addition, the server maintains a queue of client requests. Server threads are used to execute the queued client requests, and the server may allocate one thread per device or the server may maintain a pool of worker threads across all clients or for each client.

[0128] Since client requests are executed in the order in which they are queued, one disadvantage is that a client request to respond to a high priority situation will have to sit in the queue until all previous requests are executed. Moreover synchronous calls into the server often suspend the client until the server responds. During this period of time, the situation to be addressed by the client request may cause network errors or a complete network failure. As an example, if the control room containing the network device is on fire, the administrator would send a client request to cause the server to shut down the network device. If the request must wait in a queue, the network device may send out erroneous messages and/or cause the network to fail as it suffers damage in the fire before the server executes the client request to shut down the device.

[0129] Similarly, if an NMS client receives multiple notifications from one or more NMS servers, the NMS client may respond to the notifications in the order in which they were received. If a high priority notification is sent from a server to a client, for example, a notification that a network device has gone down, and the client is busy, network errors or a complete network failure may occur before the client can respond to the notification.

[0130] In addition, when an NMS client sends a request to an NMS server, the client typically waits for a timer to expire before acknowledging that the NMS server is experiencing difficulty and cannot respond. Moreover, once the timer expires, the NMS client has no information as to what problems the NMS server was experiencing. For example, the server may have been overloaded, the server may have crashed or the client may have lost connectivity. If an NMS server has gone down or the client has lost connectivity, during the time that the client is waiting for its timer to expire, the client will not be receiving server notifications and, thus, cannot monitor the five functional areas of network management as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), specifically, Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS). As a result, the network administrator through the NMS client will not be monitoring their network.

[0131] Ultimately, delays in responding to high priority client requests and server notifications and disconnects between NMS clients and NMS servers affect management availability and possibly network availability.

[0132] To avoid these problems, one or more out-of-band management channels are provided between each NMS client and each NMS server. High priority client requests and server notifications may be sent over the out-of-band management channels to ensure fast response times. In addition, periodic roll calls between NMS clients and NMS servers may be executed over the out-of-band management channels to allow for quick discovery of any disconnects and reclaiming associated client resources. Further, periodic roll calls may be conducted between the NMS servers and the network devices to which they are connected, and if a server discovers that a network device has gone down, it may send a high priority notification to appropriate NMS clients over the out-of-band management channels to insure a fast response by the clients.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 2c, as in typical NMS client/server connections, when an NMS client, for example, NMS client 850a, connects through an API 1261 with an NMS server, for example, NMS server 851a, the NMS client provides a password 1260 and other user credentials 1262, and if accepted, the NMS server sends the NMS client a handle 1264 to use for all future calls to the NMS server. For additional security, the password may be encrypted. In accordance with the invention, in addition to providing a password and standard user credentials during the initial connection, the NMS client further registers a high priority API 1265 with the NMS server by providing a high priority call back address 1266. The server may then use the high priority call back address to establish a separate connection 1268 through the high priority API (i.e., client out-of-band management channel) and send a high priority server notification to the NMS client. For example, the NMS server may send an emergency notification indicating that a network device has crashed. The connection may be established through RMI or another connection-oriented protocol such as RPC or CORBA. The client out-of-band management channel, therefore, provides an immediate communication channel between the server and client for high priority server notifications.

[0134] Referring to FIG. 2d, each NMS client (e.g., 850a) may register a high priority channel via API 1274 with each NMS server (e.g., 851a, 851b, 851e) with which it connects. Referring to FIG. 2e, instead, each NMS client (e.g., 850a) may register a different high priority channel via APIs 1276a–1276c with each NMS server (e.g., 851a, 851b, 851e) with which it connects or, referring to FIG. 2f, if a limited number of high priority APIs 1278a–1278b are available to the NMS client (e.g., 850a), the client may share them among the NMS servers (e.g., 851a, 851b, 851e) with which it connects. Moreover, each client may register multiple channels via multiple APIs with each server and each channel may have a different level of priority.

[0135] Referring to FIG. 2g, in addition to sending high priority server notifications over the client out-of-band management channels established between a server and one or more clients, the servers may periodically send roll call messages 1280a–1280e to each of the clients to which they are connected over the client out-of-band management channels to determine if the connections between each server and the clients are still valid. If a client does not respond 1282a–1282e, then a server knows the connection has been lost, and the server may take back all the resources it allocated to that client. Optionally the server may also notify one or more other clients of the lost connection.

[0136] Each server may also send periodic roll call messages to the network devices to which they are connected. Again, if a network device does not respond, the server knows the connection has been lost or the network device has gone down. In either case, the server sends a high priority message to the clients that are managing that device over one or more client out-of-band management channels.

[0137] Referring again to FIG. 2c, in addition to having the client register a high priority API, the server may also register a high priority API by sending the client a high priority call back address 1270 when the server sends the client the handle. The client may then use the high priority call back address 1270 to establish a separate connection 1272 through the high priority API (i.e., server out-of-band management channel) and send high priority (e.g., emergency) client requests to the NMS server. For example, if a control room is on fire or a network device is causing network errors, the NMS client may send an emergency client request to shut down a particular network device over RMI connection 1272 using high priority call back address 1270.

[0138] Different administrators may assign high priority to different situations. For example, an important customer may demand immediate resources to handle an important video conference. If given a high priority, the NMS client could then send the client request to set up the resources needed to handle the video conference through the server out-of-band management channel.

[0139] Referring to FIG. 2h, each NMS server (e.g., 851a) may register the same high priority API 1284 with each NMS client (e.g., 850a, 850d, 850g) with which it connects. Referring to FIG. 2i, instead, each NMS server (e.g., 851a) may register a different high priority API 1286a–1286c with each NMS client (e.g., 850a, 850d, 850g) with which it connects or, referring to FIG. 2j, if a limited number of high priority APIs 1288a–1288b are available to the NMS server (e.g., 851a), the server may share them among the NMS clients (e.g., 850a, 850d, 850g) with which it connects.

[0140] In addition to sending high priority server notifications over the server out-of-band management channels established between each server and one or more clients, the clients may periodically send roll call messages to each of the servers to which they are connected over the server out-of-band management channels to determine if the connections between each client and the servers are still valid. If a server does not respond, then a client knows the connection has been lost, and the client can immediately notify the system administrator. The administrator may then cause the client to connect with another server that can also connect with the same network devices with which the previous server had been connected. During this reconnection to a new server, the NMS client may continue to run.

[0141] Sending high priority messages over out-of-band management channels (client and/or server) maximizes client/server management availability and, hence, network availability. Periodic roll calls between distributed points of communication—clients to servers, servers to clients and servers to devices—ensure fast discovery of lost connections, and sending notifications of lost connections over the out-of-band management channels ensures fast responses to lost connections—all of which maximizes overall management availability.

Logical System Model:

[0142] As previously mentioned, to avoid having to manually synchronize all integration interfaces between the various programs, the APIs for both NMS and network device programs are generated using a code generation system from the same logical system model. In addition, the APIs for the data repository software used by the programs are also generated from the same logical system model to ensure that the programs use the data in the same way. Each model within the logical system model contains metadata defining an object/entity, attributes for the object and the object's relationships with other objects. Upgrading/modifying an object is, therefore, much simpler than in current systems, since the relationship between objects, including both hardware and software, and attributes required for each object are clearly defined in one location. When changes are made, the logical system model clearly shows what other programs are affected and, therefore, may also need to be changed. Modeling the hardware and software provides a clean separation of function and form and enables sophisticated dynamic software modularity.

[0143] A code generation system uses the attributes and metadata within each model to generate the APIs for each program and ensure lockstep synchronization. The logical model and code generation system may also be used to create test code to test the network device programs and NMS programs. Use of the logical model and code generation system saves development, test and integration time and ensures that all relationships between programs are in lockstep synchronization. In addition, use of the logical model and code generation system facilitates hardware portability, seamless extensibility and unprecedented availability and modularity.

[0144] Referring to FIGS. 3a–3b, a logical system model 280 is created using the object modeling notation and a model generation tool, for example, Rational Rose 2000 Modeler Edition available from Rational Software Corporation in Lexington, Mass. A managed device 282 represents the top level system connected to models representing both hardware 284 and data objects used by software applications 286. Hardware model 284 includes models representing specific pieces of hardware, for example, chassis 288, shelf 290, slot 292 and printed circuit board 294. The logical model is capable of showing containment, that is, typically, there are many shelves per chassis (1:N), many slots per shelf (1:N) and one board per slot (1:1). Shelf 290 is a parent class generalizing multiple shelf models, including various functional shelves 296a–296n as well as one or more system shelves, for example, for fans 298 and power 300. Board 294 is also a parent class having multiple board models, including various functional boards without external physical ports 302a–302n (e.g., central processor 12, FIG. 1; 542–543, FIG. 35a; and switch fabric cards, FIGS. 35a and 35b) and various functional boards 304a–304n (e.g., cross connection cards 562a–562b and forwarding cards 546a–546e, FIG. 35a) that connect to boards 306 with external physical ports (e.g., universal port cards 554a–554h, FIG. 35a). Hardware model 284 also includes an external physical port model 308. Port model 308 is coupled to one or more specific port models, for example, synchronous optical network (SONET) protocol port 310, and a physical service endpoint model 312.

[0145] Hardware model 284 includes models for all hardware that may be available on computer system 10 (FIG. 1)/network device 540 (FIGS. 35a–35b) whether a particular computer system/network device uses all the available hardware or not. The model defines the metadata for the system whereas the presence of hardware in an actual network device is represented in instance data. All shelves and slots may not be populated. In addition, there may be multiple chassis. It should be understood that SONET port 310 is an example of one type of port that may be supported by computer system 10. A model is created for each type of port available on computer system 10, including, for example, Ethernet, Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) or Digital Signal, Level 3 (DS3). The NMS (described below) uses the hardware model and instance data to display a graphical picture of computer system 10/network device 540 to a user.

[0146] Service endpoint model 314 spans the software and hardware models within logical model 280. It is a parent class including a physical service endpoint model 312 and a logical service endpoint model 316. Since the links between the software model and hardware model are minimal, either may be changed (e.g., upgraded or modified) and easily integrated with the other. In addition, multiple models (e.g., 280) may be created for many different types of managed devices (e.g., 282). The software model may be the same or similar for each different type of managed device even if the hardware—and hardware models—corresponding to the different managed devices are very different. Similarly, the hardware model may be the same or similar for different managed devices but the software models may be different for each. The different software models may reflect different customer needs.

[0147] Software model 286 includes models of data objects used by each of the software processes (e.g., applications, device drivers, system services) available on computer system 10/network device 540. All applications and device drivers may not be used in each computer system/network device. As one example, ATM model 318 is shown. It should be understood that software model 286 may also include models for other applications, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) applications, Frame Relay and Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) applications. Models of other processes (e.g., device drivers and system services) are not shown for convenience.

[0148] For each process, models of configurable objects managed by those processes are also created. For example, models of ATM configurable objects are coupled to ATM model 318, including models for a soft permanent virtual path (SPVP) 320, a soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) 321, a switch address 322, a cross-connection 323, a permanent virtual path (PVP) cross-connection 324, a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) cross-connection 325, a virtual ATM interface 326, a virtual path link 327, a virtual circuit link 328, logging 329, an ILMI reference 330, PNNI 331, a traffic descriptor 332, an ATM interface 333 and logical service endpoint 316. As described above, logical service endpoint model 316 is coupled to service endpoint model 314. It is also coupled to ATM interface model 333.

[0149] The logical model is layered on the physical computer system to add a layer of abstraction between the physical system and the software applications. Adding or removing known (i.e., not new) hardware from the computer system will not require changes to the logical model or the software applications. However, changes to the physical system, for example, adding a new type of board, will require changes to the logical model. In addition, the logical model is modified when new or upgraded processes are created. Changes to an object model within the logical model may require changes to other object models within the logical model. It is possible for the logical model to simultaneously support multiple versions of the same software processes (e.g., upgraded and older). In essence, the logical model insulates software applications from changes to the hardware models and vice-versa.

[0150] To further decouple software processes from the logical model—as well as the physical system—another layer of abstraction is added in the form of version-stamped views. A view is a logical slice of the logical model and defines a particular set of data within the logical model to which an associated process has access. Version stamped views allow multiple versions of the same process to be supported by the same logical model since, each version-stamped view limits the data that a corresponding process “views” or has access to, to the data relevant to the version of that process. Similarly, views allow multiple different processes to use the same logical model.

Code Generation System:

[0151] Referring to FIG. 3c, logical model 280 is used as input to a code generation system 336. The code generation system creates a view identification (id) and an application programming interface (API) 338 for each process that requires configuration data. For example, a view id and an API may be created for each ATM application 339a–339n, each SONET application 340a–340n, each MPLS application 342a–342n and each IP application 341a–341n. In addition, a view id and API is also created for each device driver process, for example, device drivers 343a–343n, and for modular system services (MSS) 345a–345n (described below), for example, a Master Control Driver (MCD), a System Resiliency Manager (SRM), and a Software Management System (SMS). The code generation system provides data consistency across processes, centralized tuning and an abstraction of embedded configuration and NMS databases (described below) ensuring that changes to their database schema (i.e., configuration tables and relationships) do not affect existing processes.

[0152] The code generation system also creates a data definition language (DDL) file 344 including structured query language (SQL) commands used to construct the database schema, that is, the various tables and views within a configuration database 346, and a DDL file 348 including SQL commands used to construct various tables and SQL views within a network management (NMS) database 350 (described below). This is also referred to as converting the logical model into a database schema and various SQL views look at particular portions of that schema within the database. If the same database software is used for both the configuration and NMS databases, then one DDL file may be used for both.

[0153] The databases do not have to be generated from a logical model for views to work. Instead, database files can be supplied directly without having to generate them using the code generation system. Similarly, instead of using a logical model as an input to the code generation system, a MIB “model” may be used. For example, relationships between various MIBs and MIB objects may be written (i.e., coded) and then this “model” may be used as input to the code generation system.

[0154] Referring to FIG. 3d, applications 352a–352n (e.g., SONET driver 863, SONET application 860, MSS 866, etc.) each have an associated view 354a–354n of configuration database 42. The views may be similar allowing each application to view similar data within configuration database 42. For example, each application may be ATM version 1.0 and each view may be ATM view version 1.3. Instead, the applications and views may be different versions. For example, application 352a may be ATM version 1.0 and view 354a may be ATM view version 1.3 while application 352b is ATM version 1.7 and view 354b is ATM view version 1.5. A later version, for example, ATM version 1.7, of the same application may represent an upgrade of that application and its corresponding view allows the upgraded application access only to data relevant to the upgraded version and not data relevant to the older version. If the upgraded version of the application uses the same configuration data as an older version, then the view version may be the same for both applications. In addition, application 352n may represent a completely different type of application, for example, MPLS, and view 354n allows it to have access to data relevant to MPLS and not ATM or any other application. Consequently, through the use of database views, different versions of the same software applications and different types of software applications may be executed on computer system 10 simultaneously.

[0155] Views also allow the logical model and physical system to be changed, evolved and grown to support new applications and hardware without having to change existing applications. In addition, software applications may be upgraded and downgraded independent of each other and without having to re-boot computer system 10/network device 540. For example, after computer system 10 is shipped to a customer, changes may be made to hardware or software. For instance, a new version of an application, for example, ATM version 2.0, may be created or new hardware may be released requiring a new or upgraded device driver process. To make this a new process and/or hardware available to the user of computer system 10, first the software image including the new process must be re-built.

[0156] Referring again to FIG. 3c, logical model 280 may be changed (280′) to include models representing the new software and/or hardware. Code generation system 336 then uses new logical model 280′ to re-generate view ids and APIs 338′ for each application, including, for example, ATM version two 360 and device driver 362, and DDL files 344′ and 348′. The new application(s) and/or device driver(s) processes then bind to the new view ids and APIs. A copy of the new application(s) and/or device driver process as well as the new DDL files and any new hardware are sent to the user of computer system 10. The user can then download the new software and plug the new hardware into computer system 10. The upgrade process is described in more detail below. Similarly, if models are upgraded/modified to reflect upgrades/modifications to software or hardware, then the new logical model is provided to the code generation system which re-generates view ids and APIs for each process/program/application. Again, the new applications are linked with the new view ids and APIs and the new applications and/or hardware are provided to the user.

[0157] Again referring to FIG. 3c, the code generation system also creates NMS JAVA interfaces 347 and persistent layer metadata 349. The JAVA interfaces are JAVA class files including get and put methods corresponding to attributes within the logical model, and as described below, the NMS servers use the NMS JAVA interfaces to construct models of each particular network device to which they are connected. Also described below, the NMS servers use the persistent layer metadata as well as run time configuration data to generate SQL configuration commands for use by the configuration database.

[0158] Prior to shipping computer system 10 to customers, a software build process is initiated to establish the software architecture and processes. The code generation system is the first part of this process. Following the execution of the code generation system, each process when pulled into the build process links the associated view id and API into its image. For example, referring to FIG. 3e, to build a SONET application, source files, for example, a main application file 859a, a performance monitoring file 859b and an alarm monitoring file 859c, written in, for example, the C programming language (.c) are compiled into object code files (.o) 859a′, 859b′ and 859c′. Alternatively, the source files may be written in other programming languages, for example, JAVA (.java) or C++ (.cpp). The object files are then linked along with view ids and APIs from the code generation system corresponding to the SONET application, for example, SONET API 340a. The SONET API may be a library (.a) of many object files. Linking these files generates the SONET Application executable file (.exe) 860.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 3f, each of the executable files for use by the network device/computer system are then provided to a kit builder 861. For example, several SONET executable files (e.g., 860, 863), ATM executable files (e.g., 864a–864n), MPLS executable files (e.g., 865a–865n), MSS executable files 866a–866n, MKI executable 873a–873n files for each board and a DDL configuration database executable file 867 may be provided to kit builder 861. The OSE operating system expects executable load modules to be in a format referred to as Executable & Linkable Format (.elf). Alternatively, the DDL configuration database executable file may be executed and some data placed in the database prior to supplying the DDL file to the kit builder. The kit builder creates a computer system/network device installation kit 862 that is shipped to the customer with the computer system/network device or, later, alone after modifications and upgrades are made. To save space, the kit builder may compress each of the files included in the Installation Kit (i.e., .exe.gz, .elf.gz), and when the files are later loaded in the network device, they are de-compressed. Referring to FIG. 3g, similarly, each of the executable files for the NMS is provided separately to the kit builder. For example, a DDL NMS database executable file 868, an NMS JAVA interfaces executable file 869, a persistent layer metadata executable file 870, an NMS server 885 and an NMS client 886 may be provided to kit builder 861. The kit builder creates an NMS installation kit 871 that is shipped to the customer for installation on a separate computer 62 (FIG. 13b). In addition, new versions of the NMS installation kit may be sent to customers later after upgrades/modifications are made. When installing the NMS, the customer/network administrator may choose to distribute the various NMS processes as described above. Alternatively, one or more of the NMS programs, for example, the NMS JAVA interfaces and Persistent layer metadata executable files may be part of the network device installation kit and later passed from the network device to the NMS server, or part of both the network device installation kit and the NMS installation kit.

[0160] When the computer system is powered-up for the first time, as described below, configuration database software uses DDL file 867 to create a configuration database 42 with the necessary configuration tables and active queries. The NMS database software uses DDL file 868 to create NMS database 61 with corresponding configuration tables. Memory and storage space within network devices is typically very limited. The configuration database software is robust and takes a considerable amount of these limited resources but provides many advantages as described below.

[0161] As described above, logical model 280 (FIG. 3c) may be provided as an input to code generation system 336 in order to generate database views and APIs for NMS programs and network device programs to synchronize the integration interfaces between those programs. Where a telecommunications network includes multiple similar network devices, the same installation kit may be used to install software on each network device to provide synchronization across the network. Typically, however, networks include multiple different network devices as well as multiple similar network devices. A logical model may be created for each different type of network device and a different installation kit may be implemented on each different type of network device.

[0162] Instead, of providing a logical model (e.g., 280, FIG. 3b) that represents a single network device, a logical model may be provided that represents multiple different managed devices—that is, multiple network devices and the relationship between the network devices. Alternatively, multiple logical models 280 and 887a–887n—representing multiple network devices—may be provided, including relationships with other logical models. In either case, providing multiple logical models or one logical model representing multiple network devices and their relationships as an input(s) to the code generation system allows for synchronization of NMS programs and network device programs (e.g., 901a–901n) across an entire network. The code generation system in combination with one or more logical models provides a powerful tool for synchronizing distributed telecommunication network applications.

[0163] The logical model or models may also be used for simulation of a network device and/or a network of many network devices, which may be useful for scalability testing.

[0164] In addition to providing view ids and APIs, the code generation system may also provide code used to push data directly into a third party code API. For example, where an API of a third party program expects particular data, the code generation system may provide this data by retrieving the data from the central repository and calling the third-party programs API. In this situation, the code generation system is performing as a “data pump”.

Configuration:

[0165] Once the network device programs have been installed on network device 540 (FIGS. 35a–35b), and the NMS programs have been installed on one or more computers (e.g., 62), the network administrator may configure the network device/provision services within the network device. Hereinafter, the term “configure” includes “provisioning services”. Referring to FIG. 4a, the NMS client displays a graphical user interface (GUI) 895 to the administrator including a navigation tree/menu 898. Selecting a branch of the navigation tree causes the NMS client to display information corresponding to that branch. For example, selecting Devices branch 898a within the tree causes the NMS client to display a list 898b of IP addresses and/or domain name server (DNS) names corresponding to network devices that may be managed by the administrator. The list corresponds to a profile associated with the administrator's user name and password. Profiles are described in detail below.

[0166] If the administrator's profile includes the appropriate authority, then the administrator may add new devices to list 898b. To add a new device, the administrator selects Devices branch 898a and clicks the right mouse button to cause a pop-up menu 898c (FIG. 4b) to appear. The administrator then selects the Add Devices option to cause a dialog box 898d (FIG. 4c) to appear. The administrator may then type in an IP address (e.g., 192.168.9.203) or a DNS name into field 898e and select an Add button 898f to add the device to Device list window 898g (FIG. 4d). The administrator may then add one or more other devices in a similar manner. The administrator may also delete a device from the Device list window by selecting the device and then selecting a Delete button 898h, or the administrator may cancel out of the dialog box without adding any new devices by selecting Cancel button 898i. When finished, the administrator may select an OK button 898j to add any new devices in Device list 898g to navigation tree 898a (FIG. 4e).

[0167] To configure a network device, the administrator begins by selecting (step 874, FIG. 3h) a particular network device to configure, for example, the network device corresponding to IP address 192.168.9.202 (FIG. 4f). The NMS client then informs (step 875, FIG. 3h) an NMS server of the particular network device to be configured. Since many NMS clients may connect to the same NMS server, the NMS server first checks its local cache to determine if it is already managing the network device for another NMS client. If so, the NMS server sends data from the cache to the NMS client. If not, the NMS server using JDBC connects to the network device and reads the data/object structure for the physical aspects of the device from the configuration database within the network device into its local cache and uses that information with the JAVA interfaces to construct (step 876) a model of the network device. The server provides (step 877) this information to the client, which displays (step 878) a graphical representation 896a (FIG. 4f) of the network device to the administrator indicating the hardware and services available in the selected network device and the current configuration and currently provisioned services. Configuration changes received by an NMS server—from either an NMS client or directly from the network device's configuration database when changes are made through the network device's CLI interface—are sent by the NMS server to any other NMS clients connected to that server and managing the same network device. This provides scalability, since the device is not burdened with multiple clients subscribing for traps, and ensures each NMS client provides an accurate view of the network device.

[0168] Referring to FIGS. 4f–4l, graphical representation 896a (i.e., device view, device mimic) in graphic window 896b may include many views of the network device. For example, device mimic 896a is shown in FIG. 4f displaying a front view of the components in the upper portion of network device 540 (FIGS. 35a–35b). The administrator may use scroll bar 926a to scroll down and view lower portions of the front of the network device as shown in FIG. 4g. The administrator may also use image scale button 926b to change the size of graphic 896a. For example, the administrator may shrink the network device image to allow more of the device image to be visible in graphic window 896b, as shown in FIG. 4h. This view corresponds to the block diagram of network device 540 shown in FIG. 41a. For instance, upper fan tray 634 and middle fan trays 630 and 632 are shown. In addition, forwarding cards (e.g., 546a and 548e), cross-connection cards (e.g., 562a, 562b, 564b, 566a, 568b), and external processor control cards (e.g., 542b and 543b) are shown.

[0169] GUI 895 also includes several splitter bars 895a–895c (FIG. 4f) to allow the administrator to change the size of the various panels (e.g., 896b, 897 and 898). In addition, GUI 895 includes a status bar 895d. The status bar may include various fields such as a server field 895e, a Mode field 895f, a Profile field 895g and an active field 895h. The server filed may provide the IP address or DNS name of the NMS server, and the profile field may provide the username that the administrator logged in under. The active field will provide updated status, for example, ready, or ask the administrator to take particular steps. The mode field will indicate an on-line mode (i.e., typical operation) or an off-line mode (described in detail below).

[0170] Device mimic 896a may also provide one or more visual indications as to whether a card is present in each slot or whether a slot is empty. For example, in one embodiment, the forwarding cards (e.g., 546a and 548e) in the upper portion of the network device are displayed in a dark color to indicate the cards are present while the lower slots (e.g., 928a and 929e) are shown in a lighter color to indicate that the slots are empty. Other visual indications may also be used. For example, a graphical representation of the actual card faceplate may be added to device mimic 896a when a card is present and a blank faceplate may be added when the slot is empty. Moreover, this may be done for any of the cards that may or may not be present in a working network device. For example, the upper cross-connection cards may be displayed in a dark color to indicate they are present while the lower cross-connection card slots may be displayed in a lighter color to indicate the slots are empty.

[0171] In addition, a back view and other views of the network device may also be shown. For example, the administrator may use a mouse to move a cursor into an empty portion of graphic window 896b and click the right mouse button to cause a pop-up menu to appear listing the various views available for the network device. In one embodiment, the only other view is a back view and pop-up menu 927 is displayed. Alternatively, short cuts may be set up. For example, double clicking the left mouse button may automatically cause graphic 896a to display the back view of the network device, and another double click may cause graphic 896a to again display the front view. As another alternative, a pull down menu may be provided to allow an administrator to select between various views.

[0172] Device mimic 896a is shown in FIG. 4i displaying a back view of the components in the upper portion of network device 540 (FIGS. 35a–35b). Again the administrator may use scroll bar 926a and/or image scale button 926b to view lower portions (FIGS. 4j and 4k) of the back of the network device or more of the network device by shrinking the graphic (FIG. 4l). These views correspond to the block diagram of network device 540 shown in FIG. 41b. For example, upper fan tray 628 (FIG. 4i), management interface (MI) card 621 (FIG. 4i) and lower fan tray 626 (FIG. 4k) are shown. In addition, universal port cards (e.g., 556h, 554a and 560h, FIG. 41), switch fabric cards (e.g., 570a and 570b) and internal processor control cards (e.g., 542a and 543a) are also shown. Again, graphic 896a may use a visual indicator to clearly show whether a card is present in a slot or whether the slot is empty. In this example, the visual indicator for universal port cards is the display of the ports available on each card. For example, universal port card 554a is present as indicated by the graphical representation of ports (e.g., 930, FIG. 4l) available on that card, while universal port card 558a (FIG. 41b) is not present as indicated by a blank slot 931.

[0173] Since the GUI has limited screen real estate and the network device may be large and loaded with many different types of components (e.g., modules, ports, fan trays, power connections), in addition to the device mimic views described above, GUI 895 may also provide a system view menu option 954 (FIG. 4m). If an administrator selects this option, a separate pull away window 955 (FIG. 4n) is displayed for the administrator including both a front view 955a and a back view 955b of the network device corresponding to the front and back views displayed by the device mimic. The administrator may keep this separate pull away window up and visible while provisioning services through the GUI. Moreover, the GUI remains linked with the pull away window such that if the administrator selects a component in the pull away window, the device mimic displays that portion of the device and highlights that component. Similarly, if the administrator selects a component within the device mimic, the pull away window also highlights the selected component. Thus, the pull away window may further help the administrator navigate in the device mimic.

[0174] Device mimic 896a may also indicate the status of components. For example, ports and/or cards may be green for normal operation, red if there are errors and yellow if there are warnings. In one embodiment, a port may be colored, for example, light green or gray if it is available but not yet configured and colored dark green after being configured. Other colors or graphical textures may also be used show visible status. To further ease a network administrator's tasks, the GUI may present pop-up windows or tool tips containing information about each card and/or port when the administrator moves the cursor over the card or port. For example, when the administrator moves the cursor over universal port card 556f (FIG. 4o), pop-up window 932a may be displayed to tell the administrator that the card is a 16 Port OC3 Universal Port Module in Shelf 11/Slot 3. Similarly, if the administrator moves the cursor over universal port card 556e (FIG. 4p), pop-up window 932b appears indicating that the card is a 16 Port OC12 Universal Port Module in Shelf 11/Slot 4, and if the cursor is moved over universal port cards 556d (FIG. 4q) or 556c (FIG. 4r), then pop-up windows 932c and 932d appear indicating the cards are 4 Port OC48 Universal Port Module in Shelf 11/Slot 5 and 8 Port OC12 Universal Port Module in Shelf 11/Slot 6, respectively. If the administrator moves the cursor over a port, for example, port 933 (FIG. 4s), then pop-up window 932e appears indicating the port is an OC12 in Shelf 11/Slot 4/Port 1.

[0175] The views are used to provide management context. The GUI may also include a configuration/service status window 897 for displaying current configuration and service provisioning details. Again, these details are provided to the NMS client by the NMS server, which reads the data from the network device's configuration database. The status window may include many tabs/folders for displaying various data about the network device configuration. In one embodiment, the status window includes a System tab 934 (FIG. 4s), which is displayed when the server first accesses the network device. This tab provides system level data such as the system name 934a, System Description 934b, System Contact 934c, System Location 934d, System IP Address 934e (or DNS name), System Up Time 934f, System identification (ID) 934g and System Services 934h. Modifications to data displayed in 934a–934e may be made by the administrator and committed by selecting the Apply button 935. The NMS client then passes this information to the NMS server, which then writes a copy of the data in the network device's configuration database and broadcasts the changes to any other NMS clients managing the same network device. The administrator may also reset the network device by selecting the Reset System button 935b and then refresh the System tab data by selecting the Refresh button 935c.

[0176] The status window may also include a Modules tab 936 (FIG. 4t), which includes an inventory of the available modules in the network device and various details about those modules such as where they are located (e.g., shelf and slot, back or front). The inventory may also include a description of the type of module, version number, manufacturing date, part number, etc. In addition, the inventory may include run time data such as the operational status and temperature. The NMS server may continuously supply the NMS client(s) with the run time data by reading the network device configuration database or NMS database. Device mimic 896a is linked with status window 897, such that selecting a module in device mimic 896a causes the Module tab to highlight a line in the inventory corresponding to that card. For example, if an administrator selects universal port card 556d, device mimic 896a highlights that module and the Module tab highlights a line 937 in the inventory corresponding to the card in Shelf 11/Slot 5. Similarly, if the administrator selects a line in the Module tab inventory, device mimic 896a highlights the corresponding module. Double clicking the left mouse button on a selected module may cause a dialog box to appear and the administrator may modify particular parameters such as an enable/disable parameter.

[0177] The status window may also include a Ports tab 938 (FIG. 4u), which displays an inventory of the available ports in the network device and various details about each port such as where they are located (shelf, slot and port; back or front). The inventory may also include a description of the port name, type and speed as well as run time data such as administrative status, operational status and link status. Again, device mimic 896a is linked with status window 897 such that selecting a port within device mimic 896a causes the Port tab to highlight a line in the inventory corresponding to that port. For example, if the administrator selects port 939a (port 1, slot 4) on card 556e, then the Port tab highlights a line 939b within the inventory corresponding to that port. Similarly, if the administrator selects a line from the inventory in the Port tab, device mimic 896a highlights the corresponding port. Again double clicking the left mouse button on a selected port may cause a dialog box to appear and the administrator may modify particular parameters such as an enable/disable parameter.

[0178] Another tab in the status window may be a SONET Interface tab 940 (FIG. 4v), which includes an inventory of SONET ports in the network device and various details about each port such as where they are located (shelf and slot; back or front). Medium type (e.g., SONET, Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)) may also be displayed as well as circuit ID, Line Type, Line Coding, Loopback, Laser Status, Path Count and other details. Again, device mimic 896a is lined with status window 897 such that selecting a port within device mimic 896a causes the SONET Interface tab to highlight a line in the inventory corresponding to that SONET port. For example, if the administrator selects port 941a (port 2, slot 5) on card 556d, then the SONET Interface tab highlights line 941b corresponding to that port. Similarly, if the administrator selects a line from the inventory in the SONET Interface tab, device mimic 896a highlights the corresponding port. Again, double clicking the left mouse button on a selected SONET interface may cause a dialog box to appear and the administrator may modify particular parameters such as an enable/disable parameter.

[0179] The System tab data as well as the Modules tab, Ports tab and SONET Interface tab data all represent physical aspects of the network device. The remaining tabs, including SONET Paths tab 942 (FIG. 4w), ATM Interfaces tab 946, Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 and Virtual Connections tab 948, display configuration details and, thus, display no data until the device is configured. In addition, these configuration tabs 942, 946–948 are dialog chained together with wizard-like properties to guide an administrator through configuration details. Through these tabs within the GUI (i.e., graphical context), therefore, the administrator then makes (step 879, FIG. 3h) configuration selections. For example, to configure a SONET path, the administrator may begin by selecting a port (e.g., 939a on card 556e, FIG. 5a) within device mimic 896a and clicking the right mouse button (i.e., context sensitive) to cause a pop-up menu 943 to be displayed listing available port configuration options. The administrator may then select the “Configure SONET Paths” option, which causes the GUI to display a SONET Path configuration wizard 944 (FIG. 5b).

[0180] The SONET Path configuration wizard guides the administrator through the task of setting up a SONET Path by presenting the administrator with valid configuration options and inserting default parameter values. As a result, the process of configuring SONET paths is simplified, and required administrator expertise is reduced since the administrator does not need to know or remember to provide each parameter value. In addition, the SONET Path wizard allows the administrator to configure multiple SONET Paths simultaneously, thereby eliminating the repetition of similar configuration process steps required by current network management systems and reducing the time required to configure many SONET Paths. Moreover, the wizard validates configuration requests from the administrator to minimize the potential for mis-configuration.

[0181] In one embodiment, the SONET Path wizard displays SONET line data 944a (e.g., slot 4, port 1, OC12) and three configuration choices 944b, 944c and 944d. The first two configuration choices provide “short cuts” to typical configurations. If the administrator selects the first configuration option 944b (FIG. 5c), the SONET Path wizard creates a single concatenated path. In the current example, the selected port is an OC12, and the single concatenated path is an STS-12c. The wizard assigns and graphically displays the position 944e and width 944f of the STS-12c path and also displays a SONET Path table 944g including an inventory having an entry for the SONET STS-12c path and each of the default parameters assigned to that SONET path. The position of each SONET path is chosen such that each path lines up on a valid boundary based on SONET protocol constraints.

[0182] If the administrator selects the second configuration option 944c (FIGS. 5d and 5e), the SONET Path wizard creates one or more valid SONET paths that fully utilize the port capacity. In the current example, where the selected port is an OC12 port, in one embodiment, the second configuration option 944c allows the administrator to quickly create four STS-3c paths (FIG. 5d) or one concatenated STS-12c (FIG. 5e). The user may select the number of paths in window 944s or the type of path in window 944t. Windows 944s and 944t are linked and, thus, always present the user with consistent options. For example, if the administrator selects 4 paths in window 944s, window 944t displays STS-3c and if the administrator selects STS-12c in window 944t, window 944s displays 1 path. Again, the SONET path wizard graphically displays the position 944d and width 944f of the SONET paths created and also displays them in SONET Path table 944g along with the default parameters assigned to each SONET path.

[0183] The third configuration option allows the administrator to custom configure a port thereby providing the administrator with more flexibility. If the administrator selects the third configuration option 944d (FIG. 5f), the SONET Path wizard displays a function window 944h. The function window provides a list of available SONET Path types 944i and also displays an allocated SONET path window 944j. In this example, only the STS-3c path type is listed in the available SONET Path types window, and if the administrator wishes to configure a single STS-12c path, then they need to select the first or second configuration option 944b or 944c. To configure one or more SONET STS-3c paths, the administrator selects the STS-3c SONET path type and then selects ADD button 944k. The SONET Path wizard adds STS-3c path 944l to the allocated SONET paths window and then displays the position 944e and width 944f of the SONET path and updates Path table 944g with a listing of that SONET path including the assigned parameters. In this example, two STS-3c paths 944l and 944m are configured in this way on the selected port. The administrator may select an allocated path (e.g., 944m or 944n) in window 944j and then select the remove button 944n to delete a configured path, or the administrator may select the clear button 944o to delete each of the configured paths from window 944j. Moreover, the administrator may select an allocated path and use up arrow 944u and down arrow 944v to change the position 944e.

[0184] In any of the SONET Path windows (FIGS. 5c–5f), the administrator may select a path in the SONET path table and double click on the left mouse button or select a modify button 944p to cause the GUI to display a dialog box through which the administrator may modify the default parameters assigned to each path. The wizard validates each parameter change and prevents invalid values from being entered. The administrator may also select a cancel button 944q to exit the SONET path wizard without accepting any of the configured or modified paths. If, instead, the administrator wants to exit the SONET Path wizard and accept the configured SONET Paths, the administrator selects an OK button 944r.

[0185] Once the administrator selects the OK button, the NMS client validates the parameters as far as possible within the client's view of the device and passes (step 880, FIG. 3h) this run time/instance configuration data, including all configured SONET path parameters, to the NMS server. The NMS server validates (step 881) the data received based on its view of the world and if not correct, sends an error message to the NMS client, which notifies the administrator. Thus, the NMS server re-validates all data from the NMS clients to ensure that it is consistent with changes made by any other NMS client or by an administrator using the network device's CLI. After a successful NMS server validation, the Persistent layer software within the server uses this data to generate (step 882) SQL commands, which the server sends to the configuration database software executing on the network device. This is referred to as “persisting” the configuration change. Receipt of the SQL commands triggers a validation of the data within the network device as well. If the validation is not successful, then the network device sends an error message to the NMS server, and the NMS server sends an error message to the NMS client, which displays the error to the administrator. If the validation is successful, the configuration database software then executes (step 883) the SQL commands to fill in or change the appropriate configuration tables.

[0186] As just described, the configuration process provides a tiered approach to validation of configuration data. The NMS client validates configuration data received from an administrator according to its view of the network device. Since multiple clients may manage the same network device through the same NMS server, the NMS server re-validates received configuration data. Similarly, because the network device may be managed simultaneously by multiple NMS servers, the network device itself re-validates received configuration data. This tiered validation provides reliability and scalability to the NMS.

[0187] The configuration database software then sends (step 884) active query notices, described in more detail below, to appropriate applications executing within the network device to complete the administrator's configuration request (step 885). Active query notices may also be used to update the NMS database with the changes made to the configuration database. In addition, a Configuration Synchronization process running in the network device may also be notified through active queries when any configuration changes are made or, perhaps, only when certain configuration changes are made. As previously mentioned, the network device may be connected to multiple NMS Servers. To maintain synchronization, the Configuration Synchronization program broadcasts configuration changes to each attached NMS server. This may be accomplished by issuing reliable (i.e., over TCP) SNMP configuration change traps to each NMS server. Configuration change traps received by the NMS servers are then multicast/broadcast to all attached NMS clients. Thus, all NMS servers, NMS clients, and databases (both internal and external to the network device) remain synchronized.

[0188] Even a simple configuration request from a network administrator may require several changes to one or more configuration database tables. Under certain circumstances, all the changes may not be able to be completed. For example, the connection between the computer system executing the NMS and the network device may go down or the NMS or the network device may crash in the middle of configuring the network device. Current network management systems make configuration changes in a central data repository and pass these changes to network devices using SNMP “sets”. Since changes made through SNMP are committed immediately (i.e., written to the data repository), an uncompleted configuration (series of related “sets”) will leave the network device in a partially configured state (e.g., “dangling” partial configuration records) that is different from the configuration state in the central data repository being used by the NMS. This may cause errors or a network device and/or network failure. To avoid this situation, the configuration database executes groups of SQL commands representing one configuration change as a relational database transaction, such that none of the changes are committed to the configuration database until all commands are successfully executed. The configuration database then notifies the server as to the success or failure of the configuration change and the server notifies the client. If the server receives a communication failure notification, then the server re-sends the SQL commands to re-start the configuration changes. Upon the receipt of any other type of failure, the client notifies the user.

[0189] If the administrator now selects the same port 939a (FIG. 5a), clicks the right mouse button and selects the Configure SONET Paths option in pop-up menu 943, the SONET path wizard may be displayed as shown in FIG. 5f, or alternatively, a SONET Path Configuration dialog box 945 (FIG. 5g) may be displayed. The SONET Path dialog box is similar to the SONET Path wizard except that it does not include the three configuration options 944b–944d. Similar to the SONET Path wizard, dialog box 945 displays SONET line data 945a (e.g., slot 4, port 1, OC12), SONET Path table 945g and SONET path position 945e and width 945f. The administrator may modify parameters of a configured SONET path by selecting the path in the Path table and double clicking the right mouse button or selecting a Modify button 945p. The administrator may also add a SONET path by selecting an Add button 945k, which causes the SONET path dialog box to display another SONET path in the path table. Again, the administrator may modify the parameters by selecting the new SONET path and then the Modify button. The administrator may also delete a SONET path by selecting it within the SONET Path table and then selecting a Delete button 945m. The administrator may cancel any changes made by selecting a Cancel button 945n, or the administrator may commit any changes made by selecting an OK button 945r.

[0190] The SONET path wizard provides the administrator with available and valid configuration options. The options are consistent with constraints imposed by the SONET protocol and the network device itself. The options may be further limited by other constraints, for example, customer subscription limitations. That is, ports or modules may be associated with particular customers and the SONET Path wizard may present the administrator with configuration options that match services to which the customer is entitled and no more. For example, a particular customer may have only purchased service on two STS-3c SONET paths on an OC12 SONET port, and the SONET Path wizard may prevent the administrator from configuring more than these two STS-3c SONET paths for that customer.

[0191] By providing default values for SONET Path parameters and providing only configuration options that meet various protocol, network device and other constraints, the process of configuring SONET paths is made simpler and more efficient, the necessary expertise required to configure SONET paths is reduced and the potential for mis-configurations is reduced. In addition, as the administrator provides input to the SONET path configuration wizard, the wizard validates the input and presents the administrator with configuration options consistent with both the original constraints and the administrator's configuration choices. This further reduces the necessary expertise required to configure SONET paths and further minimizes the potential for mis-configurations. Moreover, short cuts presented to the administrator may increase the speed and efficiency of configuring SONET paths.

[0192] If the administrator now selects SONET path tab 942 (FIG. 5h), GUI 895 displays an inventory including the two STS-3c paths (942a and 942b) just configured. The SONET path tab includes information about each SONET path, such as SONET line information (e.g., shelf, slot and port), Path Position, Path Width, Ingress Connection and Egress Connection. It may also include Path Type and Service (e.g., Terminated ATM, Switched SONET), and a Path Name. The SONET Path configuration wizard may automatically assign the Path Name based on the shelf, slot and port. Parameters, such as Path Name, Path Width, Path Number and Path Type, may be changed by selecting a SONET path from the inventory and double clicking on that SONET path or selecting a Modify button (not shown) causing a dialog box to appear. The administrator may type in different parameter values or select from a pull-down list of available options within the dialog box.

[0193] Similarly, if the administrator selects an ATM Interfaces button 942c or directly selects the ATM Interfaces tab 946 (FIG. 5i), GUI 895 displays an inventory including two ATM interfaces (946a and 946b) corresponding to the two STS-3c paths just configured. The SONET Path configuration wizard automatically assigns an ATM interface name based again on the shelf, slot and port. The SONET Path wizard also automatically assigns a minimum VPI bits and maximum VPI bits and a minimum and maximum VCI bits. Again, the ATM Interfaces tab lists information such as the shelf, port and slot as well as the Path name and location of the card. The ATM Interfaces tab also lists the Virtual ATM (V-ATM) interfaces (IF) count. Since no virtual ATM interfaces have yet been configured, this value is zero and Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 and Virtual Connections tab 948 do not yet list any information. The administrator may return to the SONET Paths tab to configure additional SONET paths by selecting a Back button 946h or by directly selecting the SONET Paths tab.

[0194] A Referring to FIG. 5j, instead of selecting a port (e.g., 939a, FIG. 5a) and then selecting a Configure SONET Paths option from a pop-up menu, the administrator may instead select a path from the inventory of paths in SONET Interfaces tab 940 and then select a Paths button 940a to cause SONET Path wizard 944 (FIG. 5k) to be displayed. For example, the administrator may select line 949a corresponding to port 941a on card 556d and then select Paths button 940a to cause SONET Path wizard 944 to be displayed. As shown, SONET line data 944a indicates that this is port two in slot 5 and is an OC48 type port. Again, the administrator is presented with three configuration options 944b, 944c and 944d.

[0195] If the administrator selects option 944b (FIG. 51), then the SONET Path Wizard creates a single STS-48c concatenated SONET Path and inventories the new path in Path table 944g and displays the path position 944e and path width 944f. If the administrator instead selects option 944c (FIGS. 5m–5o), the SONET Path wizard creates one or more valid SONET paths that fully utilize the port capacity. For example, as pull down window 944s (FIG. 5n) shows one single concatenated STS-48c path (FIG. 5n) may be created, four STS-12c paths (FIG. 5m), or sixteen STS-3c paths (FIG. So) may be created.

[0196] Instead, the administrator may select option 944d (FIG. 5p) to custom configure the port. Again, function window 944h is displayed including a list of Available SONET Path types 944i and a list of Allocated SONET Paths 944j. In this instance where the port is an OC48, both an STS-3c and STS-12c are listed as available SONET Path types. The administrator may select one and then select Add button 944k to add a path to the Allocated SONET Paths list and cause the wizard to display the path in Path Table 944g and to display the path position 944e and width 944f. In this example, two STS-3c paths are added in positions 1 and 4 and two STS-12c paths are added in positions 22 and 34. Now when the administrator selects SONET Paths tab 942 (FIG. 5q), the inventory of paths includes the four new paths (942c–942f). Similarly, when the administrator selects ATM Interfaces tab 946 (FIG. 5r), the inventory of ATM interfaces includes four new interfaces (946c–946f) corresponding to the newly created SONET paths.

[0197] Instead of selecting a port in device mimic 896a and then the Configure SONET Paths option from a pop-up menu and instead of selecting a SONET interface in the SONET Interfaces tab and then selecting the Paths button, the SONET Path wizard may be accessed by the administrator from any view in the GUI by simply selecting a Wizard menu button 951 and then selecting a SONET Path option 951a (FIG. 5q) from a pull-down menu 951b. When the SONET path wizard appears, the SONET line data (i.e., slot, port and type) will be blank, and the administrator simply needs to provide this information to allow the SONET path wizard to select the appropriate port. If the administrator selects a port in the Ports tab prior to selecting the SONET path option from the wizard pull-down menu, then the SONET wizard will appear with this information displayed as the SONET line data but the administrator may modify this data to select a different port from the SONET wizard.

[0198] To create virtual connections between various ATM Interfaces/SONET Paths within the network device, the administrator first needs to create one or more virtual ATM interfaces for each ATM interface. At least two virtual ATM interfaces are required since two discrete virtual ATM interfaces are required for each virtual connection. In the case of a multipoint connection there will be one root ATM interface and many leafs. To do this, the administrator may select an ATM interface (e.g., 946b) from the inventory in the ATM Interfaces tab and then select a Virtual Interfaces button 946g to cause Virtual Interfaces tab 947 (FIG. 5s) to appear and display an inventory of all virtual interfaces associated with the selected ATM interface. In this example, no virtual ATM interfaces have yet been created, thus, none are displayed.

[0199] The Virtual ATM Interfaces tab also includes a device navigation tree 947a. The navigation tree is linked with the Virtual Interfaces button 946g (FIG. 5r) such that the device tree highlights the ATM interface (e.g., ATM-Path2_—11/4, FIG. 5s) that was selected when the Virtual Interfaces button was selected. When the Virtual Interfaces button is selected, the NMS client automatically requests virtual interface data corresponding to the selected ATM interface from the NMS server and then the NMS client displays this data in the Virtual ATM Interfaces tab. This saves memory space within the NMS client since only a small amount of data relevant to the virtual ATM interfaces associated with the selected ATM interface must be stored. In addition, since the amount of data is small, the data transfer is quick and reduces network traffic.

[0200] Instead the administrator may directly select Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 and then use the device tree 947a to locate the ATM interface they wish to configure with one or more virtual ATM interfaces. In this instance, the NMS client may again automatically request virtual interface data from the NMS server, or instead, the NMS client may simply use data stored in cache.

[0201] To return to the ATM Interfaces tab, the administrator may select a Back button 947d or directly select the ATM Interfaces tab. Once the appropriate ATM interface has been selected (e.g., ATM-Path2_—11/4/1) in the Virtual ATM Interfaces tab device tree 947a, then the administrator may select an ADD button 947b to cause a virtual ATM (V-ATM) Interfaces dialog box 950 (FIG. 5t) to appear. GUI 895 automatically fills in dialog box 950 with default values for Connection type 950a, Version 950b and Administration Status 950c. The administrator may provide a Name or Alias 950d and may modify the other three parameters by selecting from the options provided in pull down menus. This and other dialog boxes may also have wizard-like properties. For example, only valid connection types, versions and administrative status choices are made available in corresponding pull-down menus. For instance, Version may be UNI Network 3.1, UNI Network 4.0, IISP User 3.0, IISP User 3.1, PNNI, IISP Network 3.0 or IISP Network 3.1, and Administration Status may be Up or Down. When Down is selected, the virtual ATM interface is created but not enabled. With regard to connection type, for the first virtual ATM interface created for a particular ATM interface, the connection type choices include Direct Link or Virtual Uni. However, for any additional virtual ATM interfaces for the same ATM interface the connection type choices include only Logical Link. Hence the dialog box provides valid options to further assist the administrator. When finished, the administrator selects an OK button 950e to accept the values in the dialog box and cause the virtual ATM interface (e.g., 947c, FIG. 5u) to be inventoried in Virtual ATM tab 947.

[0202] The administrator may then select ADD button 947b again to add another virtual ATM interface to the selected ATM interface (ATM-Path2_—11/4/1). Instead, the administrator may use device tree 947a to select another ATM interface, for example, ATM path 946c (FIG. 5r) designated ATM-Path1_—11/5/2 (FIG. 5v) in device tree 947a. The administrator may again select the ADD button or the administrator may select port 941a on card 556d, click the right mouse button and select the “Add Virtual Connection” option from pop-up menu 943. This will again cause dialog box 950 (FIG. 5t) to appear, and the administrator may again modify parameters and then select OK button 950e to configure the virtual ATM interface.

[0203] To create a virtual connection, the administrator selects a virtual ATM interface (e.g., 947c, FIG. 5v) and then selects a Virtual Connections button 947d or a Virtual Connection option 951c (FIG. 5q) from wizard pull-down menu 951b. This causes GUI 895 to start a Virtual Connection configuration wizard 952 (FIG. 5w). Just as the SONET Path configuration wizard guides the administrator through the task of setting up a SONET Path, the Virtual Connection configuration wizard guides the administrator through the task of setting up a virtual connection. Again, the administrator is presented with valid configuration options and default parameter values are provided as a configuration starting point. As a result, the process of configuring virtual connections is simplified, and required administrator expertise is reduced since the administrator does not need to know or remember to provide each parameter value. In addition, the wizard validates configuration requests from the administrator to minimize the potential for mis-configuration.

[0204] The Virtual Connection configuration wizard includes a Connection Topology panel 952a and a Connection Type panel 952b. Within the Connection Topology panel the administrator is asked whether they want a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connection, and within the Connection Type panel, the administrator is asked whether they want a Virtual Path Connection (VPC) or a Virtual Channel Connection (VCC). In addition, the administrator may indicate that they want the VPC or VCC made soft (SPVPC/SPVCC). Where the administrator chooses a point-to-point, VPC connection, the Virtual Connection wizard presents dialog box 953 (FIG. 5x).

[0205] The source (e.g., test1 in End Point 1 window 953a) for the point-to-point connection is automatically set to the virtual ATM interface (e.g., 947c, FIG. 5v) selected in Virtual ATM Interface tab 947 when the virtual connection button 947d was selected. The administrator may change the source simply by selecting another virtual ATM interface in device tree 953b, for example, test2. Similarly, the administrator selects a destination (e.g., test3 in End Point 2 window 953c) for the point-to-point connection by selecting a virtual ATM interface in device tree 953d, for example, test3. If the administrator had selected point-to-multipoint in Connection Topology panel 952a (FIG. 5w), then the user would select multiple destination devices from device tree 953d or the wizard may present the administrator with multiple End Point 2 windows in which to select the multiple destination devices. In addition, if within Connection Topology panel 952b (FIG. 5w) the administrator had elected to make the VPC or VCC soft (SPVPC/SPVCC), then the user may select in End Point 2 window 953c (FIG. 5x) a virtual ATM interface in another network device.

[0206] The virtual Connection wizard also contains a Connections Parameters window 953e, an End Point 1 Parameters window 953f and an End Point 2 Parameters window 953g. Again for point-to-multipoint, there will be multiple End Point 2 Parameters windows. Within the Connections Parameters window, the administrator may provide a Connection name (e.g., test). The administrator also determines whether the connection will be configured in an Up or Down Administration Status, and may provide a Customer Name (e.g., Walmart) or select one from a customer list, which may be displayed by selecting Customer List button 953h.

[0207] Within the End Point 1 and 2 Parameters windows, the administrator provides a Virtual Path Identifier (VPI) in window 953i, 953j or selects a Use Any VPI Value indicator 953k, 953l. If the administrator chooses a VCC connection in Connection Type window 952b (FIG. 5w), then the administrator must also provide a Virtual Channel Indicator (VCI) in window 953m, 953n or select a Use Any VCI Value indicator 953o, 953p. The administrator also selects a Transmit and a Receive Traffic Descriptor (e.g., Variable Bit Rate (VBR)-high, VBR-low, Constant Bit Rate (CBR)-high, CBR-low) from a pull down menu or selects an Add Traffic Descriptor button 953q, 953r. If the administrator selects one of the Add Traffic Descriptor buttons, then a traffic descriptor window 956 (FIG. 5y) is displayed and the administrator may add a new traffic descriptor by providing a name and selecting a quality of service (QoS) class and a traffic descriptor type from corresponding pull down menus. Depending upon the QoS class and type selected, the administrator may also be prompted to input peak cell rate (PCR), sustainable cell rate (SCR), maximum burst size (MBS) and minimum cell rate (MCR), and for each PCR, SCR, MBS and MCR, the administrator will be prompted for a cell loss priority (CLP) value where CLP=0 corresponds to high priority traffic and CLP=0+1 corresponds to combined/aggregated high and low priority traffic. The traffic descriptors indicate the priority of the traffic to be sent over the connection thereby allowing parameterization of quality of service. The administrator may select a Use the same Traffic Descriptor for both Transmit and Receive indicator 953s, 953t (FIG. 5x).

[0208] Within the Virtual Connection wizard, the administrator may select a Back button 953u (FIG. 5x) to return to screen 952 (FIG. 5w) or a Cancel button 953v to exit out of the wizard without creating a virtual connection. On the other hand, if the administrator has provided all parameters and wants to commit the virtual connection, then the administrator selects a Finish button 953w. The NMS client passes the parameters to the NMS server, which validates the data and then writes the data into the network device's configuration database. The data is validated again within the network device and then through active queries modular processes throughout the device are notified of the configuration change to cause these processes to implement the virtual connection. GUI 895 then displays the newly created virtual connection 948a (FIG. 5z) in a list within Virtual Connections tab 948. The administrator may then create multiple virtual connections between the various virtual ATM interfaces, each of which will be listed in the Virtual Connections tab 948. The administrator may also select a Back button 948b to return to the Virtual ATM Interfaces tab or select the Virtual ATM Interfaces tab directly.

[0209] The Virtual Connections tab also includes a device navigation tree 948c. The device tree is linked with Virtual Connections button 947d such that the device tree highlights the virtual ATM interface that was selected in Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 when the Virtual Connections button was selected. The Virtual Connections tab then only displays data relevant to the highlighted portion of the device tree.

[0210] As described above, the SONET Paths tab, ATM Interfaces tab, Virtual ATM Interfaces tab and Virtual Connections tabs are configuration tabs that are chained together providing wizard-like properties. Both the order of the tabs from right to left and the forward buttons (e.g., ATM Interfaces button 942c) and back buttons (e.g., Back button 946h) allow an administrator to easily and quickly sequence through the steps necessary to provision services. Although device navigation trees were shown in only the Virtual ATM Interface tab and the Virtual Connection tab, a device navigation tree may be included in each tab and only data relevant to the highlighted portion of the navigation tree may be displayed.

[0211] In addition to the SONET Interface and SONET Paths tabs, the status window may include tabs for other physical layer protocols, for example, Ethernet. Moreover, in addition to the ATM Interfaces and Virtual ATM Interfaces tabs, the status window may include tabs for other upper layer protocols, including MPLS, IP and Frame Relay. Importantly, other configuration wizards in addition to the SONET Path configuration wizard and Virtual Connection configuration wizard may also be used to simplify service provisioning.

VPI/VCI Availability Index:

[0212] When configuring a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) or a Soft Permanent Virtual Circuit (SPVC) on a virtual Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) interface, a network administrator must specify at least a Virtual Path Identifier (VPI) and, in many instances, both a VPI and a Virtual Channel Identifier (VCI). If the network device being configured is not the first end-point of the connection being established, then the network administrator will simply provide the VPI or VPI/VCI value supplied by the connection request. If, however, the network device being configured is the first end-point in the connection being established, the network administrator must provide an unused (i.e., available) VPI or VPI/VCI value.

[0213] Providing an available VPI or VPI/VCI can be very difficult due to the large number of possible VPIs and VCIs on a network. In an ATM cell header, a VPI is identified using 8 bits for a User Network Interface (UNI) and 12 bits for a Network Node Interface (NNI). Thus, for a UNI ATM connection there are 256 possible VPIs and for an NNI ATM connection there are 4000 possible VPIs. Each VCI is identified by 16 bits, for a total of 64,000 possible VCIs for each possible VPI.

[0214] Typically, allocated VPIs and VCIs are tracked manually. Thus, tracking each allocated VPI and VCI is cumbersome and error prone. Without accurate checking, however, the network administrator's task of assigning an unused VPI or VPI/VCI to a first end-point in a connection becomes a frustrating and time consuming guessing game. The administrator inputs what they believe is an available value and waits to see if it is accepted or rejected. If it is rejected, they repeat the process of inputting another value they believe is available and again waiting to see if it is accepted or rejected. In a network where thousands and, perhaps, millions of virtual connections (PVCs) need to be configured, this guessing game is an unacceptable waste of time. In addition, if an invalid value is not rejected, misconfiguration errors may occur on the network.

[0215] Newer network/element management systems (“NMSs”) offer automatic selection of VPI and VPI/VCI values. This eliminates the tracking burden and guess work frustration but the administrator loses control over which values are selected. In addition, the administrator is often unaware of which value is selected.

[0216] In Virtual Connection Wizard 953 (FIG. 5x), a network administrator may input an available VPI value in windows 953i and 953j or allow the wizard to automatically input an available VPI value by selecting Use Any VPI Value indicators 953k and 953L. Similarly, a network administrator may input an available VCI value in windows 953m and 953n or allow the wizard to automatically input an available VCI value by selecting Use Any VCI Value indicators 953o and 953p. The automatic inputting of available VPIs and VCIs removes any requirement that network administrators track allocated VPIs and VCIs and eliminates the frustrating guessing game that often occurs when the tracking is inaccurate. Automatic selection, however, removes the network administrator's control over which available VPI or VCI is chosen.

[0217] To provide the network administrator with more control while also eliminating the need to track allocated VPIs and VCIs, a Virtual Connection Wizard may provide VPI Index buttons and VPI/VCI Index buttons. When selected the Index buttons provide the administrator with a list of available VPIs and VCIs from which the administrator may choose. For example, a Virtual Connection Wizard 1102 provides VPI Index buttons 1102a and 1102b (FIG. 75) if the network administrator selects the Virtual Path Connection option in Connection Type panel 952b (FIG. 5w) and provides VPI/VCI Index buttons 1102c and 1102d (FIG. 76) if the network administrator selects the Virtual Channel Connection option in Connection Type panel 952b.

[0218] Selecting VPI Index buttons 1102a or 1102b causes a VPI Index dialog box 1104 (FIG. 77) to appear. Dialog box 1104 includes a VPI window 1104a and backward and forward scroll buttons 1104b and 1104c, respectively. When dialog box 1104 first appears, the VPI window lists the first available VPI (e.g., 10). The administrator may then use forward scroll button 1104c to cause succeeding available VPI values (e.g., 14, 16, 25, etc.) to appear in dialog VPI window 1104a. Similarly, the administrator may use backward scroll button 1104b to cause previous available VPI values (e.g., 16, 14, 10) to appear in dialog VPI window 1104a. Once the administrator determines which VPI they wish to allocate to the new connection, the administrator may click on cancel button 1104d and type the value into wizard VPI windows 1102e and 1102f (FIG. 75) or, if the administrator has the desired value showing in dialog VPI window 1104a, the administrator need only select OK button 1104e and the Virtual Connection Wizard will automatically add that value to wizard VPI windows 1102e and 1102f.

[0219] Similarly, selecting VPI/VCI Index buttons 1102c or 1102d (FIG. 76) causes a VPI/VCI Index dialog box 1106 (FIG. 78) to appear. Dialog box 1106 includes a VPI window 1106a and a VCI window 1106b and backward and forward scroll buttons 1106c–1106f. When dialog box 1106 first appears, the VPI window lists the first available VPI (e.g., 10) and the VCI window lists the first available VCI (e.g., 4). The administrator may then use forward scroll button 1106d to cause succeeding available VPI values (e.g., 14, 16, 25, etc.) to appear in dialog VPI window 1106a and forward scroll button 106f to cause succeeding available VCI values (e.g., 8, 9, 15, 22, etc.) to appear in dialog VCI window 1106b. Similarly, the administrator may use backward scroll button 1106c to cause previous available VPI values (e.g., 16, 14, 10) to appear in dialog VPI window 1106a and backward scroll button 1106e to cause previous available VCI values (e.g., 15, 9, 8, 4) to appear in dialog VCI window 1106b. Once the administrator determines which VPI/VCI they wish to allocate to the new connection, the administrator may click on cancel button 1106g and type the desired VPI number into wizard VPI windows 1102e and 1102f (FIG. 76) and type the desired VCI number into wizard VCI windows 1102g and 1102h or, if the administrator has the desired VPI/VCI values showing in dialog VPI and VCI windows 1106a and 1106b, the administrator need only select OK button 1106h and the Virtual Connection Wizard will automatically add those values to wizard VPI and VCI windows 1102e–1102h.

[0220] Referring to FIG. 79, instead of providing VPI and VPI/VCI Index buttons and using VPI and VPI/VCI dialog boxes, the wizard VPI windows 1102e and 1102f and the VCI windows 1102g and 1102h may be “spin boxes” including up and down arrows 1102i and 1102j, respectively. Using the up and down arrows, preceding and succeeding values may be scrolled through the corresponding window, and the administrator would simply stop scrolling when the desired values were displayed. The indexes of available VPIs and VCIs may be displayed to an administrator in a variety of ways, each such way will be referred to hereinafter as an Availability Index.

[0221] Availability Indexes present administrators with valid, available values. Thus, the guesswork and tracking burden are removed from the VPI/VCI selection process and less time and frustration is required to configure connections. Yet, the administrator retains control over exactly which paths and channels are allocated for each connection. Consequently, an administrator may choose to keep all connections for a particular customer on a particular path or set of paths. Similarly, the administrator may designate a certain set of paths for virtual path connections and a different set of paths for virtual channel connections. Since only valid, available values are presented to the administrator, less experienced administrators may easily configure connections without fear of misconfiguration errors.

Custom Navigator:

[0222] In typical network management systems, the graphical user interface (GUI) provides static choices and is not flexible. That is, the screen flow provided by the GUI is predetermined and the administrator must walk through a predetermined set of screens each time a service is to be provisioned. To provide flexibility and further simplify the steps required to provision services within a network device, GUI 895, described in detail above, may also include a custom navigator tool that facilitates “dynamic menus”. When the administrator selects the custom navigator menu button 958 (FIG. 4x), a pop-up menu 958a displays a list of available “screen marks”. The list of screen marks may include default screen marks (e.g., Virtual ATM IF 958b and Virtual Connection 958c) and/or administrator created screen marks (e.g., test 958d).

[0223] When the administrator selects a particular screen mark, the custom navigator shortcuts the configuration process by jumping forward past various configuration screens to a particular configuration screen corresponding to the screen mark. For example, if the administrator selects a Virtual ATM IF screen mark 958b, the custom navigator presents the Virtual ATM Interface tab (FIG. 5u). The administrator may then select an ATM interface from device tree 947a and select Add button 947b to add a virtual ATM interface. Similarly, the administrator may select a Virtual Connection screen mark 958c, and the custom navigator automatically presents Virtual Connection wizard 952 (FIG. 5w).

[0224] Moreover, the custom navigator allows the administrator to create unique screen marks. For example, the administrator may provision SONET paths and ATM interfaces as described above, then select an ATM interface (e.g., 946b, FIG. 5r) in ATM interfaces tab 946 and select Virtual Interfaces button 946g to display Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 (FIG. 5s), and as described above, the devices tree 947a will highlight the selected ATM interface. If the administrator believes they may want to return to the Virtual Interfaces tab multiple times to provision multiple virtual ATM interfaces for the selected ATM interface or other ATM interfaces near the selected ATM interface in device tree 947a, then the administrator would select a screen mark button 959 to create a screen mark for this configuration position. A dialog box would appear in which the administrator enters the name of the new screen mark (e.g., test 958d, FIG. 4x) and this new screen mark name is added to the list of screen marks 958a. The custom navigator then takes a “snap shot” of the metadata necessary to recreate the screen and the current configuration position (i.e., highlight ATM-Path2_—11/4/1). If the administrator now selects this screen mark while another tab is displayed, the custom navigator uses the metadata associated with the screen mark to present the screen shot displayed in FIG. 5s to the administrator updated with any other configuration changes made subsequent to the creation of the screen mark.

[0225] As a result, the administrator is provided with configuration short cuts, both default short cuts and ones created by the administrator himself. Many other screen marks may be created through GUI 895, and in each case, the screen marks may simplify the configuration process and save the administrator configuration time.

Custom Wizard:

[0226] To provide additional flexibility and efficiency, an administrator may use a custom wizard tool to create unique custom wizards to reflect common screen sequences used by the administrator. To create a custom wizard, the administrator begins by selecting a Custom Wizard menu button 960 (FIG. 4y) to cause a pull-down menu 960a to appear and then selecting a Create Wizard 960b option from the pull-down menu. The administrator then begins using the particular sequence of screens that they wish to turn into a custom wizard and the custom wizard tool records this sequence of screens. For example, the administrator may begin by selecting a port within device mimic 896a, clicking the right mouse button and selecting the Configure SONET Paths option to cause the SONET Path configuration wizard 944 (FIG. 5b) to appear. The custom wizard tool records the first screen to be included in the new custom wizard as the SONET Path configuration wizard screen 944. After filling in the appropriate data for the current port configuration, the administrator presses the OK button and the SONET Paths tab 942 (FIG. 5h) appears. The custom wizard records the SONET Paths tab screen as the next screen in the new custom wizard. The administrator may then select Virtual ATM interfaces tab 947 (FIG. 5s) to cause this tab to be displayed. Again, the custom navigator records this screen as the next screen in the new custom wizard.

[0227] The administrator may continue to select further screens to add to the new custom wizard (for example, by selecting an ATM interface from device tree 947a and then selecting the Add button 947b to cause the Add V-ATM Interface dialog box 950 (FIG. 5t) to appear) or, if the administrator is finished sequencing through all of the screens that the administrator wants added to the new custom wizard, the administrator again selects Custom Wizard menu button 960 (FIG. 4y) and then selects a Finish Wizard option 960c. This causes a dialog box 960d to appear, and the administrator enters a name (e.g., test) for the custom wizard just created.

[0228] To access a custom wizard, the administrator again selects Custom Wizard 960 menu button and then selects a Select Wizard option 960e to cause an inventory 960f of custom wizards to be displayed. The administrator then selects a custom wizard (e.g., test), and the custom wizard automatically presents the administrator with the first screen of that wizard. In the continuing example, the custom navigator presents SONET Path configuration wizard screen 961 (FIG. 4z). Since the administrator may start a custom wizard from any screen within GUI 895, SONET Path wizard screen 961 is different from the screen 944 displayed in FIG. 5b because SONET line data 961a (i.e., slot, port, type) is not provided. That is, the administrator may not have selected a particular SONET Path to configure prior to selecting the custom wizard. Hence, the SONET line data is blank and the administrator must fill this in. After the administrator enters and/or modifies the SONET line data and any other data within the first screen, the administrator selects a Next button 961b (or an OK button) to move to the next screen in the sequence of screens defined by the custom wizard. In the next and subsequent screens, the administrator may also select a Back button to return to a previous screen within the custom wizard screen sequence. Thus, the custom wizard tool allows an administrator to make their provisioning tasks more efficient by defining preferred screen sequences for each task.

Off-Line Configuration:

[0229] There may be times when a network manager/administrator wishes to jump-start initial configuration of a new network device before the network device is connected into the network. For example, a new network device may have been purchased and be in the process of being delivered to a particular site. Generally, a network manager will already know how they plan to use the network device to meet customer needs and, therefore, how they would like to configure the network device. Because configuring an entire network device may take considerable time once the device arrives and because the network manager may need to get the network device configured as soon as possible to meet network customer needs, many network managers would like the ability to perform preparatory configuration work prior to the network device being connected into the network.

[0230] In the current invention, network device configuration data is stored in a configuration database within the network device and all changes to the configuration database are copied in the same format to an external NMS database. Since the data in both databases (i.e., configuration and NMS) is in the same format, the present invention allows a network device to be completely configured “off-line” by entering all configuration data into an NMS database using GUI 895 in an off-line mode. When the network device is connected to the network, the data from the NMS database is reliably downloaded to the network device as a group of SQL commands using a relational database transaction. The network device then executes the SQL commands to enter the data into the internal configuration database, and through the active query process (described below), the network device may be completely and reliably configured.

[0231] Referring to FIG. 6a, the network manager begins by selecting Devices branch 898a in navigation tree 898, clicking the right mouse button to cause pop-up menu 898c to appear and selecting the Add Devices option causing dialog box 898d (FIG. 6b) to be displayed. The network manager then enters the intended IP address or DNS name (e.g., 192.168.9.201) of the new network device into field 898e and de-selects a Manage device in on-line mode option 898k—that is, the network manager moves the cursor over box 898l and clicks the left mouse button to clears box 898l. De-selecting the Manage device in on-line mode option indicates that the network device will be configured in off-line mode. The network manager then selects Add button 898f to cause dialog box 898d to add the IP address to window 898g (FIG. 6c). However, in this example, box 898m is blank indicating the network device is to be configured off-line.

[0232] Referring to FIG. 6d, the new network device (e.g., 192.168.9.201) is now added to the list of devices 898b to be managed. However, the icon includes a visual indicator 898n (e.g., red “X”) indicating the off-line status of the device. To begin off-line configuration, the network manager selects the new device. Since the NMS client and NMS server are not connected to the actual network device, no configuration data may be read from the network device's configuration database. The network manager must, therefore, populate a device mimic with modules representing the physical inventory that the network device will include. To do this, the network manager begins by clicking on the right mouse button to display pop-up menu 898o, and selects the Add Chassis option to cause a device mimic 896a (FIG. 6e) to be displayed in window 896b including only a chassis. All slots in the chassis may be empty and visually displayed, for example, in a gray or light color. Alternatively, particular modules that are required for proper network device operation may be automatically included in the chassis. If more than one chassis type is available, a dialog box would appear and allow the network manager to select a particular chassis. In the current example, only one chassis is available and is automatically displayed when the network manager selects the Add Chassis option.

[0233] Again, the cursor provides context sensitive pop-up windows. For example, the network manager may move the cursor over a particular slot (e.g., 896c, FIG. 6e) to cause a pop-up window (e.g., 896d) to appear and describe the slot (e.g., Empty Forwarding Processor Slot Shelf 3/Slot 1). The network manager may then select an empty slot (e.g., 896c, FIG. 6f) to cause the device mimic to highlight that slot, click the right mouse button to cause a pop-up menu (e.g., 896e) to appear and select the Add Module option. In this example, only one type of forwarding card is available. Thus, it is automatically added (visually indicated in dark green, FIG. 6g) to the device mimic. This forwarding card corresponds to forwarding card 546a in FIG. 41a. The network manager may also remove a module by selecting the module (e.g., 546a), clicking the right mouse button to cause a pop-up menu 896t to appear and then selecting the Remove Module option.

[0234] If there are multiple types of modules that may be inserted in a particular slot, then a dialog box will appear after the network manager selects the Add Module option and the network manager will select the particular module that the network device will include in this slot upon delivery. For example, while viewing the back of the chassis (FIG. 6h), the manager may select an empty universal port card slot (e.g., 896f), click the right mouse button causing pop-up menu 896g (FIG. 6i) to appear and select the Add Module option. Since multiple universal port cards are available, selecting the Add Module option causes a dialog box 896h (FIG. 6j) to appear. The network manager may then select the type of universal port card to be added into the empty slot from an inventory provided in pull-down menu 896i (FIG. 6k). Once the network manager selects the appropriate card and an OK button 896j, the device mimic adds a representation of this card (e.g., 556h, FIG. 61 and see also FIG. 41b).

[0235] Typically, a network device may include many similar modules, for example, many 16 port OC3 universal port cards and many forwarding cards. Instead of having the network manager repeat each of the steps described above to add a universal port card or a forwarding card, the network manager may simply select an inserted module (e.g., 16 port OC3 universal port card 556h, FIG. 6L) by pressing down on the left mouse button, dragging an icon to an empty slot (e.g., 556i) also requiring a similar module and releasing the left mouse button to drop a similar module (e.g., 16 port OC3 universal port card 556g, FIG. 6m) into that empty slot. Similarly, the network manager may drag and drop a forwarding card module to an empty forwarding card slot and other inserted modules into other empty slots. The network manager may use the drag and drop method to quickly populate the entire network device with the appropriate number of similar modules. To add a different type of universal port card, the network manager will again select the empty slot, click on the right mouse button, select the Add Module button from the pop-up menu and then select the appropriate type of universal port card from the dialog box.

[0236] Once the network manager is finished adding appropriate modules into the empty slots such that the device mimic represents the physical hardware that will be present in the new network device, then the network manager may configure/provision services within the network device. Off-line configuration is the same as on-line configuration, however, instead of sending the configuration data to the configuration database within the network device, the NMS server stores the configuration data in an external NMS database. After the network device arrives and the network manager connects the network device's ports into the network, the network manager selects the device (e.g., 192.168.9.201, FIG. 6n), clicks the right mouse button to cause pop-up menu 868o to appear and selects the Manage On-line option.

[0237] The NMS client notifies the NMS server that the device is now to be managed on-line. The NMS server first reconciles the physical configuration created by the network manager and stored in the NMS database against the physical configuration of the actual network device and stored in the internal configuration database. If there are any mis-matches, the NMS server notifies the NMS client, which then displays any discrepancies to the network manager. After the network manager fixes any discrepancies, the network manager may again select the Manage On-Line option in pop-up menu 898o. If there are no mis-matches between the physical device tables in the NMS database and the configuration database, then the NMS server reconciles all service provisioning data in the NMS database against the service provisioning data in the configuration database. In this example, the network device is new and thus, the configuration database has no service provisioning data. Thus, the reconciliation will be successful.

[0238] The NMS server then instructs the network device to stop replication between the primary configuration database within the network device and the backup configuration database within the network device. The NMS server then pushes the NMS database data into the backup configuration database, and then instructs the network device to switchover from the primary configuration database to the backup configuration database. If any errors occur after the switchover, the network device may automatically switch back to the original primary configuration database. If there are no errors, then the network device is quickly and completely configured to work properly within the network while maximizing network device availability.

[0239] In the previous example, the network manager configured one new network device off-line. However, a network manager may configure many new network devices off-line. For example, a network manager may be expecting the receipt of five or more new network devices. Referring to FIG. 6o, to simplify the above process, a network manager may select an on-line device (e.g., 192.168.9.202) or off-line device (e.g., 192.168.9.201) by pressing and holding the left mouse button down, dragging an icon over to a newly added off-line device (e.g., 192.168.203) and dropping the icon over the newly added off-line device by releasing the left mouse button. The NMS client notifies the NMS server to copy the configuration data from the NMS database associated with the first network device (e.g., 192.168.9.202 or 192.168.9.201) to a new NMS database associated with the new network device and to change the data in the new NMS database to correspond to the new network device. The network manager may then select the new network device and modify any of the configuration data, as described above, to reflect the current network device requirements. As a result, off-line mode configuration is also made more efficient.

[0240] A network manager may also choose to re-configure an operational device in off-line mode without affecting the operation of the network device. For example, the network manager may want to add one or more new modules or provision services in a network device during a time when the network sees the least amount of activity, for example, midnight. Through the off-line mode, the network manager may prepare the configuration data ahead of time.

[0241] Referring to FIG. 6p, the network manager may select an operational network device (e.g., 192.168.9.202), click on the right mouse button to cause pop-up menu 898o to appear and select the Manage On-Line option, which de-selects the current on-line mode and causes the GUI to enter an off-line mode for this device. Although the GUI has entered the off-line mode, the network device is still operating normally. The network manager may then add one or more modules and/or provision services as described above just as if the GUI were still in on-line mode, however, all configuration changes are stored by the NMS server in the NMS database corresponding to the network device instead of the network device's configuration database. Alternatively, when the NMS server is notified that a network device is to be managed off-line, the NMS server may copy the NMS database data to a temporary NMS database and store all off-line configuration changes there. When the network manager is ready (i.e., at the appropriate time and/or after adding any new modules to the network device) to download the configuration changes to the operational network device, the network manager again selects the network device (e.g., 192.168.9.202), clicks on the right mouse button to cause pop-up menu 898a to appear and selects the Manage On-Line option.

[0242] The NMS client notifies the NMS server that the device is now to be managed on-line. The NMS server first reconciles the physical configuration stored in the NMS database (or the temporary NMS database) against the physical configuration of the actual network device stored in the internal configuration database. If there are any mis-matches, the NMS server notifies the NMS client, which then displays any discrepancies to the network manager. After the network manager fixes any discrepancies, the network manager may again select the Manage On-Line option in pop-up menu 898o. If there are no mis-matches between the physical device tables in the NMS database and the configuration database, then the NMS server reconciles all service provisioning data in the NMS database (or the temporary NMS database) against the service provisioning data in the configuration database. If any conflicts are discovered, the NMS server notifies the NMS client, which displays the discrepancies to the network manager. After fixing any discrepancies, the network manager may again select the Manage On-Line option in pop-up menu 898o.

[0243] If there are no conflicts, the NMS server instructs the network device to stop replication between the primary configuration database within the network device and the backup configuration database within the network device. The NMS server then pushes the NMS database data into the backup configuration database, and then instructs the network device to switchover from the primary configuration database to the backup configuration database. If any errors occur after the switchover, the network device may automatically switch back to the original primary configuration database. If there are no errors, then the network device is quickly re-configured to work properly within the network.

[0244] Off-line configuration, therefore, provides a powerful tool to allow network managers to prepare configuration data prior to actually implementing any configuration changes. Such preparation, allows a network manager to carefully configure a network device when they have time to consider all their options and requirements, and once the network manager is ready, the configuration changes are implemented quickly and efficiently.

FCAPS Management:

[0245] Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security (FCAPS) management are the five functional areas of network management as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Fault management is for detecting and resolving network faults, configuration management is for configuring and upgrading the network, accounting management is for accounting and billing for network usage, performance management is for overseeing and tuning network performance, and security management is for ensuring network security. Referring to FIG. 7a, GUI 895 provides a status button 899a–899f for each of the five FCAPS. By clicking on one of the status buttons, a status window appears and displays the status associated with the selected FCAPS button to the network administrator. For example, if the network administrator clicks on the F status button 899a, a fault event summary window 900 (FIG. 7b) appears and displays the status of any faults.

[0246] Each FCAP button may be colored according to a hierarchical color code where, for example, green means normal operation, red indicates a serious error and yellow indicates a warning status. Today there are many NMSs that indicate faults through color coded icons or other graphics. However, current NMSs do not categorize the errors or warnings into the ISO five functional areas of network management—that is, FCAPS.

[0247] The color-coding and order of the FCAPS buttons provide a “status bar code” allowing a network administrator to quickly determine the category of error or warning and quickly take action to address the error or warning.

[0248] As with current NMSs, a network administrator may actively monitor the FCAPS buttons by sitting in front of the computer screen displaying the GUI. Unfortunately, network administrators do not have time to actively monitor the status of each network device—passive monitoring is required. To assist passive monitoring, the FCAPS buttons may be enlarged or “stretched” to fill a large portion of the screen, as shown in FIG. 7c. The FCAPS buttons may be stretched in a variety of ways, for example, a stretch option in a pull down menu may be selected or a mouse may be used to drag and drop the boarders of the FCAPS buttons. Stretching the FCAPS buttons allows a network administrator to view the status of each FCAP button from a distance of 40 feet or more. Once stretched, each of the five OSI management areas can be easily monitored at a distance by looking at the bar-encoded FCAPS strip. The “stretchy FCAPS” provide instant status recognition at a distance.

[0249] The network administrator may set the FCAPS buttons to represent a single network device or multiple network devices or all the network devices in a particular network. Alternatively, the network administrator may have the GUI display two or more FCAPS status bars each of which represents one or more network devices.

[0250] Although the FCAPS buttons have been described as a string of multiple stretched bars, many different types of graphics may be used to display FCAPS status. For example, different colors may be used to represent normal operation, warnings and errors, and additional colors may be added to represent particular warnings and/or errors. Instead of a bar, each letter (e.g., F) may be stretched and color-coded. Instead of a solid color, each FCAPS button may repeatedly flash or strobe a color. For example, green FCAPS buttons may remain solid (i.e., not flashing) while red errors and yellow warnings are displayed as a flashing FCAPS button to quickly catch a network administrator's attention. As another example, green/normal operation FCAPS buttons may be a different size relative to yellow/warnings and red/errors FCAPS buttons. For example, an FCAPS button may be automatically enlarged if status changes from good operation to a warning status or an error status. In addition, the FCAPS buttons may be different sizes to allow the network administrator to distinguish between each FCAPS button from a further distance. For example, the buttons may have a graduated scale where the F button is the largest and each button is smaller down to the S button, which is the smallest. Alternatively, the F button may be the smallest while the S button is the largest, or the A button in the middle is the largest, the C and P buttons are smaller and the F and S buttons are smallest. Many variations are possible for quickly alerting a network administrator of the status of each functional area.

[0251] Referring to FIG. 7d, for more detailed FCAPS information, the network administrator may double click the left mouse button on a particular network device (e.g., 192.168.9.201) to cause device navigation tree 898 to expand and display FCAPS branches, for example, Fault branch 898p, Configuration branch 898q, Accounting branch 898r, Performance branch 898s and Security branch 898t. The administrator may then select one of these branches to cause status window 897 to display tabs/folders of data corresponding to the selected branch. For example, if Fault branch 898p is selected (FIG. 7e), an Events tab 957a is displayed in status window 897 as well as tab holders for other tabs (e.g., System Log tab 957b (FIG. 7f) and Trap Destinations 957c (FIG. 7g)). If the administrator double clicks the left mouse button on the Fault branch, then device tree 898 displays a list 958a of the available fault tabs. The administrator may then select a tab by selecting the tab holder from status window 897 or device tree 898.

[0252] Events tab 957a (FIG. 7e) displays an event number, date, time, source, category and description of each fault associated with a module or port selected in device mimic 896a. System Log tab 957b (FIG. 7f) displays an event number, date, time, source, category and description of each fault associated with the entire network device (e.g., 192.168.9.201), and Trap Destination tab 957c (FIG. 7g) displays a system/network device IP address or DNS name, port and status corresponding to each detected trap destination. Various other tabs and formats for displaying fault information may also be provided.

[0253] Referring to FIG. 7h, if the administrator double clicks the left mouse button on Configuration branch 898q, then device tree 898 expands to display a list 958b of available configuration sub-branches, for example, ATM protocol sub-branch 958c, System sub-branch 958d and Virtual Connections sub-branch 958e. When the device branch (e.g., 192.168.9.201), Configuration branch 898q or System branch 958d is selected, System tab 934, Module tab 936, Ports tab 938, SONET Interface tab 940, SONET Paths tab 942, ATM Interfaces tab 946, Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 and Virtual Connections tab 948 are displayed. These configuration tabs are described above in detail (see FIGS. 4s–4z and 5a–5z).

[0254] If ATM protocol branch 958c is selected, then tabs/folders holding ATM protocol information are displayed, for example, Private Network-to-Network Interface (PNNI) tab 959 (FIG. 7i). The PNNI tab may display PNNI cache information such as maximum path (per node), maximum entries (nodes), timer frequency (seconds), age out (seconds) and recently referenced (seconds) data. The PNNI tab may also display PNNI node information for each PNNI node such as domain name, administrative status, ATM address and node level. The PNNI cache and PNNI node information may be for a particular ATM interface, all ATM interfaces in the network device or ATM interfaces corresponding to a port or module selected by the administrator in device mimic 896a. Various other tabs displaying ATM information, for example, an Interim Link Management Interface (ILMI) tab, may also be provided. In addition, various other upper layer network protocol branches may be included in list 958b, for example, MuliProtocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocol, Frame Relay protocol or Internet Protocol (IP) branches, depending upon the capabilities of the selected network device. Moreover, various physical layer network protocol branches (and corresponding tabs) may also be included, for example, Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) protocol and/or Ethernet protocol branches, depending upon the capabilities of the selected network device.

[0255] If Virtual Connections branch 958e is selected, then tabs/folders holding virtual connection information are displayed, for example, Soft Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) tab 960a (FIG. 7j) and Switched Virtual Circuits tab 960b (FIG. 7k). Soft PVC tab 960a may display information relating to source interface, Virtual Path Identifier (VPI), Virtual Channel Identifier (VCI), status, date and time. Switched Virtual Circuits tab 960b may display information relating to interface, VPI, VCI, address format, address, status, date and time. The information in either tab may be for a particular virtual connection, all virtual connections in the network device or only those virtual connections corresponding to a port or module selected by the administrator in device mimic 896a. Various other tabs displaying virtual connection information, for example, virtual connections established through various different upper layer network protocols, may also be provided, depending upon the capabilities of the selected network device.

[0256] For detailed accounting information, the administrator may select Accounting branch 898r (FIG. 71). This will cause one or more tabs/folders to be displayed which contain accounting data. For example, a Collection Setup tab 961 may be displayed that provides details on a primary and a backup archive host—that is, the system executing the Data Collection Server (described above). The Collection Setup tab may also provide statistics timer data and backup file storage data. Various other tabs displaying accounting information may also be provided. For example, a tab may be created for each particular customer to track the details of each account.

[0257] For detailed performance information, the administrator may select Performance branch 898s (FIG. 7m) and double click the left mouse button to review a list 958f of available sub-branches, for example, ATM sub-branch 958g, Connections sub-branch 958h, Interfaces sub-branch 958i, System sub-branch 958j, and SONET sub-branch 958k. Selecting Performance branch 898s or System sub-branch 958j provides general performance tabs in stats window 897, for example, System tab 962a and Fans tab 962b (FIG. 7n). System tab 962a may provide graphical representations of various system performance parameters, for example, an odometer style graphic may be used to display CPU Utilization 962c and power supply voltage level 962e and 962f and a temperature gauge may be used to show Chassis Temperature 962d. Fans tab 962b may provide graphical representations of the status of the network device's fans. For example, fans may be colored green and shown spinning for normal operation, yellow and spinning for a warning status and red and not spinning for a failure status. Various other graphical representations may be used, for example, bar graphs or pie charts, and instead of graphical representations, the data may be provided in a table or other type of format. Moreover, the data in the other tabs displayed in status window 897 may also be displayed in various formats including graphical representations.

[0258] If the administrator selects ATM sub-branch 958g (FIG. 7o), various tabs are displayed containing ATM related performance information, for example, ATM Stats In tab 963a, ATM Stats out tab 963b (FIG. 7p), Operations Administration Maintenance (OAM) Performance tab 963c (FIG. 7q), OAM Loopback tab 963d (FIG. 7r), ATM Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC) In tab 963e (FIG. 7s), ATM SVC Out tab 963f (FIG. 7t), ATM Signaling ATM Adaptation Layer (SAAL) In tab 963g (FIG. 7u) and ATM SAAL Out tab 963h (FIG. 7v). The data displayed in each of these tabs may correspond to a particular ATM path (e.g., ATM-Path1_—11/2/1), to all ATM paths corresponding to a particular port or module selected by the administrator in device mimic 896a or to all the ATM paths in the network device. ATM Stats In tab 963a (FIG. 7o) and ATM Stats Out tab 963b (FIG. 7p) may display, for example, the type, description, cells, cells per second and bits per second for each ATM path. OAM Performance tab 963c (FIG. 7q) may display, for example, VPI, VCI, status, session type, sink source, block size and end point statistics for each ATM path, while OAM Loopback tab 963d (FIG. 7r) may display, for example, VPI, VCI, status, send count, send trap, endpoint and flow statistics for each ATM path. ATM SVC In tab 963e (FIG. 7s) and ATM SVC Out tab 963f (FIG. 7t) may display, for example, type, description, total, connected, failures, last cause and setup Protocol Data Unit (PDU) data for each path, and ATM SAAL In tab 963g (FIG. 7u) and ATM SAAL Out tab 963h (FIG. 7v) may display, for example, type, description, errors, discards, begin PDUs, begin acknowledge, PDU begin and End PDUs for each ATM path. Various other upper layer network protocol sub-branches may also be displayed in list 958f, including a sub-branch for MPLS, Frame Relay and/or IP, depending upon the capabilities of the selected network device.

[0259] If the administrator selects Connections sub-branch 958h (FIG. 7w), various tabs are displayed containing connection related performance information, for example, ATM Connection tab 964a and Priority tab 964b (FIG. 7x). ATM Connection tab 964a may include, for example, connection name, transmit, receive cell loss ratio, cell discard total and throughput data for particular ATM connections. Priority tab 964b may include, for example, connection name, Cell Loss Priority (CLP) 0 transmit, CLP1 receive, transmit total, CLP0 receive, CLP1 receive and receive total data for particular ATM connections. The data in either tab may be for a particular selected ATM connection, each ATM connection in the network device or only those ATM connections corresponding to a particular port or module selected by the administrator in device mimic 896a.

[0260] If the administrator selects Interfaces sub-branch 958i (FIG. 7y), various tabs are displayed containing interface related performance information, for example, Interfaces tab 965. Interfaces tab 965 may include, for example, slot and port location, description, type, speed, in octets, out octets, in errors, out errors, in discards and out discards data for particular ATM interfaces. The data in the tab may be for a particular selected ATM interface, each ATM interface in the network device or only those ATM interfaces corresponding to a particular port or module selected by the administrator in device mimic 896a.

[0261] Referring to FIG. 8a, if the administrator selects SONET sub-branch 958k, various tabs are displayed containing SONET related performance information, for example, Section tab 966a, Line tab 966b (FIG. 8b) and Synchronous Transport Signal (STS) Path tab 966c (FIG. 8c). Each of the three tabs displays a shelf/slot/port location, port descriptor, status, errored seconds, severely errored seconds and coding violation data for each port. The data may correspond to a particular port selected by the administrator, all ports in a selected module or all ports in the entire network device. Various other physical layer network protocol sub-branches may also be displayed in list 958f, including a sub-branch for Ethernet, depending upon the capabilities of the selected network device.

[0262] Referring to FIG. 8d, if the administrator selects Security branch 898t, various tabs are displayed containing security related information, for example, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) tab 967a and Configuration Changes tab 967b (FIG. 8e). SNMP tab 967a may display, for example, read and read/write community strings and a command line interpreter (CLI) administrator password for the network device. Configuration Changes tab 967b may display configuration changes made to the network device including event, time, configurer and workstation identification from where the change was made. Various other security tabs may also be provided.

Dynamic Bulletin Boards:

[0263] Graphical User Interface (GUI) 895 described in detail above provides a great deal of information to a network administrator to assist the administrator in managing each network device in a telecommunications network. As shown, however, this information is contained in a large number of GUI screens/tabs. There may be many instances when a network administrator may want to simultaneously view multiple screens/tabs. To provide network managers with more control and flexibility personal application bulletin boards (PABBs, i.e., dynamic bulletin boards) are provided that allow the network administrator to customize the information they view by dragging and dropping various GUI screens/tabs (e.g., windows, table entries, dialog boxes, panels, device mimics, etc.) from GUI 895 onto one or more dynamic bulletin boards. This allows the administrator to consolidate several GUI screens and/or dialog boxes into a single view. The information in the dynamic bulletin board remains linked to the GUI such that both the GUI and the bulletin boards are dynamically updated if the screens in either the GUI or in the bulletin boards are changed. As a result, the administrator may manage and/or configure network devices through the GUI screens or the dynamic bulletin board. Within the dynamic bulletin boards, the administrator may change the format of the data and, perhaps, view the same data in multiple formats simultaneously. Moreover, the administrator may add information to one dynamic bulletin board from multiple different network devices to allow the administrator to simultaneously manage and/or configure the multiple network devices. The dynamic bulletin boards provide an alternative viewing environment, and administrators can, therefore, choose what they want to view, when they want to view it and how they want to view it.

[0264] Referring to FIG. 9a, to open a dynamic bulletin board, a network administrator selects a Bulletin Bd option 968a from a view pull-down menu 968b. A bulletin board 970a (FIG. 9b) is then displayed for the administrator. Instead, a bulletin board may automatically be opened whenever an administrator logs into an NMS client to access GUI 895. Once the bulletin board is opened, the administrator may use a mouse to move a cursor over a desired GUI screen, press and hold down a left mouse button and drag the selected item onto the bulletin board (i.e., “drag and drop”). If an item within a GUI screen is capable of being dragged and dropped (i.e., posted) to the bulletin board—that is, the bulletin board supports/recognizes the GUI object—, a drag and drop icon appears as the administrator drags the cursor over to the bulletin board. If no icon appears, then the selected item is not supported by the bulletin board. Thus, the administrator is provided with visual feedback as to whether or not an item is supported by the PABB.

[0265] Referring to FIG. 9b, as one example, an administrator may select ATM Stats In tab 963a corresponding to a particular network device (e.g., system 192.168.9.201) and drag and drop (indicated by arrow 969a) that tab onto bulletin board 970a. Since this is the first item dropped into the bulletin board, the ATM Stats In tab is sized and positioned to use the entire space (or a large portion of the space) dedicated to the bulletin board. Instead of selecting the entire ATM Stats In tab, the administrator may drag and drop only one or only a few entries from the tab, for example, entry 963i, and only those entries would then be displayed in the bulletin board. An item in bulletin board 970a may be removed by clicking on delete button 971a. The size of the bulletin board may be increased or decreased by clicking on expand button 971b or by selecting, dragging and dropping a bulletin board boarder (e.g., 971c–971f), and the bulletin board may be minimized by clicking on minimize button 971g.

[0266] The administrator may then select other GUI data to drag and drop onto bulletin board 970a. Referring to FIG. 9c, for example, the administrator may select ATM Stats Out tab 963b also corresponding to the same network device and drag and drop (indicated by arrow 969b) that tab onto bulletin board 970a. The bulletin board automatically splits the screen to include both the ATM Stats In tab 963a and the ATM Stats Out tab 963b. Now the administrator may view both of these screens simultaneously, and since the bulletin board and the screens it displays are linked to GUI 895, the ATM Stats In and Out tabs are automatically updated with information as the GUI itself is updated with information. Thus, if the administrator changes any data in the items dragged to the bulletin board, the GUI is automatically updated and if any data in the GUI is changed, then any corresponding screens in the bulletin board are also updated. Again, instead of selecting the entire tab, the administrator may select one or more entries in a tab and drag and drop those entries onto the bulletin board. Also, the administrator may delete any bulletin board entry by clicking on the corresponding delete button 971a, and change the size of any bulletin board entry using expand button 971b or minimize button 971g.

[0267] The administrator may then select other GUI data from the same network device (e.g., system 192.168.9.201) to drag and drop to the bulletin board or the administrator may select a different network device (e.g., system 192.168.9.202, FIG. 9d) in navigation tree 898 and drag and drop various GUI screens corresponding to that network device to bulletin board 970a. For example, the administrator may select ATM Stats In tab 972a and drag and drop (indicated by arrow 969c) that tab to bulletin board 970a, and the administrator may then select ATM Stats Out tab 972b (FIG. 9e) corresponding to system 192.168.9.202 and drag and drop (indicated by arrow 969d) that tab onto bulletin board 970a. Consequently, the administrator is able to simultaneously view multiple screens corresponding to different network devices. The administrator may also choose to drag and drop related screens. For example, ATM Stats In and Out tabs 963a, 972a and 963b, 972b, respectively, may represent two ends of an ATM connection between the two network devices, and viewing these screens simultaneously may assist the administrator in managing both network devices.

[0268] As shown in FIGS. 9b–9e, when new items are dropped onto the bulletin board, the bulletin board continues to divide the available space to fit the new items and may shrink the items to fit in the available space. Many more items may be added to a bulletin board, for example eight to ten items. However, instead of continuing to add items to the same bulletin board, the administrator may choose to open multiple bulletin boards (e.g., 970a–970n, FIG. 9f).

[0269] An administrator may wish to view an item dragged to a bulletin board in a different format than that displayed in the GUI. The different format may, for example, have more meaning to them or provide more clarity to the task at hand. For instance, after dragging and dropping ATM Stats In tab 963a to bulletin board 970a (FIG. 9g), the administrator may then move the cursor over the ATM Stats In tab and double click the right mouse button to cause a pull-down menu 973 displaying various format options to appear. A normal format option 973a may cause the item to appear as it did in the GUI—that is, ATM Stats In tab 963a will appear as shown in FIG. 9g. A list format option 973b may cause the data in ATM Stats In tab 963a to be displayed as an ordered list 974a as shown in FIG. 9h. A graph option 973c may cause the data in ATM Stats In tab 963a to be displayed as a pie chart 974b (FIG. 9i), a bar graph 974c (FIG. 9j) or any other type of graph or graphical representation. A config option 973d may cause the data in the ATM Stats In tab 963a to be displayed as a dialog box 974d (FIG. 9k) displaying configuration data corresponding to a selected one of the ATM paths within the ATM Stats In tab. The data in a bulletin board entry may be displayed in a variety of different ways to make the administrator's tasks simpler and more efficient.

[0270] Referring to FIG. 91, an administrator may wish to view an item dragged to a bulletin board in multiple different formats simultaneously. For example, the administrator may move the cursor over ATM Stats In tab 963a in the bulletin board, press down and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor (indicated by arrow 969e) over a blank area of the bulletin board (i.e., drag and drop) to add a second copy of ATM Stats In tab 963a to the bulletin board. The administrator may then move the cursor over the copied ATM Stats In tab, double click the right mouse button to cause pull-down menu 973 to appear and select a different format in which to display the copied ATM Stats In tab. As a result, the administrator is able to simultaneously view the normal format while also viewing another format, for example, a pie chart.

[0271] Although the above examples used the ATM Stats In and Out tabs, it is to be understood that any of the tabs or entries within tabs in status window 897 may be capable of being dragged and dropped into one or more dynamic bulletin boards. In addition, an administrator may drag and drop one or more of the FCAPS buttons 899a–899e (FIG. 7a) to a bulletin board.

[0272] Referring to FIG. 9m, in addition to dragging and dropping items from status window 897 or the FCAPS buttons, an administrator may drag and drop (indicated by arrow 969f) device mimic 896a onto bulletin board 970a. In this example, the administrator has dragged and dropped the device mimic corresponding to network device 192.168.9.201. As previously mentioned, the device mimic may display ports and modules in different colors to indicate status for those components, for example, green for normal operation, yellow for warning status and red for failure status. The administrator may then monitor the device mimic in the bulletin board while continuing to use GUI 895 for other configuration and management operations. Instead, the administrator may only select, drag and drop portions of the device mimic, for example, only one or more universal port cards or one or more forwarding cards.

[0273] Referring to FIG. 9n, the administrator may also select a different network device in navigation tree 898 and then drag and drop (indicated by arrow 969g) a device mimic 975 corresponding to that device onto bulletin board 970a. As a result, the administrator may simultaneously view the device mimics of both network devices (or more than two network devices). In addition, the administrator may drag and drop both a front and a back view of a device mimic such that all of a network device's modules may be visible. Instead, the administrator may drag and drop a front and back view 955a, 955b (FIG. 4n) from a separate pull away window 955.

[0274] A network administrator may save one or more dynamic bulletin boards before exiting out of the NMS client, and the NMS client may persist this data in the administrator's profile (described below). When the administrator logs in to the same or a different NMS client and selects Bulletin Bd option 968a (FIG. 9a), their profile may automatically open up any saved dynamic bulletin boards or present the administrator with a list of saved dynamic bulletin boards that the administrator may select to have opened. When saved dynamic bulletin boards are re-opened, the NMS client updates any items posted in those bulletin boards such that the posted items are synchronized with the GUI. Instead, the NMS client may automatically open any saved dynamic bulletin boards as soon as the administrator logs on—that is, without requiring the administrator to select Bulletin Bd option 968.

[0275] Through saved bulletin boards, a senior administrator may guide and instruct junior administrators through various tasks. For example, a senior administrator may drag and drop a sequence of GUI screens onto one or more bulletin boards where the sequence of GUI screens represent a series of steps that the senior administrator wants the junior administrator to take to complete a particular task (e.g., provisioning a SONET path). In addition to providing the series of steps, the senior administrator may fill in various parameters (e.g., traffic descriptors) to indicate to junior administrators the default parameters the senior administrator wants them to use. The saved bulletin board may then be added to the junior administrator's profile or put in a master profile accessible by multiple users. The junior administrator may then use a saved bulletin board to interactively complete provisioning tasks similar to the task shown in the saved bulletin board. For example, the junior administrator may use the saved SONET path bulletin board to provision one or more different SONET paths. In effect, then saved bulletin boards behave as custom wizards.

[0276] As described above, the dynamic bulletin boards allow a network administrator to actively monitor—simultaneously—specific information about one or more operational network devices. This provides a powerful customization tool for the administrator of large, complex network devices in large, complex telecommunications networks. By customizing views of one or more devices, the administrator may view only the data they need to see and in a format that best meets their needs.

Custom Object Collections:

[0277] As described above with respect to FCAPS management, a network device (e.g., 10, FIG. 1 and 540, FIGS. 35a–35b) may include a large number (e.g., millions) of configurable/manageable objects such as modules, ports, paths, connections, etc. To provide flexibility and scalability, the network management system (NMS) allows users to create custom object collections. Thus, even though a network device or multiple network devices in a telecommunication network may include millions of objects, a network manager may create a collection and add only objects of interest to that collection. The objects may be of a similar or different type and may correspond to the same or different network devices. The network manager may also add and remove objects from existing collections, create additional new collections and remove existing collections. The network manager may then view the various objects in each collection. In addition, the collections are linked to the NMS graphical user interface (GUI), such that changes to objects in either are updated in the other. Custom object collections provide scalability and flexibility. In addition, custom object collections may be tied to user profiles to limit access. For example, a customer may be limited to viewing only the collections of objects related to their account. Similarly, a network manager may be limited to viewing only those collections of objects for which they have authority.

[0278] Referring to FIG. 10a, when a user first logs into an NMS client by supplying a username and password, a list of network devices (e.g., 192.168.9.201 and 192.168.9.202) is displayed in accordance with the user's profile. Profiles are described in more detail below. In addition, a list of collections that correspond with the user's profile may also be provided. For example, navigation tree 898 may include a network branch 976a, and if the user double clicks the left mouse button on the network branch a Collections branch 976b is displayed. Similarly, if the user double clicks the left mouse button on the Collections branch, a list 976c is provided of available collections (e.g., Test1, New1, Walmart, Kmart). Alternatively or in addition, the user may select a Collections option 977a from a view pull-down menu 977b to display list 976c of available collections. List 976c may include collections pre-defined by other users (e.g., senior network administrator) and/or custom collections previously created by the user.

[0279] Referring to FIG. 10b, to view collections that include objects corresponding to only one network device, the user may select a network device (e.g., 192.168.9.201) and select a Collections option 958m. If the user double clicks the left mouse button on Collections option 958m, a list 958n (e.g., Test1 and New1) of available collections corresponding to the selected network device is displayed. In addition, as the user selects various FCAPS tabs, collections containing objects from the selected tab may be displayed. For example, collection Test1 (FIG. 10c) in navigation tree 947a may include objects selected from Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 and is therefore displayed when the Virtual ATM Interfaces tab is selected.

[0280] Referring to FIG. 10d, to add an object to an existing or new collection, a network manager first selects the object (e.g., Module object 978a) and then selects a Collection button 979a to cause an Add to Collection option 979b and a New Collection option 979c to appear. If the network manager selects New Collection option 979c, then a dialog box 979d (FIG. 10e) appears and the network manager inputs the name of the new collection. After inputting the name of the new collection, the network manager selects OK button 979e and the object is automatically added to the collection and dialog box 979d is closed. If the network manager selects Add to Collection option 979b, a dialog box 979f (FIG. 10f) appears listing the available collections. The user may then select one of the listed collections and then select OK button 979g to add the object to the collection and close dialog box 979f.

[0281] Alternatively, the network manager may add an object to a collection by dragging and dropping an object from an FCAPs tab onto a collection branch in a navigation tree. Referring to FIG. 10g, for example, a network manager may select an object 978b by pressing down on the left mouse button, dragging (indicated by arrows 980a and 980b) the object to a collection and dropping the object on the collection (i.e., drag and drop).

[0282] For instance, object 978b may be dragged and dropped on collection Test1 in either navigation tree 947a or 898. An object may also be dragged and dropped into a named collection in a pull down menu or dialog box.

[0283] When a collection is selected by a network manager, customer or other user, for example, by double clicking on the collection name in a navigation tree or pull down menu, the tabs in service status window 897 are changed to include only objects in the selected collection. For instance, if the collection includes only SONET path objects, then only the SONET Paths tab will include objects once the collection is selected and all other tabs will not include any objects. Alternatively, the other tabs in service status window 897 may include objects corresponding to or related to the objects in the selected collection.

[0284] Referring to FIG. 10h, when device 192.168.9.201 is selected and the SONET Paths tab is selected, a large number of SONET paths may be displayed. Referring to FIG. 10i, when collection New1 is selected, the SONET Paths Tab is changed to display only those SONET path objects within the New1 collection. As a result, the user need only view the objects in which they are interested.

[0285] To remove an object from a collection, the network manager selects an object and then selects a Remove button 982. The network manager may also select an object and double click the left mouse button to cause a dialog box to appear. The network manager may edit certain parameters and then exit from the dialog box. Any changes made to an object in a collection are automatically updated in GUI 895. Similarly, any changes made to an object in GUI 895 are automatically updated in any and all collections including that object.

[0286] Custom object collections allow a user to view only those objects that are of interest. These may be a few objects from an otherwise very large object list in the same FCAPS tab (that is, the collection acts as a filter), and these may be a few objects from different FCAPS tabs (that is, the collection acts as an aggregator). Consequently, both flexibility and scalability are provided through custom object collections.

[0287] Custom object collections may also be used to restrict access to network objects. For example, a senior network administrator may establish a collection of objects and provide access to that collection to a junior network manager through the junior network manager's profile. In one embodiment, the junior network manager may not be provided with the full navigation tree 898 (FIG. 10a) after logging in. Instead, only a list of available collections may be provided. Thus, the junior network manager's access to the network is limited to the objects contained in the available collections and the FCAPS tabs will similarly only include those same objects.

[0288] Similarly, collections may be created that include objects corresponding to a particular customer, for example, Walmart or Kmart. A customer profile may be established for each customer and one or more collections containing only objects relevant to each customer may be assigned to the relevant customer profile. Consequently, each customer is limited to viewing only those objects corresponding to their own accounts and not the accounts of any other customers. This permits Customer Network Management (CNM) without breaching the security provided to each customer account.

Profiles:

[0289] Profiles may be used by the NMS client to provide individual users (e.g., network managers and customers) with customized graphical user interfaces (GUIs) or views of their network and with defined management capabilities. For example, some network managers are only responsible for a certain set of devices in the network. Displaying all network devices makes their management tasks more difficult and may inadvertently provide them with management capabilities over network devices for which they are not responsible or authorized to perform. With respect to customers, profiles limit access to only those network device resources in a particular customer's network—that is, only those network device resources for which the customer has subscribed/paid. This is crucial to protecting the proprietary nature of each customer's network. Profiles also allow each network manager and customer to customize the GUI into a presentation format that is most efficient or easy for them to use. For example, even two users with access to the same network devices and having the same management capabilities may have different GUI customizations through their profiles. In addition, profiles may be used to provide other important information, for example, SNMP community strings to allow an NMS server to communicate with a network device over SNMP, SNMP retry and timeout values, and which NMS servers to use, for example, primary and secondary servers may be identified.

[0290] A network administrator is typically someone who powers up a network device for the first time, installs necessary software on the new network device as well as installs any NMS software on an NMS computer system, and adds any additional hardware and/or software to a network device. The network administrator is also the person that attaches physical network cables to network device ports. The first time GUI 895 is displayed to a network administrator, an NMS client application uses a default profile including a set of default values. Referring again to FIG. 7a, the administrator may change the default values in his profile by selecting (e.g., clicking on) a profile selection 902 in a navigation tree menu 898. This causes the NMS client to display a profiles tab 903 (FIG. 11a) on the screen. The profile tab displays any existing profiles 904. The first time the profile tab appears only the network administrator's profile is displayed as no other profiles yet exist.

[0291] To save a network manager's time, the profiles tab may also include a copy button 906. By selecting a profile 904 and clicking on the copy button, an existing profile is copied. The network manager may then change the parameters within the copied profile. This is helpful where two user profiles are to include the same or similar parameters.

[0292] To change the parameters in the network administrator's profile or any other existing profile, including a copied profile, the user double clicks on one of the profiles 904. To add a new profile, the user clicks on an Add button 905. In either case, the NMS client displays a profile dialog box 907 (FIGS. 11b–11c) on the screen. Through the profile dialog box, a user's user name 908a, password 908b and confirmed password 908c may be added or changed. The confirm password field is used to assure that the password was entered properly in the password field. The password and confirmed password may be encrypted strings used for user authentication. These fields will be displayed as asterisks on the screen. Once added, a user simply logs on to an NMS client with this user name and password and the NMS client displays the GUI in accordance with the other parameters of this profile.

[0293] A group level access field 908d enables/disables various management capabilities (i.e., functionality available through the NMS client). Clicking on the group level access field may provide a list of available access levels. In one embodiment, access levels may include administrator, provisioner and viewer (e.g., customer), with administrator having the highest level of management capabilities and viewer having the lowest level of management capabilities (described in more detail below). In one embodiment, users can create profiles for other users at or below their own group access level. For example, a user at the provisioner access level can create user profiles for users at either the provisioner or viewer level but cannot create an administrator user profile.

[0294] A description may be added in a description field 908e, including, for example, a description of the user, phone number, fax number and/or e-mail address. A group name may be added to group field 908f, and a list of network device IP addresses may be provided in a device list field 908g. Alternatively, a domain name server (DNS) name may be provided and a host look up may be used to access the IP address of the corresponding device. Where a group name is provided, the list of network devices is associated with the group such that if the same group name is assigned to multiple user profiles, the users will be presented with the same view—that is, the same list of network devices in device list field 908g. For example, users from the same customer may share a group name corresponding to that customer. A wildcard feature is available for the group field. For example, perhaps an * or ALL may be used as a wildcard to indicate that a particular user is authorized to see all network devices. In most instances, the wildcard feature will only be used for a high-level network administrator. The list of devices indicates which network devices the user may manage or view, for example, configuration status and statistics data may be viewed.

[0295] Within a profile certain policy flags (i.e., attributes) may also be set. For example, a flag 908h may be set to indicate that the user is not allowed to change his/her password, and an account disable flag 908i may be set to disable a particular profile/account. In addition, a flag 908j may be set to allow the user to add network device IP addresses to device list field 908g, and a number may be added to a timeout field 908k to specify a number of minutes after which a user will be automatically logged out due to inactivity. A zero in this field or no value in this field may be used to indicate unlimited activity, that is, the user will never be automatically logged out.

[0296] The profile may also be used to indicate with which NMS servers the NMS client should communicate. An IP address or DNS name may be added to a primary server field 908l and a secondary server field 908m. If the primary server fails, the client will access the secondary server. A port number may be added to primary server port field 908n and to secondary server port field 908o to indicate the particular ports that should be used for RMI connectivity to the primary and secondary NMS servers.

[0297] As described below, the information provided in a user profile is stored in tables within the NMS database, and when a user logs onto the network through an NMS client, the NMS client connects to an NMS server that retrieves the user's profile information and sends the information to the NMS client. The NMS client automatically saves the NMS server primary and secondary IP addresses and port numbers from the user's profile to a team session file associated with the user's username and password in a memory 986 (FIG. 11y) local to the NMS client. If the user logs into an NMS client through a web browser, then the NMS client may save the NMS server primary and secondary IP addresses and port numbers to a cookie that is then stored in the user's local hard drive. The next time the user logs in to the NMS client, the NMS client uses the IP addresses and port numbers stored in the team session file or cookie to connect to the appropriate NMS server.

[0298] The first time a user accesses an NMS client, however, no team session file or cookie will be available. Consequently, during the initial access of the NMS client, the NMS client may use a default IP address to connect with an NMS server or a pop-up menu 1034 (FIG. 11z) may be displayed in which the user may type in the IP address in a field 1034a of the NMS server they want the NMS client to use or select an IP address from a pop-up menu that appears when a dropdown button 1034b is selected.

[0299] User profiles and team session files/cookies allow a network administrator or provisioner to push down new NMS server IP addresses, port numbers and other information to users simply by changing those values in the user profiles. For example, an NMS server may be over loaded and a network administrator may wish to move some users from this NMS server to another less utilized NMS server. The administrator need only change the NMS server IP addresses and port numbers in the users' profiles to affect the switch. The NMS server sends the new IP addresses and port numbers to the one or more NMS clients through which the users are logged in, and the NMS clients save the new IP addresses and port numbers in each user's team session file or cookie. The next time the users log in, the NMS client(s) use the new IP addresses and port numbers in the team session files or cookies to access the appropriate NMS server. Thus, the users selected by the administrator are automatically moved to a different NMS server without the need to notify those users or take additional steps. In addition to saving IP addresses and perhaps port numbers in team session files/cookies, other information from the user profile may also be saved in team session files/cookies and changes to that information may be pushed down by the administrator simply by changing a user profile.

[0300] Referring again to FIGS. 11b–11c, additional fields may be added to device list 908g to provide more information. For example, a read field 908p may be used to indicate the SNMP community string to be used to allow the NMS server to communicate with the network device over SNMP. The SNMP connection may be used to retrieve statistical data and device status from the network device. In addition, a read/write field 908q may be used to indicate an SNMP community string to allow the NMS server to configure the network device and/or provision services. The profile may also include a retry field 908r and a timeout field 908s to provide SNMP retry and timeout values. Many different fields may be provided in a profile.

[0301] Instead of providing all the parameters and fields in a single profile dialog box, they may be separated into a variety of a tabbed dialog boxes (FIGS. 11d–11g). The tabbed dialog boxes may provide better scalability and flexibility for future needs.

[0302] In one embodiment, an administrator level user has both read and write access to the physical and logical objects of the NMS client. Thus, all screens and functionality are available to an administrator level user, and an administrator after physically attaching an external network attachment to a particular network device port may then enable that port and provision SONET paths on that port. All screens are available to a provisioner level user, however, they do not have access to all functionality as they are limited to read-only access of physical objects. For example, a provisioner can see SONET ports available on a device and can provision SONET paths on a port, but the provisioner cannot enable/disable a SONET port. In other words, a provisioner's power begins at the start of logical objects (not physical objects), for example, SONET paths, ATM interfaces, virtual ATM interfaces, and PVCs, and continues through all the configuration aspects of any object or entity that can be stacked on top of either a SONET path or ATM interface. A viewer (e.g., customer) level user has read-only access to logical entities and only those logical entities corresponding to their group name or listed in the device list field. A viewer may or may not have access to Fault, Configuration, Accounting, and Security categories of FCAPS relative to their devices.

[0303] A customer may install an NMS client at a customer site or, preferably, the customer will use a web browser to access the NMS client. To use the web browser, a service provider gives the customer an IP address corresponding to the service provider's site. The customer supplies the IP address to their web browser and while at the service provider site, the customer logs in with their username and password. The NMS client then displays the customer level GUI corresponding to that username and password.

[0304] Referring to FIG. 11h, a user preference dialog box 909 may be used to customize the GUI into a presentation format that is most efficient or easy for a user to work with. For example, show flags (i.e., attributes) may be used to add tool tips (flag 910a), add horizontal grid lines on tables (flag 910b), add vertical grid lines on tables (flag 910c) and add bookmarks/short cuts (e.g., create a short cut to a PVC dialog box). Look and feel flags may also be used to make the GUI appear as a JAVA GUI would appear (flag 911a) or as a native application, for example, Windows, Windows/NT or Motif, GUI would appear (flag 911b).

[0305] As an alternative to providing a Group Name 908f (FIGS. 11b–11c) or a Customer Name (FIG. 11d), when a profile is created or changed the administrator or provisioner may double click the left mouse button on a network device (e.g., 192.168.9.202, FIGS. 11b–11c or 11g) in the device list to cause a pop-up menu 1000 (FIGS. 11i–11j) to be displayed. The pop-up menu provides a list 1000a of available groups corresponding to the selected network device, and the administrator or provisioner may select one or more groups (e.g., Walmart-East, Walmart-West) from the list for which the user corresponding to profile will be authorized to access.

[0306] Each group may include one or more configured resources (e.g., SONET paths, VATM interfaces, ATM PVCs) within the network device, and the resources in each group may be related in some way. For instance, a group may include resources configured by a particular provisioner. As another example, a group may include configured resources purchased by a particular customer. For instance, Walmart Corporation may be a customer of a network service provider and each network device resource paid for/subscribed to by Walmart may be included in a Walmart group. In addition, if Walmart subscribes to a larger number of configured resources, the network service provider may create several groups within the same network device for Walmart, for example, Walmart-East may include network device resources associated with Walmart activities in the eastern half of the United States and Walmart-West may include network device resources associated with Walmart activities in the western half of the United States. In addition, the network service provider may create a Walmart-Total group including all configured resources within the network device paid for by Walmart. Various users may be given access to one or more groups. For example, a Walmart employee responsible for network service in the eastern half of the United States may be given access to only the Walmart-East group while another higher level Walmart employee is given access to both the Walmart-East and Walmart-West groups. In addition, the same group name may be used in multiple network devices to simplify tracking. Through profiles multiple users may be given access to the same or different groups of configured resources within each network device, and users may be given access to multiple groups of configured resources in different network devices.

[0307] When an administrator or a provisioner configures a network device resource, they may assign that resource to a particular group. For example, when an administrator or provisioner configures one or more SONET paths, they may assign each SONET path to a particular group. Referring to FIG. 11k–11m, within a SONET Path configuration wizard 1002, an administrator or provisioner may select a SONET Path within the SONET path table 1002a and type in a group name in field 1002b or select a group name from a pop-up menu displayed when dropdown button 1002c is selected. When the administrator/provisioner selects OK button 1002d or Modify button 1002e, the NMS client sends the SONET path data to the NMS server. The NMS server uses this data to fill in a SONET path table (e.g., 600′, FIGS. 11y and 60g) in configuration database 42. A new row is added to the SONET path table for each newly configured SONET path, and data in existing rows are modified for modified SONET paths.

[0308] In addition, the NMS server searches a Managed Resource Group table 1008 (FIGS. 11n–11y) within the configuration database for a match with each assigned group name. If no match is found for a group name, indicating the group name represents a new group, then the NMS server adds a row to the Managed Resource Group table, and the NMS server assigns the group an LID (e.g., 1145) and inserts the LID into an LID column 1008a. The NMS server also inserts the Managed Device PID (e.g., 1) from column 983b in Managed Device table 983 (FIGS. 11y and 60a) in the configuration database into a column 1008b and inserts the group name in column 1008c.

[0309] The NMS server also uses the SONET path data from the NMS client to add a row in a Managed Resource Table 1007 (FIGS. 11o and 11y) in configuration database 42 for each newly configured SONET path or to modify data in existing rows for modified SONET paths. The NMS server assigns an LID (e.g., 4443) to each row and inserts the assigned LID into a column 1007a. The NMS server then inserts the assigned SONET path LID (e.g., 901) from Path LID column 600a (FIG. 60g) in the SONET path table into a Resource LID column 1007b. The NMS server also inserts the assigned group LID (e.g., 1145) from column 1008a in Managed Resource Group table 1008 (FIG. 11n) into a managed resource group LID column 1007c.

[0310] Just as each SONET path may be assigned to a group, each other type of configured resource/manageable entity within the network device may be assigned to a group. For example, when an administrator or provisioner configures a virtual ATM (VATM) interface, they may also assign the VATM interface to a group. Referring to FIG. 11p, within an Add V-ATM Interface dialog box 1004, an administrator or provisioner may type in a group name in a field 1004a or select a group name from a pop-up menu displayed when expansion button 1004b is selected. As another example, when an administrator or provisioner configures an ATM PVC, they may assign the ATM PVC to a particular group. Referring to FIG. 11q, in a virtual connection wizard 1006, the administrator or provisioner may assign an ATM PVC to a group by typing in a group name in a field 1006a or by selecting a group name from a pop-up menu displayed when expansion button (e.g., Group List) 1006b is selected. Again, when the administrator or provisioner selects OK button 1004c (FIG. 11p) or Finish button 1006c (FIG. 11q), the NMS client sends the relevant data to the NMS server. The NMS server updates Virtual ATM Interface table 993 (FIG. 60j), a Virtual Connection table 994 (FIG. 60k), Virtual Link table 995 (FIG. 60L) and Cross-Connect table 996 (FIG. 60m), as described below, and similar to the actions taken for the configured SONET paths, the NMS server adds a row to Managed Resource Group table 1008 (FIG. 11n) for each new group and a row to Managed Resource table 1007 (FIG. 11o) for each new managed resource—that is, for each new VATM interface and for each new ATM PVC. This same process may be used to add any manageable entity to a group.

[0311] Instead of using a Managed Resource Group table and a Managed Resource table, the configured network device resource tables (e.g., SONET path table, Virtual ATM IF table, etc.) could include a group name field. However, the Managed Resource Group adds a layer of abstraction, which may allow each configured resource to belong to multiple groups. Moreover, the Managed Resource table provides scalability and modularity by not being tied to a particular resource type. That is, the Managed Resource table will include a row for each different type of configured resource and if the network device is upgraded to include new types of configurable resources, they too may be added to the Managed Resource table without having to upgrade other processes. If each configurable resource is limited to belonging to only one group, then the Managed Resource Table 1007 (FIG. 11o) may include only Resource LID 1007b and not LID 1007a.

[0312] Referring again to FIGS. 11b–11h, after adding or changing a user profile, the administrator or provisioner selects OK button 908t. Selection of the OK button causes the NMS client (e.g., NMS client 850a, FIG. 11y) to send the information provided in the dialog box (or boxes) to an NMS server (e.g., NMS server 851a), and the NMS server uses the received information to update various tables in NMS database 61. In one embodiment, for a newly added user, the NMS server assigns a unique logical identification number (LID) to the user and adds a new row in a User table 1010 (FIGS. 11r and 11y) in the NMS database including the assigned LID 1010a and the username 1010b, password 1010c and group access level 1010d provided by the NMS client. For example, the NMS server may add a new row 1010e including an assigned user LID of 2012, a username of Dave, a password of Marble and a group access level of provisioner.

[0313] The NMS server also adds a row to a User Managed Device table 1012 (FIGS. 11s and 11y) for each network device listed in the user profile. For each row, the NMS server assigns a user managed device LID (e.g., 7892) and inserts it in an LID column 1012a. The NMS server also inserts a user LID 1012b, a host LID 1012c, a retry value 1012d and a timeout value 1012e. The inserted retry and timeout values are from the user profile information sent from the NMS client. The user LID 1012b includes the previously assigned user LID (e.g., 2012) from column 1010a of User Table 1010. The host LID is retrieved from an Administration Managed Device table 1014 (FIGS. 11t and 11y).

[0314] The Administration Managed Device table includes a row for each network device (i.e., managed device) in the telecommunications network. To add a network device to the network, an administrator selects an Add Device option in a pop-up menu 898c (FIG. 6a) in GUI 895 to cause dialog box 1013 (FIG. 11u) to be displayed. The administrator enters the intended IP address or DNS name (e.g., 192.168.9.202) of the new network device into a device host field 1013a and may also enter a device port (e.g., 1521) into a device port field 1013b. The administrator also adds SNMP retry 1013c and timeout 1013d values, which may be overridden later by values supplied within each user profile. In addition, the administrator adds a password for each user access level. In one embodiment, the administrator adds an administrator password 1013e, a provisioner password 1013f and a viewer password 1013g for the managed device.

[0315] The Administration Managed Device table, therefore, provides a centralized set of device records shared by all NMS servers, and since the records are centralized, the Administration Managed Device table facilitates centralized changes to the devices in the network. For example, a network device may be added to the network by adding a record and removed from the network by deleting a record. As another example, a network device's parameters (e.g., IP address) may be changed by modifying data in a record. Because the changes are made to centralized records accessed by all NMS servers, no change notifications need to be sent and the NMS servers may automatically receive the changed data during the next access of the table. Alternatively, the NMS server that makes a change to the central database may send notices out to each connected NMS client and other NMS servers in the network.

[0316] For newly added devices, after the information is input in the dialog box, the administrator selects an Add button 1013h causing the NMS client to send the data from the dialog box to the NMS server. Similarly, for changes to device data, after the information is changed in the dialog box, the administrator selects an OK button 1013i to cause the NMS client to send the data from the dialog box to the NMS server. For new devices, the NMS server uses the received information to add a row to Administration Managed Device table 1014 in NMS database 61, and for existing devices, the NMS server uses the received information to update a previously entered row in the Administration Managed Device table. For each managed device/row, the NMS server assigns a host LID (e.g., 9046) and inserts it in LID column 1014a.

[0317] When the NMS server adds a new row to the User Managed Device table 1012 (FIG. 11s), corresponding to a managed device in a user profile, the NMS server searches column 1014b in the Administration Managed Device table 1014 for a host address matching the IP address (e.g., 192.168.9.202) provided in the user profile information sent from the NMS client. When a match is found, the NMS server retrieves the host LID (e.g., 9046) from column 1014a and inserts it in host LID column 1012c in the User Managed Device table.

[0318] After receiving user profile information from an NMS client, the NMS server also updates a User Resource Group Map table 1016 (FIGS. 11v and 11y) in NMS database 61. For each group identified in the user profile information—one or more groups may be selected in each Group List dialog box 1000 associated with each network device in the user profile—the NMS server adds a row to the User Resource Group Map table. The NMS server assigns an LID (e.g., 8086) for each row and inserts the LID in a column 1016a. The NMS server then inserts the User LID (e.g., 2012) into User LID column 1016b from User table 1010 column 1010a corresponding to the user profile. In addition, the NMS server inserts a User Resource Group LID into column 1016c.

[0319] For each group name received by the NMS server, the NMS server searches a User Resource Group table 1018 (FIGS. 11w and 11y), group name column 1018c, for a match. If a match is not found, then the group is a new group, and the NMS server adds a row to the User Resource Group table. The NMS server assigns an LID (e.g., 1024) to each row and inserts the assigned LID into an LID column 1018a. This User Resource Group LID is also added to column 1016c in the User Resource Group Map table 1016 (FIG. 11v). Within the User Resource Group table 1018 (FIG. 11w), the NMS server also inserts the network device's host LID in a column 1018b from Administration Managed Device table 1014 (FIG. 11t), column 1014a, and the NMS server inserts the group name (e.g., Walmart-East) in column 1018c. Through the group name, the User Resource Group table in the NMS database provides for dynamic binding with the Managed Resource Group table 1008 (FIG. 11n) in the configuration database, as described below.

[0320] After a user's profile is created, the user may log in through an NMS client (e.g., 850a, FIG. 11y) by typing in their username and password. The NMS client then sends the username and password to an NMS server (e.g., 851a), and in response, the NMS server sends a query to NMS database 61 to search User table 1010 (FIG. 11r) column 1010b for a username matching the username provided by the NMS client. If the username is not found, then the user is denied access. If the username is found, then, for additional security, the NMS server may compare the password provided by the NMS client to the password stored in column 1010c of the User table. If the passwords do not match, then the user is denied access. If the passwords match, then the NMS server creates a user profile logical managed object (LMO).

[0321] In one embodiment, the user profile LMO is a JAVA object and a JAVA persistence layer within the NMS server creates the user profile LMO. For each persistent JAVA class/object, metadata is stored in a class table 1020 (FIG. 11y) within the NMS database. Thus, the JAVA persistence layer within the NMS server begins by retrieving metadata from the class table in the NMS database corresponding to the user profile LMO. The metadata may include simple attributes and association attributes.

[0322] Referring to FIG. 11x, the metadata for a user profile LMO 1022 includes three simple attributes—username 1022a, password 1022b and group access level 1022c—and two association attributes—resource group maps 1022d and managed devices 1022e. The NMS server inserts the username (e.g., Dave), password (e.g., Marble) and group access level (e.g., provisioner) retrieved from the User table 1010 into the user profile LMO 1024 (FIG. 11y) being created. The managed devices association attribute 1022e causes the NMS server to create a user managed device properties LMO 1026 for each network device in the user's profile.

[0323] The NMS server first retrieves metadata from class table 1020 associated with the user managed device properties LMO 1026. The metadata includes two simple attributes (retry 1026b and timeout 1026c) and one association attribute (managed device 1026a). The metadata causes the NMS server to search User Managed Device table 1012 (FIG. 11s) column 1012b for a user LID (e.g., 2012) corresponding to the user LID in column 1010a (FIG. 11r) of User table 1010 in a row 1010e associated with the username and password received from the NMS client. For each row in the User Managed Device table having the matching user LID (e.g., 2012), the NMS server creates a user managed device properties LMO 1026 and inserts the retry value from column 1012d as the retry simple attribute 1026b and the timeout value from column 1012e as the timeout simple attribute 1026c.

[0324] In response to the managed device associated attribute, the NMS server retrieves metadata from class table 1020 associated with administration managed device properties LMO 1028. The metadata includes a list of simple attributes including host address 1028a, port address 1028b, SNMP retry value 1028c, SNMP timeout value 1028d and a database port address 1028e for connecting to the configuration database within the network device. The metadata also includes simple attributes corresponding to passwords for each of the possible group access levels, for example, an administrator password 1028f, a provisioner password 1028g and a viewer password 1028h.

[0325] The NMS server uses the host LID (e.g., 9046) from column 1012c in the User Managed Device table (FIG. 11s) as a primary key to locate the row (e.g., 1014c, FIG. 11t) in the Administration Managed Device table 1014 corresponding to the network device. The NMS server uses the data in this table row to insert values for the simple attributes in the Administration Managed Device LMO 1028. For example, a host address of 192.168.9.202 and a port address of 1521 may be inserted. The NMS server also selects a password corresponding to the user's group access level. For instance, if the user's group access level is provisioner, then the NMS server inserts the provisioner password of, for example, team2, from column 1014d into the Administration Managed Device LMO.

[0326] The NMS server then inserts the newly created Administration Managed Device LMO 1028 into the corresponding User Managed Device Properties LMO 1026, and the NMS server also inserts each newly created User Managed Devices Properties LMO 1026 into User Profile LMO 1022. Thus, the information necessary for connecting to each network device listed in the user profile is made available within user LMO 1022.

[0327] The resource group maps association attribute 1022d (FIG. 11x) within user LMO 1022 causes the NMS server to create a user resource group map LMO 1030 for each group in the user's profile. The user resource group map LMO 1030 includes one simple attribute—user profile 1030a—and one association attribute—user resource group 1030b. The NMS server inserts the user LID (e.g., 2012) corresponding to the user LID in column 1010a (FIG. 11r) in User table 1010 associated with the username, password and group access level received from the NMS client.

[0328] In response to user resource group associated attribute 1030b, the NMS server creates a User Resource Group LMO 1032. The NMS server begins by retrieving metadata from class table 1020 corresponding to the User Resource Group LMO. The metadata includes three simple attributes: host address 1032a, port address 1032b and group name 1032c. The NMS server searches User Resource Group Map table 1016 (FIG. 11y) for the user LID (e.g., 2012) corresponding to the username and password received from the NMS client. The NMS server then uses the corresponding user resource group LID (e.g., 1024) from column 1016c as a primary key to locate a row (e.g., 1018d, FIG. 11w) in User Resource Group table 1018. The NMS server inserts the group name (e.g., Walmart-East) from the located row in User Resource Group table 1018 as simple attribute 1032c in user resource group LMO 1032. The NMS server then uses the host LID (e.g., 9046) from the located row to search column 1014a in the Administration Managed Device table 1014 (FIG. 11t) for a match. Once a match is found, the NMS server uses data in the located row (e.g., 1014c) to insert the host address (e.g., 192.168.9.202) from column 1014b as simple attribute 1032a and the port address (e.g., 1521) from column 1014e as simple attribute 1032b in user resource group LMO 1032. The NMS server then inserts the user resource group LMO 1032 into the user resource group map LMO 1030, and the NMS server inserts each of the user resource group map LMOs 1030 into the user profile LMO 1022. Thus, the data (e.g., host and port address and group name) required to locate each group included in the user profile is inserted within user profile LMO 1022.

[0329] The NMS server sends data from the user profile LMO to the NMS client to allow the NMS client to present the user with a graphical user interface such as GUI 895 shown in FIG. 4a. If the user selects one of the network devices listed in navigation tree 898, the NMS server retrieves the group level access (e.g., provisioner) and the password (e.g., team 2) corresponding to that group level access from the user profile LMO and then connects to the selected network device. The NMS server then retrieves the network device's physical data as described below under the heading “NMS Server Scalability.”

[0330] Alternatively, a more robust set of data may be sent from the NMS server to the NMS client such that for each transaction issued by the NMS client, the data provided with the transaction eliminates the need for the NMS server to access the user profile LMO in its local memory. This reduces the workload of the NMS server, which will likely be sent transactions from many NMS clients. In one embodiment, the NMS server may send the NMS client the entire user profile LMO. Instead, the server may create a separate client user profile LMO that may present the data in a format expected by the NMS client and perhaps include only some of the data from the user profile LMO stored locally to the NMS server. In the preferred embodiment, the client user profile LMO includes at least data corresponding to each device in the user profile and each group selected within the user profile for each device. If the user selects one of the network devices listed in navigation tree 898, the NMS client includes the selected network device's IP address, the password corresponding to the user's group access level and the database port number in the “Get Network Device” transaction sent to the NMS server. The NMS server uses this information to connect to the network device and return the network device's physical data to the NMS client.

[0331] If the user selects a tab in configuration status window 897 that includes logical data corresponding to configured network device resources (e.g., SONET Paths tab 942 (FIG. 5q), ATM Interfaces tab 946 (FIG. 5r), Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 (FIG. 5s), Virtual Connections tab 948 (FIG. 5z)), then the NMS server searches the user profile LMO for group names corresponding to the selected network device or the NMS client provides the group names in the transaction. The NMS server then retrieves data from the selected network device for configured resources corresponding to each group name and the selected tab. If no group names are listed, the NMS server may retrieve data for all configured resources corresponding to the selected tab.

[0332] For example, if a user selects SONET Paths tab 942 (FIG. 5q), then the NMS server searches the user profile LMO for all group names corresponding to the selected network device (e.g., Walmart-East) or the NMS client provides all group names (e.g., Walmart-East) corresponding to the selected network device to the NMS server as part of the “Get SONET paths” transaction. The NMS server then dynamically issues a where clause such as “where SONET path is in group Walmart-East”. This causes group name column 1008c in the Managed Resource Group table 1008 (FIG. 11n) in the network device's configuration database 42 to be searched for a match with the group name of Walmart-East. Additional where clauses may be dynamically issued corresponding to other group names found in the user profile LMO. If no match is found for a group name in column 1008c, then the NMS server simply returns an empty set to the NMS client. If a match is found for a group name (e.g., Walmart-East), then the NMS server retrieves the managed resource group LID (e.g., 1145) from column 1008a in the same row (e.g., row 1008d) as the matching group name.

[0333] The NMS server then searches column 1007c in the Managed Resource table 1007 (FIG. 11o) for one or more matches with the retrieved managed resource group LID (e.g., 1145). As described above, the Managed Resource Table includes one row for each configured network device resource in a particular group. For each match found for the retrieved managed resource group LID (e.g., 1145), the NMS server uses the resource LID (e.g., 901) from column 1007b as a primary key to a row in a table including the data corresponding to the configured resource. In this example, a resource LID of 901 corresponds to a row in SONET Path Table 600′ (FIG. 60g). Since the user selected the SONET Paths tab, the NMS server retrieves the data in the corresponding row and sends it to the NMS client. The NMS client uses the data to update graphical user interface (GUI) tables 985 in local memory 986, which causes GUI 895 to display the SONET path to the user. Other SONET paths may also be included in the group Walmart-East, and those would be similarly located and retrieved by the NMS server and sent to the NMS client for display to the user.

[0334] Since each group may include different types of configured resources, the NMS server may locate configured resources other than SONET paths, for example, VATMs or ATM PVCs, in Managed Resource table 1007. If configured resources are found that do not correspond to the tab selected by the user, the NMS server does not retrieve the associated data or send it to the NMS client. The NMS server follows a similar process if the user selects another tab including logical data, for example, ATM Interfaces tab 946 (FIG. 5r), Virtual ATM Interfaces tab 947 (FIG. 5s) or Virtual Connections tab 948 (FIG. 5z). Although the above discussion has used SONET paths, VATM interfaces and ATM PVCs as examples of configurable resources that may be included in a group, other configurable resources may also be included, for example, configurable resources corresponding to different layer one or upper layer network protocols (e.g., Ethernet, MPLS, Frame Relay, IP).

[0335] When data is stored in tables within the same database, references from one table to another may provide a direct binding and referential integrity may be maintained by only deleting the upper most record—that is, not leaving any dangling records. Referential integrity prevents references from being orphaned, which may lead to data loss or other more severe problems, such as a system crash. In the current embodiment, tables are stored across multiple databases. Certain tables are stored in NMS database 61 and certain other tables are stored in the configuration database within each network device in the network. Direct binding between tables cannot be maintained since a database may be removed or a record deleted without maintaining referential integrity. To address this issue, group names are used to provide a “dynamic binding” between the User Resource Group table 1018 (FIG. 11w) in the NMS database and the Managed Resource Group table 1008 (FIG. 11n) in each configuration database. Since there is no direct binding, if a group name is not found in the Managed Resource Group table, the NMS server simply returns an empty set and no data is lost or other more serious problems caused. If the group name is later added to the Managed Resource Group table, then through dynamic binding, it will be found.

[0336] Through a user profile, a user may log-on to the network with a single, secure username and password through any NMS client, access any network device in their user profile and access configured resources corresponding to groups in their user profile. Since the tables including the data necessary for the creation of user profile LMOs are stored in the NMS database, any NMS server capable of connecting to the NMS database—that is, any NMS server in the network—may access the tables and generate a user LMO. As a result, users may log-on with a single, secure username and password through any NMS client that may be connected to an NMS server capable of connecting to the NMS database. Essentially, users may log on through any computer system/workstation (e.g., 984, FIG. 11y) on which an NMS client is loaded or remotely through internet web access to an NMS client within the network and gain access to the network devices listed in their user profile. Thus, each user need only remember a single username and password to configure/manage any of the network devices listed in their user profile or any of the resources included within groups listed in their user profile through any NMS client in the network.

[0337] In addition, user profiles provide a level of indirection to better protect the passwords used to access each network device. For example, access to the passwords may be limited to only those users capable of adding network devices to the network, for example, users with the administrator group access level. Other users would not see the passwords since they are automatically added to their user profile LMO, which is not accessible by users. The level of indirection provided by user profiles also allows network device passwords to be easily changed across the entire network. Periodically the passwords for access to the network devices in a network may be changed for security. The network device passwords may be quickly changed in the Administration Managed Device table 1014 (FIG. 11t), and due to the use of profiles, each user does not need to be notified of the password changes. The new passwords will be utilized automatically each time users log in. This provides for increased scalability since thousands of users will not need to be notified of the new passwords. Moreover, if a rogue user is identified, they can be quickly prevented from further access to the network through any NMS client by simply changing the user's username and/or password in the user's profile or by deleting the user's profile. Changing the username and/or password in the user profile would cause the NMS server to change the data in user table 1010 (FIG. 11r), and deleting a user profile would cause the NMS server to remove the corresponding row in the User table. In either case, the user would no longer be able to log in.

[0338] User profiles and group names also simplify network management tasks. For example, if an administrator adds a newly configured resource to a group, all users having access to that group will automatically be able to access the newly configured resource. The administrator need not send out a notice or take other steps to update each user.

[0339] Group names in a user profile define what the user can view. For instance, one customer may not view the configured resources subscribed for by another customer if their resources are assigned to different groups. Thus, groups allow for a granular way to “slice” up each network device according to its resources.

[0340] The user access level in a user profile determines how the NMS server behaves and affects what the user can do. For example, the viewer user access level provides the user with read-only capability and, thus, prevents the NMS server from modifying data in tables. In addition, the user access level may be used to restrict access—even read access—to certain tables or columns in certain tables.

Network Device Power-Up:

[0341] Referring again to FIG. 1, on power-up, reset or reboot, the processor on each board (central processor and each line card) downloads and executes boot-strap code (i.e., minimal instances of the kernel software) and power-up diagnostic test code from its local memory subsystem. After passing the power-up tests, processor 24 on central processor 12 then downloads kernel software 20 from persistent storage 21 Into non-persistent memory in memory subsystem 28. Kernel software 20 includes operating system (OS), system services (SS) and modular system services (MSS).

[0342] In one embodiment, the operating system software and system services software are the OSE operating system and system services from Enea OSE Systems, Inc. in Dallas, Tex. The OSE operating system is a pre-emptive multi-tasking operating system that provides a set of services that together support the development of distributed applications (i.e., dynamic loading). The OSE approach uses a layered architecture that builds a high level set of services around kernel primitives. The operating system, system services, and modular system services provide support for the creation and management of processes; inter-process communication (IPC) through a process-to-process messaging model; standard semaphore creation and manipulation services; the ability to locate and communicate with a process regardless of its location in the system; the ability to determine when another process has terminated; and the ability to locate the provider of a service by name.

[0343] These services support the construction of a distributed system wherein applications can be located by name and processes can use a single form of communication regardless of their location. By using these services, distributed applications may be designed to allow services to transparently move from one location to another such as during a fail over.

[0344] The OSE operating system and system services provide a single inter-process communications mechanism that allows processes to communicate regardless of their location in the system. OSE IPC differs from the traditional IPC model in that there are no explicit IPC queues to be managed by the application. Instead each process is assigned a unique process identification that all IPC messages use. Because OSE IPC supports inter-board communication the process identification includes a path component. Processes locate each other by performing an OSE Hunt call on the process identification. The Hunt call will return the Process ID of the process that maps to the specified path/name. Inter-board communication is carried over some number of communication links. Each link interface is assigned to an OSE Link Handler. The path component of a process path/name is the concatenation of the Link Handler names that one must transverse in order to reach the process.

[0345] In addition, the OSE operating system includes memory management that supports a “protected memory model”. The protected memory model dedicates a memory block (i.e., defined memory space) to each process and erects “walls” around each memory block to prevent access by processes outside the “wall”. This prevents one process from corrupting the memory space used by another process. For example, a corrupt software memory pointer in a first process may incorrectly point to the memory space of a second processor and cause the first process to corrupt the second processor's memory space. The protected memory model prevents the first process with the corrupted memory pointer from corrupting the memory space or block assigned to the second process. As a result, if a process fails, only the memory block assigned to that process is assumed corrupted while the remaining memory space is considered uncorrupted.

[0346] The modular software architecture takes advantage of the isolation provided to each process (e.g., device driver or application) by the protected memory model. Because each process is assigned a unique or separate protected memory block, processes may be started, upgraded or restarted independently of other processes.

[0347] Referring to FIG. 12a, the main modular system service that controls the operation of computer system 10 is a System Resiliency Manager (SRM). Also within modular system services is a Master Control Driver (MCD) that learns the physical characteristics of the particular computer system on which it is running, in this instance, computer system 10. The MCD and the SRM are distributed applications. A master SRM 36 and a master MCD 38 are executed by central processor 12 while slave SRMs 37a–37n and slave MCDs 39a–39n are executed on each board (central processor 12 and each line card 16a–16n). The SRM and MCD work together and use their assigned view ids and APIs to load the appropriate software drivers on each board and to configure computer system 10.

[0348] Also within the modular system services is a configuration service program 35 that downloads a configuration database program 42 and its corresponding DDL file from persistent storage into non-persistent memory 40 on central processor 12. In one embodiment, configuration database 42 is a Polyhedra database from Polyhedra, Inc. in the United Kingdom.

Hardware Inventory and Set-Up:

[0349] Referring to FIG. 12a, when computer system 10 is first powered up, a mission kernel image executable file (MKI.exe) 50 for central processor card 12 is bootstrap loaded from persistent storage, for example, an EPROM, located on the central processor card. MKI 50 starts MCD Master 38 and a local MCD slave 39a. MCD slave 39a reads a card type and version number out of local persistent storage, for example, EPROM 42, and passes this information to Master MCD 38.

[0350] Master MCD 38 begins by taking a physical inventory of computer system 10 (over the I²C bus) and assigning a unique physical identification number (PID) to each item.

[0351] Despite the name, the PID is a logical number unrelated to any physical aspect of the component being numbered. In one embodiment, pull-down/pull-up resistors on the chassis mid-plane provide the number space of Slot Identifiers. The master MCD may read a register for each slot, including the slot for central processor card 12, that allows it to get the bit pattern produced by these resistors. MCD 38 assigns a unique PID to the chassis, each shelf in the chassis, each slot in each shelf, each card (e.g., central processor 12, line cards 16a–16n) inserted in each slot, and, for certain line cards, each port on each line card. (Other items or components may also be inventoried.)

[0352] Typically, the number of cards and ports in a computer system is variable but the number of chassis, shelves and slots is fixed. Consequently, a PID could be permanently assigned to the chassis, shelves and slots and stored in a file. To add flexibility, however, MCD 38 assigns a PID even to the chassis, shelves and slots to allow the modular software architecture to be ported to another computer system with a different physical a construction (i.e., multiple chassis and/or a different number of shelves and slots) without having to change the PID numbering scheme.

[0353] Referring also to FIGS. 12b–12c, for each card (e.g., line card 16a–16n), except central processor card 12, in computer system 10, MCD 38 communicates with a diagnostic program (DP) 40a–40n being executed by the card's processor to learn each card's type and version. The diagnostic program reads a card type and version number out of persistent storage, for example, EPROM 42a–42n, and passes this information to the MCD. For example, line cards 16a and 16b could be cards that implement Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol over Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) protocol as indicated by a particular card type, e.g., 0XF002, and line card 16e could be a card that implements Internet Protocol (IP) over SONET as indicated by a different card type, e.g., 0XE002. In addition, line card 16a could be a version three ATM over SONET card meaning that it includes four SONET ports 44a–44d each of which may be connected to an external SONET optical fiber that carries an OC-48 stream, as indicated by a particular port type 00620, while line card 16b may be a version four ATM over SONET card meaning that it includes sixteen SONET ports 46a–46f each of which carries an OC-3 stream as indicated by a particular port type, e.g., 00820. Other information is also passed to the MCD by the DP, for example, diagnostic test pass/fail status. With this information and the card type and version number provided by slave MCD 39a, MCD 38 creates card table (CT) 47 and port table (PT) 49 in configuration database 42. As described below, the configuration database copies all changes to an NMS database. If the MCD cannot communicate with the diagnostic program to learn the card type and version number, then the MCD assumes the slot is empty.

[0354] Even after initial power-up, master MCD 38 will continue to take physical inventories to determine if hardware has been added or removed from computer system 10. For example, cards may be added to empty slots or removed from slots. When changes are detected, master MCD 38 will update CT 47 and PT 49 accordingly.

[0355] For each card except the central processor card, master MCD 38 searches a physical module description (PMD) file 48 in memory 40 for a record that matches the card type and version number retrieved from that card. The PMD file may include multiple files. The PMD file includes a table that corresponds card type and version number with the name of the mission kernel image executable file (MKI.exe) that needs to be loaded on that card. Once determined, master MCD 38 passes the name of each MKI executable file to master SRM 36. Master SRM 36 requests a bootserver (not shown) to download the MKI executable files 50a–50n from persistent storage 21 into memory 40 (i.e., dynamic loading) and passes each MKI executable file 50a–50n to a bootloader (not shown) running on each board (central processor and each line card). The bootloaders execute the received MKI executable file.

[0356] Instead of having a single central processor card (e.g., 12, FIG. 1), the external control functions and the internal control functions may be separated onto different cards as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/574,343, filed May 20, 2000 and entitled “Functional Separation of Internal and External Controls in Network Devices”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIGS. 41a and 41b, the chassis may support primary and backup internal control (IC) processor cards 542a and 543a and primary and backup external control (EC) processor cards 542b and 543b. In this case, Master MCD 38 is a primary Master MCD and is executed on one of the processor cards, for example, IC processor card 542a, and a backup Master MCD is executed on the backup processor card, for example, IC processor card 543a. Master MCD 38 then detects and treats the other processor cards, for example, EC processor cards 542b and 543b, the same as the other cards (e.g., port cards 554a–554h, 556a–556h, 558a–558h, 560a–560h, forwarding cards 546a–546e, 548a–548e, 550a–550e, 552a–552e, switch fabric cards 570a–570b, cross connection cards 562a–562b, 564a–564b, 566a–566b, 568a–568b). That is, the Master MCD reads the card type and version out of an EPROM located on each external processor card. The Master MCD then enters this information in CT 47 and uses the PMD file to determine the name of the MKI.exe corresponding to that card type and version. Again the Master MCD passes this name to the Master SRM which causes the bootserver to download the MKI and pass the MKI to bootloaders running on each external processor card.

[0357] Referring again to FIG. 12a, the MKIs executed by each card start slave MCDs (e.g., 39a–39n) on each card. The slave MCDs may also read the card type and version from their local EPROMs and send the information to the Master MCD. The Master MCD can then confirm this information against the information it previously loaded in CT 47 and PT 49.

[0358] Once the cards are executing the appropriate MKI, the slave MCDs (e.g., 39a–39n) and slave SRMs (e.g., 37a–37n) on each card download executable files corresponding to each card. Referring to FIG. 13a, for example, slave MCDs (e.g., 39a–39n) search PMD file 48 in memory 40 on central processor 12 for a match with their line card type and version number. Just as the master MCD 38 found the name of the MKI executable file for each line card in the PMD file, each slave MCD reads the PMD file to learn the process names of all the executable files (e.g., device drivers, SONET, ATM, MPLS, etc.) associated with each card type and version. The slave MCDs provide these names to the slave SRMs on their cards. Slave SRMs 37a–37n then download and execute the executable files (e.g., device drivers, DD.exe 56a–56n) from memory 40. As one example, one port device driver 43a–43d may be started for each port 44a–44d on line card 16a. The port driver and port are linked together through the assigned port PID number. Unique process names are listed in the PMD file for each port driver to be started on line card 16a.

[0359] In order to understand the significance of the PMD file (i.e., metadata), note that the MCD software does not have knowledge of card types built into it. Instead, the MCD parameterizes its operations on a particular card by looking up the card type and version number in the PMD file and acting accordingly. Consequently, the MCD software does not need to be modified, rebuilt, tested and distributed with new hardware. The changes required in the software system infrastructure to support new hardware are simpler, modify logical model 280 (FIGS. 3a–3b) to include: a new entry in the PMD file (or a new PMD file) and, where necessary, new device drivers and applications. Because the MCD software, which resides in the kernel, will not need to be modified, the new applications and device drivers and the new DDL files (reflecting the new PMD file) for the configuration database and NMS database are downloaded and upgraded (as described below) without re-booting the computer system (hot upgrade).

Network Management System (NMS):

[0360] Referring to FIG. 13b, as described above, a user/network administrator of computer system 10 works with network management system (NMS) software 60 to configure computer system 10. In the embodiment described below, NMS 60 runs on a personal computer or workstation 62 and communicates with central processor 12 over Ethernet network 41 (out-of-band). Instead, the NMS may communicate with central processor 12 over data path 34 (FIG. 1, in-band). Alternatively (or in addition as a back-up communication port), a user may communicate with computer system 10 through a console interface/terminal (840, FIG. 2a) connected to a serial line 66 connecting to the data or control path using a command line interface (CLI) protocol. Instead, NMS 60 could run directly on computer system 10 provided computer system 10 has an input mechanism for the user.

[0361] During installation, an NMS database 61 is established on, for example, work-station 62 using a DDL executable file corresponding to the NMS database. The DDL file may be downloaded from persistent storage 21 in computer system 10 or supplied separately with other NMS programs as part of an NMS installation kit. The NMS database mirrors the configuration database through an active query feature (described below). In one embodiment, the NMS database is an Oracle database from Oracle Corporation in Boston, Mass.

[0362] The NMS and central processor 12 pass control and data over Ethernet 41 using, for example, the Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) protocol. Use of the JDBC protocol allows the NMS to communicate with the configuration database in the same manner that it communicates with its own internal storage mechanisms, including the NMS database. Changes made to the configuration database are passed to the NMS database to ensure that both databases store the same data. This synchronization process is much more efficient, less error-prone and timely than older methods that require the NMS to periodically poll the network device to determine whether configuration changes have been made. In these systems, NMS polling is unnecessary and wasteful if the configuration has not been changed. Additionally, if a configuration change is made through some other means, for example, a command line interface, and not through the NMS, the NMS will not be updated until the next poll, and if the network device crashes prior to the NMS poll, then the configuration change will be lost. In computer system 10, however, command line interface changes made to configuration database 42 are passed immediately to the NMS database through the active query feature ensuring that the NMS, through both the configuration database and NMS database, is immediately aware of any configuration changes.

Asynchronously Providing Network Device Management Data:

[0363] Typically, work-station 62 (FIG. 13b) is coupled to many network computer systems, and NMS 60 is used to configure and manage each of these systems. In addition to configuring each system, the NMS also interprets management data gathered by each system relevant to each system's network accounting data, statistics, security and fault logging (or some portion thereof) and presents this to the user. In current systems, two distributed carefully synchronized processes are used to move data from a network system/device to the NMS. The processes are synchronized with each other by having one or both processes maintain the state of the other process. To avoid the problems associated with using two synchronized processes, in the present invention, internal network device management subsystem processes are made asynchronous with external management processes. That is, neither the internal nor external processes maintain each other's state and all processes operate independently of the other processes. This also minimizes or prevents data loss (i.e., lossless system), which is especially important for revenue generating accounting systems.

[0364] In addition, instead of having the NMS interpret each network device's management data in the same fashion, flexibility is added by having each system send the NMS (e.g., data collector server 857, FIG. 2a) class files 410 including compiled source code indicating how its management data should be interpreted. Thus, the NMS effectively “learns” how to process (and perhaps display) management data from the network device via the class file. Through the reliable File Transfer Protocol (FTP), management subsystem processes 412 (FIG. 13b) running on central processor 12 push data summary files 414 and binary data files 416 to the NMS. Each data summary file indicates the name of the class file the NMS should use to interpret a corresponding binary data file. If the computer system has not already done so, it pushes the class file to the NMS. In one embodiment, the management subsystem processes, class files and NMS processes are JAVA programs, and JAVA Reflection is used to dynamically load the data-specific application class file and process the data in the binary data file. As a result, a new class file can be added or updated on a network device without having to reboot or upgrade the network device or the NMS. The computer system simply pushes the new class file to the NMS. In addition, the NMS can use different class files for each network device such that the data gathered on each device can be particularized to each device.

[0365] Referring to FIG. 13c, in one embodiment, the management subsystem 412 (FIG. 13b) is broken into two pieces: a usage data server (UDS) 412a and a file transfer protocol (FTP) client 412b. The UDS is executed on internal processor control card 542a (see also FIGS. 41b and 42a–42b) while the FTP client is executed on external processor control card 542b (see also FIGS. 41a and 42a–42b). Alternatively, in a network device with one processor control card or a central processor control card, both the UDS and FTP client may be executed on that one card. When each device driver, for example, SONET driver 415a–415n and ATM driver 417a–417n (only SONET driver 415a and ATM driver 417a are shown for convenience and it is to be understood that multiple drivers may be present on each card), within network device 540 is built, it links in a usage data monitoring library (UDML).

[0366] When device drivers are first started, upgraded or re-booted, the device driver makes a call into the UDML to notify the UDML as to which statistical data the device driver is able to gather. For example, an ATM device driver may be able to gather virtual circuit (VC) accounting statistics and Virtual ATM (VATM) interface statistics while a SONET device driver may be able to gather SONET statistics. The device driver then makes a call into the UDML to notify the UDML as to each interface (including virtual circuits) for which the device driver will be gathering data and the types of data the device driver will provide for each interface.

[0367] The UDML sends a registration packet to the UDS providing one or more string names corresponding to the types of data that the UDML will send to the UDS. For example, for ATM drivers the UDML may register “Acct_PVC” to track permanent virtual circuit statistics, “Acct_SVC” to track soft permanent virtual circuit statistics, “Vir_Intf” to track quality of service (QoS) statistics corresponding to virtual interfaces, and “Bw_Util” to track bandwidth utilization. As another example, for SONET drivers the UDML may register “Section” to track section statistics, “Line” to track line statistics and “Path” to track path statistics. The UDML need only register each string name with the UDS once, for example, for the first interface registered, and not for each interface since the UDML will package up the data from multiple interfaces corresponding to the same string name before sending the data with the appropriate string name to the UDS.

[0368] The UDML includes a polling timer to cause each driver to periodically poll its hardware for “current” statistical/accounting data samples 411a. The current data samples are typically gathered on a frequent interval of, for example, 15 minutes, as specified by the polling timer. The UDML also causes each driver to put the binary data in a particular format, time stamp the data and store the current data sample locally. When a current data sample for each interface managed by the device driver and corresponding to a particular string name is stored locally, the UDML packages all of the current data samples corresponding to the same string name into one or more packets containing binary data and sends the packets to the UDS with the registered string name.

[0369] In addition, the UDML adds each gathered current data sample 411a to a local data summary 411b. The UDML clears the data summary periodically, for example, every twenty-four hours, and then adds newly gathered current data samples to the cleared data summary. Thus, the data summary represents an accumulation of current data samples gathered over the period (e.g., 24 hours).

[0370] The UDS maintains a list of UDMLs expected to send current data samples and data summaries corresponding to each string name. For each poll, the UDS combines the data sent from each UDML with the same string name into a common binary data file (e.g., binary data files 416a–416n) associated with that string name in non-volatile memory, for example, a hard drive 421 located on internal control processor 542a. When all UDMLs in the list corresponding to a particular string name have reported their current data samples or data summaries, the UDS closes the common data file, thus ending the data collecting period. Preferably, the data is maintained in binary form to keep the data files smaller than translating it into other forms such as ASCII. Smaller binary files require less space to store and less bandwidth to transfer.

[0371] If after a predetermined period of time has passed, for example, 5 minutes, one or more of the UDMLs in a list has not sent binary data with the corresponding string name, the UDS closes the common data file, ending the data collecting period. The UDS then sends a notice to the non-responsive UDML(s). The UDS will repeat this sequence a predetermined number of times, for example, three, and if no binary data with the corresponding string name is received, the UDS will delete the UDML(s) from the list and send a trap to the NMS indicating which specific UDML is not responsive. As a result, maintaining the list of UDMLs that will be sending data corresponding to each string name allows the UDS to know when to close each common data file and also allows the UDS to notify the NMS when a UDML becomes non-responsive. This provides for increased availability including fault tolerance—that is, a fault on one card or in one application cannot interrupt the statistics gathering from each of the other cards or other applications on one card—and also including hot swapping where a card and its local UDMLs may no longer be inserted within the network device.

[0372] Since a large number of UDMLs may be sending data to the UDS, the potential exists for the data transfer rate to the UDS to be larger than the amount of data that the UDS can process and larger than local buffering can support. Such a situation may result in lost data or worse, for example, a network device crash. A need exists, therefore, to be able to “throttle” the amount of data being sent from the UDMLs to the UDS depending upon the current backlog of data at the UDS.

[0373] In one embodiment, the UDML is allowed to send up to a maximum number of packets to the UDS before the UDML must wait for an acknowledge (ACK) packet from the UDS. For example, the UDML may be allowed to send three packets of data to the UDS and in the third packet the UDML must include an acknowledge request. Alternatively, the UDML may follow the third packet with a separate packet including an acknowledge request. Once the third packet is sent, the UDML must delay sending any additional packets to the UDS until an acknowledge packet is received from the UDS. The UDML may negotiate the maximum number of packets that can be sent in its initial registration with the UDS. Otherwise, a default value may be used.

[0374] Many packets may be required to completely transfer a binary current data sample or data summary to the UDS. Once the acknowledge packet is received, the UDML may again send up to the maximum number (e.g., 3) of packets to the UDS again including an acknowledge request in the last packet. Requiring the UDML to wait for an acknowledge packet from the UDS, allows the UDS to throttle back the data received from UDMLs when the UDS has a large backlog of data to process.

[0375] A simple mechanism to accomplish this throttling is to have the UDS send an acknowledge packet each time it processes a packet containing an acknowledge request. Since the UDS is processing the packet that is a good indication that it is steadily processing packets. If the number of packets received by the UDS is large, it will take longer to process the packets and, thus, longer to process packets containing acknowledge requests. Thus, the UDMLs must wait longer to send more packets. On the other hand, if the number of packets is small, the UDS will quickly process each packet received and more quickly send back the acknowledge request and the UDMLs will not have to wait as long to send more packets.

[0376] Instead of immediately returning an acknowledge packet when the UDS processes a packet containing an acknowledge request, the UDS may first compare the number of packets waiting to be processed against a predetermined threshold. If the number of packets waiting to be processed is less than the predetermined threshold, then the UDS immediately sends the acknowledge packet to the UDML. If the number of packets waiting to be processed is more than the predetermined threshold, then the UDS may delay sending the acknowledge packet until enough packets have been processed that the number of packets waiting to be processed is reduced to less than the predetermined threshold. Instead, the UDS may estimate the amount of time that it will need to process enough packets to reduce the number of packets waiting to be processed to less than the threshold and send an acknowledge packet to the UDML including a future time at which the UDML may again send packets. In other words, the UDS does not wait until the backlog is diminished to notify the UDMLs but instead notifies the UDMLs prior to reducing the backlog and based on an estimate of when the backlog will be diminished.

[0377] Another embodiment for a throttling mechanism requires polls for different statistical data to be scheduled at different times to load balance the amount of statistical traffic across the control plane. For example, the UDML for each ATM driver polls and sends data to the UDS corresponding to PVC accounting statistics (i.e., Acct_PVC) at a first time, the UDML for each ATM driver polls and sends data to the UDS corresponding to SPVC accounting statistics (i.e., Acct_SPVC) at a second time, and the UDML for each ATM driver and each SONET driver polls and sends data to the UDS corresponding to other statistics at other times. This may be accomplished by having multiple polling timers within the UDML corresponding to the type of data being gathered. Load balancing and staggered reporting provides distributed data throttling which may smooth out control plane bandwidth utilization (i.e., prevent large data bursts) and reduce data buffering and data loss.

[0378] Referring to FIG. 13d, instead of having each device driver on a card package the binary data and send it to the UDS, a separate, low priority packaging program (PP) 413a–413n may be resident on each card and responsible for packaging the binary statistical management data from each device driver and sending it to the UDS. Running the PP as a lower priority program ensures that processor cycles are not taken away from time-critical processes. Load balancing and staggered reporting may still be accomplished by having each PP send acknowledge requests in the last of a predetermined number of packets and wait for the UDS to send an acknowledge packet as described above.

[0379] As mentioned, the UDML causes the device driver to periodically gather the current statistical management data samples for each interface and corresponding to each string name. The period may be relatively frequent, for example, every 15 minutes. In addition, the UDML causes the device driver or separate packaging program to add the current data sample to a data summary corresponding to the same string name each time a current data sample is gathered. The UDML clears the data summary periodically, for example, every twenty-four hours. To reduce bandwidth utilization, the data summary and corresponding string name is sent to the UDS periodically but with an infrequent time period of, for example, every 6 to 12 hours. The data summary provides resiliency such that if any of the current data samples are lost in any of the various transfers, the data summary is still available. Local resiliency may be provided by storing a backlog of both current data sample files and summary data files in hard drive 421. For example, the four most recent current data sample files and the two most recent summary data files corresponding to each string name may be stored.

[0380] If FTP client 412b cannot send data from hard drive 421 to file system 425 for a predetermined period of time, for example, 15 minutes, the FTP client may notify the UDS and the UDS may notify each UDML. Each UDML then continues to cause the device driver to gather current statistical management data samples and add them to the data summaries at the same periodic interval (i.e., current data interval, e.g., 15 minutes), however, the UDML stops sending the current data samples to the UDS. Instead, the UDML sends only the data summaries to the UDS but at the more frequent current data interval (e.g., 15 minutes) instead of the longer time period (e.g., 6 to 12 hours). The UDS may then update the data summaries stored in hard drive 421 and cease collecting and storing current data samples. This will save space in the hard drive and minimize any data loss.

[0381] To reduce the amount of statistical management data being transferred to the UDS, a network manager may selectively configure only certain of the applications (e.g., device drivers) and certain of the interfaces to provide this data. As each UDML registers with the UDS, the UDS may then inform each UDML with respect to each interface as to whether or not statistical management data should be gathered and sent to the UDS. There may be many circumstances in which gathering this data is unnecessary. For example, each ATM device driver may manage multiple virtual interfaces (VATMs) and within each VATM there may be several virtual circuits. A network manager may choose not to receive statistics for virtual circuits on which a customer has ordered only Variable Bit Rate (VBR) real time (VBR-rt) and VBR non-real time (VBR-nrt) service. For VBR-rt and VBR-nrt, the network service provider may provide the customer only with available/extra bandwidth and charge a simple flat fee per month. However, a network manager may need to receive statistics for virtual circuits on which a customer has ordered a high quality of service such as Constant Bit Rate (CBR) to ensure that the customer is getting the appropriate level of service and to appropriately charge the customer. In addition, a network manager may want to receive statistics for virtual circuits on which a customer has ordered Unspecified Bit Rate (UJBR) service to police the customer's usage and ensure they are not receiving more network bandwidth than what they are paying for. Allowing a network manager to indicate that certain applications or certain interfaces managed by an application (e.g., a VATM) need not provide statistical management data or some portion of that data to the UDS reduces the amount of data transferred to the UDS—that is, reduces internal bandwidth utilization—, reduces the amount of storage space required in the hard drive, and reduces the processing power required to transfer the statistical management data from remote cards to external file system 425.

[0382] For each binary data file, the UDS creates a data summary file (e.g., data summary files 414a–414n) and stores it in, for example, hard drive 421. The data summary file defines the binary file format, including the type based on the string name, the length, the number of records and the version number. The UDS does not need to understand the binary data sent to it by each of the device drivers. The UDS need only combine data corresponding to similar string names into the same file and create a summary file based on the string name and the amount of data in the binary data file. The version number is passed to the UDS by the device driver, and the UDS includes the version number in the data summary file.

[0383] Periodically, FTP client 412b asynchronously reads each binary data file and corresponding data summary file from hard drive 421. Preferably, the FTP client reads these files from the hard drive through an out-of-band Ethernet connection, for example, Ethernet 32 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the FTP client may read these files through an in-band data path 34 (FIG. 1). The FTP client then uses an FTP push to send the binary data file to a file system 425 accessible by the data collector server and, preferably local to the data collector server. The FTP client then uses another FTP push to send the data summary file to the local file system. Since binary data files may be very long and an FTP push of a binary data file may take some time, the data collector server may periodically search the local file system for data summary files. The data collector server may then attempt to open a discovered data summary file. If the data collector server is able to open the file, then that indicates that the FTP push of the data summary file is complete, and since the data summary file is pushed after the binary data file, the data collector server's ability to open the data summary file may be used as an indication that a new binary data file has been completely received. Since data summary files are much smaller than binary data files, having the data collector server look for and attempt to open data summary files instead of binary data files minimizes the thread wait within the data collector server.

[0384] In one embodiment, the data collector server is a JAVA program, and each different type of binary data file has a corresponding JAVA class file (e.g., class file 410a) that defines how the data collector server should process the binary data file. When a device driver is loaded into the network device, a corresponding JAVA class file is also loaded and stored in hard drive 421. The FTP client periodically polls the hard drive for new JAVA class files and uses an FTP push to send them to file system 425. The data collector server uses the binary file type in the data summary file to determine which JAVA class file it should use to interpret the binary data file. The data collector server then converts the binary data into ASCII or AMA/BAF format and stores the ASCII or AMA/BAF files in the file system. The data collector server may use a set of worker threads for concurrency.

[0385] As described, the data collector server is completely independent of and asynchronous with the FTP client, which is also independent and asynchronous of the UDS. The separation of the data collector server and FTP client avoids data loss due to process synchronization problems, since there is no synchronization, and reduces the burden on the network device by not requiring the network device to maintain synchronization between the processes. In addition, if the data collector server goes down or is busy for some time, the FTP client and UDS continue working and continue sending binary data files and data summary files to the file system. When the data collector server is again available, it simply accesses the data summary files and processes the binary files as described above. Thus, there is no data loss and the limited storage capacity within the network device is not strained by storing data until the data collector server is available. In addition, if the FTP client or UDS goes down, the data collector server may continue working.

[0386] An NMS server (e.g., NMS server 851a), which may or may not be executing on the same computer system 62 as the data collector server, may periodically retrieve the ASCII or AMA/BAF files from the file system. The files may represent accounting, statistics, security, logging and/or other types of data gathered from hardware within the network device. The NMS server may also access the corresponding class files from the file system to learn how the data should be presented to a user, for example, how a graphical user interface (GUI) should be displayed, what data and format to display, or perhaps which one of many GUIs should be used. The NMS server may use the data to, for example, monitor network device performance, including quality of service guarantees and service level agreements, as well as bill customers for network usage. Alternatively, a separate billing server 423a or statistics server 423b, which may or may not be executing on the same computer system 62 as the data collector server and/or the NMS server, may periodically retrieve the ASCII or AMA/BAF files from the file system in order to monitor network device performance, including quality of service guarantees and service level agreements, and/or bill customers for network usage. One or more of the data collector server, the NMS server, the billing server and the statistics server may be combined into one server. Moreover, management files created by the data collector server may be combined with data from the configuration or NMS databases to generate billing records for each of the network provider's customers.

[0387] The data collector server may convert the ASCII or AMA/BAF files into other data formats, for example, Excel spread sheets, for use by the NMS server, billing server and/or statistics server. In addition, the application class file for each data type may be modified to go beyond conversion, including direct integration into a database or an OSS system. For example, many OSS systems use a Portal billing system available from Portal Software, Inc. in Cupertino, Calif. The JAVA class file associated with a particular binary data file and data summary file may cause the data collector server to convert the binary data file into ASCII data and then issue a Portal API call to give the ASCII data directly to the Portal billing system. As a result, accounting, statistics, logging and/or security data may be directly integrated into any other process, including third party processes, through JAVA class files.

[0388] Through JAVA class files, new device drivers may be added to a network device without having to change UDS 412a or FTP client 412b and without having to re-boot the network device and without having to upgrade/modify external processes. For example, a new forwarding card (e.g., forwarding card 552a) may be added to an operating network device and this new forwarding card may support MPLS. An MPLS device driver 419, linked within the UDML, is downloaded to the network device as well as a corresponding class file (e.g., class file 410e). When the FTP client discovers the new class file in hard drive 421, it uses an FTP push to send it to file system 425. The FTP client does not need to understand the data within the class file it simply needs to push it to the file system. Just as with other device drivers, the UDML causes the MPLS driver to register appropriate string names with the UDS and poll and send data to the UDS with a registered string name. The UDS stores binary data files (e.g., binary data file 416e) and corresponding data summary files (e.g., data summary file 414e) in the hard drive without having to understand the data within the binary data file. The FTP client then pushes these files to the file system again without having to understand the data. When the data summary file is discovered by the data collector server, the data collector server uses the binary file type in the data summary file to locate the new MPLS class file 410e in the file system and then uses the class file to convert the binary data in the corresponding binary data file into ASCII format and perhaps other data formats. Thus, a new device driver is added and statistical information may be gathered without having to change any of the other software and without having to re-boot the network device.

[0389] As described, having the data collector server be completely independent of and asynchronous with the FTP client avoids the typical problems encountered when internal and external management programs are synchronized. Moreover, modularity of device drivers and internal management programs is maintained by providing metadata through class files that instruct the external management programs as to how the management data should be processed. Consequently, device drivers may be modified, upgraded and added to an operating network device without disrupting the operation of any of the other device drivers or the management programs.

Configuration:

[0390] As described above, unlike a monolithic software architecture which is directly linked to the hardware of the computer system on which it runs, a modular software architecture includes independent applications that are significantly decoupled from the hardware through the use of a logical model of the computer system. Using the logical model and a code generation system, a view id and API are generated for each application to define each application's access to particular data in a configuration database and programming interfaces between the different applications. The configuration database is established using a data definition language (DDL) file also generated by the code generation system from the logical model. As a result, there is only a limited connection between the computer system's software and hardware, which allows for multiple versions of the same application to run on the computer system simultaneously and different types of applications to run simultaneously on the computer system. In addition, while the computer system is running, application upgrades and downgrades may be executed without affecting other applications and new hardware and software may be added to the system also without affecting other applications.

[0391] Referring again to FIG. 13b, initially, NMS 60 reads card table 47 and port table 49 to determine what hardware is available in computer system 10. The NMS assigns a logical identification number (LID) 98 (FIGS. 14b and 14c) to each card and port and inserts these numbers in an LID to PID Card table (LPCT) 100 and an LID to PID Port table (LPPT) 101 in configuration database 42. Alternatively, the NMS could use the PID previously assigned to each board by the MCD. However, to allow for hardware redundancy, the NMS assigns an LID and may associate the LID with at least two PIDs, a primary PID 102 and a backup PID 104. (LPCT 100 may include multiple backup PID fields to allow more than one backup PID to be assigned to each primary PID.)

[0392] The user chooses the desired redundancy structure and instructs the NMS as to which boards are primary boards and which boards are backup boards. For example, the NMS may assign LID 30 to line card 16a—previously assigned PID 500 by the MCD—as a user defined primary card, and the NMS may assign LID 30 to line card 16n—previously assigned PID 513 by the MCD—as a user defined back-up card (see row 106, FIG. 14b). The NMS may also assign LID 40 to port 44a—previously assigned PID 1500 by the MCD—as a primary port, and the NMS may assign LID 40 to port 68a—previously assigned PID 1600 by the MCD—as a back-up port (see row 107, FIG. 14c).

[0393] In a 1:1 redundant system, each backup line card backs-up only one other line card and the NMS assigns a unique primary PID and a unique backup PID to each LID (no LIDs share the same PIDs). In a 1:N redundant system, each backup line card backs-up at least two other line cards and the NMS assigns a different primary PID to each LID and the same backup PID to at least two LIDs. For example, if computer system 10 is a 1:N redundant system, then one line card, for example, line card 16n, serves as the hardware backup card for at least two other line cards, for example, line cards 16a and 16b. If the NMS assigns an LID of 31 to line card 16b, then in logical to physical card table 100 (see row 109, FIG. 14b), the NMS associates LID 31 with primary PID 501 (line card 16b) and backup PID 513 (line card 16n). As a result, backup PID 513 (line card 16n) is associated with both LID 30 and 31.

[0394] The logical to physical card table provides the user with maximum flexibility in choosing a redundancy structure. In the same computer system, the user may provide full redundancy (1:1), partial redundancy (1:N), no redundancy or a combination of these redundancy structures. For example, a network manager (user) may have certain customers that are willing to pay more to ensure their network availability, and the user may provide a backup line card for each of that customer's primary line cards (1:1). Other customers may be willing to pay for some redundancy but not full redundancy, and the user may provide one backup line card for all of that customer's primary line cards (1:N). Still other customers may not need any redundancy, and the user will not provide any backup line cards for that customer's primary line cards. For no redundancy, the NMS would leave the backup PID field in the logical to physical table blank. Each of these customers may be serviced by separate computer systems or the same computer system. Redundancy is discussed in more detail below.

[0395] The NMS and MCD use the same numbering space for LIDs, PIDs and other assigned numbers to ensure that the numbers are different (no collisions).

[0396] The configuration database, for example, a Polyhedra relational database, supports an “active query” feature. Through the active query feature, other software applications can be notified of changes to configuration database records in which they are interested. The NMS database establishes an active query for all configuration database records to insure it is updated with all changes. The master SRM establishes an active query with configuration database 42 for LPCT 100 and LPPT 101. Consequently, when the NMS adds to or changes these tables, configuration database 42 sends a notification to the master SRM and includes the change. In this example, configuration database 42 notifies master SRM 36 that LID 30 has been assigned to PID 500 and 513 and LID 31 has been assigned to PID 501 and 513. The master SRM then uses card table 47 to determine the physical location of boards associated with new or changed LIDs and then tells the corresponding slave SRM of its assigned LID(s). In the continuing example, master SRM reads CT 47 to learn that PID 500 is line card 16a, PID 501 is line card 16b and PID 513 is line card 16n. The master SRM then notifies slave SRM 37b on line card 16a that it has been assigned LID 30 and is a primary line card, SRM 37c on line card 16b that it has been assigned LID 31 and is a primary line card and SRM 37o on line card 16n that it has been assigned LIDs 30 and 31 and is a backup line card. All three slave SRMs 37b, 37c and 37o then set up active queries with configuration database 42 to insure that they are notified of any software load records (SLRs) created for their LIDs. A similar process is followed for the LIDs assigned to each port.

[0397] The NMS informs the user of the hardware available in computer system 10. This information may be provided as a text list, as a logical picture in a graphical user interface (GUI), or in a variety of other formats. The user then uses the GUI to tell the NMS (e.g., NMS client 850a, FIG. 2a) how they want the system configured.

[0398] The user will select which ports (e.g., 44a–44d, 46a–46f, 68a–68n) the NMS should enable. There may be instances where some ports are not currently needed and, therefore, not enabled. The user also needs to provide the NMS with information about the type of network connection (e.g., connection 70a–70d, 72a–72f, 74a–74n). For example, the user may want all ports 44a–44d on line card 16a enabled to run ATM over SONET. The NMS may start one ATM application to control all four ports, or, for resiliency, the NMS may start one ATM application for each port. Alternatively, each port may be enabled to run a different protocol (e.g., MPLS, IP, Frame Relay).

[0399] In the example given above, the user must also indicate the type of SONET fiber they have connected to each port and what paths to expect. For example, the user may indicate that each port 44a–44d is connected to a SONET optical fiber carrying an OC-48 stream. A channelized OC-48 stream is capable of carrying forty-eight STS-1 paths, sixteen STS-3c paths, four STS-12c paths or a combination of STS-1, STS-3c and STS-12c paths. A clear channel OC-48c stream carries one concatenated STS-48 path. In the example, the user may indicate that the network connection to port 44a is a clear channel OC-48 SONET stream having one STS-48 path, the network connection to port 44b is a channelized OC-48 SONET stream having three STS-12c paths (i.e., the SONET fiber is not at full capacity—more paths may be added later), the network connection to port 44c is a channelized OC-48 SONET stream having two STS-3c paths (not at full capacity) and the network connection to port 44d is a channelized OC-48 SONET stream having three STS-12c paths (not at full capacity). In the current example, all paths within each stream carry data transmitted according to the ATM protocol. Alternatively, each path within a stream may carry data transmitted according to a different protocol.

[0400] The NMS (e.g., NMS server 851a–851n) uses the information received from the user (through the GUI/NMS client) to create records in several tables in the configuration database, which are then copied to the NMS database. These tables are accessed by other applications to configure computer system 10. One table, the service endpoint table (SET) 76 (see also FIG. 14a), is created when the NMS assigns a unique service endpoint number (SE) to each path on each enabled port and corresponds each service endpoint number with the physical identification number (PID) previously assigned to each port by the MCD. Through the use of the logical to physical port table (LPPT), the service endpoint number also corresponds to the logical identification number (LID) of the port. For example, since the user indicated that port 44a (PID 1500) has a single STS-48 path, the NMS assigns one service endpoint number (e.g. SE 1, see row 78, FIG. 14a). Similarly, the NMS assigns three service endpoint numbers (e.g., SE 2, 3, 4, see rows 80–84) to port 44b (PID 1501), two service endpoint numbers (e.g., SE 5, 6, see rows 86, 88) to port 44c (PID 1502) and three service endpoint numbers (e.g., SE 7, 8, 9, see rows 90, 92, 94) to port 44d.

[0401] Service endpoint managers (SEMs) within the modular system services of the kernel software running on each line card use the service endpoint numbers assigned by the NMS to enable ports and to link instances of applications, for example, ATM, running on the line cards with the correct port. The kernel may start one SEM to handle all ports on one line card, or, for resiliency, the kernel may start one SEM for each particular port. For example, SEMs 96a–96d are spawned to independently control ports 44a–44d.

[0402] The service endpoint managers (SEMs) running on each board establish active queries with the configuration database for SET 76. Thus, when the NMS changes or adds to the service endpoint table (SET), the configuration database sends the service endpoint manager associated with the port PID in the SET a change notification including information on the change that was made. In the continuing example, configuration database 42 notifies SEM 96a that SET 76 has been changed and that SE 1 was assigned to port 44a (PID 1500). Configuration database 42 notifies SEM 96b that SE 2, 3, and 4 were assigned to port 44b (PID 1501), SEM 96c that SE 5 and 6 were assigned to port 44c (PID 1502) and SEM 96d that SE 7, 8, and 9 were assigned to port 44d (PID 1503). When a service endpoint is assigned to a port, the SEM associated with that port passes the assigned SE number to the port driver for that port using the port PID number associated with the SE number.

[0403] To load instances of software applications on the correct boards, the NMS creates software load records (SLR) 128a–128n in configuration database 42. The SLR includes the name 130 (FIG. 14f) of a control shim executable file and an LID 132 for cards on which the application must be spawned. In the continuing example, NMS 60 creates SLR 128a including the executable name atm_cntrl.exe and card LID 30 (row 134). The configuration database detects LID 30 in SLR 128a and sends slave SRMs 37b (line card 16a) and 37o (line card 16n) a change notification including the name of the executable file (e.g., atm_cntrl.exe) to be loaded. The primary slave SRMs then download and execute a copy of atm_cntrl.exe 135 from memory 40 to spawn the ATM controllers (e.g., ATM controller 136 on line card 16a). Since slave SRM 37o is on backup line card 16n, it may or may not spawn an ATM controller in backup mode. Software backup is described in more detail below. Instead of downloading a copy of atm_cntrl.exe 135 from memory 40, a slave SRM may download it from another line card that already downloaded a copy from memory 40. There may be instances when downloading from a line card is quicker than downloading from central processor 12. Through software load records and the tables in configuration database 42, applications are downloaded and executed without the need for the system services, including the SRM, or any other software in the kernel to have information as to how the applications should be configured. The control shims (e.g., atm_cntrl.exe 135) interpret the next layer of the application (e.g., ATM) configuration.

[0404] For each application that needs to be spawned, for example, an ATM application and a SONET application, the NMS creates an application group table. Referring to FIG. 14d, ATM group table 108 indicates that four instances of ATM (i.e., group number 1, 2, 3, 4)—corresponding to four enabled ports 44a–44n—are to be started on line card 16a (LID 30). If other instances of ATM are started on other line cards, they would also be listed in ATM group table 108 but associated with the appropriate line card LID. ATM group table 108 may also include additional information needed to execute ATM applications on each particular line card. (See description of software backup below.)

[0405] In the above example, one instance of ATM was started for each port on the line card. This provides resiliency and fault isolation should one instance of ATM fail or should one port suffer a failure. An even more resilient scheme would include multiple instances of ATM for each port. For example, one instance of ATM may be started for each path received by a port.

[0406] The application controllers on each board now need to know how many instances of the corresponding application they need to spawn. This information is in the application group table in the configuration database. Through the active query feature, the configuration database notifies the application controller of records associated with the board's LID from corresponding application group tables. In the continuing example, configuration database 42 sends ATM controller 136 records from ATM group table 108 that correspond to LID 30 (line card 16a). With these records, ATM controller 136 learns that there are four ATM groups associated with LID 30 meaning ATM must be instantiated four times on line card 16a. ATM controller 136 asks slave SRM 37b to download and execute four instances (ATM 110–113, FIG. 15) of atm.exe 138.

[0407] Once spawned, each instantiation of ATM 110–113 sends an active database query to search ATM interface table 114 for its corresponding group number and to retrieve associated records. The data in the records indicates how many ATM interfaces each instantiation of ATM needs to spawn. Alternatively, a master ATM application (not shown) running on central processor 12 may perform active queries of the configuration database and pass information to each slave ATM application running on the various line cards regarding the number of ATM interfaces each slave ATM application needs to spawn.

[0408] Referring to FIGS. 14e and 15, for each instance of ATM 110–113 there may be one or more ATM interfaces. To configure these ATM interfaces, the NMS creates an ATM interface table 114. There may be one ATM interface 115–122 per path/service endpoint or multiple virtual ATM interfaces 123–125 per path. This flexibility is left up to the user and NMS, and the ATM interface table allows the NMS to communicate this configuration information to each instance of each application running on the different line cards. For example, ATM interface table 114 indicates that for ATM group 1, service endpoint 1, there are three virtual ATM interfaces (ATM-IF 1–3) and for ATM group 2, there is one ATM interface for each service endpoint: ATM-IF 4 and SE 2; ATM-IF 5 and SE 3; and ATM-IF 6 and SE 4.

[0409] Computer system 10 is now ready to operate as a network switch using line card 16a and ports 44a–44d. The user will likely provide the NMS with further instructions to configure more of computer system 10. For example, instances of other software applications, such as an IP application, and additional instances of ATM may be spawned (as described above) on line cards 16a or other boards in computer system 10.

[0410] As shown above, all application dependent data resides in memory 40 and not in kernel software. Consequently, changes may be made to applications and configuration data in memory 40 to allow hot (while computer system 10 is running) upgrades of software and hardware and configuration changes. Although the above described power-up and configuration of computer system 10 is complex, it provides massive flexibility as described in more detail below.

Template Driven Service Provisioning:

[0411] Instead of using the GUI to interactively provision services on one network device in real time, a user may provision services on one or more network devices in one or more networks controlled by one or more network management systems (NMSs) interactively and non-interactively using an Operations Support Services (OSS) client and templates. At the heart of any carrier's network is the OSS, which provides the overall network management infrastructure and the main user interface for network managers/administrators. The OSS is responsible for consolidating a diverse set of element/network management systems and third-party applications into a single system that is used, for example, to detect and resolve network faults (Fault Management), configure and upgrade the network (Configuration Management), account and bill for network usage (Accounting Management), oversee and tune network performance (Performance Management), and ensure ironclad network security (Security Management). FCAPS are the five functional areas of network management as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Through templates one or more NMSs may be integrated with a telecommunication network carrier's OSS.

[0412] Templates are metadata and include scripts of instructions and parameters. In one embodiment, instructions within templates are written in ASCII text to be human readable. There are three general categories of templates, provisioning templates, control templates and batch templates. A user may interactively connect the OSS client with a particular NMS server and then cause the NMS server to connect to a particular device. Instead, the user may create a control template that non-interactively establishes these connections. Once the connections are established, whether interactively or non-interactively, provisioning templates may be used to complete particular provisioning tasks. The instructions within a provisioning template cause the OSS client to issue appropriate calls to the NMS server which cause the NMS server to complete the provisioning task, for example, by writing/modifying data within the network device's configuration database. Batch templates may be used to concatenate a series of templates and template modifications (i.e., one or more control and provisioning templates) to provision one or more network devices. Through the client/server based architecture, multiple OSS clients may work with one or more NMS servers. Database view ids and APIs for the OSS client may be generated using the logical model and code generation system (FIG. 3c) to synchronize the integration interfaces between the OSS clients and the NMS servers.

[0413] Interactively, a network manager may have an OSS client execute many provisioning templates to complete many provisioning tasks. Instead, the network manager may order and sequence the execution of many provisioning templates within a batch template to non-interactively complete the many provisioning tasks and build custom services. In addition, execution commands followed by control template names may be included within batch templates to non-interactively cause an OSS client to establish connections with particular NMS servers and network devices. For example, a first control template may designate a network device to which the current OSS client and NMS server are not connected. Including an execution command followed by the first control template name in a batch template will cause the OSS client to issue calls to the NMS server to cause the NMS server to access the different network device. As another example, a second control template may designate an NMS server and a network device to which the OSS client is not currently connected. Including an execution command followed by the second control template name will cause the OSS client to set up connections to both the different NMS server and the different network device. Moreover, batch templates may include execution commands followed by provisioning template names after each execution command and control template to provision services within the network devices designated by the control templates. Through batch templates, therefore, multiple control templates and provisioning templates may be ordered and sequenced to provision services within multiple network devices in multiple networks controlled by multiple NMSs.

[0414] Calls issued by the OSS client to the NMS server may cause the NMS server to immediately provision services or delay provisioning services until a predetermined time, for example, a time when the network device is less likely to be busy. Templates may be written to apply to different types of network devices.

[0415] A “command line” interactive interpreter within the OSS client may be used by a network manager to select and modify existing templates or to create new templates. Templates may be generated for many various provisioning tasks, for example, setting up a permanent virtual circuit (PVC), a switched virtual circuit (SVC), a SONET path (SPATH), a traffic descriptor (TD) or a virtual ATM interface (VAIF). Once a template is created, a network manager change default parameters within the template to complete particular provisioning tasks. A network manager may also copy a template and modify it to create a new template.

[0416] Referring to FIG. 3i, using the interactive interpreter, a network administrator may provision services by selecting (step 888) a template and using the default parameters within that template or copying and renaming (step 889) a particular provisioning template corresponding to a particular provisioning task and either accepting default parameter values provided by the template or changing (step 890) those default values to meet the administrator's needs. The network administrator may also change parameters and instructions within a copy of a template to create a new template. The modified provisioning templates are sent to or loaded into (step 891) the OSS client, which executes the instructions within the template and issues the appropriate calls (step 892) to the NMS server to satisfy the provisioning need. The OSS client may be written in JAVA and employ script technology. In response to calls received from the OSS client, the NMS server may execute (step 894) the provisioning requests defined by a template immediately or in a “batch-mode” (step 893), perhaps with other calls received from the OSS client or other clients, at a time when network transactions are typically low (e.g., late at night).

[0417] Referring to FIGS. 3j–3k, at the interactive interpreter prompt 912 (e.g., Enetcli>) a network manager may type in “help” and be provided with a list (e.g., list 913) of commands that are available. In one embodiment, available commands may include bye, close, execute, help, load, manage, open, quit, showCurrent, showTemplate, set, status, writeCurrent, and writeTemplate. Many different commands are possible. The bye command allows the network manager to exit the interactive interpreter, the close command allows the network manager to close a connection between the OSS client and that NMS server, and the execute command followed by a template type causes the OSS client to execute the instructions within the loaded template corresponding to that template type.

[0418] As shown, the help command alone causes the interactive interpreter to display the list of commands. The help command followed by another command provides help information about that command. The load command followed by a template type and a named template loads the named template into the OSS client such that any commands followed by the template type will use the named/loaded template. The manage command followed by an IP address of a network device causes the OSS client to issue a call to an NMS server to establish a connection between the NMS server and that network device. Alternatively, a username and password may also need to be supplied. The open command followed by an NMS server IP address causes the OSS client to open a connection with that NMS server, and again, the network manager may also need to supply a username and password. Instead of an IP address, a domain name server (DNS) name may be provided and a host look up may be used to determine the IP address and access the corresponding device.

[0419] The showCurrent command followed by a template type will cause the interactive interpreter to display current parameter values for the loaded template corresponding to that template type. For example, showCurrent SPATH 914 displays a list 915 of parameters and current parameter values for the loaded template corresponding to the SPATH template type. The showTemplate command followed by a template type will cause the OSS client to display available parameters and acceptable parameter values for each parameter within the loaded template. For example, showTemplate SPATH 916 causes the interactive interpreter to display the available parameters 917 within the loaded template corresponding to the SPATH template type. The set command followed by a template type, a parameter name and a value will change the named parameter to the designated value within the loaded template, and a subsequent showCurrent command followed by that template type will show the new parameter value within the loaded.

[0420] The status command 918 will cause the interactive interpreter to display a status of the current interactive interpreter session. For example, the interactive interpreter may display the name 919 of an NMS server to which the OSS client is currently connected (as shown in FIGS. 3j–3k, the OSS client is currently not connected to an NMS server) and the interactive interpreter may display the names 920 of available template types. The writeCurrent command followed by a template type and a new template name will cause the interactive interpreter to make a copy of the loaded template, including current parameter values, with the new template name. The writeTemplate command followed by a template type and a new template name, will cause the interactive interpreter to make a copy of the template with the new template name with placeholders values (i.e., <String>) that indicate the network manager needs to fill in the template with the required datatypes as parameter values. The network manager may then use the load command followed by the new template name to load the new template into the OSS client.

[0421] Referring to FIG. 3l, from the interactive interpreter prompt (e.g., Enetcli>), a network manager may interactively provision services on a network device. The network manager begins by typing an open command 921 a followed by the IP address of an NMS server to cause the OSS client to open a connection 921b with that NMS server. The network manager may then issue a manage command 921c followed by the IP address of a particular network device to cause the OSS client to issue a call 921d to the NMS server to cause the NMS server to open a connection 921e with that network device.

[0422] The network manager may now provision services within that network device by typing in an execute command 921f followed by a template type. For example, the network manager may type “execute SPATH” at the Enetcli> prompt to cause the OSS client to execute the instructions 921g within the loaded SPATH template using the parameter values within the loaded SPATH template. Executing the instructions causes the OSS client to issue calls to the NMS server, and these calls cause the NMS server to complete the provisioning task 921h. For example, following an execute SPATH command, the NMS server will set up a SONET path in the network device using the parameter values passed to the NMS server by the OSS client from the template.

[0423] At any time from the Enetcli> prompt, a network manager may change the parameter values within a template. Again, the network manager may use showCurrent followed by a template type to see the current parameter values within the loaded template or showTemplate to see the available parameters within the loaded template. The network manager may then use the set command followed by the template type, parameter name and new parameter value to change a parameter value within the loaded template. For example, after the network manager sets up a SONET path within the network device, the network manager may change one or more parameter values within the loaded SPATH template and re-execute the SPATH template to set up a different SONET path within the same network device.

[0424] Once a connection to a network device is open, the network manager may interactively execute any template any number of times to provision services within that network device. The network manager may also create new templates and execute those. The network manager may simply write a new template or use the writeCurrent or writeTemplate commands to copy an existing template into a new template name and then edit the instructions within the new template.

[0425] After provisioning services within a first network device, the network manager may open a connection with a second network device to provision services within that second network device. If the NMS server currently connected to the OSS client is capable of establishing a connection with the second network device, then the network manager may simply open a connection to the second network device. If the NMS server currently connected to the OSS client is not capable of establishing a connection with the second network device, then the network manager closes the connections with the NMS server and then opens connections with a second NMS server and the second network device. Thus, a network manager may easily manage/provision services within multiple network devices within multiple networks even if they are managed by different NMS servers. In addition, other network managers may provision services on the same network devices through the same NMS servers using other OSS clients that are perhaps running on other computer systems. That is, multiple OSS clients may be connected to multiple NMS servers.

[0426] Instead of interactively establishing connections with NMS servers and network devices, control templates may be used to non-interactively establish these connections. Referring to FIG. 3m, using a showCurrent command 922 followed by CONTROL causes the interactive interpreter to display parameters available in the loaded CONTROL template.

[0427] In one embodiment, an execute control command will automatically cause the OSS client to execute instructions within the loaded CONTROL template and open a connection to an NMS server designated within the CONTROL template. Since the OSS client automatically opens a connection with the designated NMS server, the open command may but need not be included within the CONTROL template. In this example, the CONTROL template includes “localhost” 923a as the DNS name of the NMS server with which the OSS client should open a connection. In one embodiment, “localhost” refers to the same system as the OSS client. A username 923b and password 923c may also need to be used to open the connection with the localhost NMS server. The CONTROL template also includes the manage command 923d and a network device IP address 923e of 192.168.9.202. With this information (and perhaps the username and password or another username and password), the OSS client issues calls to the localhost NMS server to cause the server to set up a connection with that network device.

[0428] The template may also include an output file name 923f where any output/status information generated in response to the execution of the CONTROL template will be sent. The template may also include a version number 923g. Version numbers allow a new template to be created with the same name as an old template but with a new version number, and the new template may include additional/different parameters and/or instructions. Using version numbers, both old (e.g., not upgraded) and new OSS clients may use the templates but only access those templates having particular version numbers that correspond to the functionality of each OSS client.

[0429] Once connections with an NMS server and network device are established (either interactively or non-interactively through a control template), services within the network device may be provisioned. As described above, a network manager may interactively provision services by issuing execute commands followed by provisioning template types. Alternatively, a network manager may provision services non-interactively through batch templates, which include an ordered list of tasks, including execute commands followed by provisioning template types.

[0430] Referring to FIG. 3n, a batch template type named BATCH 924 includes an ordered list of tasks, including execute commands followed by provisioning template types. When a network manager issues an execute command followed by the BATCH template type at the Enetcli> prompt, the OSS client will carry out each of the tasks within the loaded BATCH template. In this example, task1 924a includes “execute SPATH” which causes the OSS client to establish a SONET path within the network device to which a connection is open, task2 924b includes “execute PVC” to cause the OSS client to set up a permanent virtual circuit within the network device, and task3 924c includes “execute SPVC” to cause the OSS client to set up a soft permanent virtual circuit within the network device.

[0431] If multiple similar provisioning tasks are needed, then the network manager may use writeCurrent or writeTemplate to create multiple similar templates (i.e., same template type with different template names), change or add parameter values within these multiple similar templates using the set command, and sequentially load and execute each of the different named templates. For example, SPVC is the template type and task3 causes the OSS to execute instructions within the previously loaded named template. Spvc1 and spvc2 are two different named templates (or template instantiations) corresponding to the SPVC template type for setting up soft permanent virtual circuits having different parameters from each other and the loaded template to set up different SPVCs. In this example, the BATCH template then includes task4 924d including “load SPVC spvc1” to load the spvc1 template and then task5 924e “execute SPVC” to cause the OSS client to execute the loaded spvc1 template and set up a different SPVC. Similarly, task6 924f includes “load SPVC spvc2” and task7 924e includes “execute SPVC” to cause the OSS client to execute the loaded spvc2 template and set up yet another different SPVC.

[0432] Alternatively, the batch template may include commands for altering an existing template such that multiple similar templates are not necessary. For example, the loaded BATCH template may include task50 924g “set SPATH PortID 3” to cause the OSS client to change the PortID parameter within the SPATH template to 3. The BATCH template then includes task51 924h “execute SPATH” 924g to cause the OSS client to execute the SPATH template including the new parameter value which sets up a different SONET path. A BATCH template may include many set commands to change parameter values followed by execute commands to provision multiple similar services within the same network device. For example, the BATCH template may further include task52 924i “set SPATH SlotID 2” followed by task53 924j “execute SPATH” to set up yet another different SONET path. Using this combination of set and execute commands eliminates the need to write, store and keep track of multiple similar templates.

[0433] Batch templates may also be used to non-interactively provision services within multiple different network devices by ordering and sequencing tasks including execute commands followed by control template types and then execute commands followed by provisioning template types. Referring to FIG. 3o, instead of non-interactively establishing connections with an NMS server and a network device using a control template, a batch template may be used. For example, the first task in a loaded BATCH template 925 may be task1 925a “execute CONTROL”. This will cause the OSS client to execute the loaded CONTROL template to establish connections with the NMS server and the network device designated within the loaded CONTROL template (e.g., localhost and 192.168.9.202). The BATCH template then includes provisioning tasks, for example, task2 925b includes “execute SPATH” to set up a SONET path, and task3 925c includes “set SPATH PortID 3” and task4 925d includes “execute SPATH” to set up a different SONET path. Many additional provisioning tasks for this network device may be completed in this way.

[0434] The BATCH template may then have a task including a set command to modify one or more parameters within a control template to cause the OSS client to set up a connection with a different network device and perhaps a different NMS server. Where the network manager wishes to provision a network device capable of being connected to through the currently connected NMS server, for example, localhost, then the BATCH template need only have task61 925e including “set CONTROL System” followed by the IP address of the different network device, for example, 192.168.9.201. The BATCH template then has a task 62 925f including “execute CONTROL”, which causes the OSS client to issue calls to the localhost NMS server to establish a connection with the different network device. The BATCH template may then have tasks including execute commands followed by provisioning templates, for example, task 63 925g including “execute SPATH”, to provision services within the different network device.

[0435] If the network manager wishes to provision a network device coupled with another NMS server, then the BATCH template includes, for example, task 108 925h including “close” to drop the connection between the OSS client and localhost NMS server. The BATCH template may then have, for example, task 109 925i including “set CONTROL Server Server1” to change the server parameter within the loaded CONTROL template to Server1 and task 110 925j including “set CONTROL System 192.168.8.200” to change the network device parameter within the loaded CONTROL template to the IP address of the new network device. The BATCH template may then have task 111 925k including “execute CONTROL” to cause the OSS client to set up connections to the Server1 NMS server and to network device 192.168.8.200. The BATCH template may then include tasks with execute commands followed by provisioning template types to provision services within the network device, for example, task 112 925L includes “execute SPATH”.

[0436] The templates and interactive interpreter/OSS client may be loaded and executed on a central OSS computer system(s) and used to provision services in one or more network devices in one or more network domains. A network administrator may install an OSS client at various locations and/or for “manage anywhere” purposes, web technology may be used to allow a network manager to download an OSS client program from a web accessible server onto a computer at any location. The network manager may then use the OSS client in the same manner as when it is loaded onto a central OSS computer system. Thus, the network manager may provision services from any computer at any location.

[0437] Provisioning templates may be written to apply to different types of network devices. The network administrator does not need to know details of the network device being provisioned as the parameters required and available for modification are listed in the various templates. Consequently, the templates allow for multifaceted integration of different network management systems (NMS) into existing OSS infrastructures.

[0438] Instead of using template executable files and an OSS client, network managers may prefer to use their standard OSS interface to provision services in various network devices. In one embodiment, therefore, a single OSS client application programming interface (API) and a library of compiled code may be linked directly into the OSS software. The library of compiled code is a subset of the compiled code used to create the OSS client, with built-in templates including provisioning, control, batch and other types of templates. The OSS software then uses the supported templates as documentation of the necessary parameters needed for each provisioning task and presents template streams (null terminated arrays of arguments that serialize the totality of arguments required to construct a supported template) via the single API for potential alteration through the OSS standard interface. Since the network managers are comfortable working with the OSS interface, provisioning services may be made more efficient and simple by directly linking the OSS client API and templates into the OSS software.

[0439] Typically, OSS software is written in C or C++ programming language. In one embodiment, the OSS client and templates are written in JAVA, and JAVA Native Interface (JNI) is used by the OSS software to access the JAVA OSS client API and templates.

Inter-Process Communication:

[0440] As described above, the operating system assigns a unique process identification number (proc_id) to each spawned process. Each process has a name, and each process knows the names of other processes with which it needs to communicate. The operating system keeps a list of process names and the assigned process identification numbers. Processes send messages to other processes using the assigned process identification numbers without regard to what board is executing each process (i.e., process location). Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) define the format and type of information included in the messages.

[0441] The modular software architecture configuration model requires a single software process to support multiple configurable objects. For example, as described above, an ATM application may support configurations requiring multiple ATM interfaces and thousands of permanent virtual connections per ATM interface. The number of processes and configurable objects in a modular software architecture can quickly grow especially in a distributed processing system. If the operating system assigns a new process for each configurable object, the operating system's capabilities may be quickly exceeded. For example, the operating system may be unable to assign a process for each ATM interface, each service endpoint, each permanent virtual circuit, etc. In some instances, the process identification numbering scheme itself may not be large enough. Where protected memory is supported, the system may have insufficient memory to assign each process and configurable object a separate memory block. In addition, supporting a large number of independent processes may reduce the operating system's efficiency and slow the operation of the entire computer system.

[0442] One alternative is to assign a unique process identification number to only certain high level processes. Referring to FIG. 16a, for example, process identification numbers may only be assigned to each ATM process (e.g., ATMs 240, 241) and not to each ATM interface (e.g., ATM IFs 242–247) and process identification numbers may only be assigned to each port device driver (e.g., device drivers 248, 250, 252) and not to each service endpoint (e.g., SE 253–261). A disadvantage to this approach is that objects within one high level process will likely need to communicate with objects within other high level processes. For example, ATM interface 242 within ATM 240 may need to communicate with SE 253 within device driver 248. ATM IF 242 needs to know if SE 253 is active and perhaps certain other information about SE 253. Since SE 253 was not assigned a process identification number, however, neither ATM 240 nor ATM IF 242 knows if it exists. Similarly, ATM IF 242 knows it needs to communicate with SE 253 but does not know that device driver 248 controls SE 253.

[0443] One possible solution is to hard code the name of device driver 248 into ATM 240. ATM 240 then knows it must communicate with device driver 248 to learn about the existence of any service endpoints within device driver 248 that may be needed by ATM IF 242, 243 or 244. Unfortunately, this can lead to scalability issues. For instance, each instantiation of ATM (e.g., ATM 240, 241) needs to know the name of all device drivers (e.g., device drivers 248, 250, 252) and must query each device driver to locate each needed service endpoint. An ATM query to a device driver that does not include a necessary service endpoint is a waste of time and resources. In addition, each high level process must periodically poll other high level processes to determine whether objects within them are still active (i.e., not terminated) and whether new objects have been started. If the object status has not changed between polls, then the poll wasted resources. If the status did change, then communications have been stalled for the length of time between polls. In addition, if a new device driver is added (e.g., device driver 262), then ATM 240 and 241 cannot communicate with it or any of the service endpoints within it until they have been upgraded to include the new device driver's name.

[0444] Preferably, computer system 10 implements a name server process and a flexible naming procedure. The name server process allows high level processes to register information about the objects within them and to subscribe for information about the objects with which they need to communicate. The flexible naming procedure is used instead of hard coding names in processes. Each process, for example, applications and device drivers, use tables in the configuration database to derive the names of other configurable objects with which they need to communicate. For example, both an ATM application and a device driver process may use an assigned service endpoint number from the service endpoint table (SET) to derive the name of the service endpoint that is registered by the device driver and subscribed for by the ATM application. Since the service endpoint numbers are assigned by the NMS during configuration, stored in SET 76 and passed to local SEMs, they will not be changed if device drivers or applications are upgraded or restarted.

[0445] Referring to FIG. 16b, for example, when device drivers 248, 250 and 252 are started they each register with name server (NS) 264. Each device driver provides a name, a process identification number and the name of each of its service endpoints. Each device driver also updates the name server as service endpoints are started, terminated or restarted. Similarly, each instantiation of ATM 240, 241 subscribes with name server 264 and provides its name, process identification number and the name of each of the service endpoints in which it is interested. The name server then notifies ATM 240 and 241 as to the process identification of the device driver with which they should communicate to reach a desired service endpoint. The name server updates ATM 240 and 241 in accordance with updates from the device drivers. As a result, updates are provided only when necessary (i.e., no wasted resources), and the computer system is highly scalable. For example, if a new device driver 262 is started, it simply registers with name server 264, and name server 264 notifies either ATM 240 or 241 if a service endpoint in which they are interested is within the new device driver. The same is true if a new instantiation of ATM—perhaps an upgraded version—is started or if either an ATM application or a device driver fails and is restarted.

[0446] Referring to FIG. 16c, when the SEM, for example, SEM 96a, notifies a device driver, for example, device driver (DD) 222, of its assigned SE number, DD 222 uses the SE number to generate a device driver name. In the continuing example from above, where the ATM over SONET protocol is to be delivered to port 44a and DD 222, the device driver name may be for example, atm.se1. DD 222 publishes this name to NS 220b along with the process identification assigned by the operating system and the name of its service endpoints.

[0447] Applications, for example, ATM 224, also use SE numbers to generate the names of device drivers with which they need to communicate and subscribe to NS 220b for those device driver names, for example, atm.se1. If the device driver has published its name and process identification with NS 220b, then NS 220b notifies ATM 224 of the process identification number associated with atm.se1 and the name of its service endpoints. ATM 224 can then use the process identification to communicate with DD 222 and, hence, any objects within DD 222. If device driver 222 is restarted or upgraded, SEM 96a will again notify DD 222 that its associated service endpoint is SE 1 which will cause DD 222 to generate the same name of atm.se1. DD 222 will then re-publish with NS 220b and include the newly assigned process identification number. NS 220b will provide the new process identification number to ATM 224 to allow the processes to continue to communicate. Similarly, if ATM 224 is restarted or upgraded, it will use the service endpoint numbers from ATM interface table 114 and, as a result, derive the same name of atm.se1 for DD 222. ATM 224 will then re-subscribe with NS 220b.

[0448] Computer system 10 includes a distributed name server (NS) application including a name server process 220a–220n on each board (central processor and line card). Each name server process handles the registration and subscription for the processes on its corresponding board. For distributed applications, after each application (e.g., ATM 224a–224n) registers with its local name server (e.g., 220b–220n), the name server registers the application with each of the other name servers. In this way, only distributed applications are registered/subscribed system wide which avoids wasting system resources by registering local processes system wide.

[0449] The operating system, through the use of assigned process identification numbers, allows for inter-process communication (IPC) regardless of the location of the processes within the computer system. The flexible naming process allows applications to use data in the configuration database to determine the names of other applications and configurable objects, thus, alleviating the need for hard coded process names. The name server notifies individual processes of the existence of the processes and objects with which they need to communicate and the process identification numbers needed for that communication. The termination, re-start or upgrade of an object or process is, therefore, transparent to other processes, with the exception of being notified of new process identification numbers. For example, due to a configuration change initiated by the user of the computer system, service endpoint 253 (FIG. 16b), may be terminated within device driver 248 and started instead within device driver 250. This movement of the location of object 253 is transparent to both ATM 240 and 241. Name server 264 simply notifies whichever processes have subscribed for SE 253 of the newly assigned process identification number corresponding to device driver 250.

[0450] The name server or a separate binding object manager (BOM) process may allow processes and configurable objects to pass additional information adding further flexibility to inter-process communications. For example, flexibility may be added to the application programming interfaces (APIs) used between processes. As discussed above, once a process is given a process identification number by the name server corresponding to an object with which it needs to communicate, the process can then send messages to the other process in accordance with a predefined application programming interface (API). Instead of having a predefined API, the API could have variables defined by data passed through the name server or BOM, and instead of having a single API, multiple APIs may be available and the selection of the API may be dependent upon information passed by the name server or BOM to the subscribed application.

[0451] Referring to FIG. 16d, a typical API will have a predefined message format 270 including, for example, a message type 272 and a value 274 of a fixed number of bits (e.g., 32). Processes that use this API must use the predefined message format. If a process is upgraded, it will be forced to use the same message format or change the API/message format which would require that all processes that use this API also be similarly upgraded to use the new API. Instead, the message format can be made more flexible by passing information through the name server or BOM. For example, instead of having the value field 274 be a fixed number of bits, when an application registers a name and process identification number it may also register the number of bits it plans on using for the value field (or any other field). Perhaps a zero indicates a value field of 32 bits and a one indicates a value filed of 64 bits. Thus, both processes know the message format but some flexibility has been added.

[0452] In addition to adding flexibility to the size of fields in a message format, flexibility may be added to the overall message format including the type of fields included in the message. When a process registers its name and process identification number, it may also register a version number indicating which API version should be used by other processes wishing to communicate with it. For example, device driver 250 (FIG. 16b) may register SE 258 with NS 264 and provide the name of SE 258, device driver 250's process identification number and a version number one, and device driver 252 may register SE 261 with NS 264 and provide the name of SE 261, device driver 252's process identification number and a version number (e.g., version number two). If ATM 240 has subscribed for either SE 258 or SE 261, then NS 264 notifies ATM 240 that SE 258 and SE 261 exist and provides the process identification numbers and version numbers. The version number tells ATM 240 what message format and information SE 258 and SE 261 expect. The different message formats for each version may be hard coded into ATM 240 or ATM 240 may access system memory or the configuration database for the message formats corresponding to service endpoint version one and version two. As a result, the same application may communicate with different versions of the same configurable object using a different API.

[0453] This also allows an application, for example, ATM, to be upgraded to support new configurable objects, for example, new ATM interfaces, while still being backward compatible by supporting older configurable objects, for example, old ATM interfaces. Backward compatibility has been provided in the past through revision numbers, however, initial communication between processes involved polling to determine version numbers and where multiple applications need to communicate, each would need to poll the other. The name server/BOM eliminates the need for polling.

[0454] As described above, the name server notifies subscriber applications each time a subscribed for process is terminated. Instead, the name server/BOM may not send such a notification unless the System Resiliency Manager (SRM) tells the name server/BOM to send such a notification. For example, depending upon the fault policy/resiliency of the system, a particular software fault may simply require that a process be restarted. In such a situation, the name server/BOM may not notify subscriber applications of the termination of the failed process and instead simply notify the subscriber applications of the newly assigned process identification number after the failed process has been restarted. Data that is sent by the subscriber processes after the termination of the failed process and prior to the notification of the new process identification number may be lost but the recovery of this data (if any) may be less problematic than notifying the subscriber processes of the failure and having them hold all transmissions. For other faults, or after a particular software fault occurs a predetermined number of times, the SRM may then require the name server/BOM to notify all subscriber processes of the termination of the failed process. Alternatively, if a terminated process does not re-register within a predetermined amount of time, the name server/BOM may then notify all subscriber processes of the termination of the failed process.

Configuration Change:

[0455] Over time the user will likely make hardware changes to the computer system that require configuration changes. For example, the user may plug a fiber or cable (i.e., network connection) into an as yet unused port, in which case, the port must be enabled and, if not already enabled, then the port's line card must also be enabled. As other examples, the user may add another path to an already enabled port that was not fully utilized, and the user may add another line card to the computer system. Many types of configuration changes are possible, and the modular software architecture allows them to be made while the computer system is running (hot changes). Configuration changes may be automatically copied to persistent storage as they are made so that if the computer system is shut down and rebooted, the memory and configuration database will reflect the last known state of the hardware.

[0456] To make a configuration change, the user informs the NMS (e.g., NMS client 850a, FIG. 2a) of the particular change, and similar to the process for initial configuration, the NMS (e.g., NMS server 851a, FIG. 2a) changes the appropriate tables in the configuration database (copied to the NMS database) to implement the change.

[0457] Referring to FIG. 17, in one example of a configuration change, the user notifies the NMS that an additional path will be carried by SONET fiber 70c connected to port 44c. A new service endpoint (SE) 164 and a new ATM interface 166 are needed to handle the new path. The NMS adds a new record (row 168, FIG. 14a) to service endpoint table (SET) 76 to include service endpoint 10 corresponding to port physical identification number (PID) 1502 (port 44c). The NMS also adds a new record (row 170, FIG. 14e) to ATM instance table 114 to include ATM interface (IF) 12 corresponding to ATM group 3 and SE 10. Configuration database 42 may automatically copy the changes made to SET 76 and ATM instance table 114 to persistent storage 21 such that if the computer system is shut down and rebooted, the changes to the configuration database will be maintained.

[0458] Configuration database 42 also notifies (through the active query process) SEM 96c that a new service endpoint (SE 10) was added to the SET corresponding to its port (PID 1502), and configuration database 42 also notifies ATM instantiation 112 that a new ATM interface (ATM-IF 166) was added to the ATM interface table corresponding to ATM group 3. ATM 112 establishes ATM interface 166 and SEM 96c notifies port driver 142 that it has been assigned SE10. A communication link is established through NS 220b. Device driver 142 generates a service endpoint name using the assigned SE number and publishes this name and its process identification number with NS 220b. ATM interface 166 generates the same service endpoint name and subscribes to NS 220b for that service endpoint name. NS 220b provides ATM interface 166 with the process identification assigned to DD 142 allowing ATM interface 166 to communicate with device driver 142.

[0459] Certain board changes to computer system 10 are also configuration changes. After power-up and configuration, a user may plug another board into an empty computer system slot or remove an enabled board and replace it with a different board. In the case where applications and drivers for a line card added to computer system 10 are already loaded, the configuration change is similar to initial configuration. The additional line card may be identical to an already enabled line card, for example, line card 16a or if the additional line card requires different drivers (for different components) or different applications (e.g., IP), the different drivers and applications are already loaded because computer system 10 expects such cards to be inserted.

[0460] Referring to FIG. 18, while computer system 10 is running, when another line card 168 is inserted, master MCD 38 detects the insertion and communicates with a diagnostic program 170 being executed by the line card's processor 172 to learn the card's type and version number. MCD 38 uses the information it retrieves to update card table 47 and port table 49. MCD 38 then searches physical module description (PMD) file 48 in memory 40 for a record that matches the retrieved card type and version number and retrieves the name of the mission kernel image executable file (MKI.exe) that needs to be loaded on line card 168. Once determined, master MCD 38 passes the name of the MKI executable file to master SRM 36. SRM 36 downloads MKI executable file 174 from persistent storage 21 and passes it to a slave SRM 176 running on line card 168. The slave SRM executes the received MKI executable file.

[0461] Referring to FIG. 19, slave MCD 178 then searches PMD file 48 in memory 40 on central processor 12 for a match with its line card's type and version number to find the names of all the device driver executable files needed by its line card. Slave MCD 178 provides these names to slave SRM 176 which then downloads and executes the device driver executable files (DD.exe) 180 from memory 40.

[0462] When master MCD 38 updates card table 47, configuration database 42 updated NMS database 61 which sends NMS 60 (e.g., NMS Server 851a, FIG. 2a) a notification of the change including card type and version number, the slot number into which the card was inserted and the physical identification (PID) assigned to the card by the master MCD. The NMS is updated, assigns an LID and updates the logical to physical table and notifies the user of the new hardware. The user then tells the NMS how to configure the new hardware, and the NMS implements the configuration change as described above for initial configuration.

Logical Model Change:

[0463] Where software components, including applications, device drivers, modular system services, new mission kernel images (MKIs) and diagnostic software, for a new hardware module (e.g., a line card) are not already loaded and/or if changes or upgrades (hereinafter “upgrades”) to already loaded software components are needed, logical model 280 (FIGS. 3a–3c) must be changed and new view ids and APIs, NMS JAVA interface files, persistent layer metadata files and new DDL files may need to be re-generated. Software model 286 is changed to include models of the new or upgraded software, and hardware model 284 is changed to include models of any new hardware. New logical model 280′ is then used by code generation system 336 to re-generate view ids and APIs for any changed software components, including any new applications, for example, ATM version two 360, or device drivers, for example, device driver 362, and, where necessary, to re-generate DDL files 344′ and 348′ including new SQL commands and data relevant to the new hardware and/or software. The new logical model is also used to generate, where necessary, new NMS JAVA interface files 347′ and new persistent layer metadata files 349′.

[0464] Each executable software component is then built. As described above with reference to FIG. 3e, the build process involves compiling one or more source code files for the software component and then linking the resulting object code with the object code of associated libraries, a view id, an API, etc. to form an executable file. Each of the executable files and data files, for example, persistent layer metadata files and DDL files, are then provided to Kit Builder (861, FIG. 3f), which combines the components into a Network Device Installation Kit. As previously mentioned, the Kit Builder may compress each of the software components to save space. Each Installation Kit is assigned a Global release version number to distinguish between different Installation Kits.

[0465] The Kit Builder also creates a packaging list 1200 (FIG. 20a) and includes this in the Installation Kit. The packaging list includes a list of the software components in the Installation Kit and a list of “signatures” 1200a–1200n associated with the software components.

Software Component Signatures:

[0466] To facilitate upgrades of software components while the network device (e.g., 10, FIG. 1; 540, FIGS. 35a–35b) is running (hot upgrades), a “signature” is generated for each software component. After installation (described below) within the network device of a new Installation Kit, only those software components whose signatures do not match the signatures of corresponding and currently executing software components will be upgraded. For example, different signatures associated with two ATM components represent different versions of those two ATM components.

[0467] Currently, software programmers assign a different version number to a software component when they change a software component. Since, the versioning process is controlled by or requires human intervention, this process is error prone. For example, if a changed software component is not assigned a new version number, then it may not be upgraded with other changed applications. If one or more of the upgraded applications work with the application that was not upgraded, errors and potentially a network device crash may occur. To avoid versioning errors, instead of assigning a version number, a signature is “machine generated” based on the content of the software component.

[0468] A simple program such as a checksum or cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) program may be used to generate the signature. The concern with such a simple program is that it may generate the same signature for a current software component and an upgrade of that component if the upgrade changes are not significant. Instead, a more robust program, such as a strong cryptographic program, may be used to generate the signatures for each software component. In one embodiment, the signatures are generated using the “Sha-1” cryptography utility (often called the “sha1sum”). Information regarding Sha-1, which is herein incorporated by reference, and a copy of Sha-1 may be located by citizens or permanent residents of the United States and Canada from the North American Cryptography Archives at www.cryptography.org. This web site also points to various other web sites for access to cryptographic programs available outside the United States and Canada.

[0469] The Sha-1 utility is a secure hash algorithm that uses the contents of a software component to generate a signature that is 20 bytes in length. The Sha-1 utility is robust enough to detect even small changes to a software component and, thus, generate a different signature. Due to the sensitivity of the Sha-1 utility, the signature may also be referred to as a “finger print” or a “digest”. Using the Sha-1 utility or another signature generating program, eliminates the errors often caused when humans generate version numbers.

[0470] Other signature generating programs may also be used. For example, hash functions such as MD2, MD4, MD5 or Ripemd128 or Ripemd160 may be used or a keyed hash function, such as HMAC, may be used with any of these hash functions. MD5 will produce a 128-bit “fingerprint” or “message digest” for each software component. Information regarding MD5, which is herein incorporated by reference, may be gotten from the following web site: http://userpages.umbc.edu/˜mabzugl/cs/md5/md5.html. Ripemd128 produces a 16 byte digest and Ripemd169 produces a 20 byte digest. Information regarding Ripemd128 or Ripemd160, which is herein incorporated by reference, may be found at the following web site: http://www.esat.kuleuven.ac.be/˜bosselae/ripemd160.html#What .

[0471] Referring to FIG. 20b, once a software component 1202 is built, it is passed to the signature generating program 1204, for example, the Sha-1 utility. The number generated by the signature generating program is the signature 1206 for that software component and it is appended to the built software component 1208. These steps are repeated for each software component added to the packaging list, and as Kit Builder 861 (FIG. 3f) adds each software component to the packaging list, it retrieves the signature appended to each software component and inserts it in the packaging list corresponding to the appropriate software component.

[0472] Often build programs, including the compiler and the linker, insert a date and time or other extraneous data in a built software component. In addition, other “profile” type data may also be appended to each software component such as the name of the user who executed the build, the Global version number for the new release, the configuration specification used for the build and various other data. Such extraneous data may cause the signature generating program to generate different signatures for a software component built at one time and then re-built at another time even if the software component itself has not been changed. To avoid this, the signature generating program may be given the built software component with the extraneous data stripped out or with the extraneous data blocked out such that the signature generating program will not consider it when generating the signature.

[0473] Certain software components are not built, such as meta data files, for example, PMD file 48 (FIG. 12a). These software components are also passed to the signature generating program, and the generated signature is appended to the file. Similar to the built software components, the Kit Builder adds these software components to the packaging list, retrieves the signature appended to each software component and inserts it in the packaging list corresponding to the appropriate software component.

[0474] The signatures within the packaging list are used after installation of the new Installation Kit within the network device to determine which software components need to be upgraded. Since each new Installation Kit may include all software components required by the network device, including unchanged and changed software components, a hot upgrade is only practical if the changed software components may be easily and accurately identified. For example, an Installation Kit may include a large number of software components, such as 50–60 load modules, 2–3 kernels and 10–15 meta data files. If changed software components cannot be identified, then the network device will need to be rebooted in order to implement all the software components in the new Installation Kit. Signatures allow for a quick and accurate determination as to which components changed and, thus, need to be upgraded.

Installation:

[0475] A customer/user may receive a new Installation Kit on a CD, or the customer/user may be given access to a web site where the new Installation Kit may be accessed. Whether a CD is loaded into a CD player 1209 (FIG. 20c) or a web site is accessed, an Install icon 1210 will be displayed on the screen of the user's computer 1212. Computer 1212 may be the same computer (e.g., 62) that is running the NMS or a different computer. To initiate installation, the user double clicks their mouse on the Install icon to cause, for example, a JAVA application 1216 (FIG. 20d), to perform the installation.

[0476] Initially, the JAVA application causes a dialog box 1214 to appear to welcome the user and ask for an internet (IP) address 1213a of the network device into which the new Installation Kit is to be installed. For security, the dialog box may also request a username 1213b and a password 1213c. After verifying the username and password with the network device, the JAVA application uses the supplied IP address to download the new Installation Kit, for example, release 1.1 1218, including the packaging list, to a new sub-directory 1220 within an installation directory 1222 in configuration database 42. Any previously loaded Installation Kits, which have not been deleted, may be found in different sub-directories, for example, release 1.0 may be loaded in sub-directory 1224.

[0477] In addition, if the configuration database schema (i.e., meta data/data structure) needs to be changed, the JAVA application also causes a dialog box 1215 (FIG. 20e) to appear. Dialog box 1215 prompts the user for an NMS database system ID 1215a, a database port address 1215b and a database password 1215c. The JAVA application then uploads the existing meta data (used by the NMS) and user data 1221a from the network device's configuration database into a work area 1254 within the NMS database 61. The JAVA application then performs the conversion in accordance with the new meta data provided in the new release and then downloads a DDL script 1221b into new sub-directory 1220 within the network device.

[0478] The network device may then be rebooted (cold upgrade), in which case, once rebooted the network device will use all the software components, including the DDL script for the converted configuration database, of release 1.1 in sub-directory 1220. Instead, the DDL script for the converted configuration database may reside in sub-directory 1220 until the user elects to make the upgrade, as described below.

Upgrade:

[0479] Upgrades are managed by a software management system (SMS) service. Upgrades may be implemented while the network device is running (hot upgrades), or upgrades may be implemented by re-booting the network device (cold upgrades). Hot upgrades are preferred to limit any disruption in service provided by the network device. In addition, certain upgrades may only affect certain services, and a hot upgrade may be implemented such that the unaffected services experience no disruption while the affected services experience only minimal disruption. The SMS is one of the modular system services, and like the MCD and the SRM, the SMS is a distributed application. Referring to FIG. 21a, a master SMS 184 is executed by central processor 12 while slave SMSs 186a–186n are executed on each board (e.g., 12 and 16a–16n).

[0480] Master SMS 184 periodically polls installation directory 1222 for new sub-directories including new releases, for example, release 1.1 1218 in sub-directory 1220. When the master SMS detects a new release, it opens (and decompresses, if necessary) the packaging list in the new sub-directory and verifies that each software component listed in the packaging list is also stored in the new sub-directory. The master SMS then performs a checksum on each software component and compares the generated checksum to the checksum appended to the software component.

[0481] Once all software components are verified, the master SMS opens (and decompresses, if necessary) an upgrade instruction file also included as one of the software components loaded into sub-directory 1220 from the Installation Kit. The upgrade instruction file indicates the scope of the upgrade (i.e., upgrade mode). For instance, the upgrade instruction file may indicate that the upgrade may be hot or cold or must only be cold. The upgrade instruction file may also indicate that the upgrade may be done only across the entire chassis—that is, all applications to be upgraded must be upgraded simultaneously across the entire chassis—or that the upgrade may be done on a board-by-board basis or a path-by-path basis or some other partial chassis upgrade. A board-by-board upgrade may allow a network device administrator to chose certain boards on which to upgrade applications and allow older versions of the same applications to continue running on other boards. Similarly, path-by-path or other service related upgrades may allow the network administrator to chose to upgrade only the applications controlling particular services for particular customers, for example, a single path, while allowing older versions of the applications to continue to control the other services. Various upgrade modes are possible.

[0482] The upgrade instructions file may also include more detailed instructions such as the order in which each software component should be upgraded. That is, if several applications are to be upgraded, certain ones may need to be upgraded before certain other ones. Similarly, certain software components may need to be upgraded simultaneously. Moreover, certain boards may need to be upgraded prior to other boards. For example, control processor card 12 may need to be upgraded prior to upgrading any line cards.

[0483] The master SMS then creates a record 1227 (FIG. 21b) in an SMS table 192, which may also be termed an “image control table.” The record includes at least a logical identification number (LID) field 1226, a verification status field and an upgrade mode field. Similar to other LIDs described above, LID field 1226 is filled in with a unique LID (e.g., 9623) corresponding to the new release. If the SMS verification of the new release's software components completed successfully, then the verification status field indicates that verification passed, otherwise an error code is input into the verification status field. The SMS then enters a code in the upgrade mode field from the upgrade instructions file indicating the scope of the upgrade. Alternatively, the SMS table may include a field for each possible type of upgrade mode and the master SMS would input an indication in the field or fields corresponding to possible types of upgrades for the new release.

[0484] The master SMS may then send a trap to the NMS or the NMS may periodically poll the SMS table to detect new records. In either case, the NMS creates a new record 1230 (FIG. 21c) in an Available Release window 1232. For security, only certain users, such as administrators, will have access to the Available Release window. Referring to FIG. 21d, to view this window, an administrator accesses a pull down menu, for example, the view pull down menu, and selects an Installation option 1234. The administrator may select any entry in the Available Release window to cause an Image Control dialog box 1236 (FIG. 21e) to appear. If the user selects a release (old or new) that is not currently running, the user may select a Delete option 1238, a Re-Verify option 1239 or an Install option 1240 in the Image Control dialog box. Other options may also be available.

[0485] If the user selects the Install option and multiple upgrade modes are possible for the selected release, then an Upgrade Mode dialog box 1242 (FIG. 21f) will be displayed. The Upgrade Mode dialog box may present only those options available for the chosen release, or the Upgrade Mode dialog box may present all upgrade options but only allow the user to chose the options available for the chosen release. For example, the dialog box may present a Hot option 1243 and a Cold option 1244. If the upgrade for the chosen release can only be completed as a cold upgrade, then the dialog box may not allow the user to select the Hot option.

[0486] The Upgrade Mode dialog box may also present other options such as entire chassis 1245, board-by-board 1246, path-by-path 1247 or various other upgrade options. If the user selects the board-by-board option or the path-by-path option, other dialog boxes will appear to accept the administrator's input of which board(s) or path(s) to upgrade. The user may also select a Time for Installation option 1249 and input a particular time for the installation. If the Time for Installation option is not selected, then the default may be to initiate the installation immediately.

[0487] Once the administrator has provided any required information in the Upgrade Control dialog box and, in the case of an upgrade, the Upgrade Mode dialog box, the NMS creates a new record 1251 in an Upgrade Control table 1248 (FIG. 21g). The NMS inputs the Image LID (e.g., 9623) in Image LID field 1250 of the record in the SMS table corresponding to the release selected by the administrator (e.g., release 1.1) in the Available Release window. The NMS then inputs a code (e.g., x2344) in a Command field 1252 corresponding to the action requested by the administrator. For example, the code may represent a Delete command indicating that the release selected by the administrator should be deleted from both the Install sub-directory and the corresponding record removed from the SMS table. Instead the code may represent a re-verify command indicating that the software components in the Install sub-directory corresponding to the release should be re-verified. Similarly, the code may represent an upgrade command and, specifically, a particular type of upgrade according to the upgrade mode chosen by the user. Alternatively, instead of having codes, the Upgrade Control table could include fields for each command and each upgrade mode and the NMS would fill in the appropriate field(s). The NMS also fills in a Time for Installation field 1253 with a future time or indicates that the installation should proceed immediately.

[0488] When the NMS adds new record 1251 to the Upgrade Control table, an active query is sent to the master SMS. If an upgrade command is detected in Command field 1252, the master SMS sends notices to all SMS clients that access software components from the current release sub-directory indicating that software components should now be accessed from the new release sub-directory. SMS clients include, for example, the Master Control Driver (MCD) and the program supervisor module (PSM) within the mission kernel image (MKI) on each board, which the slave SRM on each board may ask to load upgraded software components. Having the SMS clients point to the new sub-directory for the new release eliminates the need for the SRM to have any release specific details. For example, during an ATM upgrade, the slave SRMs will simply ask the local PSM to load ATM software components regardless of the release number, however, since the PSM is pointed to the new release directory, upgraded ATM software components will be loaded.

[0489] The master SMS then opens up the packing list from the sub-directory (e.g., 1224) of the currently running release (e.g., release 1.0) and the sub-directory (e.g., 1220) of the new release (e.g., release 1.1) and compares the signatures of each software component to determine which software components have changed and, thus, need to be upgraded, and to determine if there are any new software components to be installed. Thus, signatures promote hot upgrades by allowing the SMS to quickly locate only those software components that need to be upgraded.

[0490] Since signatures are automatically generated for each software component as part of putting together a new release and since a robust signature generating program is used, a quick comparison of two signatures provides an accurate assurance that either the software component has changed or has not. Instead of comparing signatures, a full compare of each running software component against each corresponding software component in the new release may be run, however, since many software components may be quite long (e.g., 50–60 megabytes) this will likely take a considerable amount of time and processor power. Instead, the signatures provide a quick, easy way to accurately determine the upgrade status of each software component.

[0491] If the new release requires a converted configuration database and this was not implemented through a cold upgrade, then the master SMS will find a script for converted configuration database file 42′ in the new release subdirectory. The master SMS may terminate the currently executing configuration database 42 and instantiate converted configuration database 42′.

[0492] Referring to FIG. 22, instead of directly upgrading configuration database 42 on central processor 12, a backup configuration database 420 on a backup central processor 13 may be upgraded first. As described above, computer system 10 includes central processor 12. Computer system 10 may also include a redundant or backup central processor 13 that mirrors or replicates the active state of central processor 12. Backup central processor 13 is generally in stand-by mode unless central processor 12 fails at which point a fail-over to backup central processor 13 is initiated to allow the backup central processor to be substituted for central processor 12. In addition to failures, backup central processor 13 may be used for software and hardware upgrades that require changes to the configuration database. Through backup central processor 13, upgrades can be made to backup configuration database 420 instead of to configuration database 42.

[0493] Master SMS 184 tells slave SMS 186e to cause backup processor 13 to change from backup mode to upgrade mode. Slave SMS 186e then works with slave SRM 37e to cause backup processor 13 to change from backup mode to upgrade mode. In upgrade mode, backup processor 13 stops replicating the active state of central processor 12. Slave SMS 186e then copies over the script for new configuration database file 42′ from sub-directory 1220, executes the script to generate new configuration database 42′, directs slave SRM 37e to terminate backup configuration database 420 and execute the new configuration database 42′.

[0494] Once configuration database 42′ is upgraded, a fail-over or switch-over from central processor 12 to backup central processor 13 is initiated. Central processor 13 then begins acting as the primary central processor and applications running on central processor 13 and other boards throughout computer system 10 begin using upgraded configuration database 42′. Central processor 12 may not become the backup central processor right away. Instead, central processor 12 with its older copy of configuration database 42 may stay dormant in case an automatic downgrade is necessary (described below). If the upgrade goes smoothly and is committed (described below), then central processor 12 will begin operating in backup mode and replace old configuration database 42 with new configuration database 42′.

[0495] Existing processes using their view ids and APIs to access new configuration database 42′ in the same manner as they accessed old configuration database 42. However, when new processes (e.g., ATM version two 360 and device driver 362, FIG. 3c) access new configuration database 42′, their view ids and APIs allow them to access new tables and data within new configuration database 42′.

[0496] Once the configuration database is converted or if no conversion of the configuration database is necessary, the master SMS determines whether any meta data files, such as the PMD file, have been upgraded—that is the signature of a meta data file in the currently running release does not match the signature of the same meta data file in the new release. If yes, then the master SMS overwrites the current meta data files with any changed, new meta data files. New meta data files may also be loaded from the new release sub-directory.

[0497] Referring to FIG. 23, if any other software components have changed, then master SMS 184 first needs to determine where the software components corresponding to the changed software components are currently executing. Since each slave SRM maintains information about which software components are loaded on their local board, the master SMS may call master SRM 36, which will ask each of the slave SRMs 37a–37n, or the master SMS may ask each of the slave SMSs 186a–186n, which will ask their local slave SRMs 37a–37n. The master SMS upgrades the software components in accordance with the upgrade instructions. Thus, if the upgrade instructions indicate that all instantiations of ATM across the entire chassis should be simultaneously upgraded, then the master SMS initiates and controls a lock step upgrade. In most instances, all instantiations of a distributed application will be upgraded simultaneously to avoid conflicts between the different versions. However, if an upgraded software component is compatible with its corresponding, currently running software component, then the upgrade need not be chassis wide.

[0498] After determining where software components, that need to be upgraded, are currently being executed, master SMS 184 tells the appropriate slave SMSs, which tell their local slave SRMs (which tell their local PSM within their local MKI, not shown in FIG. 23 for clarity), to load the changed software components and the control shims for each of the changed software components from new release sub-directory 1220 onto the appropriate boards. For example, if an ATM software component has changed, the master SMS tells slave SMSs 186b–186n, which tell slave SRMs 37b–37n, to load ATM control shim (e.g., ATM_V2_Cntrl.exe 204a–204n) and, for example, an ATM version 2 file (e.g., ATM_V2.exe 206a–206b) from the new release 1.1. If any control shim has been upgraded, then it must be loaded from the new release, otherwise, it could be loaded from the new release or control shim from the currently executing release could be used. Typically, whether the control shim has changed or not, it is loaded from the new release since the changed software components are also loaded from the new release. If necessary, the slave SRM de-compresses each of the software components.