IP Network Mapper Using Passive Host Self-Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network mapping tools face challenges in efficiently generating and updating network maps for large IP networks due to the complexity of managing numerous hosts, unknown IP address ranges, and the burden of network traffic, making it difficult for administrators to keep accurate records.
Innovation Solution
A network mapper system that employs a passive collector to identify IP address ranges, an active collector to perform tasks on targets, and a loader to store results in a database, using a state transition model and common task interface to streamline the mapping process and handle various tasks uniformly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional automated tools are used to generate network maps by sending SNMP requests to hosts, then configuration information can be collected, but the network traffic burden becomes unacceptable and the process is too slow for large networks
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of actively sending SNMP requests from a mapper to hosts (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by having hosts passively report their own configuration information to the mapper. This eliminates the need for active probing and significantly reduces network traffic burden while maintaining comprehensive data collection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables hosts to self-report their configuration information autonomously without requiring external probing. Each host automatically generates and transmits its own configuration data, eliminating the need for active scanning and reducing the network burden from O(n) active requests to minimal passive reception
2Reliability
If administrators manually track network configuration changes, then accurate network maps can be maintained, but the task is time-consuming and error-prone due to the large number of hosts and modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically collects configuration information directly from hosts through self-reporting, eliminating manual tracking entirely. Hosts autonomously provide their configuration data, ensuring accuracy while requiring zero administrator time for data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes continuous feedback loops where hosts regularly report their configuration status to the mapper. This automated feedback mechanism ensures the network map remains current without manual intervention, capturing changes as they occur on hosts
3Measurement precision
If a comprehensive network map is generated by checking many IP addresses, then complete host discovery is achieved, but the process becomes very slow and the network traffic burden becomes unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of actively scanning IP ranges to discover hosts (traditional approach), the patent inverts the discovery mechanism by having hosts autonomously register themselves with the mapper. This eliminates the need for time-consuming IP range scanning while achieving complete host discovery
Solution Approach 2:
Hosts autonomously perform their own discovery and registration with the network mapper, providing complete host information without requiring external scanning. This self-service discovery mechanism achieves 100% host detection instantaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A system for identifying IP ranges having a network address and a network address mask is provided. The system generates a collection of IP ranges. For each unique network address as defined by a maximum network address mask within provided IP addresses, the system adds to the collection an IP range for that unique network address. The added IP range may be defined by the unique network address and a network address mask that is set to the maximum network address mask. The system identifies groups of IP ranges of the collection to be represented by a combined IP range with a combined network address mask. For each group of IP ranges, the system removes from the collection the IP ranges within the group and adds to the collection the combined IP range with a network address and the combined network address mask.