Network Device Management via Master-Slave IP Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems require each network device to have a unique IP address, necessitating administrators to know and manage multiple IP addresses, leading to inefficient and time-consuming processes for setting and managing multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A method where a single IP address of a master network device is used to manage multiple slave network devices, with the management server searching and specifying candidate devices, allowing for centralized management without needing to know individual IP addresses of all devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each network device is assigned a unique IP address for management, then each device can be individually accessed and managed, but administrators must know and manage multiple IP addresses, increasing operational complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary between administrators and network devices. The management server maintains a mapping relationship between device names and IP addresses, automatically resolving device identifiers to IP addresses. This mediator eliminates the need for administrators to directly manage multiple IP addresses, reducing operational complexity while maintaining individual device accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the network device identification system through the management server. Instead of directly using physical IP addresses as identifiers, the system uses device names as virtual identifiers that are easier to remember and manage. The management server maintains a copy of the mapping between these virtual identifiers and actual IP addresses, simplifying the management interface for administrators
2Measurement precision
If administrators manually configure and enter IP addresses for each network device, then precise device identification is achieved, but the setup process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by having the management server automatically discover network devices and pre-establish the mapping between device names and IP addresses before administrators need to access them. The system proactively configures the device information database, so when administrators need to manage devices, the identification mappings are already prepared and available, eliminating manual configuration time
Solution Approach 2:
The management server performs self-service by automatically discovering network devices, extracting their IP addresses, and building the device information database without administrator intervention. The system autonomously maintains the mapping relationships, freeing administrators from the time-consuming task of manually configuring and entering IP addresses for each device
3Extent of automation
If a centralized management system is implemented, then management operations can be consolidated, but the system still requires distributed IP address knowledge and independent device setup procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the distributed IP address management functions into a centralized device information database on the management server. All IP address mappings are consolidated in one location, allowing the management server to handle all device identification requests centrally. This combining of previously distributed management tasks into a single centralized system eliminates the need for administrators to know distributed IP addresses while maintaining full management capability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method for managing and setting many network devices, and the method is applied in a network management system. The network management system includes a management server and a plurality of network devices. The management server searches a network device connected to the management server and specifies one of the network devices connected to the management server as a master network device, and then searches all network devices that can be connected to the master network device. The searched network devices are set as candidate network devices and at least one candidate network device is set as a slave network device of the master network device, such that a single IP address of the master network device can be used for managing the slave network devices, and the management server can be used for managing many network devices distributed at different places.