Remote Network Switch Management via Command Processing Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication network switch management systems require network administrators to be physically present or use inefficient remote access methods, leading to time-consuming and resource-intensive processes for configuring and controlling multiple switches.
Innovation Solution
A programmable remote device management system that allows users to send validated control and configuration commands to communication network switches over a computer network, using a processor, protocol translation engine, and a master agent with sub-agents to process and execute commands efficiently, thereby reducing the load on the network switch and enabling simultaneous control of multiple switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a local command line interface is used on the network switch, then the network administrator can directly control the switch, but the network administrator must be physically located proximate to the switch
Solution Approach 1:
A remote command line interface server is introduced as an intermediary between the network administrator and the network switch. The server receives commands from the administrator, processes them locally, and communicates with the switch over the network, eliminating the need for physical proximity while maintaining direct control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The command line interface functionality is segmented from the network switch and placed on a separate remote server. This allows the interface processing to occur remotely while the switch executes only the essential control commands, improving remote access efficiency without sacrificing direct control
2Ease of operation
If remote access to the local command line interface is provided via communication ports, then the network administrator can remotely access the switch, but the process becomes time-consuming when managing multiple switches
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple network switch management interfaces are merged into a single remote command line interface server. The administrator can manage multiple switches through one unified interface, eliminating the need to sequentially access each switch's individual interface and significantly reducing the time required to manage multiple devices
Solution Approach 2:
The remote command line interface server is designed with multi-functionality to handle commands for multiple different network switches simultaneously. A single server provides universal access to various switches, allowing the administrator to switch between devices without establishing separate connections for each
3Speed
If control commands are processed locally by the command line interface on the network switch, then the commands can be executed directly, but significant processor bandwidth and memory space are consumed from the switch
Solution Approach 1:
The command processing functionality is extracted from the network switch and relocated to a remote server. The switch only needs to communicate commands over the network, while the computationally intensive processing occurs on the server, reducing the switch's processor bandwidth and memory consumption while maintaining execution speed
Solution Approach 2:
A remote server acts as an intermediary that handles the computationally intensive command processing. The server receives commands, processes them locally with full computational resources, and communicates results to the switch, thereby protecting the switch's limited resources while maintaining fast execution through efficient remote processing
Data Source
AI summary
A programmable remote device management system for remotely controlling and/or configuring a communication network switch over a computer network. The system includes a command processing engine coupled to a user interface, a protocol translation engine, a scripting engine and to a filtering engine. The command processing engine is adapted to receive at least one switch command via the user interface and to process the switch command for providing at least one validated or otherwise processed switch command. The switch command is provided from the remote device management system to the communication network switch over the computer network. With this arrangement, a user can efficiently communicate a plurality of validated or otherwise processed control and/or configuration commands to one or more of the communication network switches from a remote location for performing a variety of network switch management operations as if similarly executed local to the communication network switch.