SNMP Relay Messaging for Network Management Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SNMP implementations are inefficient due to point-to-point communication methods and the need for lengthy acknowledgments, which reduce network management program efficiency and waste bandwidth and processing resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing relay messaging and asynchronous processing within SNMP to allow a managing device to send a single message that can trigger processing on multiple managed devices, enabling cooperative computations and eliminating the need for immediate acknowledgments, allowing continued processing without waiting for message receipt confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a managing device sends separate SNMP messages to each managed device to gather data or set parameters, then each device can be managed individually, but network bandwidth is wasted and processing resources are consumed inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple point-to-point SNMP messages into a single multicast message that can be received by multiple managed devices simultaneously. The managing device sends one multicast message to a group address, and all target managed devices process it, replacing what would otherwise require multiple separate unicast messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast SNMP message serves multiple functions simultaneously: it can gather data from multiple devices, set parameters on multiple devices, or trigger coordinated actions across the network. A single message type handles what previously required multiple device-specific messages.
2Reliability
If a network management program waits for acknowledgment from a managed device before performing other actions, then reliability of message receipt is ensured, but the program cannot perform other actions during the waiting period
Solution Approach 1:
The managing device sends the multicast SNMP message and immediately continues with other tasks without waiting for acknowledgments. The acknowledgment process is decoupled from the main execution flow, allowing the program to perform preliminary actions and subsequent actions without being blocked by acknowledgment delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The network management program maintains continuous productive action by not pausing to wait for acknowledgments. While acknowledgments are still processed in the background, the program continuously sends new multicast messages and performs management tasks, maximizing resource utilization.
3Device complexity
If managed devices have modest computation capabilities and are on slow-speed communication links, then device complexity is reduced and deployment is easier, but the time required to complete processing increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic multicast messages to coordinate actions across managed devices. Rather than requiring complex real-time synchronization, devices process messages at their own pace and can be re-coordinated with subsequent periodic messages, accommodating slow processing speeds while maintaining coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast message acts as an intermediary that coordinates actions across multiple managed devices without requiring direct communication between them. This mediator approach allows devices with modest capabilities to participate in coordinated processing without needing complex point-to-point communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for utilizing asynchronous messaging protocols, such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), to implement relay messaging through a network, gather data from and/or set parameters on a plurality of managed devices in a network through the issuance and transmission of a single SNMP message, and/or cause multiple managed devices to perform cooperative and coordinated computations through the issuance of a single SNMP message.