Method and system for reduced distributed event handling in a network environment

Abstract

The present disclosure details a system, apparatus and method for reducing the redundant handling of distributed network events. In one aspect, a proxy node is selected from a plurality of network nodes and an associated network management station (“NMS”) preferably addresses only the distributed events received from the proxy node. In an alternate embodiment, non-proxy nodes may be limited to reporting node-specific events to the NMS, resulting in a reduction of the number of distributed events received and processed by the NMS to those sent by the proxy node. The proxy node may be selected by the NMS or by the network nodes, in alternate implementations. Availability of the proxy node may be monitored and ensured by the network nodes or by the NMS. The selection of a proxy node is generally repeated upon the addition of nodes to the network or a lapse in proxy node availability.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A computer network comprising: 
 a plurality of network nodes, including a proxy node and a plurality of non-proxy nodes, the network nodes operably coupled to a communication network;    the plurality of network nodes operable to cooperatively select the proxy node from the plurality of network nodes;    the proxy node operable to detect and report distributed and node-specific events to a network management station via the communication network; and    at least one non-proxy node operable to detect and report only node-specific events to the network management station while the proxy node remains available.    
   
   
       28 . The computer network of  claim 27  further comprising at least one non-proxy node operable to monitor availability of the proxy node.  
   
   
       29 . The computer network of  claim 28  further comprising at least one non-proxy node operable to initiate and participate in selection of a new proxy node with the non-proxy nodes in response to a lapse in the availability of the proxy node.  
   
   
       30 . The computer network of  claim 27  further comprising at least one network node operable to detect a new node added to the communication network.  
   
   
       31 . The computer network of  claim 30  further comprising at least one network node operable to initiate selection of a proxy node in response to detection of a new node.  
   
   
       32 . The computer network of  claim 27  further comprising each network node participating in proxy node selection operable to exchange an existing proxy node selection message with one another, each existing proxy node selection messages identifying a proxy node known to each exchanging network node.  
   
   
       33 . The computer network of  claim 32  further comprising at least one network node operable to apply an agreed upon rule for proxy node selection in response to a conflict between the proxy nodes identified in the exchanged proxy node selection messages.  
   
   
       34 . The computer network of  claim 32  further comprising at least one network node participating in selection of the proxy node operable to detect a conflict between the proxy nodes identified in the existing proxy node selection messages.  
   
   
       35 . The computer network of  claim 34  further comprising the at least one network node operable to select the proxy node identified in the existing proxy node selection messages if no conflict is detected.  
   
   
       36 . A network computing device comprising: 
 at least one processor;    memory operably coupled to the processor;    a communication interface operably coupled to the processor and the memory, the communication interface operable to communicate with at least one network node and a network management station via a communication network; and    a program of instructions storable in the memory and executable by the processor, the program of instructions operable to cooperate with at least one network node to select a proxy node and further operable to report events to the network management station according to selection of the network computing device as a proxy node or a non-proxy node.    
   
   
       37 . The network computing device of  claim 36  further comprising the program of instructions operable to report both distributed and node-specific events to the network management station in response to selection of the network computing device as the proxy node.  
   
   
       38 . The network computing device of  claim 36  further comprising the program of instructions operable to report node-specific events to the network management station while a selected proxy node is available.  
   
   
       39 . The network computing device of  claim 36  further comprising the program of instructions operable to exchange existing proxy node selections with the at least one network node and to detect a conflict between the existing proxy node selections.  
   
   
       40 . The network computing device of  claim 39  further comprising the program of instructions operable to select the proxy node according to the existing proxy node selections if there is no conflict detected and to select the proxy node according to one or more rules in response to detection of a conflict between the existing proxy node selections.  
   
   
       41 . The network computing device of  claim 36  further comprising the program of instructions operable to monitor availability of the proxy node and to initiate selection of a new proxy node in response to a lapse in proxy node availability.  
   
   
       42 . The network computing device of  claim 36  further comprising the program of instructions operable to initiate proxy node selection in response to detection of a new network node.