Method and apparatus for automatically managing sub-layer interfaces

Abstract

A method of providing network management information about a multiple-layer network communications interface sub-stack to a network management client includes establishing a standardized network management representation by use of an interface manager and a real driver and a pseudo driver, receiving a request from the network management client for network management information about an expected sub-layer interface, and in response to the request obtaining, by the pseudo driver, data maintained by the real driver corresponding to the requested network management information, and returning the data obtained by the pseudo driver to the network management client in satisfaction of the request.

1 . A method by which network management information about a multiple-layer network communications interface sub-stack is provided to a network management client, the network communications interface sub-stack having a non-standardized network management representation which omits network management information about an expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, comprising:
 establishing a standardized network management representation of the network communications interface sub-stack by use of an interface manager in conjunction a real driver and a pseudo driver, the real driver being associated with the network communications interface sub-stack as a whole, the pseudo driver being associated with the expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, the standardized network management representation including the network management information about the expected sub-layer interface;   receiving, by the interface manager, a request from the network management client for the network management information about the expected sub-layer interface; and   in response to the request:
 passing the request from the interface manager to the pseudo driver; 
 obtaining, by the pseudo driver, data maintained by the real driver corresponding to the requested network management information; and 
 returning the data obtained by the pseudo driver to the network management client in satisfaction of the request. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the standardized network management representation of the network communications interface sub-stack is accessed by the network management client via a client service provided by the interface manager, and wherein the pseudo driver accesses the data maintained by the real driver via the client service of the interface manager. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pseudo driver directly interacts with the real driver to access the data maintained by the real driver. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein establishing the standardized network management representation of the network communications interface sub-stack includes:
 determining, based on a signature indicating a layered structure of the network communications interface sub-stack, whether the expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack exists; and   if the expected sub-layer interface is determined not to exist, then creating the expected sub-layer interface and populating a network management information base with a sub-layer interface entry including (1) respective instance and type identifiers of the expected sub-layer interface and (2) one or more operational attributes of the expected sub-layer interface, the value of each operational attribute identically mirroring the value of a corresponding operational attribute of the network communications interface sub-stack as reflected in the non-standardized network management representation.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the signature is provided to the interface manager by the real driver as part of registering the network communications interface sub-stack with the interface manager;   the creating of the expected sub-layer interface (1) is performed by the pseudo driver in response to a request from the interface manager, and (2) includes registering the expected sub-layer interface with the interface manager; and   the populating of the network management information base is performed by the interface manager as part of the registering of the expected sub-layer interface by the pseudo driver.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the expected sub-layer interface is a first sub-layer interface and the populating of the network management information base is performed by a first invocation of a reentrant procedure of the interface manager; and   the determining, creating and populating are also performed for a second sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, the populating for the second sub-layer interface being performed by a second invocation of the reentrant procedure of the interface manager nested within the performing of the first invocation of the reentrant procedure.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the interface manager includes a common part and an extension part whose operation is specific to a type of the expected sub-layer interface, and wherein the request from the interface manager for the creating of the expected sub-layer interface is made by the extension part in response to a command from the common part. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein determining whether the expected sub-layer interface exists is performed based on the signature and a type of a subordinate interface reported to the interface manager by the real driver. 
     
     
         9 . A network device operative to provide network management information about a multiple-layer network communications interface sub-stack to a network management client, the network communications interface sub-stack having a non-standardized network management representation which omits network management information about an expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, the network communications device having processing circuitry including a memory and a processor operative to store and execute software comprising:
 an interface manager; and   a plurality of drivers including a real driver and a pseudo driver, the real driver being associated with the network communications interface sub-stack which effects the transfer of data communications packets in a network, the pseudo driver being associated with the expected sub-layer interface type which does not effect the transfer of data communications packets in the network;   wherein the interface manager and pseudo driver are co-operative to:
 establish a standardized network management representation of the network communications interface sub-stack, the standardized network management representation including the network management information about the expected sub-layer interface; and 
 in response to a request from the network management client for the network management information about the expected sub-layer interface, (1) obtain data maintained by the real driver corresponding to the requested network management information, and (2) return the data obtained by the pseudo driver to the network management client in satisfaction of the request. 
   
     
     
         10 . A network device according to  claim 9 , wherein the network management client is one of a plurality of network management clients of the network device operative to access the standardized network management representation of the multiple-layer network communications interface via client services provided by the interface manager, and wherein the pseudo driver is operative to access the data maintained by the real driver via the client services of the interface manager. 
     
     
         11 . A network device according to  claim 9 , wherein the pseudo driver is operative to directly interact with the real driver to access the data maintained by the real driver. 
     
     
         12 . A network device according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the interface manager is operative, based on a signature provided by the real driver indicating a layered structure of the network communications interface sub-stack, to determine whether the expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack exists; and   the interface manager and pseudo driver are co-operative, if the expected sub-layer interface is determined not to exist, to create the expected sub-layer interface and to populate a network management information base with a sub-layer interface entry including (1) respective instance and type identifiers of the expected sub-layer interface and (2) one or more operational attributes of the expected sub-layer interface, the value of each operational attribute identically mirroring the value of a corresponding operational attribute of the network communications interface sub-stack as reflected in the non-standardized network management representation.   
     
     
         13 . A network device according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the signature is provided to the interface manager by the real driver as part of registering the network communications interface sub-stack with the interface manager;   the creating of the expected sub-layer interface (1) is performed by the pseudo driver in response to a request from the interface manager, and (2) includes registering the sub-layer interface with the interface manager; and   the populating of the network management information base is performed by the interface manager as part of the registering of the expected sub-layer interface by the pseudo driver.   
     
     
         14 . A network device according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the expected sub-layer interface is a first sub-layer interface and the populating of the network management information base is performed by a first invocation of a reentrant procedure of the interface manager; and   the interface manager and a second pseudo driver are co-operative to repeat the determining, creating and populating for a second sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, the populating for the second sub-layer interface being performed by a second invocation of the reentrant procedure of the interface manager nested within the performing of the first invocation of the reentrant procedure.   
     
     
         15 . A network device according to  claim 12 , wherein the interface manager includes a common part and an extension part whose operation is specific to a type of the expected sub-layer interface, and wherein the request from the interface manager for the creating of the expected sub-layer interface is made by the extension part in response to a command from the common part. 
     
     
         16 . A network device according to  claim 12 , wherein the interface manager is operative to determine whether the expected sub-layer interface exists based on the signature and a type of a subordinate interface reported to the interface manager by the real driver. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer instructions stored thereon, the computer instructions being operative when executed by a computer to cause the computer to perform a method of providing network management information about a multiple-layer network communications interface sub-stack to a network management client, the network communications interface sub-stack having a non-standardized network management representation which omits network management information about an expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, the method comprising:
 establishing a standardized network management representation of the network communications interface sub-stack by use of an interface manager in conjunction a real driver and a pseudo driver, the real driver being associated with the network communications interface sub-stack as a whole, the pseudo driver being associated with the expected sub-layer interface of the network communications interface sub-stack, the standardized network management representation including the network management information about the expected sub-layer interface;   receiving, by the interface manager, a request from the network management client for the network management information about the expected sub-layer interface; and   in response to the request:
 passing the request from the interface manager to the pseudo driver; 
 obtaining, by the pseudo driver, data maintained by the real driver corresponding to the requested network management information; and 
 returning the data obtained by the pseudo driver to the network management client in satisfaction of the request.