Method and system for matching and repairing network configuration

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for matching and repairing network configuration are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits and/or processors may be operable to determine a configuration of one or more parameters in a plurality of devices along a network path, and detect whether any of the one or more parameters are configured such that communication between the plurality of devices is disabled and/or suboptimal. The devices may comprise at least one server and one or more of a network switch, a network bridge, and a router. In instances that one or more parameters are incompatibly or sub-optimally configured, a notification of the incompatibility may be communicated to a network management entity and/or one or more messages may be generated to reconfigure the one or more parameters in one or more of the plurality of devices. The determining and/or detecting may be performed automatically in response to various events.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 at a network management entity in data communication with a plurality of network elements on a communication network,
 receiving from a first network element configuration information which indicates incompatible communication configuration at the first network element; 
 determining a reconfiguration for the first network element to overcome the incompatible communication configuration; 
 automatically generating a message including information to reconfigure the first network element to correct the incompatible communication configuration; and 
 communicating the message to the first network element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at the network management entity, automatically negotiating a reconfiguration for the first network element to correct the incompatible communication configuration. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at the network management entity, sending a request for configuration information to the first network element. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving second configuration information from a second network element; 
 determining the second configuration information is incompatible with the received configuration information from the first network element; and 
 wherein determining the reconfiguration for the first network element comprises determining a reconfiguration resolving the incompatibility. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein resolving the incompatibility comprises:
 automatically negotiating a reconfiguration for the first network element to correct a communication configuration of one of the first network element and the second network element to improve subsequent communication performance between the first network element and the second network element. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein resolving the incompatibility comprises:
 yielding the resolution of the incompatibility to another network management entity that takes precedence over the network management entity. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 determining a reconfiguration for the second network element that, together with the reconfiguration for the first network element, comprises a reconfiguration resolving the incompatibility. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein automatically generating a message comprises:
 automatically generating a single message that includes information to reconfigure the first network element and to reconfigure the second element to correct the incompatible communication configuration. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein communicating the message to the first network element comprises communicating the single message to only the first network element with a command to instruct the first network element to notify the second network element of the reconfiguration to correct the incompatible communication configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving configuration information comprises receiving information about possible compatible configurations for the first network element and a second network element. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving configuration information comprises receiving information about a recommended reconfiguration for the first network element. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 at a network management entity managing communication among a plurality of network elements,
 receiving from a first network element of the plurality of network elements data indicating that one or more communication parameters is mismatched with one or more corresponding communication parameters of a second network element of the plurality of network elements; 
 determining a reconfiguration suitable to repair network configuration; and 
 communicating data for the reconfiguration to one or both of the first network element and the second network element. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 at the network management entity, negotiating with a second network management entity the reconfiguration suitable to repair the network configuration. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 yielding resolution of the mismatch of the one or more communication parameters to the second network management entity according to an established network precedence for network management. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein determining a reconfiguration suitable to repair network configuration comprises:
 selecting matching values of the one or more communication parameters and the one or more corresponding communication parameters, the matching values suitable to optimize subsequent data communication between the first network element and the second network element. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein communicating data for the reconfiguration comprises:
 communicating a message to the first network element to cause the first network element to
 reconfigure the one or more communication parameters, and 
 communicate a notification of the reconfiguration to the second network element. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising
 receiving from the first network element information about possible compatible reconfigurations for the first network element and the second network element suitable to repair the network configuration. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 at a network management entity managing communication in a network;
 receiving a communication from a first logical point of management, the logical point of management managing configuration of a plurality of network elements, the communication including data indicating that one or more communication parameters of a first network element under management of the logical point of management is mismatched with one or more corresponding communication parameters of a second network element; 
 determining a reconfiguration suitable to optimize communication between the first network element and the second network element; and 
 communicating a message including data for the reconfiguration the first logical point of management. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein communicating the message comprises:
 communicating instructions to the first logical point of management to reconfigure the first network element, and 
 communicating instructions to the first logical point of management to notify a second logical point of management which manages configuration of the second network element. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein receiving a communication from a first logical point of management comprises receiving information from the first logical point of management about possible compatible configurations for the first network element and a second network element.