Method and apparatus for selectively unmanaging elements on a network

Abstract

Elements on a network are selectively unmanaged by a network manager. An element is not managed when it is placed in a Pending state. Traps and events from the element in the Pending state are handled but not processed. The element can be automatically placed in the Pending state if a trap or event has been generated by that element.

We claim:  
     
       1. A network manager for selectively unmanaging elements in a network, comprising: 
       a processor;  
       a display; and  
       a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing  
       a network topology database that describes the elements of the network, and  
       a network management procedure, wherein the network management procedure causes the processor to:  
       respond to traps and events from the elements,  
       notify a user of received traps and events each time the traps and events are received,  
       generate a graphical user interface on the display wherein glyphs represent the elements,  
       place a first element in a Pending state,  
       distinctively represent the glyph representing the first element on the graphical user interface on the display while the first element is in the Pending state, and  
       stop all notifications to the user of all received traps and events for the first element while the first element is in the Pending state.  
     
     
       2. The network manager of  claim 1  wherein the network management procedure causes the processor to allow the user to place the first element in the Pending state using the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       3. The network manager of  claim 1  wherein the network management procedure causes the processor to automatically place the first element in the Pending state when a trap or event occurs. 
     
     
       4. The network manager of  claim 1  wherein the network management procedure causes the processor to allow the user to select a desired distinctive representation for the glyphs representing elements in the Pending state. 
     
     
       5. The network manager of  claim 4  wherein the selected desired distinctive representation is a blinking glyph. 
     
     
       6. The network manager of claim  5   4 wherein the selected desired distinctive representation is a greyed out glyph. 
     
     
       7. The network manager of  claim 1  wherein the network management procedure causes the processor to: 
       represent a subnet of elements with a subnet glyph,  
       allow a user to place the subnet of elements represented by the subnet glyph in the Pending state using the graphical user interface, and  
       distinctively represent the subnet glyph in the Pending state on the graphical user interface on the display.  
     
     
       8. The network manager of  claim 1  wherein the elements are organized into parent elements and child elements, and the network management procedure causes the processor to 
       propagate traps and events from child elements to their respective parent elements, and  
       when a parent element is in the Pending state, traps and events from respective child elements of the parent element are not propagated to the parent element.  
     
     
       9. A method of selectively unmanaging elements in a network in a network management system having a processor, a display, and a memory, the memory storing a network management procedure executed by the processor, the network management procedure causing the processor to display a graphical user interface on the display, comprising the steps of: 
       displaying elements of a network topology database on the graphical user interface wherein each element is represented by a glyph;  
       receiving traps and events from the elements;  
       notifying a user of received traps and events each time the traps and events are received,  
       placing a first element in a Pending state;  
       distinctively representing the glyph representing the first element on the graphical user interface; and  
       stopping all notifications to the user of all traps and events for the first element, while the first element is in the Pending state.  
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the user places the first element in the Pending state using the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the first element is automatically placed in the Pending state when a trap or event occurs. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of selecting a desired distinctive representation for the elements in the Pending state by the user. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the selected desired distinctive representation is a blinking glyph. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the selected desired distinctive representation is a greyed-out glyph. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of: 
       representing a subnet of elements with a subnet glyph;  
       placing the subnet of elements represented by the subnet glyph in the pending state; and  
       distinctively representing the subnet glyph in the Pending state on the graphical user interface on the display.  
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9  wherein the elements are organized into parent elements and child elements, and further comprising the steps of: 
       propagating traps and events from child elements to the respective parent elements; and  
       when a parent element is in the Pending state, traps and events from the respective child elements of the parent element are not propagated to the parent element.  
     
     
       17. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism comprising: a network management procedure including instructions for 
       displaying elements of a network topology database on a graphical user interface on a display wherein each element is represented by a glyph; receiving traps and events from the elements;  
       notifying a user of received traps and events each time the traps and events are received;  
       placing a first element in a Pending state;  
       distinctively representing the glyph representing the first element on the graphical user interface; and  
       stopping all notifications to the user of all traps and events for the first element while the first element is in the Pending state.  
     
     
       18. The computer program product of  claim 17  further including instructions for allowing the user to place the first element in a Pending state using the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       19. The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising instructions for automatically placing the first element in the Pending state when a trap or event occurs. 
     
     
       20. The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising instructions for selecting a desired distinctive representation for the elements in the Pending state by the user. 
     
     
       21. The computer program product of  claim 20  wherein the selected desired distinctive representation is a blinking glyph. 
     
     
       22. The computer program product of  claim 20  wherein the selected desired distinctive representation is a greyed-out glyph. 
     
     
       23. The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising instructions for: 
       representing a subnet of elements with a subnet glyph;  
       placing the subnet of elements represented by the subnet glyph in the pending state; and  
       distinctively representing the subnet glyph in the Pending state on the graphical user interface on the display.  
     
     
       24. The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein the elements are organized into parent elements and child elements, and further comprising instructions for: 
       propagating traps and events from child elements to the respective parent elements; and  
       not propagating traps and events from the respective child elements to the parent element when the parent element is in the Pending state.