Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Felix W Wong

Max L Benson

Stewart P MacLeod

Kim Cameron

James H Booth

Jonathan Fischer

Hilal Al-Hilali

John Hillary Zybura

Edward H Wayt

Gilbert Wong

Jing Wu

Herman John Man

Robert Dan Thompson, Iv

Robert Dan Thompson

Robert Dan Thompson Iv

Srinivasan Chandrasekar

Method and system for collecting network device information is provided. A meta-meta model structure is used by a plurality of collectors that collect information from a plurality of network devices. The meta-meta model identifies a network protocol that is used for data collection, identifies the type of information that is to be collected and also identifies how collected data is to be stored in a database. A plurality of collectors is configured to interface with the database. When data needs to be collected, an inventory engine reads the meta-meta model and instantiates a collector to collect and store information in the database as specified by the meta-meta model.

Network device information collection and analysis

Described are mechanisms and techniques for enabling incremental non-chronological synchronization of namespaces. In an environment, entities must have unique names within a namespace and entities may only refer to entities that actually exist within the namespace. Synchronizing two such namespaces involves providing a mechanism for indicating that an entity has been created because a reference to that entity has been made even though that entity does not yet exist. At such time as the entity is formally created, the indication is removed. Synchronizing two such namespaces also involves providing a mechanism for indicating that an entity's unique name in the namespace has been compromised through the synchronization process.

Incremental non-chronological synchronization of namespaces

Systems and methods for extending a directory schema independent of schema modification are described. In one aspect, a directory schema data structure includes a flexible attribute data field. The flexible attribute data field identifies a complex data type. The complex data type is used to express one or more operational or data providing properties of a flexible attribute. The one or more operational or data providing properties are independent of the complex data type and independent of directory schema modification. The directory schema data structure also includes a flexible structural object content class to encapsulate the flexible attribute.

Extending a directory schema independent of schema modification

The described arrangements and procedures provide a directory schema with object classes that have flexible attributes. This means that attributes can be extended independent of modifications to the directory schema. Specifically, an object instance of a content class described in the directory schema is instantiated. The content class includes a flexible attribute having a data type. A property is assigned to the attribute. The property is any combination of an operational and data providing property. The property is independent of the attribute's data type. Thus, without modifying the directory schema, multiple instances of the same object class can have attributes that provide completely different data types and completely different data operations.

Directory synchronization is disclosed. A synchronization logic synchronizes a first directory and a second directory. The logic has one or more synchronization capabilities: a dampening capability, an identifier mapping capability, and a checksum capability. The dampening capability prevents changes that originate from the second directory that have already been synchronized to the first directory from being synchronized back to the second directory. The identifier mapping capability uses a table that maps a unique identifier of each record of the first directory with a unique identifier of a corresponding record of the second directory. Records that are moved within a directory can then be located. The checksum capability uses a checksum for each record in one of the directories, to efficiently detect changes.

Directory synchronization

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Felix W Wong