Cisco Technology, Inc.

Cisco Tchnology, Ink.

Omar G Abuabara

Douglas Alan Gourlay

Prashant Gandhi

Mark McKee

Marco Foschiano

Sachin Gupta

Leonard N Thompson

Anthony R Faustini

Vinayak M Kamat

A data communication network (DCN) having a plurality of network devices coupled to the DCN with at least one of the network devices having a 'boot once' connectivity manager processor (CMP). The CMP receives its power over the DCN rather than from the power applied to the network devices. The CMP can execute special operating system code and maintain network connectivity even if the network device itself is powered off, is being booted or is otherwise non-functional. The CMP is also coupled to the network device's memory so that it may respond to out-of-band polling requests for device status information from network management tools. With CMP, network administrators can monitor the boot process of network devices, determine that a network device is non-functional due to power loss and can maintain an accurate inventory status of spare network devices that are stored un-powered in a spares closet.

Network accessibility to any network attached device during reboot and power loss

In one embodiment, a source device (e.g., a VOIP phone) establishes a call connection with a remote device depending on which of multiple network paths provides an acceptable latency (e.g., a lower latency). For example, in response to receiving a request to establish a connection with a remote destination device over a network, the source device (e.g., a caller's phone) obtains multiple service code values. The source device encodes each of multiple data packets to include a unique service code value for transmission of the messages over different network topologies to a remote destination. Thus, when transmitted, each of the multiple messages follows a different logical network topology of a network as specified by a respective service code value. Based on feedback from a remote device that receives the multiple messages, the source learns a preferred logical network topology of the network for establishing the call connection.

Communication embodiments and low latency path selection in a multi-topology network

A method for cable diagnostics in a network includes performing a test to determine initial state information for each of a plurality of lines coupled to a switch and storing the initial state information in a database. When a change in the state of a line is detected, the test is re-run to determine new state information of the line. The new state information is stored in the database and a message that identifies the change in state and a likely cause of the state change is issued to a network operator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

System for proactive time domain reflectometry

A data communication device automatically configures its own communication ports based on attributes of a remote device with which it communicates. The process of configuring the communication ports includes monitoring a communications protocol associated with a remote device on a given communication port of the data communication device without participating in the communications protocol. The data communication device detects an attribute such as a network address associated with the remote device based on the monitored communications. In response to detecting the attribute of the remote device, the data communication device selects one of multiple configuration profiles depending on the detected attribute of the remote device to configure the given communication port.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Omar G Abuabara