Cabletron Systems, Inc.

Aprisma Management Technologies, Inc.

Suzanne Thebaut

Lundy M Lewis

Eric S Rustici

Walter P Scott

Rajiv Malik

Steve Sycamore

Prasan Kaikini

Roger H Dev

Oliver C Ibe

Ajay Aggarwal

Todd Wohlers

Method and apparatus for determining an enforceable policy applicable to one or more network devices. The method includes attaching one or more rule elements to one or more domain elements to create policies, the domain elements representing network devices and groups of network devices, and the rule elements defining actions, a method for determining whether a conflict exists between the polices, and a method for resolving the conflicts to produce one or more enforceable policies.

Policy management and conflict resolution in computer networks

Apparatus and method for monitoring parameters that govern the operational characteristics of a network device, including the use of templates for generating configuration records of network devices of a selected model type. A database of models is provided, each model representing an associated network device and including attribute values for the parameters of the associated network device. Templates are used to screen a model in order to retrieve values for each of the attributes and create a configuration record. The configuration records may be stored in the configuration manager or other storage device, and/or transferred to the pre-existing model database for use by a network management system in reconfiguring the associated network devices. Additionally, a method and apparatus is provided that defines network groups, defines network policies for groups, determines conflicts, and resolves conflicts among groups and devices. This system for configuration management is less time consuming, expensive, and error prone than prior systems.

Method and apparatus for defining and enforcing policies for configuration management in communications networks

Method and apparatus for defining and enforcing policies for

Growing community of inventors

Amesbury, MA, United States of America

Suzanne Thebaut