Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Tyson A Singer

Steven L Christenson

Beejan Beheshti

Shmuel Shaffer

Michelle Michael

Katrina Chiang

Jay Casuba

Uwe Steinmueller

Mary C Medoff

Jennifer Hood

Tina Suo

A Network Auto-Discovery service is provided. In operation, an administrator inputs a set of IP (Internet Protocol) address ranges inside which the distributed system exists. The Auto-Discovery Unit ( ) steps through the IP addresses in the ranges testing each one to determine if there is a machine at that IP address. If a machine is found at that address, an exploration process is begun. First, attempts are made to contact a Responder ( ) on the machine. If one exists, the Responder ( ) accepts the configuration information provided to it. Then the Responder ( ) returns a set of objects that describe the hardware and software components of that machine. The returned information contains a list of management applications associated with system components. The Auto-Discovery Unit ( ) then stores this information. The location and exploration process is repeated at scheduled intervals indefinitely.

System and method for network auto-discovery and configuration

Combined layout and icons for a computer screen

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Tyson A Singer