Cisco Technology, Inc.

Wayne Clayton Cannon

Suhas Mansingh

Sean Mountcastle

Anita Recharla

Rich Verjinski

S Daniel James

Rudy Zulkarnain

Techniques for managing network elements in a network are provided. A network element dependent module is utilized to provide functions for managing a specific type of network element. The network element dependent module can be for a network element type and software version. The network element application can manage new network elements, even those with new features, without requiring an update to the network management application.

Network element management

A network management systems (NMS) queries network elements (NEs) and receives information on cross connects set up at the NEs and other circuit information. Multiple NMS systems can manage the network at the same time. If one NMS changes a cross connect on an NE, the NE will inform the other NMS systems. The cross connect information is used to provide up-to-date information on circuits set up in the network and to facilitate elimination of 'orphaned' cross connects which should have been deleted but have not been deleted due to some network failure.

Network management systems that receive cross connect and/or other circuit information from network elements

A network management systems (NMS) queries network elements (NEs) and receives information on cross connects set up at the NEs and other circuit information. Multiple NMS systems can manage the network at the same time. If one NMS changes a cross connect on an NE, the NE will inform the other NMS systems. The cross connect information is used to provide up-to-date information on circuits set up in the network and to facilitate elimination of &ldquo;orphaned&rdquo; cross connects which should have been deleted but have not been deleted due to some network failure.

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Healdsburg, CA, United States of America

Wayne Clayton Cannon