International Business Machines Corporation

William Frank McKenzie

Leo Temoshenko

David De-Hui Chen

Zvonimir Ordanic

Keith Irwin Meyer

Ellen DePaolis

A method of data retrieval reduces the number of Instrumentation message flows in a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) device. The method uses 'look-ahead' algorithms whereby data items which have not yet been requested by the Agent (but are expected to be) are retrieved from Instrumentation. The method comprises the step of retrieving from the Instrumentation an entire row of data from an SNMP table whenever a GetRequest or GetNextRequest Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is issued by the Manager to the Agent. A SubAgent saves this row in anticipation of a subsequent request for another column in this same row thereby eliminating the need for further Instrumentation message flows for further data retrieval from this row. Whenever a new GetRequest is issued by the Manager, a new set of data is retrieved from the Instrumentation. The method further comprises the step of retrieving the next subsequent data item in response to a GetNextRequest against the last row in a given column thereby eliminating the need for a second message exchange at an 'end of column' condition.

Method for reducing SNMP instrumentation message flows

A new system and method allows a Manager in a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) environment to gather updates from its Agents. The system and method comprise the unique provision of an index which is used in each of the Agent's tables for indicating the various revisions thereof. The index lexicographically increases with each revision to the table. The Manager maintains a record of the index of the data which it has received from its Agents, requesting only that data having a lexicographically larger indexing. Further, the index is used in related tables so that the tables will be kept in 'sync' in that the Manager will know whether it has the latest updates so that an accurate picture may be portrayed.

System and method for maintaining tables in an SNMP agent

System and method for monitoring SNMP tables

A new system and method allow one or more Managers in a network to retrieve from an Agent problem determination data relating to the Agent's Components. The system and method of the present invention allow the Manager to use standard mechanisms to retrieve and display the Agent's problem determination data. A generic collection subsystem created by the Agent acts as an interface for the Agent to the Components for collecting and organizing the problem determination data received from the Components. The collection subsystem receives and stores problem determination data from each of the components in tables which are organized based upon the type of problem determination data. Within each table, the data objects may be stored chronologically, for example. The collection subsystem responds to all requests from the Agent for stored problem determination data. The requests may specify particular parameters such as the type of problem and time it occurred.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

William Frank McKenzie