3com Corporation

William Joseph Nelson

Robert A Ciampa

Paul B Greizerstein

Michael J Ahearn

James Emken

Peter J Sulc

Darryl Black

Jing Xiang

Konstantinos Baryiames

A system and method for determining a MAC layer address of a network interface on a remote device, based on an IP address associated with the same network interface on the remote device. The disclosed system identifies an internetworking device, for example a router, that is attached to the remote subnet to which the network interface of the remote device is attached. The system identifies the network interface of the router that is attached to the remote subnet, and obtains the MAC address of that network interface from an address resolution protocol (ARP) cache associated with it. The system transmits a series of request packets having an IP destination address equal to the provided IP address of the remote device, each including a time to live value, indicating a maximum number of network hops over which each particular packet may be forwarded. The time to live values of the request packets result in each successive request packet being forwarded one hop further along the path to the remote device. The internetworking devices along the route to the remote device each receive one request packet that cannot be forwarded because the time to live value has been decremented to zero. As a result, each internetworking device along the route returns a reply packet to the requesting device indicating its IP address.

Technique for automatic remote media access control (MAC) layer address resolution

One or more form descriptions are expressed in the form description language (FDL) and are entered into an FDL file. The FDL file is then registered with a dynamic forms software module using a dynamic forms API. Upon registration, the file is parsed and software 'specification' objects containing a data from the file or added to the internal catalogue of compiled form descriptions. When the application requests a form to be displayed, the dynamic form software finds the entry for the form in the catalogue, constructs the form using the information from the specification objects, and displays the information to the user. The form construction process includes the selection of widgets, the binding of each widget to a data source, the layout and alignment of all widgets, and the construction of rule objects that respond to the users interaction with the form and validate the users input.

Dynamic configuration forms in network management software

A method and apparatus for viewing a configuration of a computer network by polling a plurality of switches and routers present in the network to obtain copies of information stored in databases on the switches and routers. The present invention determines from this combined database is the status of the links, switches and routers, as well as uses software tools to determine the status of the network and its devices. The devices are then graphically displayed according to physical connectivity and status. Each status being displayed differently.

Method and apparatus for viewing and managing a configuration of a

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Auburn, MA, United States of America

William Joseph Nelson