System for extending the desktop management interface at one node to a

Abstract

A system for enabling the use of the Desktop Management Interface (DMI) in a network where the particular computing system containing the DMI and its database reside on one node and where management applications and devices (instrumented components) reside at other nodes. A client interface is established at each of the required client platforms by supporting all of the functions of the management interface (MI) and/or component interface (CI) at the platforms. In that manner, the management application can address the client management interface at its own node as though it were on the DMI node. The client MI issues a 'Remote Procedure Call' (RPC) using network protocol to address the DMI node. A server agent at the DMI node receives the call and acts as a proxy management application to address the DMI and its database. Similarly, instrumented components can address the client component interface at its own node as though it were on the DMI node. The client CI issues an RPC to address the DMI node. A server agent at the DMI node receives the call and acts as a proxy component to address the DMI and its database. In that manner, the semantics and syntax of the DMI is preserved while enabling three-way dialogues between clients, servers and instrumented components all residing on different nodes which may have a variety of operating systems, hardware platforms and architectures.