| abstract |
A network element management system in which network elements can be grouped, and viewed and manipulated by groups. It includes a capability for managing complex cross-connects. The system automatically configures itself, when an operator enters a component identifier, for optimal full-featured management of the identified component. The element management system can itself be used to perform automatic remote backup of the network elements. Supervision of any particular network element is not assigned to any particular processor (in a multiprocessor computer system), but is merely assigned to a process thread. Preferably, the system is configured with a client/server architecture, like those used for many database applications. Any binding of network elements to hardware processors, aside from that performed dynamically (and automatically) by the computer's operating system, is a potential limitation. The system includes a new approach to maintaining concurrency in a network element management database. A background process constantly monitors the channels which carry network element configuration commands. The information derived is then used for a dynamic update of the database of network element attributes. |