Reginald J Reed

US Patent:

7143155, Nov 28, 2006

Filed:

Jun 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/895434

Inventors:

Reginald J. Reed - Raleigh NC, US
Fu Lee - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

Cisco Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
G06F 11/00

US Classification:

709223, 709204, 709208, 709227, 707 10

Abstract:

Described is a standard physical interface with a standardized response protocol would enable a craft or technician employee accurately and quickly to verify network devices' various identities and configurations, including relatively fixed hardware configurations and relatively rapidly changing software configurations. The apparatus for gathering network device data includes a first non-volatile memory on the network device storing defined device-specific data and being writable via the network and also readable. The apparatus further includes a physical read port on the network device including a set of one or more signals defining a physical interface and a protocol for reading the data from the first memory. Finally, the apparatus includes data-gathering means physically separate from but compatible with the read port and programmed to read the data from the first memory in accordance with the protocol, the data-gathering means including a second non-volatile memory for recording the data read from the first memory. The first memory may be partitioned to include plural storage locations for data of various types including network device identification data regarding hostname, IP address, MAC address, CLLI codes and physical device location, as well as configuration data regarding at least hardware and software revisions.