Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for remote device management using a virtual console. The method and apparatus implements a normalized scheme for developing a graphical user interface (GUI) for remotely managing any computer or networking device that has a console user interface (CUI) for updating a device configuration using a set of predefined configuration commands, and an underlying configuration kernel (CK) for maintaining the state of the device configuration (e.g. user names, passwords, timeout values, etc.). By re-using the CUI and underlying CK code, the scheme requires minimal specific knowledge of the configuration command set implementing the CUI and CK configuration functionality, thereby eliminating the necessity for creating redundant command set aware code in the GUI. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus employs a set of object-oriented classes and macros which interact with the CUI in a standardized manner to associate GUI components with the corresponding configuration command set. The standardized manner of interacting includes refreshing the state of the GUI in response to messages sent from the CUI, and sending messages to the CUI in response to user actions in the GUI. As a result, the GUI functions as a user-friendly interface that encapsulates the functionality of the CUI and underlying CK, and the CUI functions as a virtual console for the remote device.

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First Claim