Patent ID: 7962605
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for discovering network devices in a network having multiple subnets, the method comprising: automatically selecting, from a plurality of inter-subnet discovery agents each installed on a respective one of a plurality of computing nodes within a particular subnet of the multiple subnets, a one of the plurality of the inter-subnet discovery agents as an active inter-subnet discovery agent (ASDA) for the particular subnet, the selecting based on at least one of operating system versions, primary (physical) memory sizes, or central processing unit (CPU) speeds of the plurality of computing nodes within the particular subnet; discovering, by the ASDA of the particular subnet, ASDAs installed on a respective one of a plurality of computing nodes within neighboring subnets in the network, the discovering comprising: receiving, by the ASDA for the particular subnet, a network device discovery request from a resource discovery requester located on a different computing node within the particular subnet than the ASDA for the particular subnet, the network device discovery request requesting discovery information for a specified discoverable network device in the network; propagating, by the ASDA for the particular subnet in response to receiving the network device discovery request, an inter-subnet network device search request for discovery information for the specified discoverable network device, the inter-subnet network device search request propagated to each of the neighboring ASDAs on the one or more neighboring subnets neighboring the particular subnet as identified by searching the list, wherein each of the neighboring ASDAs receiving the inter-subnet network device search request in turn propagates the inter-subnet network device search request to ASDAs in subnets neighboring the one or more neighboring subnets neighboring the particular subnet and containing the neighboring ASDAs such that the request is propagated throughout the network; and receiving, by the resource discovery requester from the one or more of the neighboring ASDAs that received the inter-subnet network device search request, a response comprising the discovery information for the specified discoverable network device, wherein the in turn propagating is based on respective lists stored in each of the ASDAs of the respective subnets of the multiple subnets, each of the respective lists comprising identities, network addresses, and ASDA status of the neighboring ASDAs.