Patent ID: 7181519
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A distributed method of performing network monitoring, comprising: obtaining, by an infrastructure management appliance, customer specific information for establishing a secure virtual connection with a remote data center, said customer specific information being obtained from said remote data center via a first communication interface to said infrastructure management appliance, wherein said remote data center is connected to a public network, wherein said infrastructure management appliance is connected to a customer network via a second communication interface to said infrastructure management appliance, and wherein said infrastructure management appliance is connectable to said public network via said second communication interface and said customer network; establishing, responsive to said customer specific information obtained via said first communication interface, said secure virtual connection with said remote data center by said infrastructure management appliance, wherein said secure virtual connection with the remote data center is established over said public network via said second communication interface to said infrastructure management appliance; monitoring, by said infrastructure management appliance, at least one customer resource, the customer resource being connected to the customer network, wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring the customer resource over the customer network; and transmitting information obtained through said monitoring of said customer resource to said remote data center via said secure virtual connection.