Patent ID: 7437469

Claim:
A method for managing a network element, said method comprising: receiving a message at the network element, wherein the network element comprises a plurality of virtual network elements that operate independently; identifying one of the virtual network elements in the network element based on information in the message; routing the message to the identified virtual network element; retrieving information from a management information base that corresponds to the identified virtual network element based on information in the message, wherein the information comprises status and performance information of the virtual network element; modifying the information in the management information based on information in the message, wherein the identified virtual network element is configured responsive to the modified information; if the message comprises an upgrade to the identified virtual network element, upgrading the identified virtual network element separately from the plurality of virtual network elements, wherein following the upgrading, the identified virtual network element operates with a different release from at least one of the plurality of virtual network elements; and if a fault condition occurs isolated to the identified virtual network element, restoring the identified virtual network element independently from the plurality of virtual network elements, wherein the fault condition does not affect the plurality of virtual network elements.