Patent ID: 8271638

Claim:
A node management apparatus comprising: a storage resource; a communication interface device; and a processor that is coupled to the storage resource and the communication interface device, wherein the storage resource stores a plurality of plugin information packages, which are information packages each comprising definition information, wherein the definition information is information denoting at the least one of the following (N1) through (N3): (N1) a method for acquiring information from a node device; (N2) an item of information to be acquired from the node device; and (N3) mapping information for a node management model of information acquired from the node device, and wherein the processor is configured to: (A) receive first inputs specifying a first address range and a second address range; (B) receive second inputs specifying at least one first valid plugin information package for the first address range and at least one second valid plugin information for the second address range, from the plurality of plugin information packages; (C) select a certain address from the first address range and the second address range; (D) acquire at least one valid plugin package information for the certain address, based on the first inputs and the second inputs; (E) access the certain address using the at least one valid plugin package information to discover a unmonitored node device; (F) determine whether or not a result of the access satisfies a discovery condition of the at least one valid plugin package information; and (G) if the access satisfies with a certain plugin package information among the at least one valid plugin package information, store a correspondence between the certain plugin package information and the certain address to start monitoring the unmonitored node device; wherein in (E), the processor is configured to use a plurality of protocols with a plurality of authentication information; wherein the storage resource stores login management information indicating correspondence between the plurality of authentication information and the plurality of protocols; wherein the storage resource stores priorities of the plurality of protocols; and wherein in (E), the processor is configured to control an order to use the plurality of protocols.