Patent ID: 7325140

Claim:
A remote device management communication system for securely controlling access to management applications and communications to and from said management applications on network devices in a distributed computer network that includes one or more network services, one or more secure management access controllers, and one or more managed network devices, the remote device management system comprising: at least one secure management access controller connected to one or more data bus of said managed network device for the communication of device management data; an out-of-band access connection means for connecting said one or more network services or remote users with said secure management access controller for management of said network device; and at least one virtual management interface connection means for connecting said one or more network services or remote users with said secure management access controller; wherein said virtual management interface connection means provides logical separation of management data from user data and utilizes user interfaces of said managed network element for connecting said one or more network services or remote users with said secure management access controller.