Patent ID: 7233975

Claim:
A method comprising: storing current configuration data for operating a network device in a first data source of the network device; maintaining a second data source on the network device that stores a copy of the configuration data of the first data source; allowing a first plurality of clients to concurrently edit the configuration data of the second data source over a network; updating the configuration data of the first data source to reflect changes made to the configuration data of the second data source in response to a commit command from any of the first plurality of clients accessing the second data source, wherein the changes comprise all of the changes made to the second data source by the first plurality of clients; receiving from a second plurality of clients commands transmitted over the network to configure the first data source in a private configuration mode; creating for each client of the second plurality of clients a respective private data source on the network device that stores a copy of the configuration data of the first data source in response to the commands to configure in the private configuration mode, wherein each respective private data source of private data sources is edited by only one of the second plurality of clients; and updating the configuration data of the first data source to reflect changes made in one of the private data sources without updating the configuration data of the first data source with updates made to the second data source or any other ones of the private data sources upon receiving a commit commands from one of the second plurality of clients editing the one of the private data sources.