Patent ID: 8438252

Claim:
A method performed by a first network device for configuring the first network device using a central management system, the method comprising: storing a plurality of shared configuration objects and a plurality of device-specific configuration objects in a local configuration data store for the first network device using a processor, wherein: each shared configuration object stored in the local configuration data store corresponds to a shared configuration object stored in a central configuration data store for the central management system; each device-specific configuration object is not stored in the central configuration data store for the central management system; each shared configuration object and each device-specific configuration object is used by the first network device to configure the first network device, wherein the first network device performs packet processing; receiving a first request from the central management system to update a respective value of a first shared configuration object in the local configuration data store with a first new value and updating the respective value of the first shared configuration object in the local configuration data store with the first new value; and receiving a second request to update a respective value of a first device-specific configuration object in the local configuration data store with a second new value and updating the respective value of the first device-specific configuration object in the local configuration data store with the second new value; receiving a third request originating from the central management system to update the respective value of a second shared configuration object that is not in the local configuration data store with a third new value, determining the relevance of the second shared configuration object, and creating a new shared configuration object in the local configuration data store corresponding to the second shared configuration object and updated with the third new value in the event that the second shared configuration object is determined to be relevant, wherein responsive to an update request from a second network device, the central management system having selected the first network device as an additional network device to receive the third new value; and determining a configuration object to process a packet at the first network device, wherein in the event of a conflict between the plurality of shared configuration objects and the plurality of device-specific configuration objects in the local configuration data store for the first network device, resolving the conflict based at least in part on a priority list specifying a processing order.