Patent ID: 7886033

Claim:
A first network tool embedded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, when executed by a computer processor, operating on a first computer, comprising: a network management services module that is capable of communicating with one or more devices in a network using a network administration protocol, wherein the network management services module is configured to determine corresponding properties for each of the devices, the properties including an IP address for each of the devices, an operational status for each of the devices, and an identity of a manufacturer of each of the devices, and wherein the network management services module is configured to create respective data objects for each of the devices, the data objects being provided as extensible markup language (XML) elements that include an identifier for each of the devices and the properties for each of the devices, wherein the first computer further includes a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) client element and a DHCP listener element such that when a second computer joins the network, the DHCP client broadcasts a first message to notify the network of its presence and to request an IP address for the second computer, wherein if the second computer is discovered to be executing a second instance of the network tool, then the properties for each of the devices are sent to the second computer, and wherein the network management services module is capable of sending instructions to the one or more devices in a network using the network administration protocol; and a network management application module that provides a user interface displaying information relating to the one or more devices in the network obtained by the network management services module using the network administration protocol, the network management application module being configured to use the data objects associated with each of the devices to create a map of the devices, the map identifying the devices and their respective status.