US 7,457,853 B1
Method and apparatus for automatically configuring a network device
Srikumar Chari, Cupertino, Calif. (US); Premchandar Namasivayam, Tamil Nadu (India); and Jaidil Mohan K., Kerala (India)
Assigned to Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jul. 03, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/613,751.
Int. Cl. G06F 15/177 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 709—220  [709/217; 709/219; 709/221; 709/222] 48 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of automatically generating a configuration for a network device, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
receiving a partial configuration for a network device, wherein the partial configuration comprises a plurality of configuration commands, wherein each of one or more of the configuration commands is associated with one of a plurality of user interface elements;
parsing the partial configuration to identify the user interface elements;
generating a local user interface page from a user based on the user interface elements;
receiving one or more configuration parameter values via the user interface page;
substituting the configuration parameter values into the partial configuration to result in creating a complete configuration for the device;
wherein the partial configuration is at least partially customized with one or more configuration parameter values specific to a network service provider prior to shipment of the network device to a user;
wherein each of the user interface elements comprises a data variable name and a user interface string value;
generating an electronic document that is displayable by an end user computer system that is communicatively coupled to the network device,
wherein the electronic document includes the user interface string value;
causing the network device to display the electronic document using the end user computer system;
associating one of the configuration parameter values with the data variable name;
wherein each of the user interface elements farther comprises a data type value; and
determining whether a data type of the one of the configuration parameter values matches the data type value.