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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A network service detection method for automatically detecting at least
one feature of each of a plurality of nodes interconnected into a network,
wherein features of said nodes include responsiveness to one or more
network operating system inquiries and one or more frame types, and
wherein an additional node interconnected to said network is a first
computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
broadcasting from said first computer system one or more inquiries for each
of said network operating systems to said plurality of nodes, wherein each
inquiry uses a frame type;
receiving responses from nodes on said network which are responsive to at
least one of said network operating systems and frame type used by any of
said one or more inquiries; and
examining the received responses to determine at least one of said features
of said nodes on said network and to determine a most prevalent operating
system being used on said network; and
configuring said first computer system to use said most prevalent operating
system.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more network operating systems
include a first network operating system and a second network operating
system.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of configuring comprises
changing one or more configuration files in said first computer system to
load one of said first or second network operating systems upon power up
of said first computer system.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
displaying a selected network configuration after said step of examining;
and
receiving user acceptance of said selected network configuration after said
step of displaying;
wherein said step of configuring occurs after said step of receiving said
user acceptance.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: restarting said first
computer system after said step of configuring.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more network operating systems
include a first network operating system and a second network operating
system, and wherein said first network operating system includes a first
number of possible frame types, and said second network operating system
includes a second number of possible frame types, the method further
comprising the steps of:
repeating said step of broadcasting using different ones of said first
number of frame types during each broadcast;
wherein said step of examining comprises examining said received responses
to determine the frame types being used on said network.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of broadcasting comprises
broadcasting at least a first number of inquiries, wherein each of said
first number of inquiries uses a different frame type; and
wherein said step of broadcasting comprises broadcasting at least a second
number of inquires, wherein each of said second number of inquiries uses a
different frame type.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
configuring said first computer system according to a frame type determined
to be in use on said network.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of examining further comprises
examining said received responses to determine a most prevalent frame type
being used on said network; and
wherein said step of configuring comprises configuring said first computer
system according to the most prevalent frame type determined in said step
of examining.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of examining further comprises
examining said received responses to determine a most prevalent of said
first and second operating systems being used on said network; and
wherein said step of configuring further comprises configuring said first
computer system to use the most prevalent operating system determined in
said step of examining.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
storing said received responses in a network configuration table;
wherein said step of examining said received responses comprises examining
said network configuration table.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said nodes include file servers on said
network.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein a first network operating system is the
VINES operating system, and wherein said one or more broadcast inquiries
for said first network operating system comprise VINES Address Resolution
Protocol inquiries.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said network is an Ethernet network,
and wherein said one or more broadcast inquiries for said first network
operating system comprise a VINES Address Resolution Protocol inquiry
using an Ethernet II frame type.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said network is a Token Ring network,
and wherein said one or more broadcast inquiries for said first network
operating system comprise VINES Address Resolution Protocol inquiries
using an 802.2 frame type and an 802.2 SNAP frame type.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein a first network operating system is the
NetWare operating system, and wherein said one or more broadcast inquiries
for said first network operating system comprise NetWare Service
Advertising Protocol inquiries.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said network is an Ethernet network,
and wherein said one or more broadcast inquiries for said first network
operating system comprise NetWare Service Advertising Protocol inquiries
using an Ethernet II frame type, an 802.3 "raw" frame type, an 802.2 frame
type, and an 802.2 SNAP frame type.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein said network is a Token Ring network,
and wherein said one or more broadcast inquiries for said first network
operating system comprise NetWare Service Advertising Protocol inquiries
using an 802.2 frame type and an 802.2 SNAP frame type.
19. The method of claim 20, wherein said first operating system includes a
first number of possible frame types, wherein said step of broadcasting
one or more inquiries for said first network operating system comprises
broadcasting one or more inquiries using different ones of said first
number of frame types;
wherein said second operating system includes a second number of possible
frame types, wherein said step of broadcasting one or more inquires for
said second network operating system comprises broadcasting one or more
inquires using different ones of said second number of frames types;
wherein said step of examining comprises examining said stored responses to
determine the most prevalent frame type being used on said network; and
wherein said step of configuring comprises configuring said added computer
according to the most prevalent frame type determined in said step of
examining.
20. A method for automatically configuring a computer being added to a
network having other computers, wherein said network includes one of
either a first network operating system or a second network operating
system, comprising the steps of:
broadcasting from said added computer one or more inquiries for a first
network operating system to said other computers on said network;
receiving responses from said computers on said network using said first
network operating system;
broadcasting from said added computer one or more inquiries for a second
network operating system to said other computers on said network;
receiving responses from said other computers on said network using said
second network operating system;
examining said received responses to determine an existence of said other
computers on said network using said first network operating system and an
existence of said computers on said network using said second network
operating system;
determining a most prevalent network operating system of said first and
second operating systems being used on said network; and
after said step of determining configuring said added computer according to
said most prevalent one of said first and second network operating systems
being used on said network.
21. A method for automatically configuring a computer system being added to
a network having other computer systems, wherein said network includes at
least one of a plurality of network operating systems, wherein each
network operating system includes one or more possible frame types, the
method comprising the steps of:
broadcasting from said added computer system one or more inquiries for a
first of said network operating systems, wherein each of said one or more
inquiries uses a first of said frame types;
receiving responses to said one or more inquiries from said other computer
systems on said network, said other computer systems having said first
network operating system and using said first frame type;
repeating said broadcasting step for each of said network operating systems
using each of said frame types until each frame type has been used with
each inquiry for each network operating system;
repeating said receiving step until responses to all of said inquiries have
been received from said other computer systems having said network
operating system for which said inquiry was broadcasted and using said
frame type;
examining said received responses to determine types of network operating
systems and frame types being used on said network and to determine a most
prevalent network operating system being used on said network; and
configuring said added computer system according to said most prevalent
network operating system determined in said step of examining and at least
one of said frame types after said step of examining.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of examining further
comprises examining said received responses to determine the most
prevalent frame type being used on said network; and
wherein said step of configuring further comprises configuring said added
computer system using the most prevalent frame type determined in said
step of examining.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of broadcasting comprises
broadcasting at least three identical inquiries using a second of said
frame types and broadcasting three of said identical inquiries using a
third frame type.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of configuring comprises
changing one or more configuration files in said added computer system to
load one of said network operating systems upon power up of said added
computer system.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
displaying a selected network configuration after said step of examining;
and
receiving user acceptance of said selected network configuration after said
step of displaying;
wherein said step of configuring occurs after said step of receiving said
user acceptance.
26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
restarting said added computer system after said step of configuring.
27. A computer system which automatically detects at least one feature of
each of a plurality of nodes interconnected in a network to which said
computer system is attached, wherein features of the nodes include a
network operating system and a frame type, the computer system comprising:
memory for storing one or more network operating systems;
a network interface card coupled to said memory for interfacing to said
network;
broadcasting means coupled to said network interface card for broadcasting
to said nodes one or more inquiries for each of said one or more network
operating systems, wherein each inquiry uses a frame type;
receiving means coupled to said network interface card for receiving
responses to said one or more inquiries from said nodes on said network
using said network operating system and frame type used by any of said one
or more inquiries;
storing means coupled to said receiving means for storing said received
responses;
determining means coupled to said storing means for determining said
network operating systems on said network and for determining a most
prevalent network operating system being used on said network using said
stored responses; and
configuring means coupled to said determining means for configuring said
first computer system according to said most prevalent network operating
system determined by said determining means.
28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein said broadcasting means
broadcasts said one or more inquiries using different frame types
appropriate for the network operating system inquiry being made; and
wherein said determining means determines the frame types being used on the
network.
29. The computer system of claim 28, further comprising:
configuring means coupled to said determining means for configuring said
first computer system according one of said frame types determined by said
determining means.
30. The computer system of claim 27, further wherein said one or more
network operating systems include a VINES network operating system and a
NetWare network operating system; and
wherein first, second, and third inquiries each comprise a VINES Address
Resolution Protocol using an Ethernet II frame type; and
wherein fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh inquiries each comprise a NetWare
Service Advertising Protocol using an Ethernet II frame type, an 802.3
"raw" frame type, and 802.2 frame type, and an 802.2 SNAP frame type,
respectively.
31. A computer system node which automatically configures itself to a
network to which the computer system is attached, comprising:
memory for storing one or more network operating systems;
a network interface card coupled to said memory for interfacing to said
network;
broadcasting means coupled to said network interface card for broadcasting
one or more inquiries for said one or more network operating systems to
other nodes on said network, wherein said one or more inquiries use
different frame types appropriate for said network operating system
inquiry being made;
receiving means coupled to said network interface card for receiving
responses from said other nodes on said network;
storing means, coupled to said receiving means, for storing said received
responses;
determining means coupled to said storing means for determining said
network operating systems and frame types being used on said network using
said stored responses; and
configuring means coupled to said determining means for configuring said
computer system according to a particular network operating system and a
particular frame type using said stored responses;
wherein said means for configuring includes means for examining said stored
responses to determine almost prevalent operating system being used on
said network; and
wherein said means for configuring configures said computer system using
said most prevalent operating system determined by said means for
examining.
32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein said means for examining
examines said stored responses to determine a most prevalent frame type
being used on said network; and
wherein said means for configuring configures said computer system using
said most prevalent frame type determined by said means for examining.
33. The computer system of claim 31, wherein said one or more network
operating systems stored in said memory include a first network operating
system including a first number of frame types and a second network
operating system including a second number of frame types;
wherein said means for broadcasting broadcasts at least a first number of
inquiries, wherein each of said first number of inquiries uses a different
one of said first number of frame types; and
wherein said means for broadcasting broadcasts at least a second number of
inquiries, wherein each of said second number of inquiries uses a
different one of said second number of frame types.
34. The computer system of claim 33, further comprising:
a video display coupled to said determining means and said storing means
for displaying said network operating systems and frame types being used
on said network. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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RESERVATION OF COPYRIGHT
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to
which a claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no
objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document
or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office
patent file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer system networks, and more
particularly to a method and apparatus which enables a computer being
installed on a network to automatically detect the network operating
system services and network frame types available on the network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
The use of computer networks to facilitate the interoperability of computer
systems has increased dramatically. A computer network allows a plurality
of users to share various elements such as applications programs,
peripherals, and communication links to other networks and files. A local
area network (LAN) is essentially a combination of two or more personal
computers or workstations that are physically and logically connected to
each other. Local area networks can be interconnected to other networks in
other parts of a building or in other cities, this type of configuration
being commonly referred to as a wide area network or WAN.
A network typically includes at least one dedicated file server, two or
more client computers and various shared peripherals. The file server is
typically not used to run application software but rather is used to
service requests frown the various client computers and to store files
that are created by application programs executing on the client
computers. The client computer provides requests to the file server for
necessary files and also uses other resources of the network, such as
printers and modems. When a client computer delivers a request for file
access, software operating on the server ensures that the person placing
the request has been granted access to the file. Once the request has been
validated, the file server services the request, i.e., transmits the data
corresponding to the file to the client computer. Thus, the principal task
of a file server is to mediate numerous and often simultaneous requests
for data, find the data, and provide the data to the requesting client
computer. In some configurations, the file server might also store the
application programs themselves.
Each node or computer on a network includes a network interface card, also
referred to as a LAN adapter, which functions as an interface between the
computer and the network cabling. The network interface card moves data to
and from random access memory inside the computer and also controls the
flow of data in and out of the network cabling system. The network
interface card has a specialized port that matches the electrical
signaling standards used on the cable and the specific type of cable
connector.
There are various types of local area network standards and configurations
available today. There are essentially two different methods for
implementing a local area network, these being referred to as
client/server and peer-to-peer networks. In a typical peer-to-peer
network, any workstation or computer can be both a file server as well as
a client searching for data or programs. A peer-to-peer network comprises
a series of workstations that are usually linked together in a daisy-chain
fashion, where each workstation is designated either as a client or a
combination of client and server when the network is set up. A
client/server network is the type of LAN most often used today. In this
type of LAN, one or more central computers, referred to as file servers,
are designated as central data storage locations and message handlers of
the system. The remaining computer workstations are designated as clients
and are all linked to the file servers.
The topology or physical layout of a local area network refers to the way
in which nodes, e.g. workstations, printers, file servers and other
devices, are physically connected to each other. The physical topology can
take one of various forms, including a bus topology, ring topology, star
topology or a hybrid topology. In a bus topology, a long cable acts as the
data passageway or bus of the various nodes. The file server, workstations
and other devices, such as printers, modems and faxes, are attached to the
cable at different locations, and data travels to and from the
workstations through the cable. In a ring topology, the workstations are
connected to each other in a daisy-chain fashion and form a circle or
ring. Data is transmitted from one node to the next, where each node or
workstation examines data being passed along the ring. If the data is not
destined for that workstation, the data is forwarded to the next
workstation and so on. Since data travels in only one direction, there is
no danger of data collision. However, any break in the connection of the
network will cause the entire network to go down or become inoperable. In
a star topology, all of the nodes in the network are connected to a
central hub to which all connections are made. The central hub is in the
form of a ring topology as described above, and each node is connected to
the central hub through a bus. One advantage of a star topology is that if
one line becomes broken or disconnected, only that node becomes
inoperable, and the remaining portion of the network remains operable. In
addition to these topologies, various hybrid topologies exist which
combine the features of star, ring and bus topologies.
In addition to the physical topologies described above, a network typically
includes a logical topology or data transfer protocol, which defines the
method of data transfer between the various nodes on the network. One
popular network data transfer protocol is referred to as Ethernet, which
is used for networks utilizing a bus topology. A data transfer protocol is
necessary for networks using a bus topology because of the possibility
that two nodes or workstations may attempt to transmit data at the same
time over the common bus. In other words, a data transfer protocol is
necessary in a bus topology to prevent data collision. According to the
Ethernet protocol in a bus topology, the network interface card in a node,
such as a workstation or file sever, senses the change in voltage of the
cable or bus before attempting to send a packet of data to its
destination. If no voltage disruption is detected, the packet of data is
transferred down the cable toward its destination. However, if the network
interface card senses the presence of data, it waits a random amount of
time before attempting to send a packet of information to its destination.
Another popular network or data transfer protocol is referred to as the
Token Ring network topology developed by International Business Machines
Corp. (IBM). The Token Ring topology utilizes a token passing data
transfer protocol in conjunction with the ring topology described above.
All of the nodes on the network are connected to each other through a
circular cable, and the data transfer protocol for transferring data from
node to node is based on the Token Ring concept of passing data from
workstation to workstation in packets of information called tokens. In
addition to a ring topology, a network employing a token passing protocol
may employ a hybrid star/ring topology. In a hybrid star/ring topology,
all of the nodes in the network are connected to a central hub called a
multi-station access unit according to a star topology. The multi-station
access unit is itself configured in a ring topology where data travels in
a ring fashion from node access port to node access port. An advantage of
this topology is that the Token Ring network can be treated like a star
network where nodes can be added, deleted or modified without having to
bring down the entire network.
A third type of network data transfer protocol is referred to as Arcnet,
which is essentially a token passing protocol utilizing a bus/star
topology. In a bus/star topology, the various nodes are connected to a
central hub which acts as a bus for the network. The Arcnet topology was
introduced in 1977 and is slower than other topologies, but is also very
inexpensive and easy to install.
In addition to physical topology and data transfer protocol, another
variable in a local area network is the network operating system. A
network operating system is a family of programs that operate in the
various network computers. Examples of networking software include
programs such as Novell NetWare,.TM. Banyan VINES, LAN Server, LAN
Manager, Artisoft,1.upsilon. and Lantastic.TM.. In addition, operating
systems such as Microsoft Windows.TM. for workgroups include built-in
networking software. Macintosh.TM. computers also include built-in
networking software for interoperability.
Network operating system software executing on the file server provides the
server with the ability to share files with other devices across the
network. When a network adapter and network communication software
operating in a client computer deliver a request for file access to the
file server, the network software executing in the file server ensures
that the client making the request has been granted access to the file.
Once the request has been validated, the file server software services the
request. The network software executing on a file server is typically able
to mediate simultaneous requests from the same data.
Network operating system software executing on a client computer provides
the computer with the ability to act as a client so that it can use shared
resources, i.e., request files from the file server and send print jobs to
other server computers. Thus, client network software allows application
programs running on a client computer to use disk drives, printers and
other resources as if they were directly attached to the computer. For
example, if an application such as a word processing program has a job to
print, the print job would typically be transferred from the application
to the computer operating system, such as DOS, with instructions to print
to a specific port. The client network software operates to modify the
computer's operating system so that any print jobs addressed to a certain
port are redirected to the respective network printer. Likewise, for a
client computer running an application program such as a database program
that needs access to a file, the application provides the file name to the
computer operating system along with the specified disk drive name. The
client software operates to modify the operating system so that any
request for data on this particular drive is redirected out across the
network to the file server. Network software executing on a client
computer may also allow the client to act as a print server, which
involves allowing the client computer to accept print jobs from other
client computers and print them on its locally attached printer.
Therefore, client network software operates with the internal operating
system of a computer to route requests from application programs to file
servers and print servers on the network. The principal element of client
software is called a redirector. The redirector captures service requests
that it has been programmed to recognize and routes these requests out of
the client computer and across the network for service. In addition to the
redirector, the client computer typically includes network communication
software which packages requests from the client computer and sends these
requests across the network. This software conforms to a specific protocol
for addressing and also to ensure delivery and accuracy. Examples of
network communications protocols include Apple File Protocol (AFP),
Microsoft's NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NETBEUI) and Novell's
Sequential Packet Exchange and Internetwork Packet Exchange (SPX and IPX).
One function of the network operating system is to package requests from
applications running on a computer into a succession of data envelopes or
frames for transmittal across the network. The various network data
transfer protocols each typically include a plurality of different frame
types. These different frame types vary in terms of the type of header
information provided in each frame. Typically, the network interface card
drivers operating on a respective node such as a client or server computer
are configured to recognize a certain frame type.
Support for different standard frame types, for each data transfer
protocol, varies among the different network operating systems. The Novell
NetWare operating system supports four different frame types for the
Ethernet protocol--Ethernet II, IEEE 802.3 "raw", IEEE 802.2, and IEEE
802.2 SNAP. Banyan VINES supports only the Ethernet II.TM. frame type. For
the Token Ring protocol, both Novell Netware and Banyan VINES support two
different frame types--IEEE 802.2 and IEEE 802.2 SNAP.
Digital Electronics Company, Intel Corporation and Xerox Corporation
developed the Ethernet standard. The second revision of that standard is
called Ethernet II. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE) has also issued LAN standards that include a physical layer
standard for Token-Ring (IEEE 802.5), a physical layer standard for
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), and a data link layer standard (IEEE 802.2) for use
with both of those physical layer standards. Novell initially implemented
the IEEE 802.3 standard before the IEEE had fully developed the IEEE 802.2
standard. That implimentation by Novell is called 802.3 "raw". After the
IEEE 802.2 standard was developed, the Subnetwork Access Protocol (SNAP)
was developed to overcome some limitations in the 802.2 standard.
To illustrate how a network operating system uses a data envelope frame to
transmit data across a network, consider the Novell NetWare operating.
system on an Ethernet network. The Novell NetWare network operating system
software packages a directory read request into an IPX packet, and the
network interface card then packages the IPX request into a respective
Ethernet frame. Each IPX packet includes a data field as well as various
transmission information including the source socket, source host, source
network, destination source, destination host, destination network, packet
type, length and error control. The Ethernet frame typically includes a
synchronization preamble, Ethernet destination address, Ethernet source
address, packet length, data field and error control information.
When a new client computer is being added to an existing network, the
particular network topology, e.g. Ethernet, Token Ring, or Arcnet, is
defined by the existing network, and the computer includes the appropriate
network interface card depending on the network topology. However, the
client computer being added to the network typically does not know the
types of network operating systems provided on the network. Further, the
client computer will not know the particular frame type or types being
used by the network topology. For example, if an Ethernet topology is
being used on the network, the computer system being added typically does
not know the particular frame type protocol being used in the network.
A network administrator is typically required to individually configure
each computer system being added to a network according to the network
operating system and frame type protocol being used on the network.
Usually, a network administrator is required to run an install utility on
the computer being added to place the appropriate network operating system
drivers onto the workstation and to configure the computer system for the
appropriate frame type. This is generally a very time consuming process
and, if done improperly, can result in erroneous operation.
In addition, when a new server is being added to an existing network, it
would be highly desirable for the server to be able to automatically
determine the network operating systems and frame types used by other
servers in the network. This would enable the server to configure itself
to the most prevalent operating system and frame type being used in the
system. Also, for computers already attached and configured to a network,
it would be highly desirable for a user to be able to determine the
network operating systems and frame types available on the network.
Therefore, a method and apparatus is desired to allow a computer system to
automatically detect the operating systems and frame types available on a
network. For new client or server computers being added to a network, this
would obviate the necessity of a network administrator having to manually
configure each computer system being added to a network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for automatically
detecting the prevalence of local area network operating system services
and network frame type protocols that are being used on a network. The
present invention can be used for numerous purposes. In the preferred
embodiment, the present invention is used to automatically configure a
computer system to the most prevalent operating system and frame type
being used on a network. In the preferred embodiment, when a computer
system is newly attached to a network, the present invention transmits
specific operating system broadcast inquiries using various frame types
across the network. The present invention then counts the network
operating system specific responses for each of these supported frame
types. These response counts indicate the prevalence of each network
operating system and the prevalence of the network frame type protocol
supported by each network operating system. The computer system then
configures itself according to the most prevalent network operating system
and frame type being used on the network.
In the preferred embodiment, a user selects an automatic network
configuration option from a startup menu to begin operation of the method
of the present invention. The startup software will have already loaded
the network interface card drivers and thus will know the logical topology
being used on the network, such as Ethernet, Token Ring, Arcnet, or any
other topology. If the computer system is being installed in an Ethernet
network, the method begins by broadcasting a VINES Address Resolution
Protocol (ARP) inquiry over the network using an Ethernet II frame type.
The method broadcasts the inquiry, receives a response, if any, and adds
any received response to a network configuration table. In the preferred
embodiment, this sequence is performed three times. The method then
broadcasts NetWare Service Advertising Protocol (SAP) inquiries using each
of the four Ethernet frame types, receives any responses, and adds any
responses to the network configuration table. As before, this sequence of
operations is preferably performed three times. In an alternative
embodiment, the method also broadcasts inquiries using Ethernet frame
types for the LAN Server and LAN Manager operating systems, as well as
others. If the computer is being installed in a Token Ring network, the
method broadcasts VINES ARP inquiries using the 802.2 frame type and 802.2
SNAP frame type over the network, receives any responses, and adds any
received responses to the network configuration table. As before, this
sequence is preferably performed three times. The method then broadcasts
NetWare SAP inquiries using the above frame types, receives any responses,
and adds the responses to the network configuration table. As before, this
sequence of operations is preferably performed three times. In an
alternative embodiment, the method also broadcasts inquiries for the LAN
Server and LAN Manager operating systems, as well as others.
After the various broadcast inquiries have been performed and the results
tallied in the network configuration table, the method of the present
invention examines the table to determine the most prevalent network
operating system and frame type being used on the network. If the user
accepts this configuration, the method then configures the computer system
according to the most prevalent operating system and frame type.
Therefore, a method and apparatus for automatically detecting the network
operating systems and frame types available on a particular network is
disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the automatic network detection
method and apparatus of the present invention is used to automatically
configure a computer attached to a network to the most prevalent network
operating system and frame type being used on the network. Thus a system
administrator is not required to manually configure each computer being
added to a network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered
in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a local area network configuration according to one
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a client computer in the network of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A-F are flowchart diagrams illustrating operation of the automatic
network configuration method according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
FIGS. 4A-M are various screen displays illustrating operation of the
automatic network configuration method according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a network configuration table used to keep track of
network responses received by the automatic network configuration method
of the present invention;
FIGS. 5A-B illustrate various examples of the network configuration table
of FIG. 5 for certain types of networks;
FIG. 6 illustrates the various network model layers according to the open
systems interface (OSI) model;
FIG. 7 illustrates the configuration of frame packets according to the OSI
model of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 illustrates the data transfer protocol for the Novell NetWare
operating system;
FIG. 9 illustrates the data transfer protocol for the Banyan VINES
operating system; FIG. 10 illustrates a Service Advertising Protocol (SAP
NetWare operating system;
FIG. 11 illustrates the IPX packet structure in the network layer of the
Novel NetWare operating system;
FIG. 12 illustrates a VINES non-sequenced Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
header;
FIG. 13 illustrates a VINES Internet Protocol header;
FIG. 14 illustrates a VINES Ethernet frame; and
FIG. 15 illustrates a VINES Token Ring frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for detecting the
types services available on a network, and more particularly a method and
apparatus for detecting the network operating systems and frame types
available | | |
