COMMON AGENT COMPUTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

A computer system has a management system for performing management operations with respect to system components. Each component is capable of being controlled in accordance with one or more management protocols. One or more management tools generate management commands that specify management operations to be performed by a specified set of system components. The system includes a plurality of protocol engines, each of which implements a specific management protocol with respect to a set of system components. Each protocol engine responds to system management commands by generating instructions for performing the specified management operation in accordance with a predefined management protocol. A common agent interface receives the instructions generated by a protocol engine and sends corresponding commands in a protocol non-specific format to the target system components which are the object of the specified management operation. The common agent enables multiple management protocols to exist and interact with the components of a system. As a particular protocol evolves, it can be upgraded without affecting the components of the operating systems that it interacts with. Also, new management protocols can be introduced into the system without having to modify the components of the operating systems that it interacts with. The components of a computer system with the common agent need only provide a single management interface. This interface can be accessed by multiple protocols allowing the component to be protocol non-specific and as such easier to write and maintain.