Method and apparatus for managing communicatively coupled components using a virtual local area network (VLAN) reserved for management instructions

摘要

A method and apparatus provide unified systems and network management of aggregates of separate systems. User data and management instructions are received in a system of communicatively coupled components. At least one system manager administrates the communicatively coupled components using a virtual local area network (VLAN) reserved for the management instructions. The user data is sent to at least one of the communicatively coupled components as allowed by the management instructions.