73 BIMS CONFIGURATIONIntroduction to BIMS To manage a network device through SNMP or Telnet, you need to know its IPaddress. This is difficult however when the device obtains address through DHCPor when the device resides behind a NAT device. Branch intelligent managementsystem (BIMS) was thus developed, delivering automatic configuration file andapplication update.Basic Principles andFunctions of BIMSBIMS comprises the BIMS center side and the device side. The following is how itworks to centralize device management:1 The device sends the BIMS center a request at startup or/and sends requests atregular or irregular intervals. This depends on how you set your policy.2 The BIMS center interacts with different devices according to the policy issued bythe administrator. During interaction, the administrator can manage the device,for example, upgrade software, modify configuration, or view configuration/stateinformation.At BIMS center side is service software operating on a PC or server, such as theBIMS component of 3Com’s Quidview (V3.10). At BIMS device side the BIMSfunction is integrated in the software system of the router. By accessing the BIMScenter, the router updates its configuration file and application automatically.BIMS allows the device to access the BIMS center immediately after thecorresponding command is executed, at startup, at regular intervals, or at aspecified time.Update Procedure ofConfiguration File orApplicationThe following is how the device uses BIMS to update its configuration file orapplication, assuming that the BIMS configuration on the device is complete andBIMS is enabled:1 The device sends a request to the BIMS center, asking for checking whether its filesneed update.2 The BIMS center examines the device file information in the request. If update isneeded, the BIMS center sends back a response containing information forupdate. This response may contain information such as URL for updating theconfiguration file or software or contain the commands and parameters that thedevice must execute.3 The device checks the response. It gets the URL for obtaining device software,encrypted configuration file, or the commands and parameters to be executed.4 After the device gets the configuration file, it executes and saves the configurationfile.5 Using the obtained URL, the device requests the BIMS center for downloading thedevice file.
