Examples pertaining to optimization for device provisioning protocol (DPP) onboarding in wireless networks are described. An apparatus acting as a controller of a wireless network receives, from a smart device, information related to a unconfigured device as an enrollee not yet onboarded into the wireless network. The apparatus then causes a plurality of configured agents in the wireless network to participate simultaneously in attempting to onboard the unconfigured device via a DPP mechanism responsive to receiving the information related to the unconfigured device.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a device via a wireless signal, a request to access a WLAN of a router, the request including a device identifier. The provisioning agent may be within wireless ranges of the device and of the router. The provisioning agent may request, from an authentication server, a password for the device. The password may be uniquely generated by the authentication server for the device. The provisioning agent may receive the password from the authentication server. The provisioning agent may send, to the router, the password and the device identifier. The provisioning agent may receive, from the router, an indication that the router has verified the password with the authentication server. The router may store the device identifier in association with the password. The provisioning agent may send, to the device, the password. The password may authenticate the device to the router.

Infrastructure management device(s) may monitor IT device(s) communicatively connected over a network. IT device state(s) may be determined for at least one of the IT device(s). Action(s) may be performed on one or more IT device(s), determined at least in part, by the state of the IT device(s).

Systems and methods for performing User Plane (UP) path selection or reselection over a communications network with a 3.sup.rd party entity, and for notifying network entities of UP changes in a communications network, are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an application program interface based request for UP path selection from the 3.sup.rd party entity; performing a validation and authorization procedure with the request; transmitting a UP path selection configuration request to a Control Plane Function that maintains configuration data; obtaining a reference number confirming the UP path selection configuration request; and installing the UP path selection according to the reference number.

Systems and methods for performing User Plane (UP) path selection or reselection over a communications network with a 3.sup.rd party entity, and for notifying network entities of UP changes in a communications network, are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an application program interface based request for UP path selection from the 3.sup.rd party entity; performing a validation and authorization procedure with the request; transmitting a UP path selection configuration request to a Control Plane Function that maintains configuration data; obtaining a reference number confirming the UP path selection configuration request; and installing the UP path selection according to the reference number.

Some embodiments provide a method for establishing multiple virtual service networks over multiple datacenters. The method configures, for each virtual service network of the plurality of virtual service networks, a set of machines distributed across the datacenters to implement an ordered set of network services for the virtual service network. The method configures multiple service network selectors executing within the datacenters to receive a data message, select one of the virtual service networks for the data message based on analysis of contents of the data message, determine a location within the datacenters for a machine implementing a first network service of the ordered set of network services for the selected virtual service network, and transmit the data message to the machine implementing the first network service.

According to certain aspects, systems and methods are provided for grouping clients together in a networked data storage environment. For instance, clients can be grouped together based on the software installed on the client or the client type. Each client group can be configured to maintain the configuration of clients within the client group. For example, one client group can be configured to ensure that a particular software suite remains up-to-date. Another client group can be configured to ensure that data within a particular directory or on a particular storage device associated with each client of the client group is backed up each night.

Methods and apparatus to authenticate and differentiate virtually identical resources using session chaining are disclosed. In response to a session request from at least one of a management device or a resource, example methods and apparatus locate a session chain stack associated with an identifier of the at least one of the management device or the resource, and determine whether a first nonce at a top of the session chain stack associated with the identifier of the at least one of the management device or the resource is equal to a second nonce associated with the session request from the at least one of the management device or the resource. Upon determining that the nonce at the top of the session chain stack associated with the identifier of the at least one of the management device or the resource is equal to the second nonce, example methods and apparatus initiate a session between the management device and the resource, and re-negotiate the second nonce between the management device and the resource to generate a third nonce.

According to certain aspects, systems and methods are provided for grouping clients together in a networked data storage environment. For instance, clients can be grouped together based on the software installed on the client or the client type. Each client group can be configured to maintain the configuration of clients within the client group. For example, one client group can be configured to ensure that a particular software suite remains up-to-date. Another client group can be configured to ensure that data within a particular directory or on a particular storage device associated with each client of the client group is backed up each night.

Disclosed are an apparatus and method of managing network elements operating on a network. One example method may include transmitting a request to receive at least one activity parameter of a network element operating on the network and monitoring the at least one activity parameter of the network element. The method may include determining whether a usage value of the at least one activity parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold usage value and transmitting a corrective function message to the network element responsive to determining that the usage value of the at least one activity parameter exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The method may further include performing a corrective function to reduce the usage value of the at least one activity parameter.