Streaming server administration protocol

Abstract

Network server information has traditionally been obtained through the use of operating systems functions and calls. By adding URL protocol code to the network server, such data may be obtained by use of a URL. In the URL, path information for the container in the server where such data resides is included. Specific server data may be retrieved, or such data may be retrieved recursively among several levels of containers. System calls and other functions may also be added to the URL path name for searching for particular data, or similar types of data through successive levels of containers. The protocol allows server administrators to access server data, in real time, from any user device in a network in which the server resides.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for obtaining internal server data from a server, comprising:
 in the server, performing operations for:   determining whether a path name received in a request from a client includes an identity of a container of the server, the container comprising data that includes types, names, and values;   when the path name does not include the identity of a container:
 transmitting a corresponding hypertext markup language (HTML) page to the client; and 
   when the path name includes the identity of a container:
 processing the path name to retrieve a snapshot of the container, the snapshot representing a current state of the data in the container; 
 generating, from the snapshot, a response; and 
 transmitting the response to the client. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in the server, performing operations for:
 modifying information included in the container based on the path name. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein modifying information included in the container based on the path name comprises:
 modifying the information based on at least one of a command and a value included in the path name.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the path name indicates a virtual hierarchical data structure of containers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snapshot comprises read/write attributes of information included in the container. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in the server, performing operations for:
 filtering data from snapshot based on the path name and one or more filters in the request to generate a subset of data from the snapshot; 
 wherein generating, from the snapshot, the response comprises generating the response using the subset of data. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the path name is an HTTP path name. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a new snapshot is generated when no snapshot is included in the path name of the request, the new snapshot invalidating a previous snapshot. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a server computer, cause the server computer to perform a method for obtaining internal server data from the server computer, the method comprising:
 determining whether a path name received in a request from a client includes an identity of a container of the server, the container comprising data that includes types, names, and values;   when the path name does not include the identity of a container:
 transmitting a corresponding hypertext markup language (HTML) page to the client; and 
   when the path name includes the identity of a container:
 processing the path name to retrieve a snapshot of the container, the snapshot representing a current state of the data in the container; 
 generating, from the snapshot, a response; and 
 transmitting the response to the client. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 modifying information included in the container based on the path name.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein modifying information included in the container based on the path name comprises:
 modifying the information based on at least one of a command and a value included in the path name.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the path name indicates a virtual hierarchical data structure of containers. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the snapshot comprises read/write attributes of information included in the container. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 filtering data from snapshot based on the path name and one or more filters in the request to generate a subset of data from the snapshot;   wherein generating, from the snapshot, the response comprises generating the response using the subset of data.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the path name is an HTTP path name. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein a new snapshot is generated when no snapshot is included in the path name of the request, the new snapshot invalidating a previous snapshot. 
     
     
         17 . A server computer that provides internal server data, comprising:
 a processor; and   a network interface;   wherein the processor and the network interface perform operations for:
 determining whether a path name received in a request from a client includes an identity of a container of the server, the container comprising data that includes types, names, and values; 
 when the path name does not include the identity of a container:
 transmitting a corresponding hypertext markup language (HTML) page to the client; and 
 
 when the path name includes the identity of a container:
 processing the path name to retrieve a snapshot of the container, the snapshot representing a current state of the data in the container; 
 generating, from the snapshot, a response; and 
 
 transmitting the response to the client. 
   
     
     
         18 . The server computer of  claim 17 , wherein the processor performs operations for modifying information included in the container based on the path name. 
     
     
         19 . The server computer of  claim 18 , wherein the processor performs the operations for modifying the information based on a command and a value included in the path name. 
     
     
         20 . The server computer of  claim 17 , wherein the path name indicates a virtual hierarchical data structure of containers.