US Patent 10404548 Control of network nodes in computer network systems

Installing on a node of a computer network, an agent of a network system. The installed agent receives a network task via the network. The network task involves a second node of the network. The receiving agent generates a probe implementing the task and targeted to the second node. Either the receiving agent or the generated probe generates a command for the second node. The command is related to the probe and can be in the form of a data link layer protocol data unit for network operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM). The agent or node that generates the command communicates the command to the second node. The second node executes the communicated command. The second node communicates an acknowledgment of the executed command to the first node.