I guess I wan't clear either. I would avoid RPC unless you need to run arbitrary code on the far side. The examples you gave (code to communicate w/ routers, switches, etc. to copy configuration files, check device status, etc.) can be done without needing to send code to be executed or to request arbitrary execution.

Set up a HTTPd or SNMPd that will answer requests sent to it with the answers that you want. 90% of what people want to do in RPC they can do with HTTP tools that they already know.

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