JP2008017370A - Network connection form detection method and system, and network equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a physical connection form of a data network. <P>SOLUTION: RFID tags 16, 18 are added to RJ45 connectors 12, 14 at both ends of a network cable 10, respectively. In a switch 20, an RFID reader 24 is installed which can read identification information of the RFID tags 16, 18. An RFID controller 30 controls reading operation of the RFID reader 24 and stores a read result into an RFID database 32. The RFID controller 30 is connected to a management device 40 via a communication terminal 34. In response to a network connection form collecting command from the management device 40, the RFID controller 30 pairs information specifying a connection port to which the network cable 10 is connected and an RFID value and transmits the pair to the management device 40 and inquires of a network device connected to the network cable 10 about the network connection form. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network connection type detection method and system, and a network device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for detecting a physical connection type of a network, and a network device used in such a system.

  In a data network, there are cases where specific communication is permitted to a specific communication device such as VPN (Virtual Private Network), and for that purpose, to which port of which network device (for example, switch or router) the communication device is connected. It is necessary to know in advance whether it is connected.

  Also, depending on the protocol, the connection may not be allowed to logically loop. For example, in a network based on the Ethernet (registered trademark) protocol (IEEE802.3), a loop is artificially avoided when a network is constructed, or is automatically avoided by a spanning tree protocol (STP: IEEE802.1d). .

For this purpose, conventionally, a paper tag is added to the cable connected to the switch, and the port of the switch to which a specific communication device is connected is described by information described in the paper tag. Such management becomes very complicated when switches are connected in multiple layers. A method for identifying a communication device by an IP address or a MAC address is known (see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).
J. Postel, "Internet Protocol", IETF RFC.791, September 1981. MD Turner, et al., "IEEE 802.1d: Media Access Control (MAC) Bridges", IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, 2004

  Management with a paper tag is time consuming and is likely to make mistakes and is inefficient. There is also a risk of leaking connection information to the outside.

  The IP address and MAC address can be camouflaged. Identification by IP address is not effective for connections between switches.

  When a loop occurs in the L2 network and then the loop is resolved, it cannot be determined whether the loop has been resolved by STP or whether the loop has been resolved by a physical connection change.

  If the connection can be established from the connection form itself, that is, at the L1 level, it is more reliable, management becomes easier, and the presence or absence of a loop becomes clear.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system capable of detecting the physical connection form of each network device and its wiring, and a network device usable in such a system.

  In the network connection form detecting method according to the present invention, first, each of the plurality of connection ports includes a plurality of network cables to which externally readable cable identification information is added and an identification information reading device that reads the cable identification information. Prepare multiple network devices. In each of the plurality of network devices, first, in accordance with the network connection form collection command, subordinate network connection form information is collected for each connection port in use. Then, a report summarizing the network connection mode information of each connection port in use is transmitted to the transmission source of the network connection mode collection command.

  A network connection form detection system according to the present invention includes a plurality of network cables to which externally readable cable identification information is added, and one or more network devices connected by the plurality of network cables. This is a system for detecting a connection form of a network composed of a cable and one or more network devices. Characteristically, the network device is arranged in each of the plurality of connection ports and the plurality of connection ports, and the identification information reader capable of reading the cable identification information of the network cable connected to the connection port And the memory for storing the device ID, and the network connection form information of each connection port in use for each connection port in use according to the network connection form collection command. And a control device that transmits the collected report to the transmission source of the network connection form collection command.

  The network device according to the present invention has a plurality of connection ports to which a network cable can be connected, and an identification that is arranged in each of the plurality of connection ports and that can read the cable identification information of the network cable connected to the connection port In response to the information reader, the memory for storing the device ID, and the network connection form collection command, the network connection form information of the subordinate connection is collected for each connection port in use, and the network connection of each connection port in use is collected. And a control device that transmits a report summarizing configuration information to a transmission source of the network connection configuration collection command.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to collect information on physical connection forms such as which connection ports connect a plurality of network devices via which network cable. As a result, it becomes easy to find a loop and specify a route.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention mounted on a LAN (local area network) switch.

  In this embodiment, the RFID tags 16 (16 to 16) are respectively connected to the RJ45 connectors 12 (12-1 to 12-n) and 14 (14-1 to 14-n) at both ends of the network cable 10 (10-1 to 10-n). -1 to 16-n) and 18 (18-1 to 18-n) are added. The switch 20 is provided with an RFID reader 24 (24-1 to 24-n) capable of reading the identification information of the RFID tags 16 and 18.

  The switch 10 includes n connection ports corresponding to the RJ45 connectors 12 and 14, and Ethernet (registered trademark) transponders 22 (22-1 to 22-n) are connected to the connection ports. An RFID reader 24 (24-1 to 24-n) is disposed near each connection port. Each of the transponders 22-1 to 22-n is connected to the MAC control device 28 via a physical control device 26 (26-1 to 26-n), a so-called PHY control device.

  The physical control device 26 is in charge of processing of the physical layer (first layer) of the OSI hierarchical model. The MAC controller 28 processes the lower sublayer of the data link layer (second layer) of the OSI hierarchical model, specifically, framing that is a data transmission / reception unit and vice versa, and addition of error detection parity. Responsible for error detection.

  The RFID controller 30 controls the reading operation of the RFID reader 24 and stores the reading result in the RFID database 32. In the RFID database 32, identification information of the RFID tag 16 added to the connector 12 of the network cable 10 connected to each connection port is stored as a pair with the corresponding connection port number.

  For example, when the network cable 10 is connected to any connection port, the MAC control device 28 notifies the RFID control device 30 of the number of the connection port. In accordance with this notification, the RFID control device 30 instructs the RFID reader 24 arranged with the notified connection port to read the RFID, and stores the reading result of the RFID reader 24 in the RFID database 32.

  The RFID control device 30 is connected to the management device 40 via the communication terminal 34. The management device 40 is a computer that collects and manages information of physical network connection forms collected as described later using the RFID tags 16 and 18. Of course, the management device 40 may be connected to the switch 20 using one of the connection ports.

  Although details will be described later, in response to a network connection form collection command from the management apparatus 40, the RFID control apparatus 30 inquires the network connection form to the network device described earlier of the network cable 10, and this report and the switch 20 The connection form (the number of the connection port to which the network cable 10 is connected and the RFID value of the network cable 10) are transmitted together to the management device 40. The RFID tag can be read either when the network cable 10 is connected or when an instruction is issued from the management device 40.

  When the management device 40 instructs the RFID control device 30 to read the RFID tag, that is, updates the RFID database 32, the RFID control device 30 instructs all the RFID tag reading devices 24 to read the RFID tag, The RFID database 32 is updated.

  Of course, since the RFID control device 30 knows the connection port to which the network cable is connected through communication with the MAC control device 28, the RFID control device 30 is the RFID arranged at the connection port to which the network cable is connected. Only the reading device 24 may be instructed to read the RFID tag 16.

  The RFID control device 30 stores therein a device ID 36 that identifies the switch 20. Of course, a memory for storing the device ID 36 may be provided outside the RFID control device 30.

  The identification information of the RFID tags 16 and 18 added to the same network cable 10 preferably matches, but even if they are different, they can be confirmed by a simple communication test, so they do not have to match.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an operation of collecting information on the network connection form, which is a characteristic operation of the present embodiment, will be described. FIG. 2 shows a connection example, and FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart. The switches 50, 54, 58, 62 and 66 have the function of the switch 20 shown in FIG. However, the RF control device 30 of the switches 54, 58, 62, and 66 is connected to the network connection below the connection port in use among the other connection ports according to the network connection form collection command input to any of the connection ports. Collects form information and outputs a report from the connection port to which the network connection form collection command is input.

  In FIG. 2, the management device 40 is connected to the switch 50. The connection port 1 of the switch 50 is connected to the connection port 1 of the switch 54 via the cable 52. The ID of the RFID tag disposed on the connector on the switch 50 side of the cable 52 is 101, and the ID of the RFID tag disposed on the connector on the switch 54 side is 201. Further, the connection port 3 of the switch 50 is connected to the connection port 1 of the switch 58 via the cable 56. The ID of the RFID tag arranged at the connector on the switch 50 side of the cable 56 is 103, and the ID of the RFID tag arranged at the connector on the switch 58 side is 301.

  The connection port 4 of the switch 54 is connected to the connection port 6 of the switch 62 via the cable 60. The ID of the RFID tag arranged at the connector on the switch 54 side of the cable 60 is 204, and the ID of the RFID tag arranged at the connector on the switch 62 side is 406.

  The connection port 6 of the switch 58 is connected to the connection port 4 of the switch 66 via the cable 64. The ID of the RFID tag disposed on the connector on the switch 58 side of the cable 64 is 306, and the ID of the RFID tag disposed on the connector on the switch 66 side is 504.

  The connection port 1 of the switch 62 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 70 via a cable 68, and the connection port 4 is connected to a PC 74 via a cable 72. The ID of the RFID tag disposed on the connector on the switch 62 side of the cable 68 is 401. The ID of the RFID tag disposed on the connector on the switch 62 side of the cable 72 is 404.

  The connection port 2 of the switch 66 is connected to the PC 78 via the cable 76. The ID of the RFID tag placed on the connector on the switch 66 side of the cable 76 is 502.

  The device IDs of the switches 50, 54, 58, 62, and 66 are A10, A11, A12, A13, and A14, respectively. FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of each of the switches 50, 54, 58, 62, and 66 related to information collection of the network connection form. However, the switch 50 communicates with the management device 40 via the dedicated port 34 for a command (hereinafter referred to as a network connection type collection command) for instructing information collection of the network connection type and its collection result, and switches 54, 58, 62 and 66 communicate via a connection port connected to a switch located at a higher level.

  When the management device 40 supplies a network connection form collection command to the switch 50 (S1), the RFID control device 30 of the switch 50 returns an investigation underway to the management device 40 that is the command transmission source (S2). The RFID control device 30 of the switch 50 refers to the RFID database 32, lists the connection ports in use (S3), and checks the connection form for each connection port in use (S4 to S11). When a network connection form collection command is received by any connection port, the connection port is excluded from the collection targets of network connection form information. In FIG. 3, for convenience of explanation, the connection form is investigated in order for each connection port in use, but of course, it may be investigated simultaneously.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the connection ports 1 and 3 of the switch 50 are used, first, the connection port 1 is selected (S4), and the switch 50 collects the network connection form from the connection port 1 to the switch 54. A command is transmitted (S5). Thereafter, it waits for reception during reporting / investigation (S6). When a report is received from a network device connected to the connection port 1 (here, the switch 54) (S6), information on the network connection form (device ID, cable RFID, connection port, etc.) below the switch 54 connected to the connection port 1 A report including is generated (S7). The report is not received even during the investigation returned in step S2 (S6, S8), and when a predetermined time has passed (S9), a report that an unknown device is connected is generated (S10). Detailed examples of reports generated in steps S7 and S10 will be described later.

  When the report of the connection port 1 is generated (S7, S10), another connection port 3 in use is selected (S4), and similarly, a network connection type collection command is transmitted from the connection port 3 (S5). Is generated (S6 to S10).

  When the investigation of all the connection ports in use is completed (S11), an integrated report is generated by integrating the reports of the network connection forms of the connection ports in use (S12). That is, in the integrated report, the connection form of all the network devices 54, 58, 62, 66 connected directly or indirectly to the switch 50 is the cable 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, which connects the connection ports. It is described together with 76 identification information. The switch 50 transmits this integrated report to the command transmission source management device 40 (S13).

  In response to the network connection form collection command from the connection port 1 of the switch 50 (S1), the switch 54 sends back the investigation in progress (S2). The RFID control device 30 of the switch 54 refers to the RFID database 32 and lists connection ports in use (S3). The connection form is examined for each connection port in use (S4 to S11). When a network connection form collection command is received by any connection port, the connection port is excluded from the collection targets of network connection form information. In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the connection port 4 of the switch 54 is used, the switch 54 transmits a network connection form collection command from the connection port 4 to the switch 62 (S4, S5).

  In response to the network connection form collection command from the connection port 4 of the switch 54 (S1), the switch 62 returns an investigation in progress (S2). The switch 62 refers to the built-in RFID database 32 and lists connection ports in use (S3). The connection form is examined for each connection port in use (S4 to S11).

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the connection ports 1 and 4 of the switch 62 are used, a network connection form collection command is transmitted from the connection ports 1 and 4 to the PCs 70 and 64, respectively (S4 and S5).

  Some network devices including communication terminals such as PCs 70, 74, and 78 may not correspond to the network connection form collection command of this embodiment. Therefore, if a certain period of time has passed without a reply being investigated for the network connection form collection command (S6, S8, S9), it is determined that an unknown device is connected.

  For example, the switch 62 generates a report indicating that an unknown device is connected to the connection port 1 via the cable 68 whose ID is “401” (S10). For the connection port 4, a report is generated indicating that an unknown device is connected via the cable 72 whose ID is “404” and that the RFID value on the PC 74 side of the cable 72 is unknown (S 10).

  When the generation of the reports for all the connection ports 1 and 4 in use is completed (S11), the switch 62 generates a report in which the reports of the respective connection ports are integrated, that is, an integrated report (S12). To the switch 54. In the integrated report, the device ID of the switch 62 itself (here, “A13”), the number of the connection port 6 to which the upper switch 54 is connected (upper connection port No.), and the switch of the cable 60 connected thereto The RFID value (upper cable ID) on the 62 side is also included. FIG. 4 shows a report example from the switch 62 to the switch 54 for the connection configuration example shown in FIG. For example, the report is a description of the connection form in a predetermined format as shown in FIG.

  When the switch 54 receives the integrated report from the switch 62 (S6), the switch 54 generates a report including the connection form and identification information regarding the connection port 4 (S7). Since the connection port in use of the switch 54 is only the connection port 4, an integrated report is generated from the report of the connection port 4 (S12). The generated integrated report is transmitted to the switch 50 (S13). FIG. 5 shows a report example from the switch 54 to the switch 50 for the connection configuration example shown in FIG.

  Similarly, the switch 66 collects information on the network topology below the switch 66 and reports it to the switch 58. FIG. 6 shows a report example from the switch 66 to the switch 58 for the connection configuration example shown in FIG. The switch 58 uses the report from the switch 66 to collect information on the network connection form below the switch 58 and reports it to the switch 50. FIG. 7 shows a report example from the switch 58 to the switch 50 for the connection configuration example shown in FIG.

  As a result of the above, finally, the switch 50 uses the reports from the switches 54 and 58 to collect information on the network connection form below the switch 50 and reports it to the management device 40. FIG. 8 shows a report example from the switch 50 to the management apparatus 40 for the connection configuration example shown in FIG.

  In this way, the management device 40 can collect information on the network connection form after the switch 50, in particular, network device identification information, cable identification information, and information on network devices connected to the cables and their ports. By plotting the collection results, the physical connection form of the network becomes clear. Easily deal with connection mistakes and connection changes. Since the cable paper tag can be eliminated, the risk of leakage of connection information can be reduced.

  By including the IP address, the MAC address, or both of them in the connection form information, it becomes possible to definitely set complicated access control. For example, automatic provisioning according to cable replacement is also possible.

  If a loop exists in the network, any one of the network devices receives a network connection type collection command at a different connection port. If this is left unattended, there is a possibility that the information collection of the network connection form will not converge indefinitely. In response to this, for example, the second and subsequent network connection form collection commands are ignored, or only the own connection form information such as the device ID and connection port is returned to the command transmission source. In the former case, the device is determined to be unknown due to timeout (S9). It is easy to deal with because it is possible to know which cable is connected to an unknown device for the time being. In the latter case, the device ID and the connection port are known, so that it becomes easy to create a proposal for changing the network connection form.

  Although a switch is illustrated as an application example of the present invention, the present invention can also be applied to other network devices including a plurality of connection ports, for example, a router.

  Although the UTP cable is exemplified as the network cable, an optical fiber cable or a coaxial cable may also be used. Instead of the RFID tag, the network cable may be specified by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode.

  Although the invention has been described with reference to specific illustrative embodiments, various modifications and alterations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. This is obvious to an engineer in the field to which the present invention belongs, and such changes and modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Example of this invention. It is an example of a network connection using a switch to which this embodiment is applied. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the connection type information collection of a present Example. This is a report example from the switch 62 to the switch 54. This is a report example from the switch 54 to the switch 50. This is a report example from the switch 66 to the switch 58. This is a report example from the switch 58 to the switch 50. It is an example of a report from the switch 50 to the management apparatus 40.

Explanation of symbols

10 (10-1 to 10-n): Network cables 12 (12-1 to 12-n), 14 (14-1 to 14-n): RJ45 connectors 16 (16-1 to 16-n), 18 ( 18-1 to 18-n): RFID tag 20: switch 22 (22-1 to 22-n): transponder 24 (24-1 to 24-n): RFID reader 26 (26-1 to 26-n) : Physical control device 28: MAC control device 30: RFID control device 32: RFID database 34: Communication terminal 40: Management devices 50, 54, 58, 62, 66: Switches 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76 : Network cables 70, 74, 78: Computer

Claims (22)

Preparing a plurality of network cables to which externally readable cable identification information is added and a plurality of network devices each having an identification information reading device for reading the cable identification information in each of the plurality of connection ports;
In each of the plurality of network devices,
In response to the network topology collection command, collect the network topology information of the subordinates for each connection port in use.
A network connection form detection method, comprising: transmitting a report summarizing network connection form information of each connection port in use to a transmission source of the network connection form collection command.   The network connection form information includes identification information of a network device to be connected, cable identification information of a network cable to be connected, and information of a connection port of a network device to which the network cable is connected. The network connection form detection method as described.   The network connection form detection method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices is a switch.   The network connection form detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices is a router.   The network connection form detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the network cable includes identification information carriers of different cable identification information at both ends.   The network connection form detection method according to claim 5, wherein the identification information carrier is an RFID tag.   6. The network connection form detection method according to claim 5, wherein the identification information carrier is a bar code. Multiple network cables with externally readable cable identification information;
A system that includes one or more network devices connected by the plurality of network cables, and detects a network connection configuration configured by the plurality of network cables and one or more network devices,
The network device is
Multiple connection ports,
An identification information reading device (24) arranged in each of the plurality of connection ports and capable of reading the cable identification information of the network cable connected to the connection port;
A memory (36) for storing the device ID;
In response to the network connection type collection command, the network connection type information for the subordinate connection ports is collected, and a report summarizing the network connection type information of each connection port in use is collected. Device (30) that transmits to the sender of
A network connection type detection system.   The network connection form information includes identification information of a network device to be connected, cable identification information of a network cable to be connected, and information of a connection port of a network device to which the network cable is connected. The network connection form detection system as described.   The network connection type detection system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices is a switch.   11. The network connection form detection method according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices is a router.   The network connection form detection system according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the network cable includes identification information carriers of different cable identification information at both ends.   The network connection type detection system according to claim 12, wherein the identification information carrier is an RFID tag.   The network connection type detection system according to claim 11, wherein the identification information carrier is a bar code. Multiple connection ports to which network cables can be connected,
An identification information reading device (24) arranged in each of the plurality of connection ports and capable of reading the cable identification information of the network cable connected to the connection port;
A memory (36) for storing the device ID;
In response to the network connection type collection command, the network connection type information for the subordinate connection ports is collected, and a report summarizing the network connection type information of each connection port in use is collected. Device (30) that transmits to the sender of
A network device comprising:   The network connection mode information includes identification information of a network device to be connected, cable identification information of a network cable to be connected, and information of a connection port of a network device to which the network cable is connected. The described network equipment.   The network device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the network device is a switch.   The network device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the network device is a router.   The network device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the network cable includes identification information carriers of different cable identification information at both ends.   20. The network device according to claim 19, wherein the identification information carrier is an RFID tag.   20. The network device according to claim 19, wherein the identification information carrier is a bar code.   In response to the connection of the network cable to the connection port, the control device causes the identification information reader (24) to read the cable identification information of the network cable connected to the connection port, and the read result is stored in the identification information memory. The network device according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the network device is stored in (32).

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