JP3211706B2 - Network management method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network management system for managing an entire network by collecting information from an exchange management device connected to an exchange by a network management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional information network management method is as follows.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13, information is collected from exchange management devices 31a to 38a which manage the exchange devices 31 to 38 and the lines connected thereto (solid lines connecting the exchange devices), and perform network management. The centralized management was performed by the device 40. With such a configuration, for example, the operation state of the switching device and the state of the line are managed by the network management device 40. In this case, lines (broken lines) via the switching devices are set one by one between the network management device 40 and each of the switching device management devices 31a to 38a. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 53-1386 connects a network management central control device and a network management switching center device installed in each switching center via a dedicated transmission line.
The system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 12 is a similar system.

As another management method of an information network, a method is known in which a management node accesses another managed node via a managed node to collect information on the entire network. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-
153121).

[0004]

According to the network management system shown in FIG. 13 and the network management system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-138612, a network management device (network management central control device) and each switching device management device (network In this case, there is a problem that a transmission path for information collection must be secured between the switching device 31 and the switching device 31 connected to the network management device. There is a problem that the line from the exchange management device must be accommodated. Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-153121, there is a problem that the managed node itself becomes large because all the managed nodes need to know the state of the entire network. Was. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a network management method capable of realizing efficient network management.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a plurality of switching devices, a plurality of switching device management devices for managing each switching device, and a switching line of the first switching device are provided. Accordingly, a first switch managing device and the line connection network management apparatus that manages the first switching device, to manage the entire network by collecting information from each switch management device by the network management device a network management system, network management device to exchange management device for managing the switching device, and requests the line setting for switch management device of another switching device for management adjacent to managed switching device, the line Set exchange
Information on the new switching equipment adjacent to the
It is intended to collect the broadcast, each switch management apparatus, the own exchange
Holds neighbor information indicating the switching equipment adjacent to the equipment
In addition, information from the network management device to another exchange management device or information from another exchange management device to the network management device is relayed. In this way, the network management device requests the switching management device that manages each switching device to set a line with respect to the switching management device for managing another switching device adjacent to the switching device to be managed and each switching management device. Sets a line for the exchange management device of the adjacent exchange device in response to a request from the network management device, and sends information from the network management device to another exchange management device or information from another exchange management device to the network management device. , The number of lines used for performing network management is at most one between each switching device.

Further, as set forth in claim 2, the network management device collects information on the switching devices adjacent to the first switching device from the first switching device management device, and based on this information, the first management device. To the second exchange management device for managing the second exchange adjacent to the first exchange to the first exchange management device, and from the exchange management device that has set the line to a new exchange adjacent to the first exchange. , And a line setting request to a new switching device management device for managing switching devices is repeated until no new switching device information is generated. The network management device
A line is set only for the nearest first exchange management device, information about the first exchange device and an exchange device adjacent to the first exchange device is collected from the first exchange management device, and the information is sent to the first exchange management device. A request is made for a line setting for the adjacent second switching device management device for managing the second switching device. Using this line, the network management device collects information on the switching device adjacent to the second switching device, and requests the second switching device to set a line for the new switching device management device for managing the switching device. I do. Such a procedure is repeated until no new switching device information is generated. Further, as described in claim 3, after collecting information about all the switching devices, the network management device determines the shortest route to each switching device management device by a branch and bound method, and sends the information to each switching device management device. It requests that the line be reset. As described above, the shortest route to each exchange management device is determined by the branch and bound method, and a request is made to each exchange management device to reset the line, whereby an optimal communication route can be established. Also, as described in claim 4,
Each exchange management device recognizes whether the information is addressed to its own station or information to be relayed to another station based on the destination identifier added to the head of the information.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system showing an embodiment of the present invention. The switching devices 1 to 8 are connected to switching device management devices 1a to 8a such as computers for managing the switching devices. A network management device 10 for managing the entire network is connected to the switching device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the exchange management apparatuses 1a to 8a has management tables 11 to 18 for storing adjacent station information indicating an exchange (adjacent station) adjacent to the own switching apparatus. .

For example, the exchange management apparatus 1a has a management table 11 in which adjacent station information indicating that the exchange apparatuses 2 and 4 are adjacent to the own exchange apparatus 1 is stored. And the switching devices 1, 3, and 5 are the own switching devices 2.
Has a management table 12 in which is stored adjacent station information indicating that the switching devices 2 and 6 are adjacent to the own switching device 3. It has a management table 13 in which information is stored. The same applies to the management tables 14 to 18 of the other exchange management devices 4a to 8a.

Next, a procedure for generating an initial communication line from the network management apparatus 10 to each of the exchange management apparatuses 1a to 8a will be described. First, the network management device 10
Requests the exchange management apparatus 1a, which manages the exchange apparatus 1 in which the own apparatus is accommodated, to set up the line 1b via the exchange apparatus 1. By using the set line 1b, the network management device 10 can obtain the adjacent station information of the switching device 1 stored in the table 11 of the switching device management device 1a. From the acquired adjacent station information, the network management device 10 recognizes that the switching device 1 is adjacent to the switching devices 2 and 4.

[0010] Subsequently, the network management device 10 obtains information on the newly recognized switching devices 2 and 4 by using the line 1
b to the exchange management device 1a via the exchange management device 2a,
Request line setting for 4a. In response to this request, the exchange management apparatus 1a sets the line 2b via the exchanges 1 and 2 to the exchange management apparatus 2a, and sets the line 4b via the exchanges 1 and 4 to the exchange management apparatus 4a. . By using these lines and the line 1b, information can be relayed to the network management device 10.

[0011] The network management device 10 is connected to the line 1b,
2b, the adjacent station information of the switching device 2 stored in the table 12 of the switching device management device 2a is obtained, and it is recognized that the switching device 2 is adjacent to the switching devices 1, 3, and 5. Further, the network management device 10 obtains the adjacent station information of the switching device 4 stored in the table 14 of the switching device management device 4a via the lines 1b and 4b, and the switching device 4 is adjacent to the switching devices 1, 5, and 7 Recognize that you are doing.

A method of relaying information by each switching device and switching device management device will be described later. Next, the network management device 10 switches the newly recognized switching device 3,
In order to obtain the information of No. 5, the switching management apparatus 2a is requested to set a line to the switching management apparatuses 3a and 5a via the transmission lines 1b and 2b.

In response to this request, the exchange management device 2a
The line 3b via the switching devices 2 and 3 is set for the switching device management device 3a, and the switching devices 2 and 3 are set for the switching device management device 5a.
A line 5b via the terminal 5 is set. These lines and line 2
By using b and 1b, information can be relayed to the network management device 10.

The network management device 10 includes a line 1b,
Table 13 of the exchange management device 3a via 2b and 3b
Of the switching device 3 stored in the switching device 3, and recognizes that the switching device 3 is adjacent to the switching devices 2 and 6.
In addition, the network management device 10 includes the lines 1b, 2b,
5b, the adjacent station information of the switching device 5 stored in the table 15 of the switching device management device 5a is obtained, and it is recognized that the switching device 5 is adjacent to the switching devices 2, 4, 6, and 8.

The network management device 10 also obtains information on the newly recognized switching device 7 by using the lines 1b, 4
A request is made to the exchange management apparatus 4a via b to set a line to the exchange management apparatus 7a. In response to this request, the exchange management device 4a sets a line 7b via the exchange devices 4 and 7 to the exchange management device 7a. This line and line 4
By using b and 1b, information can be relayed to the network management device 10.

Then, the network management device 10 obtains the adjacent station information of the switching device 7 stored in the table 17 of the switching device management device 7a via the lines 1b, 4b, 7b, and the switching device 7 8 is recognized as being adjacent.

Next, in order to obtain information on the newly recognized switching device 6, the network management device 10
A request is made to the exchange management device 3a via 2b and 3b for line setting to the exchange management device 6a. Upon receiving this request, the exchange management device 3a sets the line 6b via the exchange devices 3 and 6 to the exchange management device 6a. By using this line and the lines 3b, 2b, 1b, information can be relayed to the network management device 10.

The network management device 10 includes a line 1b,
2b, 3b, and 6b, obtains the adjacent station information of the switching device 6 stored in the table 16 of the switching device management device 6a,
It recognizes that the switching device 6 is adjacent to the switching devices 3, 5, and 8. Further, the network management device 10 obtains information on the newly recognized switching device 8 by using the lines 1b and 2
b, requesting the exchange management apparatus 5a to set a line for the exchange management apparatus 8a via the exchanges 5b and 5b.

In response to this request, the exchange management device 5a
A line 8b via the switching devices 5 and 8 is set for the switching device management device 8a. By using this line and the lines 5b, 2b, 1b, information can be relayed to the network management device 10. The network management device 10 is connected to the line 1
b, 2b, 5b, and 8b, obtains the adjacent station information of the switching device 8 stored in the table 18 of the switching device management device 8a, and determines that the switching device 8 is adjacent to the switching devices 5, 6, and 7. recognize.

Since there is no newly recognized switching device, the network management device 10 can recognize all the switching devices in the network.
This means that the network management device 10 has obtained the adjacent station information of all the switching devices. Next, the network management device 10
The lines 1b to 8b to the exchange management devices 1a to 8a set above are released once.

Then, the shortest route to each switching device is determined based on the acquired neighboring station information of all switching devices, and the shortest route information as shown in Table 1 is obtained. The method of determining the shortest route will be described later.

[0022]

[Table 1]

For example, the shortest route from the network management device 10 to the switching device 2 is a route via the switching device 1, and the shortest route to the switching device 3 is a route via the switching devices 1 and 2. I understand. Note that “NULL” in Table 1 indicates that the route is a direct route that does not pass through the switching device.

Based on the shortest route information, the network management device 10 requests each of the exchange management devices 1a to 8a to reset a line for collecting information. The procedure will be described with reference to FIG. First, the network management device 1
0 indicates the line 1 via the switching device 1 to the switching device management device 1a of the closest switching device 1 based on the shortest route information.
Request the setting of c.

Via the set line 1c, the network management apparatus 10 requests the exchange management apparatus 1a to set a line for the exchange management apparatuses 2a and 4a of the exchange apparatuses 2 and 4 existing before the exchange apparatus 1. I do. In response to this request, the exchange management device 1a sets the line 2c via the exchange devices 1 and 2 to the exchange management device 2a,
A line 4c via the switching devices 1 and 4 is set for a.

Subsequently, the network management device 10 sends the line settings to the exchange management devices 3a and 5a of the exchange devices 3 and 5 existing before the exchange device 2 via the lines 1c and 2c. Request to. As a result, the exchange management device 2a sets the line 3c through the exchange devices 2 and 3 to the exchange management device 3a, and sets the exchange management device 5a.
, A line 5c via the switching devices 2 and 5 is set.

Next, the network management device 10 requests the switching device management device 4a to set a line for the switching device management device 7a of the switching device 7 existing before the switching device 4 via the lines 1c and 4c. In response to this request, the exchange management device 4a sends the exchange devices 4, 7 to the exchange management device 7a.
The line 7c via is set.

The network management device 10 requests the switching device management device 3a to set a line for the switching device management device 6a of the switching device 6 existing before the switching device 3 via the lines 1c, 2c, and 3c. As a result, the exchange management device 3a
Sets the line 6c via the switching devices 3 and 6 to the switching device management device 6a.

Further, the network management device 10 requests the switching device management device 5a to set a line for the switching device management device 8a of the switching device 8 existing before the switching device 5 through the lines 1c, 2c, 5c. . In response to this request, the exchange management device 5a sets a line 8c via the exchange devices 5 and 8 to the exchange management device 8a. As described above, each of the exchange management devices 1
The shortest information collection route from a to 8a can be initially established.

Next, the operation when a trunk line is added between the switching device 1 and the switching device 5 after the establishment of the initial route will be described with reference to FIG. When a trunk line is added between the switching device 1 and the switching device 5, the table 11 of the switching device management device 1a and the table 1 of the switching device management device 5a
5 is updated as shown in FIG. 5, and this information is notified to the network management apparatus 10.

The network management device 1 receiving this notification
In the case of 0, the shortest route to each switching device is calculated again based on the new adjacent station information of all switching devices, and new shortest route information as shown in Table 2 is obtained.

[0032]

[Table 2]

Then, the network management device 10 once releases the transmission lines 1c to 8c to each of the exchange management devices 1a to 8a, and sends information to the exchange management devices 1a to 8a based on the newly obtained shortest route information. Collection line 1d ~
Request resetting of 8d. This resetting method is the same as the setting of the lines 1c to 8c when the initial route is established.

Next, after this route is established, the switching devices 6
The operation when a new switching device 9 connected to the communication device 8 is added will be described with reference to FIG. An exchange management device 9a is connected to the exchange device 9 like other exchange devices. When the switching device 10 connected to the switching devices 6 and 8 is added, the adjacent station information stored in the table 16 of the switching device management device 6a and the table 18 of the switching device management device 8a is updated as shown in FIG. Then, this information is notified to the network management apparatus 10. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 19 denotes a management table set in the exchange management device 9a.

The network management device 1 receiving this notification
In the case of 0, the shortest route to each switching device is calculated again based on the adjacent station information of all new switching devices, and new shortest route information as shown in Table 3 is obtained.

[0036]

[Table 3]

Then, the network management device 10 once releases the transmission lines 1d to 8d to each of the exchange management devices 1a to 8a, and sends information to the exchange management devices 1a to 9a based on the newly obtained shortest route information. Line 1e for collection
Request resetting of 9e. This resetting method is the same as the setting of the lines 1c to 8c when the initial route is established.

Next, a method of determining the shortest route from the network management apparatus 10 to each exchange management apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This route generation method can generate the shortest route from a target exchange management device to a network management device as an information source based on neighboring station information by a method based on a branch and bound method.

Here, a description will be given using a network system shown in FIG. 10 for simplification of the description. In the network system of FIG. 10, it is assumed that the switching device 21 accommodates a network management device (not shown) (that is, the network management device is connected to the switching device 21). In addition, the switching devices 21 to 24 include management tables 21a to 21a for storing adjacent station information as shown in FIG.
4a.

First, the switching device 22 is selected as the target device, and the switching device 2 accommodating the network management device is selected.
The shortest route from 1 to the switching device 22 is obtained (step 101 in FIG. 8). Here, since all the switching devices have not been selected as the destination devices (step 102), the process proceeds to step 103, where the destination device 22 is set in the transit information that is intermediate information for generating the target route information. The route information is made empty (step 103).

Subsequently, the target device 22 is set as a parameter P, the process proceeds to a subroutine process shown in FIG. 9 (hereinafter, this subroutine process is referred to as process A), and a route is generated (step 104). In subroutine processing A,
First, the switching device 21 which is one of the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (target device 22) is selected (Step 2).
01). Here, all the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P have not been selected (step 20).
2), proceed to step 203, and determine whether the selected switching device 21 accommodates a network management device.

Since the switching device 21 accommodates the network management device, the process proceeds to step 204, and the route information (currently, only “22” set in step 103) is added to the route information. As a result, the route information becomes “22”
Becomes Next, an unselected switching device 23 is selected from the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (target device 22) (step 201), and the process proceeds to step 203 in the same manner as described above, and the selected switching device 23 It is determined whether the device is accommodated.

Since the switching device 23 does not contain a network management device, the flow advances to step 205 to determine whether the selected switching device 23 exists in the route information (currently only "22"). Switching device 23 in the route information
Does not exist, the process proceeds to step 206, where the selected switching device 23 is added to the route information. As a result, the route information becomes “22, 23”.

Subsequently, in step 207, the selected exchange device 23 is set as a parameter P, and the subroutine processing shown in FIG. 9 is recursively executed (hereinafter, this subroutine processing is referred to as processing B). Subroutine processing B
First, the switching device 21, which is one of the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (the switching device 23), is selected (Step 201). Here, all the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P have not been selected (step 2).
02), the process proceeds to a step 203, wherein the selected switching device 21
It is determined whether or not accommodates a network management device.

Since the switching device 21 accommodates the network management device, the process proceeds to step 204, where the route information (currently "22, 23") is added to the route information. Thus, the route information becomes “22” and “22, 23”.
Next, an unselected switching device 22 is selected from the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (switching device 23) (step 201), and whether or not the switching device 22 accommodates a network management device as described above. Is determined (step 203).

Since the switching device 22 does not contain a network management device, the flow advances to step 205 to determine whether or not the selected switching device 22 exists in the route information (currently "22, 23"). Switching device 2 in route information
2 exists, the process proceeds to step 201, where an unselected switching device 24 is selected from among switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (switching device 23), and switching device 2 is selected in the same manner as described above.
It is determined whether or not No. 4 houses a network management device (step 203).

Since the switching device 24 does not contain a network management device, the process proceeds to step 205, where it is determined whether or not the selected switching device 24 exists in the route information (currently "22, 23"). Switching device 2 in route information
4 does not exist, the process proceeds to step 206, and the selected switching device 24 is added to the route information. Thus, the route information becomes “22, 23, 24”.

Next, in step 207, the selected exchange device 24 is set as a parameter P, and the subroutine processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed recursively (hereinafter, this subroutine processing is referred to as processing C). In the subroutine process C, first, the exchange device 22 which is one of the exchange devices adjacent to the parameter P (exchange device 24) is selected (step 201). Here, since all the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P have not been selected (step 202), the process proceeds to step 203, where the selected switching device 2 is selected.
2 determines whether or not it houses a network management device.

Since the switching device 22 does not contain a network management device, the flow advances to step 205 to determine whether or not the selected switching device 22 exists in the route information (currently “22, 23, 24”). . Since the exchange device 22 is present in the route information, the process proceeds to step 201, where an unselected exchange device 23 is selected from among the exchange devices adjacent to the parameter P (exchange device 24). It is determined whether or not 23 accommodates a network management device (step 203).

Since the switching device 23 does not accommodate the network management device, the process proceeds to step 205, and it is determined whether or not the selected switching device 23 exists in the route information (currently "22, 23, 24"). . Since the switching device 23 exists in the route information, the process proceeds to step 201, where an unselected switching device is selected from the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (switching device 24).
No. 3 has already been selected and there is no switching device adjacent to the parameter P, so the determination in step 202 is Yes, the subroutine process C is terminated, and the process returns to the subroutine process B to execute step 208 of process B.

That is, the route information (currently “2
2, 23, 24 "). Next, step 20
In step 1, an unselected switching device is selected from the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P (the switching device 23 because of the subroutine process B).
No. 4 has already been selected and there is no switching device adjacent to the parameter P, so the determination in step 202 is YES, the subroutine process B is terminated, and the process returns to the subroutine process A to execute the step A of the process A.

In step 208, subroutine processing B
Deletes the switching device 23 selected as the parameter P from the route information (currently “22, 23”). Subsequently, the parameter P (because of the subroutine process A, the exchange device 22)
The switching device that has not been selected is selected from among the switching devices adjacent to the parameter P. However, since there is no switching device adjacent to the parameter P, the determination in step 202 is Yes, and the subroutine process A is terminated. Step 1 in FIG.
Execute 05.

In step 105, the generated route information (here, route information “22” indicating that the switching device 21 goes directly to the destination device 22,
, The route information “22, 23” indicating that the user goes to the destination device 22 via the exchange device 23 is sorted in the order of the least number of routes, and the route with the least number of routes (ie, “22”) ) Is selected as the shortest route (step 106).

In this way, the shortest route from the switching device 21 accommodating the network management device to the target device 22 has been determined. The same operation is performed by the target device 23, 2
4 is repeated for each of the shortest routes. The above is the method of determining the shortest route.

According to such a method of determining the shortest route, for example, when a failure or the like occurs in a trunk line connecting each switching device, the network management device 10 can use the failure occurrence information notified from the switching device management device. By calculating the shortest route again and resetting the route, the optimum state can always be maintained.

Next, a description will be given of a method of relaying information by each switching device and the switching device management device. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission format of information transmitted from the network management device 10 to each of the exchange management devices. The information transmitted from the network management device 10 is assigned a head at the beginning of each of the exchange management devices. A destination identifier is provided. Therefore, the network management device 10 sends out information with the destination identifier assigned to the exchange management device to be transmitted.

On the other hand, each exchange management device recognizes, based on the destination identifier, whether the information is addressed to its own station or information to be relayed to another station. That is, when the destination identifier matches the identifier of the own station, it is determined that the information is addressed to the own station, and the processing of the own station is performed. If the identifier does not match the own station and is determined to be information addressed to another station, a station to be relayed is selected from the network management apparatus 10 based on preset route information, and the exchange management apparatus of the corresponding station is selected. Relay the information to The information from each exchange management device to the network management device 10 may or may not be provided with the destination identifier of the network management device 10.

[0058]

According to the present invention, according to the first aspect, the network management apparatus is provided with a switching management apparatus for managing each switching apparatus adjacent to the management target switching apparatus. , Each exchange management device sets a line to the exchange management device of the adjacent exchange according to the request, and information from the network management device to another exchange management device or another exchange management device. The line used to perform network management by relaying information from the
Since there is at most one line between each switching device, the amount of lines constantly occupied by each switching device can be reduced, and traffic that tends to concentrate on switching devices accommodating network management devices can be distributed. it can. Also,
Since each exchange management device only needs to hold the information of the adjacent exchange device and the route information, it is not necessary to grasp the situation of the entire network, and the exchange management device does not become large.

Further, as set forth in claim 2, the network management device collects information on the switching device adjacent to the first switching device from the first switching device management device, and based on this information, the first management device. To the second exchange management device for managing the second exchange adjacent to the first exchange to the first exchange management device, and from the exchange management device that has set the line to a new exchange adjacent to the first exchange. The communication route from the network management device to each of the exchange management devices is repeated by collecting information on the network management device and repeating the line setting request to the exchange management device for the new exchange device management until no new exchange device information is generated. Can be easily generated.

Further, as set forth in claim 3, the network management device determines the shortest route to each exchange management device by a branch and bound method, and requests each exchange management device to reset the line. By doing so, an optimal communication route can be easily established.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, each exchange management device recognizes whether the information is addressed to its own station or information to be relayed to another station based on a destination identifier added to the head of the information. Accordingly, information can be easily relayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a management table set in each exchange management device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network system for explaining establishment of an initial route.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a network system for explaining an operation when a trunk line is added.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a management table set in each exchange management device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a network system for explaining an operation when a switching device is added.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a management table set in each exchange management device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a shortest route.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a shortest route.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a network system for explaining a method of determining a shortest route.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a management table set in each switching device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission format of information transmitted from the network management device to each exchange management device.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a network system showing a conventional network management method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-9: exchange device, 1a-9a: exchange management device, 1b
-8b, 1c-8c, 1d-8d, 1e-9e ... switched lines, 10 ... network management device.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A plurality of switching devices, and a plurality of switch management apparatus for managing each respective switching device, the switching line of the first switching device, a first switch management apparatus that manages the first switching device And a network management device connected to the line. The network management system manages the entire network by collecting information from each switching management device by the network management device. The network management device manages each switching device. Requesting the switch management device to set the line for the switch management device for managing another switching device adjacent to the switching device to be managed.
And the new exchange that is adjacent to the
It collects information about the switching equipment.
A network management system for holding adjacent station information indicating the location and relaying information from the network management device to another exchange management device or information from another exchange management device to the network management device. . 2. The network management system according to claim 1, wherein the network management device collects information on the switching devices adjacent to the first switching device from the first switching device management device, and based on the information, A request is made to the first exchange management apparatus for a line setting for a second exchange management apparatus for managing a second exchange adjacent to the first exchange, and a new adjacent exchange management apparatus from the line-set exchange management apparatus. A network management method for collecting information about a switching device and repeating a line setting request to a switching device management device for managing a new switching device until no new switching device information is generated. 3. The network management system according to claim 1, wherein the network management device determines the shortest route to each exchange management device by a branch-and-bound method after collecting information on all the switching devices, A network management system for requesting each exchange management device to reset a line. 4. The network management system according to claim 1, wherein each exchange management device recognizes whether the information is addressed to its own station or information to be relayed to another station based on a destination identifier added to the head of the information. A network management method characterized in that: