JP3304177B2 - Inter-line repeater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inter-line relay device for relaying between lines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An inter-LAN relay device interconnects a plurality of LANs to realize a MAC bridge function and a router relay function.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, an inter-LAN relay device 41 has one relay processor 42 therein, and is connected to a LAN or WAN via a line control unit 47.
I was going to relay. When relaying, LAN or WAN
, And reads the header information of the received packet and refers to the internal relay table 45 to transmit the packet to the destination route. In addition, the information of the relay table 45 is exchanged periodically with another inter-LAN relay apparatus 41 to update the contents of the relay table 45 in the apparatus. Thus, the packet is transmitted toward a new detour route in response to a change in the state of the network, for example, in response to a failure in the transmission path.

[0004] One of the methods usually performed to increase the relay processing capability (the number of packets that can be processed per unit time) of such an inter-LAN relay device 41 is, as shown in FIG. A multiprocessor configuration is performed. According to this multiprocessor configuration, for each packet received by each of the relay processors # 1 to #n, the packet is transmitted with reference to the relay table provided on the shared memory based on the destination in the destination information. Out of the route, and sends a packet to the route.

Further, as a second method, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of inter-LAN relay devices are interconnected via a high-speed coupling circuit (such as a high-speed LAN or a system bus) to form a large inter-LAN relay as a whole. Configuring the device.
This method has a feature that relay processing performance proportional to the number of processors can be realized as long as the speed of the coupling circuit permits.

[0006]

In order to improve the relay processing capability in the LAN-to-LAN relay device, the above-described FIG.
As shown in (1), a shared memory type multiprocessor configuration is performed. This multiprocessor configuration has the following problems.

(1) When the number of processors increases, the performance improvement is limited due to contention of memory access among a plurality of processors. (2) Contention occurs in data access even when a cache memory is mounted on the processor.

The above-described second method shown in FIG. 12 can realize the relay processing performance in proportion to the number of processors as long as the speed of the coupling circuit permits, but has the following problem.

(1) When a packet is relayed, the packet passes through two relay devices, so that the number of relay stages becomes two or more. (2) Since each processor needs to have all the functions required as a relay device between LANs, the cost of a memory for storing programs and the like increases.

(3) The relay table in each device is managed independently for each processor, and these relay tables are updated in accordance with the exchange of the relay table between each processor (each relay device). Therefore, when a network state change occurs, it takes a long time until the relay tables of all processors are completely updated.

(4) It is necessary to separately set the operation of each processor as an inter-LAN relay device, and the operation is complicated. In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides an overall control unit and a plurality of relay processing units, manages an original relay table in the overall control unit, and distributes the original relay table to each relay processing unit. Each relay processing unit performs inter-line relay by referring to the duplicated relay table, eliminating contention when referencing the relay table, and processing capacity corresponding to the number of relay processing units. The aim is to achieve improvement.

[0012]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, an overall control unit 11 is connected to a plurality of relay processing units 21 via a bus and controls the entire system. Here, the overall control unit 11 manages a first relay table 14, Of the relay table 14 of each relay processing unit 21
And updates the relay table 24 by notifying it.

The relay table 14 is a first relay table in which outgoing routes and the like are registered in association with destinations. The relay processing unit 21 converts the packet received from the line into the second relay table 2 based on the destination of the packet.
4, and sends it to the departure route.

The relay table 24 is a second relay table in which outgoing routes and the like are registered in association with destinations.

[0015]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the relay processing unit 21 performs a relay process between lines for transferring information received via a line based on relay route information between the lines, and performs the plurality of relay processes. Connected to the unit 21 via a bus,
A first relay table 1 for exchanging relay route information with another control unit connected to the line via the intermediate processing unit 21 and storing the relay route information.
In the line relay device including the control unit 11 including the relay unit 4, the plurality of relay processing units 21 each include the second relay table 24 storing the relay route information, and the relay transmitted from the control unit 11 via the bus. The route information is received and stored in the second relay table 24, and the information received via the line is transmitted to the transfer destination based on the relay route information stored in the second relay table 24. .

When the control unit 11 receives a fault notification from the relay processing unit 21, it determines a new relay route based on the fault notification and
4 and notifies the relay route to all the relay processing units (21) via the bus to notify the second relay table 2
4 is updated.

The relay processing unit 21 notifies the control unit 11 of the relay information received via the line, and the control unit 11 having received the notification determines a new relay route based on the relay information and Register in the relay table 14,
All the relay processing units 21 through the relay route via the bus
And the second relay table 24 is updated.

The control unit 11 and all the relay processing units 21 are multiplexed by a plurality of buses. Therefore, the overall control unit 11 and the plurality of relay processing units 21 are provided, the first relay table 14 is managed in the overall control unit 11, and the first relay table 14 is distributed to each relay processing unit 21. And the second relay table 24
, Each relay processing unit 21 performs inter-line relay, eliminating contention at the time of referring to the relay table 24, and improving the processing capability in accordance with the number of relay processing units 21.

[0019]

Next, the configuration and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, a LAN or a WAN (Wide Area Network) will be described as an example of the line.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of the present invention. FIG.
, The overall control unit 11
And is connected to all the relay processing units 21 via a plurality of buses.
2, comprising an inter-processor communication section 16 and a processor 17.

The memory 12 stores data and programs. In this example, the memory 12 stores and stores a transmission / reception buffer 13, an original relay table 14, and a control program 15.

The transmission / reception buffer 13 temporarily stores data when transmitting / receiving data to / from the relay processing unit 21 via the bus. The relay table 14 is an original relay table in which outgoing routes and the like are registered in advance in association with destinations of packets (see FIG. 8).

The control program 15 is a program that describes procedures for performing various controls. The inter-processor communication unit 16 transmits and receives data to and from the inter-processor communication unit 27 of the relay processing unit 21 via a plurality of buses.

The processor 17 performs various controls according to procedures described by the control program 15 and the like, and here manages the relay table 14 and the like.

The relay processing unit 21 is a LAN / WAN
And relays the packet to the outgoing route with reference to the relay table 24 based on the destination of the received packet. It comprises a unit 26, an inter-processor communication unit 27, and a processor 28.

The memory 22 stores data and programs. In this example, the memory 22 is provided with a transmission / reception buffer 23, a duplicate relay table 24, and a control program 25, and stores the same.

The transmission / reception buffer 23 temporarily stores packets received from the LAN / WAN. The relay table 24 is a duplicate relay table in which an outgoing route is registered in advance in association with the destination of the packet (see FIG. 8).

The control program 25 is a program that describes procedures for performing various controls. The line control unit 26
It controls transmission / reception of packets by controlling a line to / from a LAN / WAN.

The inter-processor communication section 27 transmits and receives data to and from the inter-processor communication section 27 of another relay processing unit 21 or the inter-processor communication section 16 of the overall control unit 11 via a plurality of buses. is there.

The processor 28 performs various controls in accordance with a procedure described as the control program 25 or the like. In this case, the processor 28 refers to the relay table 24 and transmits to the destination departure route to perform relay processing. is there.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the configuration shown in FIG.
The original relay table 14 is stored in all the relay processing units 21
The operation at the time of distribution to the user will be described in detail. In FIG. 2, S1 determines whether the general control unit 11 has passed a predetermined time. In the case of YES, the relay table 14 of the original is distributed to all the relay processing units 21 in S2.

In S3, the contents of the relay table 14 are received by the relay processing unit # 1 by the distribution of S2. S4
Stores the content received in S3 in its own relay table 24.
And update it.

S5 is the relay table 24 updated in S4.
To perform relay processing. For example, with respect to a packet received from the LAN / WAN, the output route (output destination port number) is extracted by referring to the relay table 24 based on the destination, and the packet is transmitted from the output route. A request is made via the bus to another relay processing unit 21 to transmit the packet from the relay processing unit 21. The requested relay processing unit 21 transmits the packet from its outgoing route (output destination port number).

In step S6, it is determined whether a failure has been detected. Here, if a failure is detected, for example, a failure in the transmission path, or a failure of the relay processing unit 21 itself, a failure notification is sent to the overall control unit 11 via the bus in S7. On the other hand, if no failure is detected, the process returns to S5 and the relay processing is continued.

At S8, the general control unit 11 receives the failure notification notified at S7. S9 determines a new relay route. That is, based on the failure notification received in S8, a detour route or the like is determined, and a new relay route is determined.

In step S10, the original relay table 14 is updated. Then, the process returns to S2 and is repeated. Also, S11
In step S2, another relay processing unit # 2 that has received the distribution of the original relay table 14 receives the relay table 14.

In step S12, the content received in step S11 is written and updated in its own relay table 24. S13
Performs relay processing using the relay table 24 updated in S12.

As described above, when the original relay table 14 is updated at predetermined time intervals or when a failure is detected, the overall control unit 11 transmits the information of the original relay table 14 to all the relay processing units 21 via the bus. And the contents of the duplicate relay table 24 are updated. Then, each relay processing unit 21 performs packet relay processing with reference to the updated relay table 24. Accordingly, each relay processing unit 21 can relay the packet received from the LAN / WAN toward the destination departure route with reference to the duplicate relay table 24 contained in the relay processing unit 21. , No conflict occurs, and the number of relay processing units 21 can be increased to improve the relay processing speed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, under the configuration of FIG. 1, when the relay information is received as a packet from the line, the original relay table 14 is updated and all the relay processing units 21 are updated. The operation at the time of distribution will be described in detail.

In FIG. 3, in S21, the relay processing unit 21 receives relay information in a packet from a line (LAN / WAN). For example, the relay information shown in FIG. 4B is received as a packet.

At S22, the relay information is transferred to the overall control unit 1
1 is notified via the bus. In S23, the overall control unit 11 receives the relay information notified in S22. S2
No. 4 determines a new relay route based on the relay information received in S23.

In step S25, the original relay table 14 is updated. Then, S2 and subsequent steps in FIG. 2 are repeated, and all relay processing units 21 are notified via the bus to update the contents of the relay table 24. And each relay processing unit 2
1 relays the packet using the updated relay table 24.

FIG. 4A shows a state in which the LAN 1 is newly provided. In this case, in order to transmit a packet to the newly provided LAN 1, the packet may be transmitted to the relay device B (address B). Therefore, FIG.
, The destination network address is “## 1”
In the case of (network address ## 1 of LAN1), the relay device A may transmit the received packet to the address B of the relay device B.

FIG. 4B shows an example of relay information when a LAN 1 is newly provided. Here, if the relay device B transmits the following information shown in the form of a packet to the relay device A, then the relay device A automatically receives the packet and the destination is "## 1". Since the packet is transmitted to the relay device B, the relay device B may transmit the packet to the LAN 1.

[0045] As described above, when the LAN 1 is newly provided, the relay device B transmits, for example, the relay information of FIG.
, And updates the original relay table 14 of the relay apparatus A. The updated original relay table 14 is written and updated in the duplicate relay table 24 of each relay processing unit 21. Thereby, when the relay processing unit 21 of the relay apparatus A receives the packet, the destination “## 1”
Is transmitted to the relay device B of the address B, and the relay device B that has received this packet transmits the packet to the LAN 1 to be relayed to the newly provided LAN 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining information processing of the relay table according to the present invention. This is a specific example of the situation described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 5, the relay processing unit (# 1) or the relay processing unit (# 2) receives a packet from the LAN / WAN and stores it in the transmission / reception buffer 23 (S2 in FIG. 3).
1). The relay processing unit 21 decodes the packet stored in the transmission / reception buffer 23, and here, it is determined that the received packet is relay information (information about a relay table).

Since it is determined that the received packet is relay information, the packet is transferred to the overall control unit 11 via the system bus and stored in the transmission / reception buffer 13.
Then, the stored packet is decoded and it is determined here that the packet is relay information.
Is updated to a new original relay table 14.

The contents of the new original relay table 14 are transferred to all the relay processing units 21 via the system bus.
And updates the duplicate relay table 24. Also,
Is controlled periodically (for example, every 30 seconds).
1 transfers the original relay table 14 to the relay processing unit 21 via the system bus and stores it in the transmission / reception buffer 13, and sends out the packet to the LAN / WAN to transmit it to another relay processing unit 21. Then, similarly, the relay tables 14 and 24 of the unit are updated to new ones.

As described above, the relay table 14 is periodically transmitted and received as relay information between the units connected via the LAN / WAN as packets, and the original relay table 14 and the duplicate relay table 24 are always updated with new information. It becomes possible to update.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a packet relay process according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, the relay processing unit (#
1) receives a packet from the LAN / WAN and stores it in the transmission / reception buffer 23.

Reads the destination information of the header of the stored packet, and determines the port to which the packet is to be transferred by referring to its own relay table 24. If the transfer destination port is its own port, it extracts a packet from the transmission / reception buffer 23 and transmits it from its own port as shown by (1). On the other hand, when the transfer destination port is a port other than the own port, as shown in FIG.
The packet is transferred to the transfer processing unit 21 via the system bus. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, an output destination port number transmitted from the transfer destination relay processing unit 21 is added to the packet. The relay processing unit 21 of the transfer destination receiving the packet of FIG. 9 determines the LAN / WAN from the output destination port number set in the packet.
Send to.

As described above, the relay processing unit 21
Receives the packet from the LAN / WAN, refers to its own relay table 24, and determines the transfer destination P corresponding to the destination.
When the transfer destination Ps number is its own among the s number and the output destination port number, the packet is transmitted from the output destination port number with '. On the other hand, when the transfer destination Ps number is not its own, the packet is added with the transfer destination Ps number and transferred to the relay processing unit 21 of the transfer destination Ps via the bus. The relay processing unit 21 receiving this transfer transmits the packet from the output destination port number set in the packet. By these, LAN / W
The packet received from the AN is transmitted to the destination departure route, and relay processing can be performed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this configuration, the overall control unit 11 and the relay processing units # 1 to #n are connected to each other by the duplicated system bus # 1 and system bus # 2. Here, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 2
3, 24, 26, 27, and 28 are the same as those having the same numbers in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 7, the program memories 18, 2
9 is a memory for storing programs. The peripheral control unit 19 controls peripheral devices such as the auxiliary storage 31 and the panel 32. The auxiliary storage 31 is a large-capacity storage device such as a magnetic disk device. The panel 32 displays various data.

The TTY control section 20 controls the console 33. The console 33 is for inputting various data and instructions and displaying data.
Under the above configuration, the overall control unit 11 and the relay processing units # 1 to #n
Packets are exchanged at high speed by the dual buses of the system bus # 1 and the system bus # 2. As described above, the general control unit 11 periodically transmits the original relay table 14 to other general control units 11 by packets. The relay table 2 always reflects the latest network status and is transferred to all the relay processing units # 1 to #n to copy the relay table 2.
Update 4. Each of the relay processing units # 1 to #n is L
For the packet received from the AN / WAN, the packet is transmitted from the output destination port number with reference to the duplicate relay table 24, or the packet is transmitted from the output destination port number by requesting another relay processing unit, Perform relay processing.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the relay table of the present invention. In the relay tables 14, 24, a destination network address, a transfer destination Ps number, an output destination port number, and the number of relay stages to the destination are set as shown in the figure. Thereby, when a packet is received from the LAN / WAN, the destination is extracted from the header information of the packet, and based on this destination (destination network address), the transfer destination Ps number and output destination port number are extracted, and the transfer destination Ps If the number is the number of the relay processing unit that has received the packet, the packet is transmitted from the output destination port number. On the other hand, if the transfer destination Ps number is not the number of the relay processing unit that has received the packet,
As shown in FIG. 9, the transfer destination Ps number and the output destination port number are added to the head of the packet, and the packet is transferred to the relay processing unit of the transfer destination Ps number. The relay processing unit that has received this transfer transmits the packet from its own output destination port number.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a packet format on the system bus of the present invention. This means that a transfer destination Ps number and an output destination port number are added to the head, and other relay processing units 2
This is an example of a packet format when requesting the transmission of a packet to 1, where information is set as: transfer destination Ps number, output destination port number, destination IP address, data. Here, the transfer destination Ps number is determined based on the destination information of the received packet in the relay table 24 of FIG.
Is the transfer destination Ps number when the packet is referred to, and is the number of the relay processing unit 21 that performs the process of transmitting the packet. The output destination port number is an output destination port number for transmitting a packet from the relay processing unit 21 of the transfer destination Ps number. The destination IP address is a destination address for transmitting a packet. Data is data to be transmitted in a packet.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A total control unit and a plurality of relay processing units are provided, a first relay table is managed in the general control unit, and the first relay table is distributed to each relay processing unit to have a second relay table. Second relay table 24
Configuration, each relay processing unit performs inter-line relaying, eliminating contention when referencing the relay table among multiple relay processing units, and processing capacity in proportion to the number of relay processing units. Can be improved.
In addition, since the overall control unit and a plurality of relay processing units are multiplexed with a plurality of bus systems to achieve high speed, even when a relay request from one relay processing unit to another relay processing unit is requested by a packet, the bus is not used. No contention occurs, and it is possible to relay a packet to a destination efficiently and at high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a relay information transmission process of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of information processing of a relay table according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a packet relay process of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration example of a relay table according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a packet format on a system bus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional inter-LAN relay device (single processor type).

FIG. 11 is a configuration example of a conventional shared memory type multiprocessor.

FIG. 12 is an example of a collective configuration of a conventional inter-LAN relay device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11: Overall control unit 12: Memory 13: Transmission / reception buffer 14: Relay table (original) 15: Control program 16: Inter-processor communication unit 17: Processor 21: Relay processing unit 22: Memory 23: Transmission / reception buffer 24: Relay table (copy) 25: Control program 26: Line control unit 27: Inter-processor communication unit 28: Processor

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Funada 1015 Uedanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (56) References JP-A-5-83261 (JP, A) JP-A-5-199230 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/28 H04L 12/46

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of relay processing units for performing relay processing between lines for transferring information received via a line based on relay route information between lines, and connected to the plurality of relay processing units via a bus. ,
A first relay table for exchanging the relay route information with another control unit connected to the line via the relay processing unit and storing the relay route information;
In line relaying device comprising a control unit with Le, the plurality of relay processing unit comprises respective second relay tables for storing the relay route information, the control
Means for receiving the relay route information transmitted from the unit via the bus and storing it in the second relay table
If the information received via the line, said second relay tape
Means for transmitting to the destination based on the stored relay route information table, the information is information der relates to a relay tables
Means for transmitting to the control unit, the control unit transmits the information to the relay table.
Means for updating the first relay table, and
Update the second relay table with the contents of the first relay table
Means for transmitting to each relay processing unit for
A relay device between lines. Wherein said control unit, said relay processing unit
When a fault notification is received from the router , a new relay route is determined based on the fault notification, registered in the first relay table , and all the relay processes are performed via the bus.
Notify the unit line between the relay device according to claim 1, characterized in that to update the second relay table. Wherein the relay processing unit notifies the relay information received via the line to the control unit, the first control unit having received the notification determines the new relay route on the basis of the relay information 2. The inter-line relay device according to claim 1, wherein the relay route is registered in the first relay table , the relay route is notified to all the relay processing units via the bus, and the second relay table is updated. 4. The control unit and all the relay units
4. The inter-line repeater according to claim 1, wherein the logical units are multiplexed by a plurality of buses.