JP5071982B2 - Method of relaying trace request for operation and maintenance management, management relay point device and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method, a management relay point device, and a program for relaying a trace request for operation and maintenance management.

  At present, Ethernet (registered trademark) technology is widely used as a layer 2 network for LAN (Local Area Network). On the other hand, in recent years, FTTH (Fiber To The Home) has been used as a technology for speeding up access networks. With the FTTH technology and other high-speed access line technologies, the communication network including the core network and the metro network needs to be increased in capacity as the communication speed of the access network increases. In addition to the improvement in the communication speed of the entire network, it is also necessary to increase the switching processing capacity of the layer 2 frame switching device and the communication speed between the switching devices.

  Ethernet technology developed as a network connection technology in LANs is now becoming widely used for connection between service providers and subscribers and in metro area networks constructed by service providers. In this way, when Ethernet is deployed over a wide area, service providers always provide stable services to subscribers, so operation, maintenance, and management (OAM: Operation Administration and Management) has not been a major problem with LANs. Maintenance) needs to be considered. At present, the OAM of the Ethernet network deployed in a wide area using the layer 3 technology is performed, but the OAM technology in the layer 2 is desirable in order to perform more detailed OAM. Therefore, at present, ITU-T Y. 1731 defines the OAM technique in the Ethernet network, and the definition of the Ethernet OAM frame and technique is advanced by IEEE802.1ag and IEEE802.1Qaw (see Non-Patent Document 1, for example). In particular, ITU-T Y.M. 1731 is a standard that realizes an operation and maintenance management function almost equivalent to SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork) in the Ethernet network. The Ethernet OAM frame has functions such as reachability management (CFM: Connectivity Fault Management), error notification, link (line) performance monitor, and the like, and a function for transmitting the information.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing relay of a trace request in the prior art.

  According to FIG. 1, a network connected between a management endpoint device (MEP: Maintenance Group End Point) 2 and a management endpoint device 2 via a management relay point device (MIP: Maintenance Group Intermediate Point) 1 is represented. Has been. This realizes operation, maintenance, and management of the connection line between the two management endpoint devices.

  According to the trace (Traceroute) function of FIG. 1, the management end point device 2 transmits a trace request to the target network, that is, to the adjacent switch device 1. The trace request is, for example, an ETH-LTM (ETHernet Link Trace Message) in an Ethernet OAM frame that is an operation maintenance management frame. A multicast address (unknown) is set as the destination MAC (Media Access Control) address of the ETH-LTM, and a maximum value (for example, 64) is set as the TTL.

  The switch device 1 that has received the ETH-LTM generates a trace response in which the source MAC address of the ETH-LTM is the destination MAC address. The trace response is, for example, an ETH-LTR (ETHernet Link Trace Reply) in an Ethernet OAM frame that is an operation maintenance management frame. The switch device returns the ETH-LTR to the port that received the ETH-LTM. As a result, the ETH-LTR is returned to the management endpoint device 2 that has transmitted the ETH-LTM.

  Further, the switch device 1 decrements the TTL of the received layer 2 frame by 1, and further transfers the ETH-LTM having the destination address as the multicast address (unknown) from another port. This is repeated until TTL becomes zero. The ETH-LTM, which has been transferred in the network, receives the ETH-LTM, and the switch device returns the ETH-LTR to the management endpoint device 2. Thereby, the management endpoint device 2 can receive the ETH-LTR from all the switch devices in the network.

  The switch device 1 includes a plurality of ports 11 and a MAC / VLAN switch unit 12. The MAC / VLAN switch unit 12 has a table in which a MAC address and a VID (VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) IDentifider) are associated with each other for each port. The switching device 1 refers to this table and outputs the received layer 2 frame to one or more appropriate ports as transmission destinations.

  The Ethernet OAM-compliant switch device 1 further includes a device OAM unit 13. The device OAM unit 13 functions as a management relay point OAM in a management relay point switch device, and functions as a management endpoint OAM in a management endpoint switch device. Specifically, ETH-LTM is constantly monitored, ETH-LTR is output to a port that has received ETH-LTM, and ETH-LTM is output from an appropriate port.

  FIG. 2 is a frame configuration diagram of a trace request in the Ethernet OAM frame.

  According to the Ethernet OAM frame of FIG. 2, a destination MAC (Media Access Control) address, a source MAC address, a VID (VLAN IDentifier), a TLV (Type, Length, and Value), and an FCS (Frame Check Sequence). Including. The MAC address is a 48-bit identification number that is unique to a switch device that is a target for operation and maintenance management or unique to a network interface card. Normally, the switch device does not use a unique identifier of the network interface card, and recognizes the device at the time of frame transfer using one device MAC address (CPU-MAC address) that identifies the device itself. The Ethernet OAM TLV includes, for example, control information (request / response), status (power status, received light status, link disconnection, failure, etc.), vendor code, model code, and the like. In the case of a trace request, the target MAC address of the target management endpoint device is included in the Ethernet OAM TLV.

  In the case of ETH-LTM, the destination MAC address includes a multicast address, and the VID includes a management VID. The target MAC address is included in the TLV. For the switch device compliant with Ethernet OAM, the device OAM unit realizes relay control by looking at the target MAC address in the TLV even if the destination MAC address is a multicast address.

Koichiro Seto, “Standardization Trend of 802.1 / 802.3 (3)”, [online], September 25, 2006, WBB Forum, [Search on March 28, 2008], Internet <URL: http: //wbb.forum.impressrd.jp/report/20060922/280?page=0%2C0>

JP 2004-23114 A JP 2006-48276 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-314592

  If all switch devices compliant with Ethernet OAM are arranged in the network, Ethernet OAM can function sufficiently. However, from the viewpoint of cost, there are many cases where a switch device compliant with Ethernet OAM and a switch device not compliant with Ethernet OAM are mixed. At this time, there arises a problem that the Ethernet OAM trace request does not function.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relay of the Ethernet OAM trace request by the non-Ethernet OAM compliant switch device.

  According to the standard, there is a problem in that a layer 2 frame including a “multicast address” in the destination MAC address is not subjected to multicast transfer processing. A switch device that is not compliant with Ethernet OAM does not include a device OAM unit. Therefore, a layer 2 frame in which “multicast address” is included in the destination MAC address is transmitted from all ports.

  Such a problem is limited to the case where the VIDs of all the ports are the same. For example, when there is one management VID in the entire network, the trace request is eventually output from all the ports.

  Thus, the present invention provides a method, a relay point device, and a program for relaying so that a trace request for operation and maintenance management functions even when a switch device that does not comply with Ethernet OAM is arranged in the network. For the purpose.

According to the present invention, there is provided a trace request relay method in a switch system including a switch device that relays a layer 2 frame including a VID between a plurality of ports, and a management relay point device connected to one port of the switch. There,
The management relay point device and the switch device store two management VIDs in advance,
For the received layer 2 frame, when the destination address is a multicast address and the VID is the first management VID, the switch device outputs the layer 2 frame to the port to which the management relay point device is connected. A first step to:
The management relay point device switches the VID to the second management VID when the layer 2 frame is a trace request;
The management relay point device outputs a trace request to a port connected to the switch device, and a third step;
The switch device includes a fourth step of outputting the trace request to a port to which the second management VID is output.

According to another embodiment of the trace request relay method of the present invention,
The management relay point device generates a trace response including the first management VID in response to the trace request;
The management relay point device outputs a trace response to a port connected to the switch device;
It is preferable that the switch device further includes a step of outputting a trace response to a port to which the first management VID is output.

  According to another embodiment of the trace request relay method of the present invention, the trace request and the trace response are Ethernet OAM frames that are operation and maintenance management frames, the trace request is an ETH-LTM, and the trace response is: ETH-LTR is also preferred.

According to another embodiment of the trace request relay method of the present invention,
Before the first step,
The management relay point device further includes a step of receiving the first management VID and the second management VID from the first management end point device via the IP network;
The first management VID and the trace request transmitted from the first management endpoint device reach the second management endpoint device while switching the management VID of the trace request every time it passes through the switch system. It is also preferable that the second management VID is determined.

According to the present invention, a management relay point device connected to one port of a switch device that relays a layer 2 frame including a VID between a plurality of ports,
A management VID table for storing two management VIDs in advance;
Trace request input means for receiving a layer 2 frame whose destination address is a multicast address and whose VID is the first management VID from the switch device;
VID switching means for switching the VID to the second management VID when the layer 2 frame is a trace request;
Trace request output means for outputting a trace request to a port connected to the switch device.

According to another embodiment of the management relay point device of the present invention,
Trace response generation means for generating a trace response including the first management VID in response to the trace request;
It is also preferable to further include trace response output means for outputting the trace response to a port connected to the switch device.

  According to another embodiment of the management relay point device of the present invention, the trace request and the trace response are Ethernet OAM frames that are operation and maintenance management frames, the trace request is ETH-LTM, and the trace response is ETH. -LTR is also preferred.

  According to another embodiment of the management relay point device of the present invention, the management VID receiving means for receiving the first management VID and the second management VID from the management end point device via the IP network is further provided. It is also preferable to have it.

According to the present invention, there is provided a management relay point program for causing a computer mounted on a terminal connected to one port of a switch device that relays a layer 2 frame including a VID between a plurality of ports,
A management VID table for storing two management VIDs in advance;
Trace request input means for receiving a layer 2 frame whose destination address is a multicast address and whose VID is the first management VID from the switch device;
VID switching means for switching the VID to the second management VID when the layer 2 frame is a trace request;
The computer is made to function as a trace request output means for outputting a trace request to a port connected to the switch device.

  According to the relay method, management relay point device, and program of the present invention, even when a switch device that does not comply with Ethernet OAM is arranged in the network, relay is performed so that the trace request for operation and maintenance management functions. Can do.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a first system configuration diagram according to the present invention.

  According to FIG. 4, the switch device that relays the layer 2 frame between a plurality of ports is configured in the same network as in FIG. FIG. 4 is different from FIG. 1 in that an Ethernet OAM compliant switch device and an Ethernet OAM non-compliant switch device are arranged in a mixed manner.

  According to the present invention, a management relay point device 3 as an Ethernet OAM function block is connected to any one port of a switch device that is not compliant with Ethernet OAM. The management relay point device 3 is connected to an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) network. As described above, by attaching the management relay point device 3 externally, the switch device that is not compliant with the existing Ethernet OAM can be used.

  The management relay point device 3 according to the present invention includes a management VID table 31, a trace request input unit 32, a VID switching unit 33, a trace request output unit 34, a trace response generation unit 35, and a trace response output unit 36. Have These functional components can also be realized by executing a program that causes a computer installed in the terminal to function.

  The management VID table 31 stores two management VIDs in advance. The trace request including the first management VID is switched to the second management VID.

  The trace request input unit 32 receives from the switch device 1 a layer 2 frame whose destination address is a multicast address and whose VID is the first management VID. The layer 2 frame as the trace request is output to the VID switching unit 33 and the trace response generation unit 35.

  When the layer 2 frame is a trace request, the VID switching unit 33 refers to the management VID table 31 and switches the VID to the second management VID. The trace request is notified to the trace request output unit 34. The trace request is ETH-LTM (ETHernet Link Trace Message).

  The trace request output unit 34 outputs the trace request to a port connected to the switch device.

  In response to the trace request, the trace response generation unit 35 generates a trace response including the first management VID. The trace response is ETH-LTR (ETHernet Link Trace Reply).

  The trace response output unit 36 outputs the trace response to a port connected to the switch device.

  The management VID receiving unit 37 receives management VID information (first management VID and second management VID) from the management endpoint device 2 via the SNMP network. The received management VID information is recorded in the management VID table 31.

  The management endpoint device 2 transmits management VID information to the management relay device 3 via the SNMP network. Here, the management VID information is such that the trace request transmitted from the first management endpoint device reaches the second management endpoint device while switching the management VID of the trace request every time it passes through the switch system. To be determined. At this time, the VID included in the trace request transmitted from the first management endpoint device is included in the trace request when reaching the second management endpoint device.

  According to FIG. 4, it is assumed that a trace request including “multicast address” “VID1” is transmitted from the management endpoint device 2. The switch device SW1 that has received this trace request switches “VID1” to “VID2” and transmits a trace request including “multicast address” “VID2” to the switch device SW2. The switch device SW2 that has received this trace request switches “VID2” to “VID1” and transmits a trace request including “multicast address” “VID1” to the switch device SW3 functioning as a management endpoint device.

  In this way, the VID is switched every time a switch device that does not comply with Ethernet OAM is relayed. Thereby, even if the destination MAC address is a “multicast address”, the trace request can be relayed to the target management endpoint device. Of course, when relaying an Ethernet OAM-compliant switch device, there is no need to switch the VID. To the last, the VID included in the trace request transmitted from the management endpoint device may be included in the trace request when reaching the final management endpoint device.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of a trace request in the switch system of the present invention.

(S501) It is assumed that the switch device 1 receives a layer 2 frame from a port (for example, port 1).
(S502) For the received layer 2 frame, the MAC / VLAN switch unit 12 determines whether or not the destination address is “multicast address” and the VID is “first management VID”. When this determination is true, the layer 2 frame is output to the port (for example, port 4) to which the management relay point device 3 is connected.
(S503) The management relay point device 3 confirms that the input layer 2 frame is a trace request. In the case of a trace request, the management relay point device 3 switches the VID to “second management VID” and outputs the trace request to a port (for example, port 4) connected to the switch device 1.
(S504) The switch device 1 outputs the trace request received from the management relay point device 3 to a port (for example, port 5) from which the second management VID is output.

  FIG. 6 is a second system configuration diagram according to the present invention.

  According to FIG. 6, as compared with FIG. 4, a switch device SW6 that is not compliant with Ethernet OAM is inserted between the switch devices SW2 and SW3. In this case, even if switching between the “first management VID” and the “second management VID” is continued, when the switch SW3 having the management endpoint device is reached, the “second management VID” VID ". In other words, the VID included in the trace request transmitted from the management endpoint device does not become included in the trace request when reaching the final management endpoint device.

  In such a case, the switch device SW2 that has received the trace request switches “VID2” to “VID3” and transmits a trace request including “multicast address” “VID3” to the switch device SW6. The switch device SW6 that has received this trace request switches “VID3” to “VID1” and transmits a trace request including “multicast address” “VID1” to the switch device SW3 functioning as a management endpoint device. Thus, in order to deal with all patterns, at least three management VIDs are required according to the present invention.

  As described above in detail, the relay method, the management relay point device, and the program according to the present invention can generate a trace request for operation and maintenance management even when a switch device that does not comply with Ethernet OAM is arranged in the network. Can be relayed to function.

  According to the various embodiments of the present invention described above, those skilled in the art can easily make various changes, modifications and omissions within the scope of the technical idea and the viewpoint of the present invention. The above description is merely an example, and is not intended to be restrictive. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.

It is a sequence diagram of a trace request in the prior art. FIG. 3 is a frame configuration diagram of a trace request in an Ethernet OAM frame. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing relay of an Ethernet OAM trace request by a switch device that is not compliant with Ethernet OAM. It is a 1st system block diagram in this invention. It is a sequence diagram of a trace request in the switch system of the present invention. It is a 2nd system block diagram in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switch apparatus 11 Port 12 MAC / VLAN switch part 13 Apparatus OAM part 2 Management end point apparatus 3 Management relay point apparatus 31 Management VID table 32 Trace request input part 33 VID switching part 34 Trace request output part 35 Trace response generation part 36 Trace Response output unit 37 VID receiving unit for management

Claims (9)

Trace request in a switch system having a switch device that relays a layer 2 frame including a VID (VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) IDentifider) between a plurality of ports, and a management relay point device connected to one port of the switch Relay method,
The management relay point device and the switch device store two management VIDs in advance,
For the layer 2 frame received by the switch device, when the destination address is a multicast address and the VID is the first management VID, the layer 2 frame is designated as a port to which the management relay point device is connected. A first step of outputting to
The management relay point device, when the layer 2 frame is a trace request, a second step of switching the VID to a second management VID;
The management relay point device outputs the trace request to a port connected to the switch device;
And a fourth step of outputting the trace request to a port from which the second management VID is output. The management relay point device generates a trace response including a first management VID in response to the trace request;
The management relay point device outputs the trace response to a port connected to the switch device;
2. The trace request relay method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of outputting the trace response to a port to which the first management VID is output. The trace request and the trace response are Ethernet OAM (Operation Administration and Maintenance) frames that are operation and maintenance management frames.
The trace request is ETH-LTM (ETHernet Link Trace Message),
3. The trace request relay method according to claim 2, wherein the trace response is an ETH-LTR (ETHernet Link Trace Reply). Before the first step,
The management relay point device further includes a step of receiving a first management VID and a second management VID from the first management end point device via the IP network;
The first request is made so that the trace request transmitted from the first management endpoint device reaches the second management endpoint device while switching the management VID of the trace request every time it passes through the switch system. 4. The trace request relay method according to claim 1, wherein the management VID and the second management VID are determined. 5. A management relay point device connected to one port of a switch device that relays a layer 2 frame including a VID between a plurality of ports,
A management VID table for storing two management VIDs in advance;
Trace request input means for receiving from the switch device a layer 2 frame whose destination address is a multicast address and whose VID is the first management VID;
VID switching means for switching the VID to a second management VID when the layer 2 frame is a trace request;
A management relay point device comprising trace request output means for outputting the trace request to a port connected to the switch device. Trace response generation means for generating a trace response including a first management VID in response to the trace request;
6. The management relay point device according to claim 5, further comprising trace response output means for outputting the trace response to a port connected to the switch device. The trace request and the trace response are Ethernet OAM (Operation Administration and Maintenance) frames that are operation and maintenance management frames.
The trace request is ETH-LTM (ETHernet Link Trace Message),
The management relay point device according to claim 6, wherein the trace response is an ETH-LTR (ETHernet Link Trace Reply).   8. The management VID receiving means for receiving the first management VID and the second management VID from the management end point device via the IP network, further comprising: Management relay point device described in 1. A management relay point program for causing a computer mounted on a terminal connected to one port of a switch device that relays a layer 2 frame including a VID between a plurality of ports,
A management VID table for storing two management VIDs in advance;
Trace request input means for receiving from the switch device a layer 2 frame whose destination address is a multicast address and whose VID is the first management VID;
VID switching means for switching the VID to a second management VID when the layer 2 frame is a trace request;
A management relay point program for causing a computer to function as trace request output means for outputting the trace request to a port connected to the switch device.

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