JP2000181830A - Network managing method, network device, and its managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the managing method which has high reliability and generates no useless traffic by setting information, needed to send prescribed data from a network device to the device managing device, to the network device. SOLUTION: The network board 101 of a printer 102 receives manager information from a personal computer(PC) as a manager and registers it in a manager information storage memory of a RAM 302. The network board 101 retrieves the frame type of bound IPX, sends SAP packets to the nearest sever by using the selected frame type, and obtains the network number for the used frame type from the server. The frame type and network number are mapped and registered in a network number storage memory of the RAM 302.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a computer network, and more particularly to a network management method including network management software, a network device, and a device management apparatus for managing the network device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for managing network devices, which are various devices connected to a network, SN
MP / MIB (Simple Network Management Protocol /
Management Information Base).
(For details on SNMP / MIB, see "TCP / IP
Introduction to Network Management For Practical Management "
T. Rose = Author / Takeshi Nishida = Translated by Toppan Co., Ltd. 19
See the first edition on August 20, 1992).

According to the SNMP network management technology,
A network includes at least one network management station (NMS), a number of managed nodes (network devices), each including an agent, and a network management protocol used by the management stations and agents to exchange management information. It is. The user can obtain data of the network device and change the data by communicating with the agent software on the managed node using the network management software on the NMS.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer network in which three LANs are interconnected. First
A LAN 100 has a printer 102 having an open architecture and a network board (NEB) connected to a network connected to an internal slot.
Via 101, for example, Ethernet with coaxial connector
The interface is connected by a LAN interface such as an interface 10Base-2 or 10Base-T having an RJ-45 connector.

[0005] Personal computers (PCs) 103, 104, 106 and 108 are also connected to the first LAN 1
00, and can communicate with the NEB 101 of the printer 102 under the control of the network operating system. One of the PCs, for example, PC103
Can be specified to be used as a network manager. Further, an external device such as a printer 105 connected to the PC 104 may be connected to each PC.

[0006] The PC 106 is used as a file server and manages access to files stored in a connected large-capacity (for example, 10 gigabytes) network disk 107. The PC 108 is used as a print server, and causes a printer such as the connected printers 109a and 109b or the printer 105 at a remote place to perform printing. Further, another device may be connected to the LAN 100.

In such a LAN, software that is commercially available as so-called network software can be used in order to efficiently communicate between connected devices (network members). Specific examples of such network software include Novell's Netware (trade name), but the use of any other network software is not limited.

With the use of network software,
The PC 106 as a file server plays a role of a file management unit that receives, stores, queues, caches, and transmits data files between members of the network (LAN 100).

For example, the data files created by the PC 103 and the PC 104 are sent to the file server 106, which arranges these data files in order, and print server 1
In accordance with the command from 08, the arranged data files are transmitted to the printer 109a.

Each of the PC 103 and the PC 104 generates a data file and a LAN of the generated data file.
It comprises a general-purpose computer capable of transmitting to the LAN 100, receiving a file from the LAN 100, and displaying and / or processing such a file. The general-purpose computer mentioned here is not limited to a so-called personal computer, but may be a computer called a workstation, and the OS running on each general-purpose computer is not limited. For example, if you are using software that runs on UNIX, you may include UNIX workstations as LAN members, and these workstations, under appropriate circumstances,
It can be used with the PC shown.

Typically, a LAN such as LAN 100 provides services to a somewhat local user group, such as a user group on one floor or multiple consecutive floors in a building. For example, a wide area network (WAN) may be created as one user moves away from another user, such as when the user is in another building or another prefecture. A WAN is basically an aggregation formed by interconnecting several LANs with a high-speed digital line such as an integrated services digital network (ISDN) line. That is, the network shown in FIG.
N100, the second LAN 110, and the third LAN 12
0 means modulation / demodulation (MODEM) / transponder 1
30 and a backbone 140 to form a WAN. These connections are simple electrical connections with several buses. Each LAN includes a dedicated PC and, although not necessarily, usually includes a file server and a print server.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
110 includes a PC 111, a PC 112, a file server 113, a network disk 114, a print server 115, a printer 116 and a printer 117. In contrast, the third LAN 120 is a PC
121 and the PC 122 only. LAN100 and LA
The devices connected to N110 and LAN 120 are:
Another LA is connected via a line connecting each other (WAN connection).
You can access the functions of N members.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data processing device (PC) on which network management software can operate. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 500 denotes a PC on which network management software operates. PC500
Is the ROM 502 or the hard disk (HD) 51
1 for executing a network management program stored in the system bus 50 or supplied from a floppy disk drive (FD) 512;
4 is generally controlled.

Reference numeral 503 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 501. Reference numeral 505 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC).
9 and an instruction input from a pointing device (not shown) or the like. 506 is a CRT controller (CRTC)
Controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 510. A disk controller (DKC) 507 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 511 and a floppy disk drive (FD) 512 that store a boot program, various applications, edit files, user files, a network management program, and the like. Reference numeral 508 denotes a network interface card (NIC) for bidirectionally exchanging data with an SNMP agent or a network device via the LAN 100.

In such a system, when actively notifying status change information from a network device such as a printer, a TRAP-PDU (Protocol Data U
nit). In TRAP-PDU, when the protocol is IP (Internet Protocol), the number of the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port for receiving TRAP is
162 is used. IPX (Internetwork Packet Excha
nge), the socket number 36880 is used. DD
In the case of P (Datagram Delivery Protocol), socket number 9 is used (for detailed structure of TRAP-PDU, see Marshall T. Rose, The Simple Book, Prentice-Hall,
1991, for details on DDP TRAP, see RFC1419,
For details of IPX TRAP, see RFC 1420, respectively).

In FIG. 16, a status change (that is, error information) relating to an error is transmitted from the printer 102 to the PC 103.
The operation procedure of the network management software in the case where the notification has been made will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S1801, error information by TRAP-PDU transmitted from the printer 102 is received using a predetermined port number or socket number. In step S1802, the TRAP-PD
The error information is obtained from the error information area of U.

In step S1803, the printer 1
It is checked whether or not the detailed information No. 02 is displayed, and if it is displayed, the obtained error information is displayed using characters or figures on a display such as a CRT 510 connected to the PC 103. For example, an error popup window as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed. As described above, the network management software notifies the user of the error information.

At this time, the printer 102, which is a network device, sends a PAP to which the TRAP-PDU is transmitted.
The manager information of C103 must be stored in advance. As information to be stored, for example,
Entry registration status, entry registration refresh status, community name used at TRAP destination, T
The information is selected from a protocol used at the RAP destination, a network address of the TRAP destination, a port number used at the TRAP destination to receive TRAP, and the like.

As a method of registering such information in the network device, there are a method of registering the information in the network device in advance and a method of automatically registering the information in the network device when the network management software is started.

[0021]

In such a conventional network management method, when a plurality of IPX frame types are bound to a network device, a frame used when the network device transmits TRAP-PDU is used. There is a problem that the type is not known. Therefore, the network device uses TRAP-PD in all bound frame types.
Create and send U to increase network traffic.

Further, the network device control device on which the network management software operates is provided with a plurality of I
When it is possible to receive the PX frame type, the same error TRAP-PD that differs only in the frame type
U is received a plurality of times, and the same error information is presented to the user a plurality of times.

In addition, in the above-mentioned conventional method, the error information is displayed on the display only when the error information is notified by the TRAP-PDU while the detailed information of the managed network device is displayed. Therefore, there is a problem that an error is not notified when detailed information of a network device is not displayed.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional method, when a terminal operating network management software activates other software for receiving TRAP,
Because the port for receiving
Unable to open port to receive RAP, T
There is a problem that the user is not notified of the error information by receiving the RAP. An object of the present invention is to provide a network management method which solves the above-mentioned problem and has high reliability and does not generate unnecessary traffic.

Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a network device that can transmit data in a plurality of formats, and that transmits data only in a format that can be received by a management device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device management apparatus which can notify an error when error information is received from a network device even if detailed information of the network device is not displayed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a network management method capable of normally receiving TRAP-PDU even when the default port for receiving TRAP is occupied by another process. is there.

[0028]

That is, the gist of the present invention is a management method in a network having a network device connected to a network and a device management apparatus for managing the network device, wherein the method comprises the steps of: Setting information necessary for transmitting predetermined data to the device management apparatus in the network device; checking a format to be used when transmitting the predetermined data; and setting a predetermined format based on the format to be used. Transmitting data.

Another aspect of the present invention is a management method in a network having a network device connected to a network and a device management device for managing the network device, wherein the network device is connected to the device management device. Setting information including a port number and / or a socket number necessary for transmitting predetermined data in the network device;
Obtaining a port number and / or socket number used for receiving predetermined data prior to the setting step.

Another aspect of the present invention is a management method in a network having a network device connected to the network and a device management device for managing the network device, wherein the device management device is configured to transmit the network device from the network device. Upon receiving the notification regarding the error, the method includes a step of detecting a network device that has transmitted the notification from the notification, a step of obtaining error information from the detected network device, and a step of displaying the obtained error information on the management device. A network management method characterized by this.

Another aspect of the present invention is a device management apparatus for managing at least one network device connected via a network, comprising a port number for receiving predetermined data from the network device, Means for securing a socket number and means for setting necessary information to be used when transmitting predetermined data from a network device to a device management apparatus, including a port number and / or a socket number, in the network device And a device management apparatus.

Another aspect of the present invention is a network device managed by a device management device connected via a network, and notifies the device management device that the network device has entered a predetermined state. A notifying unit, and the notifying unit includes a format detecting unit that detects a format to be used when notifying the management device, and the notifying unit performs the notification according to the format detected by the format detecting unit. Exists in network devices.

Another aspect of the present invention is a device management apparatus that manages at least one network device connected via a network, and determines whether a predetermined notification has been received from the network device. Means for detecting a network device that is the transmission source from the predetermined notification, means for obtaining information related to the predetermined notification from the detected network device, and means for displaying the obtained information. There is a device management apparatus characterized by having

[0034]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a case in which a network-connected printer is used as a network device will be described as an example, but it goes without saying that other network-connected devices may be used.

(Configuration of Network Device) The network device according to the present invention comprises a network board (NB) 101 and a printer 102 as shown in FIG. Network board 101 is LAN1
00 is directly connected to the printer 102 via a printer interface card 150. Network board 101
A microprocessor (MPU) 301 for controlling the network board 101 and a ROM for storing an operation program of the microprocessor 301 are provided above.
A RAM 302 for use as a work when the microprocessor 301 executes a program
And a shared memory 200 for exchanging data between the network board 101 and the printer interface card 150, and are mutually connected through an internal bus. The program for operating the network board 101 as an SNMP agent is ROM3.
03 is stored. The microprocessor 301
Operates according to the program stored in the ROM 303,
The RAM 302 is used as a work area. Further, the shared memory 200 is used as a buffer area for mutually communicating with the printer interface card 150.

The microprocessor 151 on the printer interface card 150 is the network board 1
01 and the network board 10
1 is performed via the shared memory 200 installed in the server. The microprocessor 151 on the printer interface card 150 also communicates with the printer engine 160 that actually drives the printing mechanism.

(Network Management Apparatus) On the other hand, the network management apparatus according to the present invention is realized on a PC having the same configuration as a PC capable of realizing a conventional network management apparatus as shown in FIG. Hard disk (HD) 51
1 stores a network management software program according to the present application, which is an operation subject in all the descriptions below. In all the description below, the subject of execution is the CPU 501 on hardware unless otherwise specified. On the other hand, the subject of control on software is network management software stored in a hard disk (HD) 511. In the present embodiment, the OS is assumed to be, for example, Windows 95 (a product name of Microsoft Corporation), but is not limited to this.

(Software) Note that the network management program according to the present application is a floppy disk or CD-R.
The program may be supplied in a form stored in a storage medium such as an OM. In this case, the program is read from the storage medium by a floppy disk drive (FD) 512 or a CD-ROM drive (not shown) shown in FIG.
It may be installed on the hard disk (HD) 511 or downloaded from another device connected in a LAN 100 shape and installed on the HD 511.

In the following description, the network management software according to the present application is referred to as “management software”. The management software manages network devices on the network by using a device list indicating a list of network devices to be managed. The device list is created by, for example, sending a response request on the LAN when the management software is started, and analyzing and creating a network device responding from the response to the request, or registering the network device in advance. it can. FIG.
Shows an example of the device list.

The device list is in a list format.
Since it displays a plurality of managed devices, it is not particularly suitable for displaying detailed data of individual devices. Therefore, it is desirable to display more detailed data for each device in an easily understandable manner. For example,
By selecting an icon or name of a network device displayed in the device list and opening a device detail window, detailed information of each network device can be obtained. FIG. 3 shows an example of the device details window. The device details display window of FIG. 3 has tabs for status, job, information, and network, and when each tab is selected, corresponding data is displayed.

(Operation of Management Software (Manager Information Registration Operation)) When the management software is started on the PC 103 in FIG. 16 to manage the printer 102 (in which an SNMP agent is installed), the printer 102
The procedure for registering the manager information in 103 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for receiving manager information and registering it in the printer 102, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a table for mapping frame types and network numbers. Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 for the agent operation when an error occurs.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the printer 10
2 is notified using TRAP-PDU. The error information is largely classified into two types, "error occurrence information" for notifying that an error has occurred and "error elimination information" for notifying that the error has been resolved.

First, means for registering manager information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S101, the address of the network board of the PC 103 is obtained. In step S102, manager information to be registered in the agent is created. The network number acquired in step S101 is set as the network number which is one of the manager information. The manager information created here includes the entry registration state, the entry registration refresh state, the community name used at the TRAP destination, the protocol used at the TRAP destination, the network address of the TRAP destination, and TRAP. This is a port number or the like used by the TRAP destination for receiving. In step S103, the manager information created in step S102 is transmitted to the agent and registered.

On the other hand, in the network board 101 of the printer 102, the manager information received according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is registered. That is, in step S201, the manager information transmitted from the PC 103 is received, and in step S202, the manager information received in step S201 is registered in a manager information storage memory, which is a predetermined area of the RAM 302, for example.

Next, a procedure for the network board 101 to create a table for mapping the frame type and the network number will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S301, a search is made for the IPX frame type bound to the network board. Next, in step S302, if there is a bound frame type, the process proceeds to step S303, and if there is no bound frame type, the process ends.

In step S303, the SAP packet is transmitted to the nearest server using the frame type selected in step S302. At this time,
The source network number is set to 0.

In step S304, the server
Receive a response to the AP packet. At this time, a network number for the used frame type can be obtained.

In step S305, the frame type and the network number are mapped,
2 is registered in the network number storage memory, which is a predetermined area. Then, it is checked in step S306 whether mapping has been completed for all frame types, and if unprocessed frame types remain, step S30 is performed.
3 and returns to step S for the unprocessed frame type.
Steps 303 to S305 are repeated. When the mapping has been completed for all frame types, the process ends.

After the registration of the manager information and the mapping between the frame type and the network number are completed, the operation of the SNMP agent when an error occurs in the printer 102 (or the error that has occurred is resolved) is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Step S401
, Check a TRAP flag indicating whether to transmit a TRAP (-PDU). If the TRAP flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S402. If the TRAP flag is OFF, the process ends.

In step S402, manager information including the address of the PC 103 as a manager is obtained from the manager information storage memory. Step S40
In step 3, a TRAP-PDU is created from the manager information acquired in step S302.

In step S404, an IPX frame type to be used is selected from a network number storage memory in which a table of IPX frame types and network numbers is registered. In step S405, the TRA using the selected frame type is assigned to the manager address acquired in step S402.
Send P-PDU.

(Operation of Management Software (Error Information Reception Processing Operation)) First, the overall operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S001, S
Upon receiving the TRAP-PDU in the NMP from the printer 102, the process from step S002 is performed.

In step S002, TRAP-P
From the address of the agent that created the TRAP-PDU included in the agent-addr area of the DU, the network device in which the error has occurred is specified, and a device details dialog box as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. Step S0
A detailed description of the device selection process 02 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Next, step S003
In, all error information is acquired from the network device selected in step S002, and an error detailed information display dialog box as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. The detailed description of this step will be described later using the flowchart of FIG. Finally, in step S004, the highest-priority error information is obtained from the network device (printer 102), and the highest-priority error is selected from the error detailed information display dialog box and displayed. The detailed description of this step will be described later using the flowchart of FIG.

Next, the device selection processing in step S002 in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S1001, the address of the network device in which an error has occurred is acquired from the agent-addr area of the received TRAP-PDU. In step S1002, the obtained address is compared with the address of each network device displayed in the device list of FIG.

In step S1003, TRAP-
If there is a network device having an address equal to the address obtained from the PDU, a device details dialog of the device is displayed (step S100).
4). If the addresses are not equal, step S100
Then, the process returns to step 2 and the address is compared with the address of another device displayed in the device list.

Next, the error display processing in step S003 in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S1101, all error information is acquired from the network device in which the error has occurred. Specifically, M which holds error information
IB object (for example, prtAle of RFC-1759)
rtTable) information. In step S1102, all the acquired error information is displayed in the error detailed information display dialog box of FIG.

Next, the highest priority error display processing in step S004 in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S1201,
Get the highest priority error information from the network device where the error occurred. Specifically, an MIB object containing the highest-priority error code is acquired. In step S1202, the acquired highest-priority error information is selected from the error information displayed in the error detailed information display dialog box in FIG.

In step S1203, auxiliary information relating to the selected error information is displayed on the display area 901 of the error detailed information display dialog box shown in FIG. 9 or by opening a new dialog box. Auxiliary information includes:-Figures and text displaying detailed information on the specified error information (locations and details of errors, etc.)-Remedies for the specified error information (Procedures to resolve, to service personnel) , Etc.), and other figures or text. FIG. 9 shows a case where an error occurrence location and an error symbol indicating that the cover of the paper deck is open are displayed on the external view of the printer displayed in the display area 901.

(Second Embodiment) Next, the operation of the management software when the default port (port number 162) for TRAP-PDU reception is already occupied by another software will be described.

When the management software is started on the PC 103 shown in FIG. 16 and the printer 102 (in which the SNMP agent is installed) is managed, the TRAP-PDU reception used by the management software started on the PC 103 is performed. The registration procedure of the port number for
The procedure for registering manager information is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, and the operation of the agent when an error occurs is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the error information notified from the printer 102 is TR
Notified using AP-PDU. The error information is largely classified into two types, "error occurrence information" for notifying that an error has occurred and "error elimination information" for notifying that the error has been resolved.

First, using the flowchart of FIG.
TRAP- used by management software launched on PC 103
A procedure for registering a port number for receiving a PDU will be described. The registration of the port number is performed, for example, when the device list shown in FIG. 2 is activated. Step S1301
In, a socket is opened to receive a TRAP-PDU. In the case of IP (Internet Protocol), the port number 162 is specified.

In step S1302, if the socket has been successfully opened, the flow advances to step S1304.
If the opening of the socket has failed, step S130
Proceed to 3. In step S1303, TRAP-P
Reopen the socket to receive DU. At this time, the port number is not specified, and the socket is opened using a port number that is not currently used. In step S1304, the port number opened in step S1303 is stored in, for example, a port number accumulation memory which is a predetermined area of the RAM 503.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The means for registering manager information will be described. In step S1401, in step S1304 in FIG.
To obtain the port number stored in the port number storage memory. In step S1402, manager information to be registered in the agent is created. The port number acquired in step S1401 is set as the port number which is one of the manager information. The manager information created here includes an entry registration state, an entry registration refresh state, a community name used at the TRAP destination, a protocol used at the TRAP destination, T
A network address of the RAP destination, a port number used by the TRAP destination to receive TRAP, and the like. In step S1403, step S1
The manager information created in 402 is transmitted to the agent and registered.

Finally, the operation of the agent when an error occurs will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1501, a TRAP flag indicating whether to transmit TRAP is checked.
If the TRAP flag is ON, the process advances to step S1502. If the TRAP flag is OFF, the process ends. In step S1502, manager information is acquired from the TRAP transmission destination table.

At step S1503, the TRAP-
A PDU is created, and a TRAP-PDU is transmitted to the address registered in the table with the designated port number. In step S1504, it is checked whether there are any more entries in the TRAP transmission destination table. If an entry exists, the process returns to step S1502 and repeats the above procedure. If no entry exists, the process ends.

[0069]

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiments, a printer has been described as an example of a network device.
Any device that can have a function corresponding to an SNMP agent may be used as the network device in the present invention.

The environment in which the management software operates is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment. Even if the computer is designed only for management use, it may be a workstation or the like. And the operating system is optional.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) comprising one device is used. Device). Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to execute the storage medium Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the program.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0076]

As described above, according to the network device of the present invention, a plurality of IPX frame types are bound to the network device, and the frame type used when the network device transmits TRAP-PDU is changed. If it is not known, the TRAP-P is obtained by comparing the information obtained by mapping the network number and the frame type to be used with the registered manager information.
The frame type used in the DU can be specified. As a result, the number of packets to be transmitted can be reduced, and there is an effect that network traffic can be reduced.

Further, the network device controller capable of receiving a plurality of IPX frame types does not receive a plurality of TRAP-PDUs, so that packet reception processing can be reduced and processing efficiency can be improved. Further, since one TRAP-PDU is always received, the same error information is not presented to the user a plurality of times.

According to the network device control apparatus and method of the present invention, a network device having an error is selected from the error information notified from the network device, and the error information is obtained from the selected device. There is an effect that error information can be displayed to a user immediately after an error occurs.

Further, the user selects one of the highest-priority errors from among the error information displayed in the list format, and displays auxiliary information on the selected error information. There is an effect that detailed information on high error information can be obtained, and a quick response to the error is possible.

Further, according to the network device control apparatus and method of the present invention, the terminal operating the network management software activates other software for receiving TRAP and uses the port for receiving TRAP. Even if the error is detected, it is possible to receive TRAP using another port and notify the user of error information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer and a network board that form an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a device list usable in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a device detail window usable in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a manager information registration procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an agent manager registration operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a mapping operation between an agent frame type and a network number in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an agent operation when an error occurs in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an operation of the device management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention when receiving a TRAP-PDU.

9 is a diagram showing a display example of an error detailed information display dialog box displayed in the error display step in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a device selection processing step in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of an error display processing step in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a highest priority error display processing step in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a port number acquisition operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a manager information registration operation of the management device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an agent operation when an error occurs according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer network to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a PC on which management software can operate.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a conventional error information display operation.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example of a conventional error pop window.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 Local area network (LAN) 101 Network board (NB) 102 Printer having open architecture 103 Personal computer (PC) connected to LAN 100 104 Personal computer (PC) connected to LAN 100 105 Connected to PC 104 Printers 106 File server 107 connected to LAN 100 107 Network disk included in LAN 100 108 Print server 109a included in LAN 100 Printer 109b connected to print server 108 Printer connected to print server 108 110 Local area network (LAN) 111 Personal computer (PC) connected to LAN 110 112 LA Personal computer (PC) connected to 110 113 File server connected to LAN 110 114 Network disk included in LAN 110 115 Print server included in LAN 110 116 Printer connected to print server 110 117 Connected to print server 110 Printer 120 local area network (LAN) 121 personal computer (PC) connected to LAN 120 122 personal computer (PC) connected to LAN 120 130 modulation / demodulation (MODEM) / transponder 140 backbone 150 printer interface card 151 micro Processor 160 Printer engine 200 Shared memory 301 My Processor 302 ROM 303 RAM 500 PC 501 CPU 502 ROM 503 RAM 504 System bus 505 Keyboard controller (KBC) 506 CRT controller (CRTC) 507 Disk controller (DKC) 508 Network interface card (NIC) 509 Keyboard (KB) 510 CRT display (CRT) 511 Hard disk (HD) 512 Floppy disk drive (FD)

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A management method in a network having a network device connected to a network and a device management device for managing the network device, wherein predetermined data is transmitted from the network device to the device management device. Setting information necessary for the network device, checking a format to be used when transmitting the predetermined data, and transmitting the predetermined data based on the format to be used. A network management method, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the format to be used is a plurality of IPX (I
2. A network management method according to claim 1, wherein the network management method is selected from the group of the following types: 3. The network management method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined data is information on an error that has occurred in the network device. 4. A management method in a network having a network device connected to a network and a device management device for managing the network device, wherein predetermined data is transmitted from the network device to the device management device. Setting information including a port number and / or socket number necessary for the network device, and obtaining a port number and / or socket number used for receiving the predetermined data prior to the setting step Performing a network management method. 5. The network management method according to claim 4, wherein when the network device transmits the predetermined data, the predetermined data is transmitted by designating the set port number or socket number. 6. A management method in a network having a network device connected to a network and a device management device for managing the network device, wherein the device management device receives a notification about an error from the network device. Detecting a network device that has transmitted the notification from the notification, obtaining error information from the detected network device, and displaying the obtained error information on the management device. Characterized network management method. 7. The network management method according to claim 6, wherein when there are a plurality of pieces of the acquired error information, an error having a higher priority is displayed. 8. The network management method according to claim 6, wherein the notification is actively made from a network device. 9. A device management apparatus for managing at least one network device connected via a network, wherein a port number and / or a socket number for receiving predetermined data from the network device are secured. Means for setting information necessary for use when transmitting the predetermined data from the network device to the device management apparatus, including the port number and / or socket number, in the network device. A device management apparatus comprising: 10. A network device managed by a device management device connected via a network, comprising: a notification unit configured to notify the device management device that the network device has entered a predetermined state; Means for detecting a format to be used when performing the notification to the management device, wherein the notification unit performs the notification according to the format detected by the format detection unit. Network device. 11. A device management apparatus for managing at least one network device connected via a network, comprising: means for determining whether a predetermined notification has been received from the network device; Means for detecting, from the notification, a network device that is the transmission source; means for obtaining information related to the predetermined notification from the detected network device; and means for displaying the obtained information. Characteristic device management device. 12. The device management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined notification is a notification that an error has occurred in the network device. 13. A network system comprising the device management apparatus and / or network device according to claim 10. 14. A storage medium storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that executes the program is a device management apparatus that manages at least one network device connected via a network. Means for securing a port number and / or socket number for receiving predetermined data from the network device; and the predetermined data from the network device to the device management apparatus, including the port number and / or socket number. A storage device for setting information necessary to be used when transmitting the information to the network device, as a device management apparatus. 15. A storage medium storing a program executable by the device, wherein the device executing the program is a network device managed by a device management device connected via a network, Notifying means for notifying the device management device that the device has entered a predetermined state, and format notifying means for detecting a format to be used when notifying the management device of the device. A storage medium characterized in that the notifying means operates as a network device that performs the notification according to the format detected by the format detecting means. 16. A storage medium storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that executes the program is a device management apparatus that manages at least one network device connected via a network. A means for determining whether or not a predetermined notification has been received from the network device; a means for detecting a network device that is the transmission source from the predetermined notification; and the predetermined notification from the detected network device. A storage medium characterized by being operated as a device management apparatus having means for acquiring information related to a device and means for displaying the acquired information. 17. A storage medium storing the method according to claim 1 as a program executable by an apparatus.