JP2002335270A - Network device management apparatus, network device management system, network device management method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network device management apparatus that can prevent an IP address set to a device in a state of being temporarily disconnected from a network from being set to other device. SOLUTION: The network device management apparatus includes a means of detecting devices connected to the network, a means of acquiring an IP address from the device, a means of storing the IP address of the device disconnected from the network, a means of designating one of the devices connected to the network, a means of entering the IP address to be set to the designated device, a means of comparing the entered IP address with the IP address of the device disconnected from the network, and a means of controlling the setting of the IP address depending on whether or not a duplicate IP address is detected in the comparison of the IP addresses.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a network device management apparatus for controlling devices connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computers can be interconnected by a LAN (local area network).
Large complex LANs and large interconnected LAs
N groups need “management”.

[0003] "Management" usually means management by both a human network administrator and software used by the administrator. In the present application, "management" refers to software for managing the entire system. (Network Device Management Software)
“User” shall mean a person using the network device management software. This user is typically the system administrator. By using the network device management software, the user can obtain management data on the network and change this data.

[0004] Such large-scale network systems are usually dynamic systems that require constant addition and removal of equipment, updating of software, and detection of problems.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional network device management software in a large-scale network system, a network device connected to the network is temporarily disconnected from the network for maintenance or lending. While the network device is powered down, or while the network device is powered down, the IP address of the network device that is temporarily disconnected or powered down is assigned to another network device connected to the network. When the network device is connected to the network again or turned on,
There is a problem that IP addresses are duplicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent an IP address set in a network device temporarily disconnected from a network from being set in another network device. And

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a network device management apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
Means for detecting a device connected to the network, means for obtaining an IP address from the device,
Means for storing an IP address of a device disconnected from the network, means for specifying one of the devices connected to the network, means for inputting an IP address to be set for the specified device, Means for comparing the obtained IP address with the IP addresses of a device connected to the network and a device disconnected from the network, and setting the IP address based on whether a duplicate IP address is detected in the comparison of the IP addresses And means for controlling

Further, in the network device management apparatus according to the present invention, in the network device management apparatus for controlling a device connected to the network, the detection means for detecting a device operating on the network, and the detection means Information acquisition means for acquiring device information from the device detected by the device, and storage means for saving at least IP address information of the acquired device information when the device is detected to be disconnected from the network, Specifying means for specifying one of the devices connected to the network, input means for inputting an IP address to be set to the device specified by the specifying means, and an IP address input from the input means; Devices connected to the network First comparing means for comparing the the IP address obtained from, IP input from said input means
Second comparing means for comparing the address with the IP address stored in the storing means, and an IP address which matches the IP address input from the input means is detected in the first and second comparing means. The setting of the IP address by the input means is stopped,
Setting control means for setting the IP address when no address is detected.

Further, in the network device management method according to the present invention, a step of detecting a device connected to the network, a step of obtaining an IP address from the device, and a step of recognizing the IP address of the device disconnected from the network. A step of storing in the storage means, a step of specifying one of the devices connected to the network, a step of inputting an IP address to be set in the specified device, a step of connecting the input IP address and the connection to the network Comparing the IP address of the connected device and the IP address of the device disconnected from the network;
And controlling the setting of the IP address based on whether or not the P address has been detected.

In the network device management method according to the present invention, in the network device management method for controlling a device connected to a network, a detection step of detecting a device operating on the network; An information acquisition step of acquiring device information from a device detected by the method, and storing at least IP address information of the acquired device information in a storage unit when detecting that the device has been disconnected from the network. A process, a designation process of designating one of the devices connected to the network, and an input process of inputting an IP address to be set in the device designated in the designation process.
A first comparison step of comparing an IP address input from the input step with an IP address obtained from a device connected to the network; an IP address input in the input step; and an IP address stored in the storage unit. IP
A second comparing step of comparing the address with the address, and an I input from the input step in the first and second comparing steps.
If an IP address that matches the P address is detected, the setting of the IP address in the input process is stopped, and if a matching IP address is not detected, a setting control process for setting the IP address is performed. It is characterized by.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, a step of detecting a device connected to a network, a step of obtaining an IP address from the device, and a step of storing an IP address of a device disconnected from the network Storing, and specifying one of the devices connected to the network; inputting an IP address to be set for the specified device; and connecting the input IP address to the network. A control program comprising the steps of: comparing the IP addresses of a device that is present and a device disconnected from the network; and controlling the setting of the IP address based on whether a duplicate IP address is detected in the comparison of the IP addresses. Characterized by memorizing To.

[0012] The storage medium according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a control program for executing a network device management method for controlling a device connected to a network. A detecting step of detecting a device operating on the above, an information obtaining step of obtaining device information from the device detected by the detecting step, and detecting that the device has been disconnected from the network, A storing step of storing at least the IP address information in the obtained device information in a storing unit; a specifying step of specifying one of the devices connected to the network; and setting to the device specified in the specifying step Enter the IP address to be entered The comparing the step, the IP address acquired from a device connected to the IP address and the network input from said input step 1
A comparison step, a second comparison step of comparing the IP address input by the input means with the IP address stored in the storage means, and the first and second comparison steps in the input step. If an IP address matching the input IP address is detected, the setting of the IP address in the input step is stopped, and if no matching IP address is detected, a setting control step of setting the IP address is performed. It is characterized by having.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a large-scale network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An NB (network board) 101 for connecting a printer to a network is connected to a printer 102 having an open architecture. The figure shows the case of connection.

The NB 101 includes, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface 10Base-2 having a coaxial connector, and an RJ-
45 is connected to the LAN 100 via a LAN interface such as 10Base-T having 45.

A PC (personal computer) 1
A plurality of PCs such as PC 03 and PC 104 are also connected to the LAN 100, and these PCs can communicate with the NB 101 under the control of the network operating system. One of the PCs, for example, the PC 103 can be designated to be used as the network management unit. A printer such as the printer 105 connected to the PC 104 may be further connected to the PC.

The file server 10 is connected to the LAN 100.
6, which manages access to files stored on a large-capacity (for example, 10 billion bytes) network disk 107. Print server 108
Causes a printer such as the connected printers 109a and 109b or the printer 105 at a remote location to perform printing. Further, other peripheral devices (not shown) may be connected to the LAN 100.

More specifically, the network shown in FIG. 1 can use network software such as Novell or UNIX (registered trademark) software in order to efficiently communicate between various network members. Any network software can be used, for example, Novell's NetW
are (Trademark of Novell) software can be used.

In brief, the file server 106
Functions as a file management unit that receives, stores, queues, caches, and transmits data files between LAN members. For example, PC10
3 and the PC 104 are sent to the file server 106. The file server 106 arranges these data files in order, and sends the arranged data files to the printer 109a according to a command from the print server 108. I do.

Each of the PC 103 and the PC 104 generates a data file and a LAN of the generated data file.
It is composed of a normal PC capable of transmitting to the LAN 100, receiving a file from the LAN 100, and displaying and / or processing such a file. Although a personal computer device is shown in FIG. 1, such a device is suitable for running network software.
Other computer devices may be included. For example, UNI
If you are using X (R) software,
UNIX workstations may be included in the network, and these workstations may be used with the illustrated PC under appropriate circumstances.

Typically, a LAN such as LAN 100 provides services to a somewhat local group of users, such as a group of users on one floor or multiple consecutive floors in a building. For example, as a user moves away from another user, such as when the user is in another building or another prefecture, W
An AN (Wide Area Network) may be created. W
An AN is basically an aggregate formed by connecting several LANs with a high-speed digital line such as an ISDN (High Speed Integrated Services Digital Network) telephone line.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
, The LAN 110 and the LAN 120 are connected via a MODEM (modulation / demodulation) / router 130 and a backbone 140 to form a WAN. These connections are simple electrical connections with several buses. Each LA
N includes a dedicated PC, and usually, but not necessarily, includes a file server and a print server.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Are the PC 111, the PC 112, and the file server 11
3, a network disk 114, a print server 115, and printers 116 and 117. In contrast, LAN 120 includes only PC 121 and PC 122. The devices connected to the LAN 100, the LAN 110, and the LAN 120 communicate with each other via the WAN connection.
The functions in the AN device can be accessed.

As a method for managing devices on a network constituting a large-scale network system as described above, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a general-purpose reference framework called an OSI (Open System Interconnection) model. providing. The OSI model of the network management protocol is called CMIP (Common Management Information Protocol), which is a common network management protocol in Europe.

In the United States, as a network management protocol having higher commonality, there is a modified protocol related to CMIP called SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

According to the SNMP network management technology,
The network management system includes at least one network management station, several managed nodes, each including an agent, and a network management protocol used by the network management stations and agents to exchange management information. The user can obtain data on the network and change the data by communicating with the agent software on the managed node using the network device management software on the network management station.

An agent is software that runs as a background process for each target device. When a user requests management data from a device on the network, the management software sends the object identification information in a management packet or frame to the target agent. The agent interprets the object identification information, extracts data corresponding to the object identification information, puts the data in a packet, and sends it back to the user. Occasionally, a corresponding process is called to retrieve the data.

The agent holds data on its own state in the form of a database. This database is called MIB (Management Information Base).

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the MIB.

As shown in the figure, the MIB has a tree-structured data structure, and all nodes are uniquely numbered. In FIG. 2, the number written in parentheses is the identifier of the node.

For example, in FIG. 2, the identifier of the node 401 is “1”. The identifier of node 402 is node 4
Since it is “3” below 01, it is described as “1.3”. Similarly, the identifier of the node 403 is “1.3.6.
1.2 ".

This node identifier is called an object identifier.

The structure of this MIB is called SMI (Management Information Structure), and is described in RFC 1155 “Structure”.
and Identification of Man
Agement Information for T
CP / IP-based Internets ".

FIG. 2 shows the MI defined as a standard.
Among B, only a part is extracted and described.

Reference numeral 404 denotes a node which is a vertex of an object group called a standard MIB provided as a standard in a device managed by SNMP, and the detailed structure of an object under this node is described in RFC1213 "Mana".
Gement Information Base f
or Network Management ofT
CP / IP-based Internets: MIB
-II ".

Reference numeral 405 denotes a node which is a vertex of an object group called a printer MIB provided as a standard feature of a printer managed by SNMP, and the detailed structure of an object under this node is described in RFC1759.
It is defined by “Printer MIB”.

Reference numeral 406 denotes a node which is called a private MIB and is a vertex for a company or an organization to define its own MIB. A node 407 is called a company extension MIB, and is a top node in the private MIB for a company to perform its own extension. Canon in the figure
(Canon) is assigned a company number 1602 as a company number for its own definition.
A vertex node 408 for defining the IB, Canon MIB (Canon MIB), is located below a node 407, which is a node representing a company. Canon m
The object identifier of the vertex node of the IB is “1.3.
6.1.4.1.1602 ".

As an example of mounting an agent, it is conceivable to mount the agent on a network board for connecting a printer to a network. As a result, the printer can be managed by the network device management software. The user can obtain the information of the printer to be controlled using the network device management software and change the status. More specifically, for example, a character string displayed on a liquid crystal display of a printer can be obtained, or a default paper cassette can be changed.

An embodiment in which an NB (network board) on which an agent is mounted is connected to a printer will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, preferably, the NB 10
1 is built in the internal expansion I / O slot of the printer 102, and the NB 101 is an “embedded” network node having the processing and data recording functions described below.

The configuration of the NB 101 provides an advantage of having a characteristic auxiliary function for controlling and managing a large multi-area WAN network. These auxiliary functions include, for example, printer control and status monitoring from a remote location on the network (such as a network administrator's office) and a printer for providing a guaranteed initial environment for the next user after each print job. Includes automatic management of configuration and printer logs or usage statistics accessible through the network to characterize printer load or schedule toner cartridge replacement.

An important factor in the NB design is that the NB 10 is connected via a bidirectional interface such as the shared memory 200.
This is a function for accessing the printer control status from the printer 1. In addition to the shared memory, an interface such as a SCSI interface can be used. As a result, the printer operation information can be sent to the NB 101 or the external network node so that many useful auxiliary function programs can be created. The block of print image data and control information is stored in the microprocessor 30 on the NB 101.
1 is described in the shared memory 200 and read by the printer 102. Similarly,
The printer status information is transmitted from the printer 102 to the shared memory 2.
00 and from there the microprocessor 3 on the NB
01 is read.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the NB 101 is installed in the printer 102.

As shown in the figure, the NB 101 is composed of a printed circuit board 101a provided with a face plate 101b for network connection, and is connected to a printer interface card 150 via a connector 170. Printer interface card 150
Directly controls the printer engine of the printer 102. The print data and the printer status command are stored in the NB10
1 is input to the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170, and the printer status information is obtained from the printer interface card 150 also via the connector 170. The NB 101 obtains this information,
Communication is performed on the LAN 100 via the network connector of the face plate 101b. At the same time, printer 1
No. 02 can also receive print data from the conventional serial port 102a and parallel port 102b.

FIG. 4 shows NB 101, printer 102 and L
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection with an AN 100.

NB 101 is connected to LAN 100 by L
It is directly connected to the printer 102 via the AN interface and the printer interface card 150. On the NB 101, a microprocessor 301 for controlling the NB 101 and a ROM 3 for storing an operation program of the microprocessor 301
03, a RAM 302 for the microprocessor 301 to use as a work when executing the program,
There is a shared memory 200 for exchanging data between the B101 and the printer interface card 150, and they are mutually connected through an internal bus. NB1
A program for operating the SNMP 01 as an SNMP agent is stored in the ROM 303.

The microprocessor 301 has the ROM 30
3 operates according to the program stored in the RAM 302 and uses the RAM 302 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 accesses the data from the NB 101 by using the shared memory 2 installed in the NB 101.
Via 00. Printer interface card 15
The microprocessor 151 on 0 also communicates with the printer engine 160 that actually runs the printing mechanism.

On the other hand, the PC on which the network device management software operates will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PC on which network device management software can operate.

In the figure, a PC 103 is the PC in FIG. 1 on which network device management software runs, and the PC 103 is a ROM 502 or an HD
(Hard Disk) Stored in 511 or FD
(Floppy (registered trademark) disk drive) C for executing the network management program supplied from 512
A PU 501 is provided and controls each device connected to the system bus 504 as a whole.

A RAM 503 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 501. 505 is KBC
(Keyboard controller), KB (keyboard) 5
09 or an instruction input from a pointing device (not shown) or the like. Reference numeral 506 denotes a CRTC (CRT controller), which controls display on a CRT (CRT display) 510. 507 is a DKC (disk controller)
Controls access to the HD 511 and the FD 512 that store a boot program, various applications, edit files, user files, a network management program, and the like. Reference numeral 508 denotes an NIC (network interface card) for bidirectionally exchanging data with an agent or a network device via the LAN 100.

Next, the configuration of the network device management software of the present invention will be described.

The network management device of the present invention is realized on a PC capable of realizing a conventional network management device as shown in FIG. The HD 511 stores a program of the network device management software according to the present application, which is an operation subject in all the descriptions below. In all the descriptions below, the subject of execution is the CPU 501 on hardware unless otherwise specified. On the other hand, the subject of control on the software is the network device management software stored in the HD 511. In the present embodiment, the OS is assumed to be, for example, Windows (registered trademark) (manufactured by Microsoft Corporation), but is not limited thereto.

Note that the network management program according to the present application is a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD-ROM.
May be supplied in a form stored in a storage medium such as the FD 512 shown in FIG. 5 or a CD-ROM (not shown).
The program is read from a storage medium by a ROM drive or the like, and installed in the HD 511.

FIG. 6 is a module configuration diagram of the network device management software according to the present invention.

The network device management software according to the present invention is stored in the HD 511 in FIG. At that time, CPU
A RAM 501 uses a RAM 503 as a work area.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 600 denotes a device list module, which is a module for displaying a list of devices connected to the network. Reference numeral 601 denotes a device map module for displaying devices connected to the network in a map form. Reference numeral 602 denotes a general control module, which controls other modules based on an instruction from a device list. Reference numeral 603 denotes a module called a configurator, which performs a special process related to the network setting of the agent. A module 604 is called a search module and searches for a device connected to the network. Devices searched by the search module 604 are displayed as a list in the device list 600. Reference numeral 605 denotes a NetWare job module that acquires the status of a print job from a network server using the NetWare API 16.

Reference numerals 606 and 607 denote UI modules for displaying a device detail window, which will be described later, and there is a UI module for each target model for displaying detailed information. 608 and 609 are called control modules, which are modules that take control specific to the target model from which detailed information is to be obtained. As with the UI module, a control module exists for each target model for displaying detailed information. The control A module 608 and the control B module 609
MIB from module to be managed using module 610
The data is acquired, the data is converted as needed, and the corresponding UI (A) module 606 or UI
(B) The data is passed to the module 607.

The MIB module 610 is a module for converting between an object identifier and an object key.

Here, the object key is a 32-bit integer corresponding one-to-one with the object identifier. The object identifier is a variable length identifier,
Since it is cumbersome to implement the network device management software, the network device management software according to the present application internally uses a fixed-length identifier that has a one-to-one correspondence with an object identifier. M
Modules higher than the IB module 610 handle MIB information using this object key. This facilitates implementation of the network device management software.

Reference numeral 611 denotes an SNMP module.
It transmits and receives NMP packets. A common transport module 612 is a module that absorbs a difference between lower protocols for transporting SNMP data. In practice, depending on the protocol selected by the user during operation, either the IPX handler 613 or the UDP handler 614 plays a role in transferring data. The UDP handler is implemented as WinSock61 as an implementation.
7 is used.

The current protocol 615 used by the configurator 603 indicates either the IPX protocol or the UDP protocol selected by the user during operation.

For example, in FIG. 1, the network device management software is a PC connected to the LAN 100.
Operating on 103, 104 and LAN via NB 101
It is common to search for a device connected to the device 100 and obtain necessary information (for example, an IP address and a device name) from the detected device.

In general, general network device management software can set the IP address of a detected device or a device that has not been detected (initial setting has not been performed) (configurator).

With such network device management software, as described in JP-A-11-282644, when an IP address is set for a device connected to a network, another device connected to the network is set. It is also possible to operate so as to limit the settable IP addresses so as not to overlap with the IP addresses set in.

The operation of the network device management software according to the embodiment will be described below. In all of the following descriptions, the subject of execution is the CPU 501 (FIG. 5) on hardware, and the subject of control on software is the HD (hard disk) 51, unless otherwise specified.
1 (FIG. 5) is the network device management software installed.

In FIG. 1, a combination of an NB (network board) 101 connected to a network and a printer 102 equipped with the network board is called a network device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a network device search process.
Network devices 101, 10 connected to 100
2 shows an example of processing from the detection of the network device to the creation of a list of the detected network devices when the device 2 is managed from the network device management software operating on the PCs 103, 104 and the like.

In the figure, in step S701, a variable nCount for counting the number of detected network devices is initialized to 0, and the flow advances to step S702. In step S702, a search for a network device connected to the network is started, and
Proceed to 703. The device search method will be described later.

In step S703, a timer for counting the time for performing device search is started, and in step S7
Go to 04. In step S704, step S7
It is monitored whether or not a response to the network device search process started in 02 is received from a network device connected to the network. If a response is received from the network device, the process proceeds to step S705 (step S704: Yes), and a response is received. If not, the process proceeds to step S707 (step S704: N
o).

In step S705, the value of a variable nCount for counting the detected network devices is incremented by 1, and the flow advances to step S706. Step S7
In 06, necessary information is obtained from the network device based on the response from the network device received in step S704, and the process proceeds to step S704.

In the present embodiment, step S706
In, the IP set to the network device
The address shall be obtained. The information obtained here is the information set in the network device used for the comparison of the IP address implemented in the present invention.
The information includes a P address and information (for example, a device name and a product name) necessary to display a detected device on a UI (user interface). Acquisition of such information can be realized using, for example, the SNMP protocol.

In step S707, step S703
It is determined whether or not the timer for performing the device search started in has expired. If the timer has expired, this process ends (step S707: Yes). If the timer has not expired, the process proceeds to step S704. Proceed (step S707: No).

The number of network devices (value of the variable nCount) obtained in this process and information obtained from the network devices are stored in the RAM 50 of FIG.
3 in a workspace that can be referred to later.

As an example of the method of searching for a device in step S702, an embodiment in which TCP / IP is used as a network protocol will be described below.

The I of the network device to be managed
If a list of P addresses is specified in advance,
The network devices listed in the IP address list are sequentially inquired of information supported by the network devices. These pieces of information are stored in the MIB of each network device, and only the agent of the network device having the specified IP address responds to this inquiry.

If there is no network device having the set IP address, a timeout error occurs in response to the inquiry, and the information cannot be obtained. If the IP address of the network device to be searched is not specified, the search is performed using the broadcast address.
In that case, a request for asking information supported by the network device is broadcast on the network. The network device that exists on the subnet and has the queried information returns the queried information in response to the broadcast request. Other network devices reply that they do not have the requested information. Whether or not the network device that has replied that it does not have the inquired information is the managed device depends on the implementation.

In the network device management software of this embodiment, the network device search processing shown in FIG. 7 is periodically and repeatedly executed to add a network device to the network, Is monitored for disconnection.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for detecting an existing network device disconnected from the network. The list of the latest network devices found in FIG. Searched RAM 503 in FIG.
2 shows an example of a process of detecting an existing network device disconnected from the network by comparing with a list of network devices stored in the network device.

This process is executed after the process of searching for a network device shown in FIG. 7 is completed.

In the figure, in step S801, a variable j for index reference to a network device detected in the previous network device search processing shown in FIG.
Proceed to 2.

In step S802, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable j is smaller than the number of network devices detected in the previous network device search process. If smaller, the process proceeds to step S803 (step S803: Yes). If not, the process ends (step S803: No).

In step S803, the value of a variable i for index reference to a network device detected in the latest network device search processing is initialized to 0, and the flow advances to step S804.

In step S804, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable i is smaller than the number of network devices detected in the latest network device search process. If smaller, the process proceeds to step S805 (step S804: Yes). If not, step S80
The process proceeds to 7 (step S804: No).

In step S805, the information of the network device detected in the previous network device search indicated by the variable j is compared with the information of the network device detected in the latest network device search indicated by the variable i. If it is determined that the device is a network device, the process proceeds to step S807 (step S805: Yes), and if it is determined that the devices are not the same network device, the process proceeds to step S806 (step S805: No). The determination as to whether the network devices are the same is made, for example, by comparing the MAC address of a network board mounted on the network device, the product number of the network device, and the like.

In step S806, the value of the variable i is incremented by 1, and the flow advances to step S804.

In step S807, for the network device detected by the previous network device search process indicated by the variable j, the process for the network device disconnected from the network shown in FIG. 11 is started, and the flow advances to step S808. .

In step S808, the value of the variable j is incremented by 1, and the flow advances to step S802.

When this process is started after the first network device search process, all newly searched network devices are processed as network devices newly connected to the network.
The processing for the network device disconnected from the network shown in FIG. 9 is not activated.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a process which is started when it is detected that an existing network device is disconnected from the network in the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 17, in step S901, information including at least the IP address acquired from the network device in step S706 of FIG.
It is checked whether the information is temporarily stored in the RAM 503 of FIG. 5. If the information is temporarily stored, the process proceeds to step S902 (step S901: Yes), and if not, the process ends.

In step S902, information obtained from the network device disconnected from the network and temporarily stored in the RAM 503 is stored in a case where the network device is later connected to the network again. The user is inquired as to whether or not to proceed to step S903. In general, an inquiry to the user is made in a message box or the like.

In step S903, the process proceeds to step S9.
02, when the user instructs to save the information obtained from the network device disconnected from the network, step S904.
(Step S903: Yes), and if not instructed, the process proceeds to Step S905 (Step S905).
903: No).

In step S904, at least the IP address of the network device disconnected from the network
The information including the address is stored in the file on the HD 511 or the like, and the process ends.

In step S905, the information obtained in step S706 in FIG. 7 and temporarily stored in the RAM 503 is discarded, and the process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a process executed when setting an IP address.
When managing the network devices (101, 102) connected to the LAN 100 shown in FIG. 1 from the network device management software of the embodiment of the present invention that operates on PCs (personal computers) (103, 104, etc.) 1 shows an example of a process of setting an IP address for a network device.

In the figure, in step S1001,
A network device for which an IP address is to be set is specified, and the process advances to step S1002. It should be noted that the network device specified here is not limited to the network device detected in the processing of FIG. 7 as well as a network device not detected (for example, a network device in an initial state in which no network protocol is set). Good. In the former case, it is common to display the detected network devices in a list and select a network device to be set from the list. FIG. 11 shows an example of displaying a list of network devices. In the latter case, the designation of the network device is generally performed by using the MAC address of the network board of the network device.

In step S1002, step S
In step 1001, an IP address to be set for the specified network device is input, and the process advances to step S1003. The input of the IP address is performed using, for example, a protocol setting dialog box shown in FIG. 12 or a UI provided by the configurator 603 in FIG.

In step S1003, step S1003 is executed.
1002, the IP address input in step S1
001 is instructed to start processing for setting the network device specified, and the process advances to step S1004. For example, in the case of the protocol setting dialog box, an instruction to start processing is performed by pressing an [OK] button or an [Update (A)] button.

In step S1004, a variable i for index reference to the IP address of the network device connected to the network is initialized to 0, and the flow advances to step S1005.

In step S1005, the value of the variable i is compared with the number of network devices currently connected to the network detected in FIG.
If the value of the variable i is smaller than the number of connected network devices, the process proceeds to step S1009 (step S1).
005: Yes), otherwise, step S100
Go to step 9 (step S1005: No).

In step S1006, of the IP addresses obtained from the network devices connected to the network in FIG. 7, the IP address indicated by the variable i and the IP address input in step S1001
If the two IP addresses match, the process proceeds to step S1008 (step S1008).
6: Yes), if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S1007 (step S1006: No).

In step S1007, the value of the variable i is set to 1
Then, the process proceeds to step S1005.

In step S1008, the setting of the IP address is stopped, and the process ends.

In step S1009, the variable j stored in step 904 in FIG. 9 for referencing the IP address of the network device disconnected from the network as an index is initialized to 0.
Go to 010.

In step S1010, the value of the variable j is compared with the number of IP address information of the network device disconnected from the network stored in FIG. If it is smaller than the number of information items, the process proceeds to step S1011 (step S1010: Yes), otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1014 (step S1010: N).
o).

In step S1011, of the IP addresses of the network devices disconnected from the network stored in FIG. 9, the IP address indicated by the variable j is compared with the IP address input in step S1001. If the two IP addresses match, the process proceeds to step S1013 (step S1013).
11: Yes), if they do not match, step S1014
(Step S1011: No).

In step S1012, the value of the variable j is set to 1
Then, the process proceeds to step S1010.

In step S1013, step S1013 is executed.
The setting of the IP address input in step 1002 is stopped, and the process ends.

In step S1014, step S1014 is executed.
1002, the IP address input in step S2
Set to the network device specified in 1001,
This processing ends. The setting of the IP address can be performed by an SNMP protocol or a unique protocol using TCP / IP.

Note that steps S1008 and S1008
In step 1013, before canceling the setting of the IP address, an I-address that overlaps with another network device is determined by the method described in claim 2 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
It goes without saying that a means for confirming with the user whether to force the setting of the P address can be provided.

By providing a means for forcibly setting an overlapping network address, it is possible to temporarily set an overlapping IP address when the IP addresses of two network devices connected to the network are exchanged. become.

The network device management software according to the present invention described above is executed by a PC 103 in FIG. 5 which is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PC on which the network device management software can operate, by a program installed from the outside. May be. In this case, the program is stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory or a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or an information group including the program from an external storage medium via a network such as e-mail or personal computer communication. The present invention can be applied even when it is supplied to the PC 103 by being loaded on the top.

FIG. 13 shows a CD-R as an example of a storage medium.
It is a figure showing a memory map of OM.

Reference numeral 9999 denotes an area in which directory information is stored, and indicates the positions of an area 9998 in which an installation program is stored thereafter and an area 9997 in which network device management software is stored.
An area 9998 is an area in which an installation program is stored. The area 9997 is an area in which network device management software is stored. When the network device management software of the present invention is installed in the PC 103, first, the installation program stored in the area 9998 storing the installation program is loaded into the system, and the CPU 50 is installed.
1 is performed. Next, the installation program executed by the CPU 501 reads the network device management software from the area 9997 storing the network device management software,
It is stored in the hard disk 511.

It should be noted that FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 1
The program according to the flowchart of FIG.
The above-described control method can be realized by storing and operating in a storage device such as the ROM 502 or the HD 511 in the memory devices 03 and 104.

The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, etc.). May be applied. A storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. By doing
It goes without saying that it will be completed.

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 (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk,
A magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the functions are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the next program code. Needless to say, the extended function may be performed by a CPU or the like provided in an expansion board or an expansion unit to perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. No.

[0121]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, while a device is temporarily disconnected from the network for maintenance or lending, the IP address of the disconnected device is given to another device. Can be prevented, and the process for connecting the temporarily disconnected device to the network again becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a large-scale network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of a MIB (Management Information Base).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the NB 101 is installed in a printer 102.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection between the NB 101, the printer 102, and the LAN 100.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC on which network device management software can operate.

FIG. 6 is a module configuration diagram of the network device management software according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a network device search process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of detecting an existing network device disconnected from a network.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process that is started when it is detected that an existing network device is disconnected from the network.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed when setting an IP address.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of displaying a list of network devices.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a memory map of a CD-ROM which is an example of a storage medium.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a memory map of a CD-ROM which is an example of a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 LAN (Local Area Network) 101 NB (Network Board) 102 Printer with Open Architecture 103 PC (Personal Computer) 104 PC 151 Microprocessor 160 Printer Engine 200 Shared Memory 301 Microprocessor 302 RAM 303 ROM of PC 103 501 CPU of PC 103 502 ROM of the PC 103 503 RAM of the PC 103 504 System bus of the PC 103 505 KBC (keyboard controller) of the PC 103 506 CRTC (CRT controller) of the PC 103 507 DKC (disk controller) of the PC 103 508 NIC (network interface card) of the PC 103 509 KB of the PC 103 (Keyboard) 510 PC1 3 of CRT (CRT display) 511 PC 103 of HD (hard disk) 512 FD (floppy disk drive)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 12/46 200 H04L 12/46 200X F-term (Reference) 5B021 AA02 BB00 EE05 5B089 GA11 GA13 GB02 GB08 HA06 HB06 JA35 KA13 KB06 KC47 5K030 GA11 HD07 HD09 MA01 MA03 MD07 5K033 AA09 BA08 CC01 DA05 EC03

Claims (10)

[Claims] A means for detecting a device connected to a network; a means for obtaining an IP address from the device; a means for storing an IP address of a device disconnected from the network; and a device connected to the network. Means for designating one of the connected devices; means for inputting an IP address to be set for the specified device; and means for the device connected to the network with the input IP address and the device disconnected from the network. A network device management apparatus, comprising: means for comparing IP addresses; and means for controlling setting of an IP address based on whether a duplicate IP address is detected in the comparison of the IP addresses. 2. A network device management apparatus for controlling devices connected to a network, comprising: detecting means for detecting a device operating on the network; and acquiring device information from the device detected by the detecting means. Information obtaining means, storing means for storing at least IP address information of the obtained device information when detecting that the device has been disconnected from the network, of the devices connected to the network Specifying means for specifying one device from the following; input means for inputting an IP address to be set to the device specified by the specifying means; and an IP address input from the input means and obtained from a device connected to the network. First comparison to compare with IP address Means, a second comparing means for comparing an IP address inputted from the input means with an IP address stored in the storage means, and an input from the input means in the first and second comparing means. Setting means for stopping the setting of the IP address by the input means when an IP address matching the IP address is detected, and setting the IP address when no matching IP address is detected. A network device management apparatus, characterized in that: 3. When an IP address matching the IP address input from the input means is detected, the IP address is detected.
3. The network device management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for confirming whether to forcibly set the IP address before canceling the setting of the address. 4. A network device management system comprising the network device management device according to claim 1. 5. A step of detecting a device connected to a network, a step of obtaining an IP address from the device, a step of storing an IP address of a device disconnected from the network in a storage unit, and a step of storing the network. A step of specifying one of the devices connected to the device; a step of inputting an IP address to be set to the specified device; and a step of disconnecting from the network and the device connected to the input IP address and the network. Performing a step of comparing the IP address of the device and a step of controlling the setting of the IP address based on whether a duplicate IP address is detected in the comparison of the IP address. . 6. A network device management method for controlling a device connected to a network, comprising: a detection step of detecting a device operating on the network; and acquiring device information from the device detected by the detection step. An information acquisition step, and a storage step of, when detecting that the device has been disconnected from the network, storing at least IP address information of the obtained device information in a storage unit, being connected to the network. A designation step of designating one of the devices; an input step of inputting an IP address to be set in the device designated in the designation step; an IP address inputted from the input step and a device connected to the network With the IP address obtained from A first comparison step; a second comparison step of comparing the IP address input in the input step with the IP address stored in the storage means; and the input in the first and second comparison steps. If an IP address matching the input IP address is detected from the process, the setting of the IP address in the input process is stopped, and if no matching IP address is detected, the setting control process of setting the IP address is performed. And a network device management method. 7. When an IP address that matches the IP address input from the input means is detected, the IP address
7. The network device management method according to claim 6, further comprising: means for confirming whether to forcibly set the IP address before canceling the setting of the address. 8. A step of detecting a device connected to a network, a step of acquiring an IP address from the device, a step of storing an IP address of a device disconnected from the network in storage means, a step of: Specifying one of the devices connected to the device; inputting an IP address to be set for the specified device; disconnecting the input IP address from the device connected to the network and the network Storing a control program including a step of comparing the IP addresses of the devices that have been set, and a step of controlling the setting of the IP address based on whether a duplicate IP address is detected in the comparison of the IP addresses. Storage medium. 9. A storage medium storing a control program for executing a network device management method for controlling a device connected to a network, wherein the control program stores a device operating on the network. A detecting step of detecting; an information obtaining step of obtaining device information from the device detected by the detecting step; and when detecting that the device has been disconnected from the network, at least IP of the obtained device information A storing step of storing address information in a storing unit; a specifying step of specifying one of the devices connected to the network; and an inputting step of inputting an IP address to be set in the device specified in the specifying step And the input step A first comparing step of comparing an IP address input from a device with an IP address obtained from a device connected to the network; and an IP address input by the input unit and an IP address stored in the storage unit. And if the first and second comparison steps detect an IP address that matches the IP address input in the input step, stop setting the IP address in the input step And a setting control step of setting the IP address when a matching IP address is not detected. 10. When an IP address that matches the IP address input in the input step is detected, before canceling the setting of the IP address, a confirmation is made as to whether or not the setting of the IP address is forcibly performed. The storage medium according to claim 9, further comprising a step of performing.