JP2004171242A - Monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitor capable of improving flexibility of a system. <P>SOLUTION: In this monitor 1, when adding an Nth agent to a network, a user inputs data on the effect through an input device. Then, it is decided that change input of a monitored agent is present (SK1), an 'IP address' of the Nth agent (SK2) and a polling 'interval time' are inputted (SK3) and are stored in a monitoring target specific item 22 (SK4). The monitor 1 starts polling of each the agent according to setting of the monitoring target specific item 22 (SK5). Because the Nth agent responds to the polling (SA1), the monitor receiving it stores the effect that communication with the Nth agent is normally executed (SK6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a monitoring device that monitors an agent connected via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a plurality of agents are connected to a monitoring device via a network.
[0003]
The monitoring device stores a manager program, and is configured to monitor an agent connected to a network by operating the monitoring device according to the manager program.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a network system, when an attempt is made to add or delete new information, an output method, a conditional expression, an action corresponding to the conditional expression, or the like to the monitoring device, the software in the manager program is deleted. I had to change the source code.
[0005]
For this reason, the work of changing the source code and the rebuilding of the system were required, and the system had to be updated.
[0006]
In addition, in order to update the software, it is necessary to temporarily stop the operation and restart the system, which is an operational problem.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has as its object to provide a monitoring device that can increase the flexibility of a system.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitoring apparatus for monitoring an agent connected via a network, wherein the setting is performed by referring during operation and operating based on the content thereof. An item setting unit is provided for changing settings such as addition, deletion, and rewriting of items in response to external input.
[0009]
In other words, when a request to add, delete, or change new information or an output method, or a conditional expression or an action according to the conditional expression occurs to the monitoring device while the network system is operating, refer to it during operation. The setting items to be set, such as addition, deletion, and rewriting, are changed by the item setting means in accordance with an external input.
[0010]
Then, the monitoring device refers to the changed setting item and executes a process based on the content.
[0011]
Further, in the monitoring device according to the second aspect, at least one of the setting items is a monitoring target specifying item that stores an agent to be monitored.
[0012]
That is, when a new agent is added to, deleted from, or changed to another while the network system is operating, the content of the monitoring target specifying item that stores the agent to be monitored is set by the item setting means described above. The setting is changed by an external input.
[0013]
Accordingly, the monitoring device refers to the monitoring target specifying item whose setting has been changed, and starts monitoring the agent based on the content.
[0014]
Further, in the monitoring device according to the third aspect, the setting items include a condition item in which a condition for evaluating a predetermined monitoring item is stored and a process corresponding to an evaluation result of the monitoring item based on the condition item. And an action item in which the name of an application started to execute the process stored in the corresponding process item is stored.
[0015]
That is, the item setting means described above stores the content of the condition item in which the condition for evaluating the predetermined monitoring item is stored, and the corresponding processing item in which the process corresponding to the evaluation result of the monitoring item based on the condition item is stored. And the content of the action item storing the name of the application to be started to execute the process content stored in the corresponding process item are changed by an external input.
[0016]
Accordingly, addition, deletion, or change of a condition for evaluating a predetermined monitoring item, and addition, deletion, or change of processing content corresponding to the evaluation result are performed during operation. Then, addition, deletion, and change of an application for executing this processing content are also performed during operation.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a state in which a monitoring device 1 according to the present invention is connected to a network 2. The monitoring device 1 has first to Nth agents 3 to 5 connected thereto via a network 2. Are communicably connected.
[0018]
The monitoring device 1 is configured by a computer device used by an administrative user, and includes an input device 11 such as a mouse and a keyboard, a display device 12 such as a CRT and a liquid crystal monitor, and an output device 13 such as a buzzer and a speaker. It is connected. The monitoring device 1 includes storage means such as a hard disk for storing data, and the storage means has a program storage area for storing a program and a data storage area for storing data. ing.
[0019]
The program storage area stores a manager program file, a sound reproduction program file, an image display program file, and the like. When the monitoring device 1 operates according to the manager program, data input from the input device 11 is performed. In addition, the display device 12 is configured to display an image and output the sound from the output device 13.
[0020]
The monitoring device 1 includes a communication device, polls the agents 3 to 5 at predetermined intervals, checks whether communication can be normally performed, and checks each agent 3 to 5. 5 is configured to be monitored. By operating in accordance with the manager program, the communication with the agents 3 to 5 is performed via the network 2 to exchange data, and the data transmitted from the agents 3 to 5 is stored in the data storage area. It is configured to be able to accumulate.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the data storage area stores external input data by the user via the input device 11, and stores data according to an external input via the input device 11. An area for setting items 21 in which settings such as addition, deletion, and rewriting can be changed is secured. When the monitoring device 1 operates in accordance with the manager program, the storage contents of the setting items 21 are transferred from the input device 11 to the input device 11. Is configured to change settings such as addition, deletion, and rewriting in response to the input of “. The setting change such as addition, deletion, or rewriting of data to the setting item 21 is performed by receiving data input by each of the agents 3 to 5 via the network 2 and based on the received data. Alternatively, data transmitted from a program operating in each of the agents 3 to 5 may be received via the network 2 and performed based on the received data.
[0022]
The setting item 21 includes a monitoring target specifying item 22 for storing the agents 3 to 5 to be monitored. The monitoring target specifying item 22 is used to monitor the communication state with each of the agents 3 to 5. Each of the agents 3 to 5 stores an “IP address” of 3 to 5, an “interval time” indicating a polling interval, and an acquisition interval of a MIB (Management Information Base) that is a value corresponding to its own operation status. Nth agent areas 22a to 22n are set. That is, the method of monitoring the communication state with each of the agents 3 to 5 and the method of monitoring the value of an arbitrary MIB among the MIBs indicating the operation status of each of the agents 3 to 5 can be changed according to the input. It is configured.
[0023]
Here, the MIB is information indicating the operation status of each of the agents 3 to 5, and is managed by each of the agents 3 to 5. An SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) manager program allows information (MIB) managed by an agent to be referred to via a network using a world standard protocol called SNMP. There are various types of MIBs, and even the one defined by RFC1213 alone exceeds 200 types. For example, the type of agent (information specifying the vendor name and device type), the location of the agent, the name of the administrator of the agent, the elapsed time since the agent started, the number of packets transmitted, and the number of packets received And the like.
[0024]
The setting item 21 includes file names such as “sound reproduction program file” and “image display program file” stored in the program storage area, and “sound file name” and “image file” used in these applications. Item 31 for storing a "name", a condition item 32 for storing a condition for evaluating a predetermined monitoring item in the monitoring device 1, an evaluation result item 33 for storing a state of an evaluation result based on the condition, A process corresponding to the evaluation result of the monitoring item based on the condition item 32, that is, a corresponding process item 34 for storing a process corresponding to the evaluation result item 33 is secured.
[0025]
Thereby, predetermined monitoring items in the monitoring device 1 are evaluated according to the conditions stored in the condition items 32, the evaluation results are categorized according to the contents of the evaluation result items 33, and Then, when executing the processing stored in the corresponding processing item 34, the application stored in the action item 31 can be selectively activated.
[0026]
Here, a token expressing the communication state with each of the agents 3 to 5 can be described in the conditional expression set in the condition item 32, and a token expressing the MIB value can be described. It can be described as a token itself, and multiple tokens can be evaluated by logical operators, comparison operators, and arithmetic operators. Thereby, it is configured so that even a complicated system state can be described.
[0027]
For example, the name of the conditional expression control stored in the first condition area 32a of the condition item 32 is "Nth agent communication state", and "Nth agent: NORMAL" is described in the conditional expression of the conditional expression control. Suppose that the conditional expression control is registered. This conditional expression represents a system state in which the communication state between the monitoring device 1 and the Nth agent 5 is normal.
[0028]
On the other hand, each of the agents 3 to 5 is constituted by a computer device installed in a management building or the like as shown in FIG. This computer device also includes a communication device, and is configured to be able to communicate with the monitoring device 1 via the network 2. The agents 3 to 5 are also provided with storage means such as a hard disk for storing data. The storage means has a program storage area for storing programs and a data storage area for storing data. Is formed.
[0029]
Each of the agents 3 to 5 is connected to a camera (not shown) installed so as to be able to photograph a monitoring location. Accordingly, each of the agents 3 to 5 operates according to the program stored in the program storage area, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, or when a change has occurred in a captured image, or when an external input is applied from a sensor or the like. In such a case, a plurality of images are acquired at an arbitrary timing according to a preset condition, and these image data are collectively recorded and stored in the data storage area. It is configured to be able to send to.
[0030]
The operation of the present embodiment according to the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0031]
That is, when the N-th agent 5 is additionally connected to the network 2 while the network system is operating, the user inputs data to that effect via the input device 11. At this time, the monitoring device 1 determines that there is a change input of the agent to be monitored (SK1), so the “IP address” of the Nth agent 5 is input (SK2), and the “interval time” indicating the polling interval is set. (SK3), and store and register them in the N-th agent area 22n of the monitoring target specifying item 22 in FIG. 2 (SK4).
[0032]
Here, the case of additionally registering the monitoring of the N-th agent 5 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and although omitted in the figure, each of the agents 3 to 5 is deleted or Even when changing to another agent, it is assumed that the agent can be deleted or changed by changing the content of the monitoring target specifying item 22 according to an external input.
[0033]
Then, the monitoring apparatus 1 starts polling the agents 3 to 5 at intervals of the set interval time according to the setting of the monitoring target specifying item 22, and starts monitoring the agents 3 to 5 (SK5). On the other hand, since the N-th agent 5 responds to this polling (SA1), the monitoring device 1 that has received this polling informs that the communication with the N-th agent 5 has been performed normally. It is stored in the storage means (SK6).
[0034]
In addition, when additionally registering an application program in the monitoring device 1 while the network system is operating, the user inputs data to that effect via the input device 11. At this time, the monitoring device 1 determines that the input of the application program has been changed (SK7), so that the file name of the input application program, specifically, the first action area 31a of the action item 31, is "Sound reproduction program file name" is stored and registered (SK8).
[0035]
Here, the case where the “sound reproduction program file name” is stored and registered has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the “sound reproduction program file name” stored in the second action area 31x may be stored. When the "image display program file name" is deleted or changed to a file name of another application program, the storage content of the second action area 31x of the action item 31 is changed in accordance with an external input. Thus, the registered application program can be deleted or changed.
[0036]
At this time, if the user wishes to additionally register an attached file corresponding to the audio reproduction program, the user inputs data to that effect via the input device 11. At this time, the monitoring device 1 determines that there is an input change of the attached file (SK9), so the input attached file, specifically, the “No. A file name of "1 audio file" and a file name of "second audio file" for outputting "communication has been restored" are input (SK10). It is stored and registered in the first and second attached file areas 31b and 31c (SK11).
[0037]
Here, it is assumed that not only the file names of the first and second audio files can be registered, but also the registered file names can be deleted or changed.
[0038]
When additionally registering “change in communication state” as a monitoring condition while the network system is operating, the user inputs data to that effect via the input device 11. At this time, the monitoring apparatus 1 determines that there is a change input of the conditional expression (SK12). Therefore, the input conditional expression, specifically, “change in communication state” with the Nth agent 5 is set as a condition. It is stored and registered in the first condition area 32a of the item 32 (SK13).
[0039]
Here, the case where “change in communication state” with the Nth agent 5 is registered in the first condition area 32a of the condition item 32 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the “change in communication state” with the N-th agent 5 is deleted or changed to another condition, the registered content of the first condition area 32a is changed according to an external input. The registered conditions can be deleted or changed.
[0040]
When the network system is operating, when additionally registering the association with the evaluation result based on the “change in communication state” with the Nth agent 5, which is a monitoring item based on the condition item 32, the user needs to input the input device 11. , And input data to that effect. At this time, the monitoring device 1 determines that there is an input for changing the association with the evaluation result of the conditional expression (SK14), so the input data, specifically, the “communication state” with the Nth agent 5 In the case where the evaluation result of “change” is “true” indicating that the communication has changed normally, “True action” is stored and registered in the first result area 33a of the evaluation result item 33, and the Nth When the evaluation result of the “change in communication state” with the agent 5 is “false” indicating that the communication has abnormally changed, “False action” is stored in the second result area 33b of the evaluation result item 33. register. If there is no change in the communication state with the Nth agent 5, "no action" is stored and registered in the third result area 33c of the evaluation result item 33 (SK15).
[0041]
Here, the case where the actions are stored and registered has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the storage contents of the first to third result areas 33a to 33c are deleted. To change the storage content to another action name, the storage content of the first to third result areas 33a to 33c can be deleted or changed according to an external input. .
[0042]
In addition, when additionally registering an application to be executed in response to each of the above actions while the network system is operating, the user inputs data to that effect via the input device 11. At this time, the monitoring device 1 determines that there is a change input of the start application corresponding to each action (SK16), and based on the input data, specifically, for the “True action”, Using the “second sound file name” set in the second attached file area 31c of the item 31 as an argument, the “program for sound reproduction” set in the first action area 31a of the action item 31 is activated. It is stored and registered in the first processing area 34a of the corresponding processing item 34 (SK17). For the “False action”, the “first audio file name” set in the first attached file area 31b of the action item 31 is used as an argument, and the “audio playback” set in the first action area 31a is set. The activation of the “application program” is stored and registered in the second processing area 34b of the corresponding processing item 34 (SK18). In the case of "no action", "no processing" is stored and registered in the third processing area 34c of the corresponding processing item 34 corresponding thereto.
[0043]
At this time, a function of adding a name is provided for the corresponding processing of each of the processing areas 34a to 34c so that the user can easily identify the corresponding processing. The name of “error recovery” is set, and the name of “communication error occurrence” is set in the corresponding process in the second processing area 34b.
[0044]
Here, the case of storing and registering each corresponding process in each of the processing areas 34a to 34c of the corresponding process item 34 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. When deleting the storage contents of the areas 34a to 34c or changing the storage contents to another corresponding processing, the storage contents of the processing areas 34a to 34c must be deleted or changed according to an external input. Can be done.
[0045]
Then, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the monitoring apparatus 1 polls each of the agents 3 to 5 at set interval times according to the setting of the monitoring target specifying item 22 (SK19). At this time, if the N-th agent 5 cannot respond to the polling due to some cause such as a network failure (SA2), the monitoring device 1 starts the above-mentioned operation when a predetermined time elapses (SK20). It is determined whether there is a response to the polling (SK21). At this time, if there is a response to the polling, the fact that the communication has been normally performed is stored in the storage means (SK22), whereas if there is no response to the polling, the communication is abnormal. Is stored in the storage means (SK23).
[0046]
Next, referring to the communication state at the time of the previous polling, it is determined whether or not the communication state has changed from normal to abnormal in the current polling (SK24). At this time, if the communication is abnormally changed, the evaluation result of the conditional expression stored in the first condition area 32a of the condition item 32 becomes “false”. For this reason, the process stored in the second processing area 34b of the corresponding processing item 34 is executed with reference to “False action” in the second result area 33b of the evaluation result item 33 (SK25). Specifically, by using the “first audio file name” set in the first attached file area 31b of the action item 31 as an argument, the “audio reproduction program” set in the first action area 31a is started, The output device 13 of the monitoring device 1 outputs a voice message “Communication error has occurred”.
[0047]
Also, referring to the communication state at the time of the previous polling, it is determined whether or not the communication state has changed from abnormal to normal in this polling (SK26). The evaluation result of the conditional expression stored in the first condition area 32a of the item 32 is “true”. For this reason, the processing stored in the first processing area 34a of the corresponding processing item 34 is executed with reference to the "True action" of the first result area 33a of the evaluation result item 33 (SK27). Specifically, the “second audio file name” set in the second attachment area 31c of the action item 31 is used as an argument to start the “audio reproduction program” set in the first action area 32a, and The output device 13 of the monitoring device 1 outputs a voice message “Communication error has been recovered”.
[0048]
In this manner, when the network system is operating, a request is made to the monitoring apparatus 1 to add, delete, or change new information or an output method, or a conditional expression or an action corresponding to the conditional expression. However, the user can change the setting of the setting item 21 referred to during operation, such as addition, deletion, or rewriting, according to the input, by inputting from the outside via the input device 11.
[0049]
Accordingly, the monitoring device 1 refers to the contents of the setting items 21 whose settings have been changed, and changes the source code of software of the manager program and reconfigures the system in order to execute processing based on the contents. Without adding, deleting, or changing items such as new information, an output method, a conditional expression, and an action corresponding to the conditional expression can be performed.
[0050]
Therefore, even when the network system is in operation, the user can customize the system without stopping the operation of the network system only by inputting a change in system settings from outside. Thereby, the operation of the system can be changed, so that the flexibility of the system can be increased.
[0051]
Specifically, even when a new N-th agent 5 is added to or deleted from the network 2 or is changed to another agent while the network system is operating, the source code of the manager program software The user can change the setting of the monitoring target specifying item 22 which is one of the setting items 21 by inputting data from outside via the input device 11 without making any change. Thus, the content of the monitoring target specifying item 22 which is one of the setting items 21 and stores the agent to be monitored can be changed according to an external input.
[0052]
Accordingly, the monitoring device 1 refers to the content of the monitoring target specifying item 22 whose setting has been changed, starts monitoring the N-th agent 5 based on the content, stops monitoring, and performs other monitoring. Since the monitoring of the agent can be started, the N-th agent 5 can be connected to the network 2 or deleted or changed from the network 2 without stopping the operation of the network system. Convenience can be improved.
[0053]
At this time, when the user inputs data from the outside via the input device 11, the content of the condition item 32 for storing the condition for evaluating the predetermined monitoring item and the evaluation of the monitoring item based on the condition item 32 are evaluated. The contents of the corresponding processing item 34 that stores the processing corresponding to the result and the contents of the action item 31 that stores the name of the application to be started when executing the processing content stored in the corresponding processing item 34 are read from the outside. The setting can be changed by input.
[0054]
Therefore, the added N-th agent 5 can be set as a monitoring item, and a conditional expression for evaluating the monitoring item can be added, deleted, or changed, and the processing content corresponding to the evaluation result can be changed. Additions, deletions, and changes can be made while the network system is operating.
[0055]
Since addition, deletion, and change of an application for executing the processing content can be performed during operation, the flexibility of the system can be further improved.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the monitoring device according to claim 1 of the present invention, while the network system is operating, new information or an output method is added to the monitoring device, or a condition expression or an action such as an action according to the conditional expression is added or added. Even when a request for deletion or change occurs, setting changes such as addition, deletion, and rewriting of setting items referred to during operation can be performed in accordance with external input.
[0057]
Accordingly, the monitoring device refers to the setting item whose setting has been changed, and executes a process based on the content, so that new information and new information can be obtained without changing the source code of the software or reconfiguring the system. Items such as an output method or a conditional expression or an action according to the conditional expression can be added, deleted, or changed.
[0058]
Therefore, even when the network system is in operation, the user can customize the system without stopping the operation of the network system only by inputting a change in system settings from outside. As a result, the operation of the system can be changed, thereby increasing the flexibility of the system.
[0059]
In the monitoring device according to the second aspect, even when a new agent is added to or deleted from the network or is changed to another while the network system is operating, the monitoring is performed by the above-described item setting means. The contents of the monitoring target specifying item storing the agent can be changed by an external input.
[0060]
Accordingly, the monitoring device refers to the monitoring target specifying item whose setting has been changed, and starts monitoring the agent based on the content, so that the addition or deletion of the agent can be performed without stopping the operation of the network system. Changes can be made, and convenience can be improved.
[0061]
Further, in the monitoring device according to the third aspect, the item setting means described above corresponds to the content of the condition item in which the condition for evaluating the predetermined monitoring item is stored and the evaluation result of the monitoring item based on the condition item. Changing the settings of the content of the corresponding process item in which the process is stored and the content of the action item in which the name of the application to be started to execute the process content stored in the corresponding process item is input from outside Can be.
[0062]
As a result, it is possible to add, delete, or change conditions for evaluating predetermined monitoring items, and to add, delete, or change processing contents corresponding to the evaluation results while the network system is operating. it can.
[0063]
Since addition, deletion, and change of an application for executing the processing content can be performed during operation, the flexibility of the system can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the contents of a storage unit according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart following FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart following FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 monitoring device
2 Network
11 Input device
13 Output device
21 Setting Items
22 Monitoring target specific items
31 Action Items
32 condition items
33 Evaluation Result Items
34 Target processing items

Claims (3)

In a monitoring device that monitors an agent connected via a network,
A monitoring device comprising: an item setting unit that refers to a setting item that operates during operation and changes setting such as addition, deletion, or rewriting in accordance with an external input. 2. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the setting items is a monitoring target specifying item that stores an agent to be monitored. The setting items are:
Condition items for storing conditions for evaluating predetermined monitoring items;
A corresponding process item in which a process corresponding to the evaluation result of the monitoring item based on the condition item is stored;
An action item in which an application name to be started to execute the process stored in the corresponding process item is stored;
The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured by:

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