JP2007173885A - Lifetime management system for network relaying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for confirming whether or not a network relaying apparatus is used within a specified temperature range so as to attain estimation of the life expectancy of the apparatus, thereby providing services such as display of lifetime warning to the apparatus, judgement of necessity of replacement of lifetime components, and extension of warrant depending on the use of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The network relaying apparatus comprises: a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature; a timer used for triggering periodic processing; a nonvolatile memory for recording an operating time and a setting temperature exceeding time; and a CPU, a memory, and a program for controlling the components above and calculating the operating time and the setting temperature exceeding time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The technical field relates to network relay devices such as routers and switches.

  In recent years, communication networks have become increasingly important as infrastructure. Network relay devices such as routers and switches are installed and operating in various places to support a communication network. There are places where air conditioning is installed and the temperature is controlled day and night, places where the temperature is not controlled at night, such as office spaces, and places where the temperature is not controlled at all.

  Operating outside the temperature range assumed for the device can cause factors such as shortening the life of the device and leading to device failure.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which internal temperature is monitored in a server and a client, and notification is made when an abnormality is detected or power supply is stopped.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for measuring the life of parts and units of a device even when the computer device is operated outside an assumed temperature range.

JP 10-307635 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-104881

  The lifetime of the network device is designed on the condition that it operates within a specified temperature range. When the network device is used for a long time at a temperature higher than the specified temperature, the lifetime is generally shortened. Conventional network devices do not have a record of the accumulated operating time and the set temperature excess time, so if the device fails, use it within the temperature range specified by the device, or use it outside the specified temperature range. As a result, it was impossible to judge whether the product was broken due to shortened life.

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 monitors abnormalities in the internal temperature of a device in order to prevent a computer system such as a server from being inadvertently stopped, and the internal temperature becomes abnormal. ”Is monitored, and the external temperature of the device (including not only the outside air temperature but also the intake air temperature near the intake port) is monitored and recorded. It is not useful for predicting the service life and time for replacement, and for improving the external environment according to the prediction.

  Since the technique described in Patent Document 2 is a technique for correcting the measurement time with respect to a change in temperature, since the apparatus has not been able to grasp in what state and how long it has been measured to have a short lifetime. I don't even know that, and it doesn't help improve the outside environment.

  Therefore, for example, according to an embodiment described later, there is provided a technique for recording the time used within the temperature range defined by the network device and the time used outside the temperature range.

  According to the present embodiment, since the time during which the apparatus has been operated exceeding the preset temperature is known, it is possible to know whether the cause of the failure of the apparatus is due to the excessive temperature.

  In addition, since the life expectancy can be estimated from the operation records so far, it is possible to determine whether or not to replace a life part and to extend the warranty.

  In addition, since a nonvolatile memory is provided in a unit (module unit) to be replaced at the time of maintenance, and the operation time and the set temperature excess time are managed in module units, it is known in module units.

  An example of an embodiment suitable for carrying out the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(1) Description of Configuration FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a network relay device in the present embodiment. The network relay device is, for example, a router or a switch.

  The network relay device includes a plurality of line interface units 7 (7b, 7c) for inputting / outputting packets from a plurality of lines (11b-1, 11b-2, 11c-1, 11c-2) through ports. A packet processing unit 6 that analyzes a header included in a packet received by the line interface unit 7 and searches and determines a packet transfer destination (output destination) device, a line interface unit 7 and a port using a route table or the like, and transfers the packet. A serial interface 8 connected to a client for setting the network relay device, displaying data stored in the network relay device, etc., a temperature sensor 4 for measuring the ambient temperature (outside air temperature or intake air temperature) of the network relay device, which will be described later Timer 3 that generates a trigger to perform periodic processing, calculates the operating time and set temperature excess time, and controls the network relay device CPU 1 (also referred to as a control unit) and a memory 2 (also referred to as a first storage unit), and a non-volatile memory 5 (5a to 5c, a second storage unit) that record the calculated operating time and set temperature excess time Also called). The generic name of the memory 2 and the nonvolatile memory 5 or the single memory 2 is also simply referred to as a storage unit.

  The module 10 is configured in units of parts that are replaced during maintenance. In FIG. 1, modules 10b and 10c are each provided with a non-volatile memory 5b or 5c and a line interface unit 7b or 7c, which are in units of so-called line interface boards (cards). The module 10a is also called a main board (card). As a result, the operation time and the set temperature excess time can be recorded for each maintenance component unit. However, in order to save the function or cost, it is possible to operate without providing the nonvolatile memory 5 in all modules. In this case, it is preferable to individually store the operating time and set temperature excess time of a plurality of modules in one storage unit (for example, the nonvolatile memory 5a).

  The temperature sensor 4 measures the outside air temperature. Because the installation environment of the device is shown directly, it is easy for the user who manages the installation environment to understand the level of the temperature and to adjust it. In addition, it is preferable to set the outside air temperature as the installation condition of the apparatus.

  In addition, when the temperature sensor 4 is installed inside the apparatus, it should be installed near a device (CPU, LSI, etc.) that is near the inlet of the apparatus and has little wind stagnation and generates heat nearby. Is preferred. The reason is that the outside air and temperature change while smoldering when there is wind stagnation, and the outside air and temperature change depending on the device near the device that generates heat. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the temperature sensor 4 is installed in the vicinity of the intake port that is farthest from the device that generates heat among the relatively large intake ports of the apparatus. Moreover, a plurality may be in different places, and different temperature sensors may be provided for each measurement temperature.

(2) Description of operation In this embodiment, the operation time and the set temperature excess time are measured and recorded. The operating time is the energization time of the device. The set temperature excess time is a time during which the preset temperature is exceeded during the operation time. The set temperature excess time can have a plurality of set values.

  In general, the lifetime of the device depends on the energization time and temperature. In general, the higher the temperature, the shorter the lifetime, and the lifetime of the device is designed on the assumption of continuous operation at the upper limit temperature of the installation conditions of the device. For example, 40 degrees Celsius is set as the upper limit of the installation conditions of the apparatus. In this case, if it is continuously used at 30 degrees Celsius, the life is extended. In addition, the life of the apparatus that is not continuously operated and has not been energized for a while will be extended. By measuring the operating time and the set temperature excess time, this lifetime can be grasped.

  In addition, by allowing multiple types of set temperatures to be recorded, life expectancy can be accurately estimated, or by setting one of the set temperatures as the upper limit temperature of the installation conditions of the equipment, the equipment There are effects such as knowing whether it was operated in a safe manner.

  There are two types of recording methods. One type is cumulative recording and the other type is period recording. The integrated record is the total of the operation time from the shipment of the device to the present time, and the total of the integrated set temperature excess time. The record cannot be cleared or the set value cannot be changed. The period record is the sum of the operation time and the set temperature excess time in a certain period, and the record can be cleared and the set value can be changed. For example, when the maintenance part is repaired and reused, the period record can be used for recording the time after the repair and grasping the life after the repair.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing for measuring the operating time and the set temperature excess time.

In step 21, an interrupt period = n minutes is set in the timer 3 that periodically generates an interrupt.
In step 22, it is checked whether or not the timer 3 interrupt has occurred. If no interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to No, and if an interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to Yes.
In step 23, temperature measurement is performed. The temperature measurement uses the temperature sensor 4 of FIG.
In step 24, it is checked whether the temperature measured in step 23 exceeds the set temperature. When it exceeds, it progresses to Yes and step 25 is performed. If not, go to No.
In step 25, the interrupt period n is added to the set temperature excess time in the memory. When there are a plurality of set temperatures, step 24 and step 25 (20) are executed a plurality of times. In step 26, the interrupt period n is added to the operating time on the memory.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the process of recording the operating time / set temperature excess time.

  In the present embodiment, the operation time / set temperature excess time recorded in the memory 2 by the processing of FIG. 2 is transferred to the nonvolatile memory 5 by batch processing. Thereby, the capacity | capacitance of the non-volatile memory 5 can be restrained and it can be used long within the limit of the writable number of times of the non-volatile memory 5.

In step 31, an interrupt period = m hours is set in a timer that periodically generates an interrupt.
Step 32 checks whether or not the timer 3 interrupt has occurred. If no interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to No, and if an interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to Yes.
In step 33, the operation time and the set temperature excess time are read from the nonvolatile memory 5.
In step 34, the operating time / set temperature excess time on the memory 2 is added to the operating time / set temperature excess time read from the nonvolatile memory 5 and written back to the nonvolatile memory 5.
Step 35 clears the operating time and set temperature excess time on the memory 2.

  In the case of a network relay device having a module configuration as shown in FIG. 1, the processing (30) of steps 33 and 34 is performed for each module.

  The operating time and the set temperature excess time can be referred to from a client connected to the serial interface 8 or the line interface unit 7 in FIG. When the life of the target device or target module is low from the operating time / set temperature excess time data, the service life is given to the user via the terminal connected to the serial interface 8 or the line interface unit 7 in FIG. A warning can be notified.

  In the command and authentication used by the user, the period record data is displayed but the accumulated record is preferably not displayed. The period record is read-only, and it is preferable to prevent alteration by the user. On the other hand, in the command and authentication used at the time of maintenance in the factory, the accumulated record and period record data are read. For example, the period record is recorded in the time after the repair, and even in that case, the operation time before the repair is grasped. That is, it has a mode for displaying period record data for the user and a mode for displaying period record and integrated record for maintenance in the factory. Even at the factory, it is not possible to clear the accumulated record.

Block diagram showing a configuration example of a network device Flow chart showing an example of measurement processing of operating time and set temperature excess time Flow chart showing an example of recording processing of operating time and set temperature excess time

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Module, 11 ... Line

Claims (6)

A network relay device that connects to a plurality of lines of a network, receives a packet from the line, searches for a transfer destination, and transmits the packet to the transfer destination,
A line interface unit for receiving packets;
A packet processing unit for searching a transfer destination of a packet received by the line interface unit;
A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature;
And a storage unit that stores an operation time of the network relay device and a set temperature excess time during which the temperature measured by the temperature sensor has exceeded the set temperature. The network relay device according to claim 1,
The storage unit stores the operation time and the set temperature excess time in an integration period and a predetermined period shorter than the integration period,
Of the operating time and set temperature excess time recorded during the integration period, and the operation time and set temperature excess time recorded during the predetermined period, a mode for outputting both, and the operating time and setting recorded during the predetermined period And a control unit having a mode for outputting only the temperature excess time. The network relay device according to claim 1,
The storage unit and the line interface unit are installed on an interface board,
A plurality of the interface boards are provided in the network relay device. The network relay device according to claim 1,
The temperature sensor is installed in the vicinity of the air inlet of the network relay device that is farthest from the heat generating part in the network relay device. The network relay device according to claim 1,
A timer for timing the first period;
When the first period is counted by the timer, the first period is added to the operation time stored in the first storage unit, and when the temperature sensor exceeds the set temperature, the first period is added. A control unit that adds the first period to the set temperature excess time stored in the storage unit and stores it in the storage unit. The network relay device according to claim 5,
A plurality of nonvolatile second storage units;
The timer times the second period;
When the second period is counted by the timer, the control unit individually stores the operation time stored in the storage unit and the second storage unit for each of the plurality of second storage units. The operation time is added and stored in the second storage unit, and the set temperature excess time stored in the storage unit and the set temperature excess time stored in the second storage unit are added. And it memorize | stores in the said 2nd memory | storage part, The operation time and preset temperature excess time memorize | stored in the said memory | storage part are cleared.

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