JP2009211291A - Updating system, information processing device, updating method, updating program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an updating system for automatically updating software, an information processing device, an updating method, an updating program, and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The updating system networks a plurality of information processing devices. Each information processing device notifies a current software (SW) version by broadcast via the network, receives information about current SW versions running in the other information processing devices therefrom, and compares its own SW version information with the SW version information from the other information processing devices to select the device on which the latest version runs as a master device. The master device selects the information processing devices on which SW versions older than its own SW version information run as devices to be updated, and transfers files to update the devices to be updated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an update system, an information processing device, an update method, an update program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to an update system, an information processing device, an update method, an update program, and a recording medium that define a master device.

  A network often has a plurality of relay devices such as switches / routers of the same type. However, there are cases where new and old versions of software are mixed due to additional purchases after a period of time. Mixing old and new versions is not desirable in the network as a whole, where there are potential problems with the old version, but users are often indifferent to device version control. Many cases are unexpected.

  Further, even a user who is interested in version management takes a lot of costs and work time to update a plurality of devices at the same time, and requires a lot of work by the network administrator. Specifically, it is an operation of preparing a terminal that operates a file transfer program and performing file updating and restarting from the console of the relay device, and this is performed for a plurality of devices.

In addition, there are devices that automatically perform updates in a cyclic manner using a device dedicated to update processing, such as a management terminal / server, network management software, or the like (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2000-067021 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-083229

  However, since network management software capable of updating a plurality of software is expensive and complicated in advance, it is mostly used only by a user who has knowledge of network management. In particular, in a blade server system, a plurality of network devices of the same type are accommodated in the same casing, and thus there are similar problems. In addition, there are not a few mistakes such as omission of update application depending on the user, and it is necessary to automatically and simply update the software of the relay device in the network system.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to automatically update software.

  In the first update system according to the present invention, a plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected via a network, and the information processing apparatus notifies the software version currently operated on the own apparatus by broadcast via the network. Notification means for performing communication, communication means for receiving software version information currently operated on each apparatus from another information processing apparatus connected via the network, and software version of the received other information processing apparatus Information processing apparatus comprising: a master device defining means for comparing the information and the software version information of the own device, and defining a device whose latest version is operating on the network as a master device; Operates a software version older than the software version information of its own device. The information processing device that is the update target device, sequentially accessing the update target device, inquiring update file transfer means and account information each time, accessing based on the response from the update target device to the inquiry, file Update means for executing the update by transferring the data.

  The first information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a notification means for notifying the software version currently operated by the own apparatus by broadcast via a network and other information processing connected via the network. The communication means for receiving the information of the software version currently operated on each device from the device, the received software version information of the other information processing device and the software version information of the own device are compared, and the latest on the network Master device defining means for defining a device in which a version is operating as a master device.

  The first update method according to the present invention includes a step of notifying the software version currently operated on the own device by broadcast via a network, and from another information processing device connected via the network. The step of receiving the information of the software version currently operated on each device, the received software version information of the other information processing device and the software version information of the own device are compared, and the latest version operates on the network. Defining a device that is operating as a master device, and when defined as the master device, an information processing device that operates a software version older than the software version information of the device itself is set as the update target device, and the update Access the target device sequentially and update file Queried transfer means and account information, and access to the responses from the update target apparatus to the query, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: performing an update by file transfer.

  The first update program according to the present invention includes a process of notifying the software version currently operated on the own device by broadcast via a network and from another information processing device connected via the network. Compares the process of receiving information on the software version currently being used by each device with the received software version information of the other information processing device and the software version information of its own device, and the latest version operates on the network. Processing to define a device that is operating as a master device, and when defined as the master device, an information processing device that operates a software version older than the software version information of its own device is set as the update target device, and the update Access the target device sequentially and transfer the update file each time. It performs query unit and account information, and access to the responses from the update target apparatus to the query, characterized in that it comprises a process of executing the updated by file transfer.

  The first recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that records the processing of the first update program of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, software can be automatically updated.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  The network relay device is an information processing device that performs data transfer such as a switch / router.

  A network relay device update system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an entire network in which a plurality of network relay devices according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the present invention includes network relay apparatuses 101-108. The network relay devices 101 to 108 are devices for relaying network data. The data records information for identifying the transmission destination / transmission source, and relays the network data based on the information. The network relay devices 101 to 108 are the same type of devices, but the installed software versions are different.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the network relay apparatuses 101 to 108 in FIG. The network relay device 201 will be described as the network relay device 101 in FIG. 1 (the same configuration applies to the network relay devices 102 to 108).

  The network relay device 201 includes a packet switch processing unit 202, a device control unit 203, a memory 204, and a software recording unit 205.

  An outline of the operation of each unit will be described. The packet switch processing unit 202 analyzes the data input from the port of the network relay device 201 and outputs the data to the port to which the destination device described in the data is connected. Further, the data identified as the data addressed to the own device can be output to the device control unit 203. Further, packet data input from the device control unit 203 is also output to an appropriate port in the packet switch processing unit 202.

  The device control unit 203 controls the entire network relay device and executes a procedure described in software. It is assumed that the operation of the packet switch processing unit 202 is also performed by the device control unit 203. It also has a packet generation / reception / analysis function, and exchanges packet data with the packet switch processing unit 202. Also, read / write control of the memory 204 and the software recording unit 205 is executed. These realize file transfer protocol processing, restart processing, and software update processing.

  The memory 204 is used as a storage area of the apparatus control unit 203, and software is also developed on the memory 204. Information such as a list / table generated by the device control unit 203 is also generated on the memory 204 and used by the device control unit 203. The device list 401 shown in FIG. 5 and the update target device list 502 shown in FIG. 7 are also generated on this memory.

  A software recording unit 205 is a non-volatile storage unit that stores software in which operations of the device control unit 203 and the packet switch processing unit 202 are described. In the software update process of the device control unit 203, the device control unit 203 outputs data to the software recording unit 205 and overwrites the software data.

  A device list 401 shown in FIG. 5 is a list in which device MAC (Media Access Control) addresses and software versions used in the devices are described as information other than the device itself on the network. These pieces of information are created on the basis of what each device on the network embeds the information and transmits a broadcast packet on the network in response to the operation trigger according to the procedure of the present invention, and this device list 401 is created by each device on the network. It shall be held.

  An update target device list 502 shown in FIG. 7 is a list held by a device positioned as a master device by the master device determination process, and is generated based on the device list 401 on the master device. It is composed of the MAC address of the device and the application status. The application status takes three values of Y / N / S, Y indicates applied, N indicates not applied, and S indicates skip. The skip is a value that can be set when the update target device cannot be updated at the time of access for some reason.

  Next, operation processing according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall flow.

  First, a broadcast packet having a content notifying the start of processing is transmitted from an unspecified device (step A1 in FIG. 3). In the network shown in FIG. 1, this may be from any of the network relay apparatuses 101 to 108.

  Next, the device that has received the process start notification enters the master device determination process (FIG. 3, step A2). The master device is a device having the latest version on the network and is defined as a device having the smallest MAC address.

  Here, each device broadcasts its own version information, and simultaneously receives a broadcast from another device, and generates a device list 401 based on the broadcast. The device list 401 is analyzed to determine whether the conditions of the master device are met.

  In other words, each device on the network broadcasts the software version currently operated on its own device by broadcasting, stores the information on each device, compares it with the information on its own device, and finds the latest version on the network. Determine the working device and define it as the master device.

  As a result of the processing in step A2, the master device on the network is uniquely determined. (See steps B1 to B3 in FIG. 4 and steps C1 to C9 in FIG. 6).

  Next, the master device narrows down the update target devices (step A3 in FIG. 3). Based on the device list 401 generated in step A2 in FIG. 3, a device whose version is older than the master device is extracted to generate the update target device list 502 (steps D1 to D5 in FIG. 8).

  Next, the master device performs an update based on the update target device list 502 (step A4 in FIG. 3). Update processing is performed by sequentially accessing the update target device from the master device, and automatically checking the update file transfer means (TFTP / FTP / HTTP, etc.) and account information each time the target device is based on the response. Then, the master device starts up the file transfer program on both sides and executes the file transfer (executes the access / update process).

  After the file transfer is complete, the target device is automatically restarted and the new version of software is running. In addition, the target device notifies the master device that the file transfer has been completed.

  On the other hand, the master device that has received the notification (may be when the file transfer ends) updates the next device in the update target device list.

  These processes are continued until all the devices in the update target device list 502 are applied (see steps E1 to E5 in FIG. 9, steps F1 to F9 in FIG. 10, and steps G1 to G9 in FIG. 11).

  Finally, when the master device determines that the update has been completed for all target devices, the master device notifies the network administrator or management software that the update has been completed and ends (step A5 in FIG. 3).

  The above is the overall flow. Next, each step will be described in detail.

[Master device decision processing]
The master device determination process (step A2 in FIG. 3) will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the processing start notification issued in step A1 in FIG. 3 is received (step B1 in FIG. 4), and a broadcast packet describing the version of the own device is transmitted to the network as a trigger. At the same time, broadcast packets received from other devices are accumulated to generate a device list 401 (step B2 in FIG. 4).

  The device list 401 is a list of broadcast packet transmission source MAC addresses and version information described in the packets, and is not exactly the same for each device on the network.

  After a certain period of time, a master determination process is performed based on the device list (step B3 in FIG. 4). The master determination process is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the master determination process, first, the first element of the device list is extracted (step C1 in FIG. 6), and it is determined whether the version is older than the own device (step C2 in FIG. 6).

  If it is older than its own device (step C2 / Yes), it is determined whether all elements of the device list have been determined (step C5 in FIG. 6). If there is remaining data in the device list, undecided data is extracted ( Step C9 in FIG. 6 returns to the determination in step C2 in FIG.

  When the data determined in step C5 in FIG. 6 is the last data (step C5 / Yes), all the devices in the device list 401 are older or the same as the own device but have a larger MAC address by the processing described later. Therefore, the own apparatus can be determined as the master (step C8 in FIG. 6).

  On the other hand, if the version is the same as or newer than the own device as determined in step C2 in FIG. 6, it is determined whether the version is the same as the own device (step C3 in FIG. 6). If the MAC address of the own device is smaller than the address (step C4 in FIG. 6), the device is determined as a non-master device (step C6 in FIG. 6), and the device list is discarded (FIG. 6). 6 step C7) ends.

  If it is determined in step C4 in FIG. 6 that the MAC address is larger than that of the own apparatus, the process proceeds to determination in step C5 in FIG.

  If it is determined in step C3 in FIG. 6 that the version is newer than the self apparatus, the self apparatus is determined to be a non-master apparatus (step C6 in FIG. 6), and the apparatus list is discarded (FIG. 6). Step C7) ends.

[Refine update target]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation process of narrowing down the update target (step A3 in FIG. 3). A device list 501 has already been generated for the master device determined in step A2 of FIG. Narrow down the devices to be updated based on this list.

  First, elements are extracted from the device list 501 (step D1 in FIG. 8). The version information of the extracted element is compared with the version of the own device (master device) (step D2 in FIG. 8). If the version is old, the update target is added to the update target device list 502, and N (not applicable) is set as an initial value in the application status column of the update target device list 502. If the versions are the same, the process of step D3 in FIG. 8 is skipped. It is determined whether there is unprocessed data (step D4 in FIG. 8). If there is remaining data, undetermined elements are extracted (step D5 in FIG. 8), and the determination in step D2 in FIG. 8 is performed. If it is determined in step D4 in FIG.

[Circuit update process]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the cyclic update process (step A4 in FIG. 3) by the master device. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the update process in the master device. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the update process in the update target apparatus. FIG. 12 is a time chart of the master device and the update target device in the operation process of the update process.

  Based on the update target device list 502 generated in step A3 of FIG. 3, the master device sequentially accesses the update target devices and executes update processing.

  First, device information is extracted from the update target device list 502 (step E1 in FIG. 9). The application status column of the extracted device information is checked (step E2 in FIG. 9), and if “N” indicating non-application or “S” indicating skipping last time is recorded, the update process (FIG. 9) is recorded. Step E3) is executed.

  If “Y” indicating already applied is recorded, it is determined whether or not there is unprocessed data (step E4 in FIG. 9), and if there is remaining data, an undetermined element is extracted (step E5 in FIG. 9). ), The determination of step E2 in FIG. 9 is performed. If it is determined in step E4 in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the update process (step E3 in FIG. 9). When the device extracted in step E1 of the cyclic update process in FIG. 9 is input to the update process in step E2, the master device sends a packet for consulting the start of the update process to the target device (proposed packet). (Step F1 in FIG. 10).

  It is assumed that this proposal packet describes a file transfer method (for example, FTP, TFTP, HTTP, etc.) supported by the master device. The device to be updated receives the proposal packet (step G1 in FIG. 11), verifies whether it can be supported by the file transfer method of its own device (step G2 in FIG. 11). It is determined whether it can cope (step G3 in FIG. 11). For example, it is determined that the file transfer method program indicated by the master device cannot be handled when it is used in another process.

  Then, a packet indicating that the update target apparatus is in an updatable state or is not in an updatable state is generated (referred to as a response packet). There are two types of response packets. When it is determined in step G3 in FIG. 11 that update is possible, the response packet includes that it can be updated, the file transfer method, and its access method (account / password / port information, etc.). Is transmitted to the master device (step G4 in FIG. 11).

  In the case where the update is possible, the corresponding file transfer program is started after the response packet is transmitted (step G6 in FIG. 11).

  Another response packet is a packet including a message indicating skipping at the present time when it is determined in step G3 in FIG. 11 that it cannot be updated. (Step G5 in FIG. 11).

  The master device receives the response packet from the update target device and analyzes the contents (step F2 in FIG. 10). Then, it is confirmed whether or not skip is described in order to determine whether the target device can be updated (step F3 in FIG. 10). If it is skipped, “S” meaning skip is described in the application status column of the update target list 502, and the update process is terminated.

  When the target device can be updated, the file transfer program described in the response packet is started, the update target device is accessed by the access method described in the packet, and the update file is uploaded and transmitted (FIG. 10). Step F5).

  Since the master device is the transmission side, the master device recognizes the completion of file transmission. When the file transfer is completed, a transfer completion notification indicating transfer completion is transmitted to the target device (step F6 in FIG. 10). The transfer target apparatus receives the transfer completion notification (step G7 in FIG. 11), terminates the file transfer program (step G8 in FIG. 11), and restarts it to operate with the updated software file (step in FIG. 11). G9).

  Even in the master device, the program is terminated after the completion of the file transfer (step F7 in FIG. 10), and “Y” meaning “applied” is described in the application status column of the update target device list 502, and the program is terminated.

  As described above, the present embodiment is configured to negotiate the file transfer method, so that appropriate file transfer can be established by both parties.

  A dedicated device / software is not required for the update operation, and software update can be automatically performed in cooperation with only the device, so that the update operation of the software version installed in the device can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the program is started immediately before starting the file transfer and the port to be used can be opened only when necessary, the security can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the access account information is exchanged and the access account information of each device does not need to be held in advance, the convenience of network management can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the version is unified to the latest. However, by updating only one device to the latest version before executing the above processing, the updated one device is defined as the master device, and the target on the network. All devices can be updated at once.

  Note that the program for the CPU to execute the processing shown in the flowcharts of the drawings constitutes a program according to the present invention. As a recording medium for recording the program, a semiconductor storage unit, an optical and / or magnetic storage unit, or the like can be used. By using such a program and a recording medium in a system having a configuration different from that of each of the above-described embodiments and causing the CPU to execute the program, substantially the same effect as the present invention can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described ones and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

1 is a configuration diagram of an entire network in which a plurality of network relay devices according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole flow in the update system of the network relay apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the master apparatus determination process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the apparatus list 401 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the master apparatus determination process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the update object apparatus list 502 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation process of narrowing down the update object which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the cyclic update process by the master apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation process of the update process in the master apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation processing of the update process in the update object apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart of the master apparatus and the update object apparatus in the operation | movement process of the update process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 to 108, 201 Network relay device 202 Packet switch processing unit 203 Device control unit 204 Memory 205 Software recording unit

Claims (9)

Multiple information processing devices are connected via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Notification means for notifying the software version currently operated on its own device by broadcast via the network;
Communication means for receiving software version information currently operated on each device from other information processing devices connected via the network;
Master device definition means for comparing the received software version information of the other information processing device with the software version information of the own device, and defining the device on which the latest version is operating on the network as the master device. ,
The information processing device defined in the master device is:
The information processing device that operates the software version older than the software version information of its own device is set as the update target device, the update target device is accessed sequentially, and the update file transfer means and account information are inquired each time. An update system comprising: an update unit that accesses an update based on an answer from the update target device and executes update by transferring a file. The update target device is:
A completion notifying means for notifying the master device that the file transfer has been completed when the transfer of the file is completed by the updating device of the master device;
Restarting means for restarting the own device to complete the update,
2. The update system according to claim 1, wherein the update unit of the master device accesses and updates the next target device when the completion notification is received.   The update unit of the master device accesses the update target device, and when the update target device is found to be in a state where the update cannot be performed, skips the update target device and accesses the next target device, 3. The update system according to claim 1, wherein the skipped update target device is accessed again afterwards.   The master device comprises update completion notification means for notifying completion to a network administrator terminal connected via the network when updating of all target devices is completed. 4. The update system according to any one of items 1 to 3. Notification means for notifying the software version currently operated on its own device by broadcast via the network;
Communication means for receiving software version information currently operated on each device from other information processing devices connected via the network;
A master device defining unit that compares the received software version information of the other information processing device with the software version information of the own device, and defines the device operating the latest version on the network as the master device; An information processing apparatus characterized by that.   When defined in the master device, an information processing device that operates a software version older than the software version information of its own device is set as an update target device, and the update target device is accessed sequentially, and an update file is transferred each time. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an updating unit that inquires the means and account information, accesses based on an answer from the update target apparatus to the inquiry, and executes an update by transferring a file. A step of notifying the software version currently being operated on its own device by broadcast via the network;
Receiving information of the software version currently operated on each device from other information processing devices connected via the network; and
Comparing the received software version information of the other information processing device with the software version information of the own device and defining the device on which the latest version is operating on the network as the master device;
When defined in the master device, an information processing device that operates a software version older than the software version information of its own device is set as an update target device, and the update target device is accessed sequentially, and an update file is transferred each time. An update method comprising: inquiring means and account information, accessing based on an answer from the update target device to the inquiry, and executing update by transferring a file. A process of notifying the software version currently being operated on its own device by broadcast via the network;
A process of receiving information on the software version currently operated on each device from other information processing devices connected via the network;
The process of comparing the received software version information of the other information processing device with the software version information of the own device and defining the device on which the latest version is operating on the network as the master device;
When defined in the master device, an information processing device that operates a software version older than the software version information of its own device is set as an update target device, and the update target device is accessed sequentially, and an update file is transferred each time. An update program comprising: processing for inquiring means and account information, accessing based on an answer from the update target device to the inquiry, and executing update by file transfer.   9. A computer-readable recording medium for recording the processing of the update program according to claim 8.

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