JP2017175373A - Setting information generation device, network control device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a setting information generation device which dynamically sets and changes, by software, a policy which specifies a service content by a network or a relay node, according to an application.SOLUTION: A design module of an SDN (software definition network) controller includes: a policy acquisition unit which acquires a first network policy to be applied to a first user network, a first relay node policy, which is a policy to be applied to a first relay node connected to the first user network, specifying a service content to be provided by the first relay node to the first user network, and a first communication policy related to communication between first relay nodes in the first user network and the second user network; and a setting information generation unit which generates first setting information to control the first relay node connected to the first user network, on the basis of the contents of the first network policy, the first relay node policy and the first communication policy.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a setting information generation device, a network control device, a method, and a program.

Attempts have been made to construct a software defined network (SDN) using GBP (Group Based Policy) (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1). In GBP, a policy is set for each endpoint group (sometimes referred to as EPG) in which endpoints (sometimes referred to as EP) are grouped. Also, a policy (sometimes referred to as a contract) regarding communication between EPGs is set. By using GBP, a user who provides a networked service (sometimes referred to as an application) designs an application without being aware of the configuration and settings of relay nodes existing between EPGs. be able to.
(Prior art documents)
(Patent Literature)
(Patent Document 1) JP-A-2015-204614 (Non-Patent Document)
(Non-Patent Document 1) Masashi Kubo, “OpenDaylight has come”, [Online], April 8, 2015, [Search February 17, 2016], Internet (http://www.oracle.co.jp) /jdt2015/pdf/7-2.pdf)

  In GBP, an SDN can be easily constructed by deriving the details of a policy regarding a network from an abstract of a policy regarding an application. Therefore, in the current GBP framework, a user who provides and uses an application must dynamically set or change the contents of a service provided to the application by a relay node of the network. I can't.

  In a first aspect of the present invention, a setting information generation device is provided. For example, the setting information device generates setting information of a relay node constituting a relay network that interconnects the first user network and the second user network. The setting information device includes a first network policy applied to the first user network and a policy applied to a first relay node connected to the first user network, wherein the first relay node is connected to the first user network. A policy acquisition unit is provided that acquires a first relay node policy that defines the content of the service to be provided, and a first communication policy related to communication between the first user network and the first relay node. The setting information device includes a setting information generation unit that generates first setting information for controlling the first relay node based on the contents of the first network policy, the first relay node policy, and the first communication policy. .

  The setting information generation apparatus may further include a topology information acquisition unit that acquires topology information that defines a connection relationship between one or more nodes and one or more relay nodes that form the first user network. The setting information generation apparatus may further include a relay node determination unit that determines a first relay node from one or more relay nodes based on the topology information acquired by the topology information acquisition unit. In the setting information generation device, the topology information may include information indicating that at least one of the one or more relay nodes included in the topology information belongs to a group of relay nodes to which the first relay node policy is applied. . In the setting information generation apparatus, the relay node determination unit may determine a relay node belonging to the group among the one or more relay nodes as the first relay node.

  In the setting information generation apparatus, the setting information may be configuration information for controlling a physical or virtual network device in a software defined network (SDN: Software Defined Network). In the setting information generation apparatus, the first user network may be an end point group in a GBP (Group Based Policy) model. In the setting information generation apparatus, the first relay node may be handled as an endpoint that constitutes an endpoint group in the GBP model. In the setting information generation apparatus, the first communication policy may be handled as a contract in the GBP model, or a policy rule or a subject included in the contract.

  The setting information generation apparatus may further include a communication policy storage unit that stores each of the plurality of first communication policies and each combination of the first network policy and the first relay node policy in association with each other. In the setting information generation apparatus, the policy acquisition unit refers to the information stored in the communication policy storage unit, and matches the combination of the first network policy and the first relay node policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit. May be acquired as the first communication policy.

  The setting information generation apparatus may further include a required specification acquisition unit that acquires information related to specifications required for the relay network. In the above setting information generation device, the communication policy storage unit associates each of the plurality of first communication policies with each of the first network policy, the first relay node policy, and the combination of specifications required for the relay network. May be stored. In the setting information generation apparatus, the policy acquisition unit refers to the information stored in the communication policy storage unit, and the first network policy and the first relay node policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit, and the required specification acquisition unit A communication policy that matches the combination of specifications required for the relay network acquired by may be acquired as the first communication policy.

  The setting information generation apparatus may further include a required specification acquisition unit that acquires information related to specifications required for the relay network. In the above setting information generation device, the setting information generation unit includes the first setting information based on the contents of the first network policy and the first communication policy, and the specifications required for the relay network acquired by the request specification acquisition unit. May be generated. In the setting information generation device, the owner or administrator of the first user network may be different from the owner or administrator of the relay network.

  In the setting information generation apparatus, the policy acquisition unit includes a second network policy applied to the second user network, a policy applied to the second relay node connected to the second user network, and the second relay node. May acquire a second relay node policy that defines the content of the service provided to the second user network, and a second communication policy related to communication between the second user network and the second relay node. In the setting information generation device, the setting information generation unit generates second setting information for controlling the second relay node based on the contents of the second network policy, the second relay node policy, and the second communication policy. You can do it.

  In a second aspect of the present invention, a network control device is provided. The network control device includes the setting information generation device. The network control device includes a setting information transmission unit that transmits the first setting information generated by the setting information generation device to the first relay node.

  In a third aspect of the present invention, a method for generating at least one setting information of a plurality of relay nodes constituting a relay network interconnecting a first user network and a second user network is provided. The above method applies a first relay node policy applied to a relay node connected to a first user network among a plurality of relay nodes and providing a first service to the first user network. Determining a target first relay node. The method includes applying a first relay node policy to the first relay node. In the above method, the owner or administrator of the first user network may be different from the owner or administrator of the relay network.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating setting information of a relay node constituting a relay network interconnecting a first user network and a second user network. In the above method, the computer is a first network policy applied to the first user network, and a policy applied to the first relay node connected to the first user network, wherein the first relay node is the first user network. A policy acquisition step of acquiring a first relay node policy that defines the content of the service to be provided, and a first communication policy relating to communication between the first user network and the first relay node. The method includes a setting information generation step in which the computer generates first setting information for controlling the first relay node based on the contents of the first network policy, the first relay node policy, and the first communication policy. Have.

  In the above method, the setting information may be configuration information for controlling a physical or virtual network device in a software defined network (SDN: Software Defined Network). In the above method, the first user network may be an endpoint group in a GBP (Group Based Policy) model. In the above method, the first relay node may be treated as an endpoint that constitutes an endpoint group in the GBP model. In the above method, the first communication policy may be treated as a contract in the GBP model, or a policy rule or a subject included in the contract.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the computer generates the first setting information by the above method, and the computer generates the first setting information generated in the step of generating the first setting information. And a setting information transmission step of transmitting to one relay node.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, a program is provided. A non-transitory storage medium storing the above program may be provided. The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the setting information generation device. The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the network control device. The above program may be a program for causing a computer to execute the above method.

  It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

1 schematically shows an example of a network service providing system 100. The conceptual diagram at the time of extending the concept of GBP to a relay node is shown. An example of an internal configuration of the SDN controller 110 is schematically shown. An example of an internal configuration of the design module 210 is schematically shown. An example of the process in the setting information generation part 350 is shown schematically. An example of an internal configuration of control module 220 is shown roughly. An example of the design method of the virtual network 130 is shown schematically. An example of a PE router setting method is schematically shown.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention. In the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

  An apparatus and method for constructing an SDN by extending the concept of EPG and GBP to relay nodes constituting a relay network interconnecting a plurality of EPGs will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A schematically shows an example of a network service providing system 100. FIG. 1B schematically shows an example when the concepts of EPG and GBP are extended to relay nodes.

  When an SDN relating to an application that is configured by a specific EP group is constructed using GBP, EPs to which the same policy is applied are grouped to create one or more EPGs. In addition, a policy describing connectivity between EPGs is created, and communication between the EPGs is managed based on the policy. A set of policies between EPGs is called a contract. For example, a contract between a first EPG that uses a Web service and a second EPG that uses a Web service is a set of policies that describe matters related to communication protocols, communication directions, and the like between EPGs. The SDN construction method using GBP is promoted by the OpenDayLight project, the OpenStack project, and the like.

  In the current GBP framework, if it is necessary to realize a service provided by a specific EPG to other EPGs, the above-mentioned specific EPG is also set for the relay node between the two EPGs. The user can dynamically set or change the setting of the relay node by software. However, regarding the settings necessary for realizing the service provided by the relay node (or relay network) itself to the EPG, the user of the EPG dynamically sets the settings of the relay node by software. Cannot be changed.

  Examples of services that the relay node itself provides to the EPG include a service related to path control and a service related to QoS (Quality of Service). Services related to route control include services that use static routing for route control, services that use BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) for route control, and services that control parameter values related to route control to satisfy specific conditions. Can be illustrated. Examples of the parameters related to route control include a value of a MED (Multi Exit Discriminator) attribute, a value of an LP (Local Preference) attribute, and a value of a community attribute. As a service related to QoS, a service for controlling the value of a parameter related to QoS to satisfy a specific condition can be exemplified. Examples of QoS-related services include a bandwidth guarantee service, a priority control service, a QoS code point conversion service, and the like.

  On the other hand, according to this embodiment, the concept of EPG and GBP is extended to a relay node that constructs a relay network that interconnects a specific EPG and another EPG. Specifically, in this embodiment, one or more relay nodes that construct a relay network are also handled as EPs. Then, the EPG of the relay node is created by grouping the one or more relay nodes based on the policy applied to each relay node. Two or more EPGs may be created as EPGs of relay nodes in a single relay network. A single relay node may belong to two or more EPGs.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, a policy describing the connectivity between the specific EPG and the EPG of the relay node is created, and the EPG is performed between the EPG and another EPG through the relay node. Communication is managed based on the policy. Accordingly, the user of the specific EPG specifies (i) which EPG the relay node connected to the node included in the specific EPG belongs to, and (ii) the specific EPG and the relay node By creating a policy or contract with the EPG to which it belongs, the setting of the relay node can be dynamically set or changed by software. As a result, the user of the specific EPG must dynamically set or change the contents of the service provided by the relay node (or relay node) to the specific EPG with software. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the network service providing system 100 includes a policy agent 114, a policy agent 115, a policy agent 116, an SDN controller 120, and a virtual network 130. The virtual network 130 includes an intra-site network 146 of the site 140, an intra-site network 156 of the site 150, and a communication network 160.

  In the present embodiment, the EPG of the site 140 includes a server 142, a CE router 144, and an intra-site network 146. The EPG at the site 150 includes a client terminal 152, a CE router 154, and an intra-site network 156. The communication network 160 includes a PE router 162, a PE router 164, and a PE router 166.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, in this embodiment, the PE router 162 and the PE router 166 belong to the EPG 192 as a primary router. The PE router 164 belongs to the backup router EPG 191. In the present embodiment, the EPG of the relay node that constructs the communication network 160 is not limited to the EPG 191 and the EPG 192. According to another embodiment, for example, a plurality of EPGs are formed for each type or characteristic of the service provided to the site 140 or the site 150 by the relay node configuring the communication network 160 or the communication network 160.

  In one embodiment, when the communication network 160 includes a plurality of PE routers (Provider Edge routers) having different characteristics, a plurality of EPGs may be formed for each characteristic of the PE router. Examples of the characteristics of the PE router include the contents of the service provided by the PE router, the type of communication protocol supported by the PE router, the type of QoS service level, and the like. For example, in the embodiment described in FIG. 1B, an EPG 193 of a PE router that uses static routing and an EPG 194 of a PE router that controls the route using BGP are formed. Similarly, when the EPG of the site 140 or the site 150 includes a plurality of CE routers (Customer Router routers) having different characteristics, a plurality of EPGs may be formed for each CE router characteristic.

  In FIG. 1B, contract 172 shows a set of policies that describe the connectivity between the EPG at site 140 and the EPG at site 150. Contract 182 represents a set of policies that describe the connectivity between the EPG at site 140 and the EPG 191 for communication network 160. The contract 184 shows a set of policies that describe the connectivity between the EPG at the site 140 and the EPG 192 for the communication network 160. Contract 186 shows a set of policies that describe the connectivity between the EPG at site 150 and the EPG 192 for communication network 160.

  The policy agent 116 may be an example of a setting information transmission unit. The SDN controller 120 may be an example of a setting information generation device, a setting information transmission unit, and a network control device. The intra-site network of the site 140 and the intra-site network of the site 150 may be an example of a first user network or a second user network. The policy applied to the EPG at the site 140 may be an example of a first network policy. The policy applied to the EPG at site 150 may be an example of a second network policy. The communication network 160 may be an example of a relay network. The PE router 162, the PE router 164, and the PE router 166 may be an example of a relay node, a first relay node, or a second relay node. The contract 182, the contract 184, and the contract 186 may be an example of a first communication policy or a second communication policy. The policy applied to each of the EPG 191, the EPG 192, the EPG 193, and the EPG 194 may be an example of a first relay node policy or a second relay node policy.

  Next, each part of the network service providing system 100 will be specifically described. In the present embodiment, the network service providing system 100 uses the physical resource 10 to provide a network service. The network service providing system 100 may provide a network service using a virtual node and a virtual link realized using the physical resource 10.

  In the present embodiment, examples of the physical resource 10 include physical computing resources and physical network resources. Examples of physical computing resources include information processing resources and information storage resources. Examples of physical network resources include switching resources, routing resources, insertion / branching resources, radio resources, medium resources, and the like. Examples of the medium resource include an electric medium resource, an optical medium resource, a wireless link, and a combination thereof.

  In the present embodiment, the policy agent 114 controls one or more nodes included in the site 140 based on an instruction from the SDN controller 120. The policy agent 115 controls one or more nodes included in the site 150 based on an instruction from the SDN controller 120. Policy agent 115 may be owned or managed by the owner or administrator of site 150. Based on an instruction from the policy agent 116 and the SDN controller 120, one or more nodes included in the communication network 160 are controlled.

  Policy agent 114, policy agent 115, and policy agent 116 may access physical resource 10 via a communication network (not shown). Each of policy agent 114, policy agent 115, and policy agent 116 may be owned or managed by the respective owner or administrator of site 140, site 150, and communication network 160. The owner or administrator of the communication network 160 may be the owner or administrator of the main part of the communication network 160.

  In this embodiment, the SDN controller 120 controls the virtual network 130 via a communication network (not shown) using software instructions. For example, the SDN controller 120 creates information for controlling a physical or virtual network device in the SDN, and controls the virtual network 130 by transmitting the information to each device. The SDN controller 120 may access the physical resource 10 via the policy agent 114, the policy agent 115, or the policy agent 116. The SDN controller 120 may access the virtual node via the policy agent 114, the policy agent 115, or the policy agent 116.

  A user of the site 140, the site 150, or the communication network 160 accesses the SDN controller 120 via the communication network (not shown) using the user terminal 20, for example. The user terminal 20 may be an information processing apparatus such as a mobile terminal, a personal computer, or a server. A user who accesses the SDN controller 120 inputs an instruction or information to the SDN controller 120, and the SDN controller 120 creates the above-described software instruction based on the information input by the user.

  Each unit of the SDN controller 120 may be realized by hardware, may be realized by software, or may be realized by hardware and software. Each unit of the SDN controller 120 may be realized by a physical computing resource, may be realized by a virtual computing resource, or may be realized by a combination thereof. Each unit of the SDN controller 120 may be realized by starting software or a program that defines the operation of each unit of the SDN controller 120 in an information processing apparatus having a general configuration.

  An information processing device used as the SDN controller 120 includes a data processing device having a processor such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, a communication interface, a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch panel, a microphone, a voice input system, a gesture input system, and position information acquisition. You may provide input devices, such as a system and various sensors, output devices, such as various displays, a touch panel, and a speaker, and memory | storage devices, such as memory and HDD. The data processing device or the storage device may store the above software or program. The software or program is executed by a processor to cause the information processing apparatus to execute an operation defined by the software or program. The above software or program may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, the virtual network 130 transmits information between the server 142 and the client terminal 152. The virtual network 130 may be a logical network constructed on the physical resource 10. The virtual network 130 may include virtual nodes and virtual links. The virtual network 130 may include a physical communication network as a part thereof. The virtual network 130 may include a plurality of virtual networks independent for each tenant.

  In the present embodiment, end points such as servers, virtual servers, client terminals, personal computers, portable terminals, routers, and access points are arranged in each of the sites 140 and 150. Further, in the site 140 and the site 150, an intra-site network 146 and an intra-site network 156 that connect a plurality of endpoints are constructed. Each of site 140 or intra-site network 146 and site 150 or intra-site network 156 may be an endpoint group in the GBP model.

  In the present embodiment, the communication network 160 transmits information between the site 140 and the site 150. The communication network 160 may be a physical communication network, a virtual network, or a combination thereof. The physical communication network may be a wired communication transmission line, a wireless communication transmission line, or a combination thereof. The owner or administrator of the communication network 160 may be different from the owner or administrator of at least one of the site 140 or the intra-site network 146 and the site 150 or the intra-site network 156.

  The PE router 162 and the PE router 164 are connected to the CE router 144 of the intra-site network 146 and connect the intra-site network 146 and the communication network 160. The PE router 166 is connected to the CE router 154 of the intra-site network 156 and connects the intra-site network 156 and the communication network 160.

  According to the present embodiment, among the plurality of relay nodes constituting the communication network 160, the PE router 162 and the PE router 166 are handled as belonging to the EPG 192 of the primary router. The PE router 164 is handled as belonging to the backup router EPG 191. Accordingly, the PE router 162 and the PE router 166 can be handled as application targets of the policy applied to the EPG 192. Further, the PE router 164 can be handled as an application target of a policy applied to the EPG 191.

  As a result, for example, even if the owner or administrator of the communication network 160 is different from the owner or administrator of the site 140 or the intra-site network 146, the owner or administrator of the site 140 or the intra-site network 146 Can generate setting information of relay nodes constituting the communication network 160. In addition, since the SDN controller 120 can dynamically set or change the setting of the relay node existing between the EPG of the site 140 and the EPG of the site 150, the network in the multi-vendor environment Virtualization can be easily realized.

  In this embodiment, the case where the relay node connected to the node of each site is a PE router has been described. However, the relay node is not limited to the PE router. In other embodiments, the relay node may be a large capacity router or a small switch. The relay node may be a physical node or a virtual node.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the SDN controller 120. In the present embodiment, the SDN controller 120 includes a design module 210, a control module 220, and a storage module 230. The design module 210 may be an example of a setting information generation device. The control module 220 may be an example of a setting information transmission unit. The storage module 230 may be an example of a communication policy storage unit. Note that the division of roles of each unit of the SDN controller 120 is not strict, and information processing in each unit of the SDN controller 120 may be arbitrarily separated or integrated.

  In the present embodiment, the design module 210 generates setting information for the nodes constituting the virtual network 130. The design module 210 may generate setting information of nodes constituting the virtual network 130 using GBP. The setting information may be configuration information for controlling a physical or virtual network device in the SDN. The setting information may include information regarding setting data unique to the network device, an annotation regarding the setting data, a policy that is the generation source of the setting data, and the like.

  In one embodiment, the design module 210 configures the PE router 162 based on the policy content applied to the EPG at the site 140, the policy content applied to the EPG 192, and the policy content included in the contract 184. Setting information for control is generated. The design module 210 can generate setting information for controlling the PE router 164 by a method similar to the conventional method by handling the EPG 191 related to the communication network 160 in the same manner as the conventional EPG.

  Similarly, the design module 210 controls the PE router 164 based on the policy content applied to the EPG at the site 140, the policy content applied to the EPG 191, and the policy content included in the contract 182. Setting information is generated. In addition, the design module 210 controls the PE router 166 based on the content of the policy applied to the EPG of the site 150, the content of the policy applied to the EPG 192, and the content of the policy included in the contract 184. Generate setting information. The content of the policy included in each contract may be a policy rule (simply referred to as a rule) or a subject included in the contract in the GBP model.

  In other embodiments, the design module 210 is required by the communication network 160 for the content of the policy applied to the EPG at the site 140, the content of the policy applied to the EPG 192, the content of the policy included in the contract 184. The setting information for controlling the PE router 162 is generated based on the specifications. The design module 210 may treat the specifications required for the communication network 160 as part of the policy content included in the contract 184. For example, when the design module 210 generates a setting information using a policy relating to QoS and including a guaranteed value of best effort, based on the specifications requested by the user to the communication network 160, the best effort A guarantee value may be determined. Accordingly, for example, the user can generate setting information using a contract or policy template prepared in advance.

  The specification required for the communication network 160 may be a required specification related to QoS (Quality of Service) of the communication network 160. The specifications required for the communication network 160 may be user-specified specifications related to routing protocol, routing parameters, and the like.

  The specifications required for the communication network 160 are input to the system by the user, for example. For example, the user inputs information related to specifications required for the communication network 160 to the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 transmits information input by the user to the design module 210. Thereby, the design module 210 can acquire information related to specifications required for the communication network 160. The specification required for the communication network 160 may be an example of information related to a service that a relay node (or a relay network) provides to other EPGs.

  Similarly, the design module 210 includes the content of the policy applied to the EPG at the site 140, the content of the policy applied to the EPG 191, the content of the policy included in the contract 182, and the specifications required for the communication network 160. Based on the above, setting information for controlling the PE router 164 is generated. In addition, the design module 210 includes a policy content applied to the EPG of the site 150, a policy content applied to the EPG 192, a policy content included in the contract 184, and a specification required for the communication network 160. Based on this, setting information for controlling the PE router 166 is generated.

  In the present embodiment, the control module 220 controls the virtual network 130. In one embodiment, the control module 220 performs configuration of nodes constituting the virtual network 130. For example, the control module 220 transmits the setting information of each PE router generated by the design module 210 to each PE router. Thereby, the configuration of each PE router can be executed.

  In other embodiments, the control module 220 manages the policies of each EPG and the policies related to communication between EPGs (eg, each contract). In still another embodiment, the control module 220 monitors the virtual network 130 or the network service providing system 100. The control module 220 may control the virtual network 130 based on the monitoring result. For example, the control module 220 determines to update the setting information based on the monitoring result, and causes the design module 210 to generate new setting information. The design module 210 generates new setting information in consideration of the monitoring result. The control module 220 executes the configuration of each node using the new setting information.

  In the present embodiment, the storage module 230 stores various types of information. For example, the storage module 230 stores a policy applied to each EPG and a policy or contract related to communication between EPGs. Each policy may be information in which a traffic class is associated with at least one of a direction of the traffic and an action for the traffic.

  The storage module 230 may store, for each EPG, information on endpoints included in the EPG, information on the topology between the endpoints, and the like. The storage module 230 may store information on the topology between the endpoints included in each EPG and the endpoints included in other EPGs. The information on the topology may include information indicating an EPG to which the endpoint belongs or information indicating a policy applied to the EPG for at least one of the endpoints included in the other EPG.

  The storage module 230 may store setting information generated by the design module 210. The storage module 230 may store information regarding the monitoring result of the virtual network 130 or the network service providing system 100 by the control module 220.

  In one embodiment, the storage module 230 associates each of a plurality of policies related to communication between the first EPG and the second EPG with each of a combination of a policy applied to the first EPG and a policy applied to the second EPG. May be stored. For example, if the policies applied to the EPG at site 140 are A-1 and A-2, and the policies applied to EPG 192 are B-1 and B-2, the storage module 230 may store the EPG and As a policy regarding communication between EPG 192, a combination of A-1 and B-1, a combination of A-1 and B-2, a combination of A-2 and B-1, and a combination of A-2 and B-2 The policy corresponding to each of the four combinations is stored. The above four policies may be part of the contract 184.

  In other embodiments, the storage module 230 may include the identification information of the policy for at least some of the plurality of policies related to communication between the EPG related to the communication network 160 and the EPG that uses the service provided by the communication network 160. The policy applied to the EPG related to the communication network 160, the policy applied to the EPG using the service provided by the communication network 160, and the combination of specifications required for the communication network 160 may be stored in association with each other. The EPG related to the communication network 160 is, for example, EPG 191, EPG 192, EPG 193, EPG 194, or the like. The EPG that uses the service provided by the communication network 160 is, for example, an EPG at the site 140, an EPG at the site 150, or the like. The plurality of policies related to communication between the two EPGs are, for example, one or more policies included in the contract 182, the contract 184, or the contract 186.

  Thereby, the user can easily select an appropriate policy according to the specifications required for the communication network 160. For example, when the user requests a bandwidth guarantee of 100 Mbps or more with respect to QoS, the design module 210 can define one or more bandwidth guarantees of 100 Mbps or more among the policy templates defined in advance and stored in the storage module 230. Extract the template. Next, the design module 210 conforms to the combination of the policy applied to the EPG related to the communication network 160 and the policy applied to the EPG using the service provided by the communication network 160 among the extracted templates. The above template is extracted. Thereafter, a template to be actually applied is determined by an appropriate algorithm. The design module 210 may ask the user which template to use.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the design module 210. In the present embodiment, the design module 210 includes an input unit 310, a policy acquisition unit 320, a topology information acquisition unit 330, a target node determination unit 340, and a setting information generation unit 350. Each part of the design module 210 may send and receive information to and from each other. Further, the division of roles of each part of the design module 210 is not strict, and information processing in each part of the design module 210 may be arbitrarily separated or integrated. The input unit 310 may be an example of a required specification acquisition unit. The input unit 310 may be an example of a user instruction acquisition unit that acquires an instruction from a user. The target node determination unit 340 may be an example of a relay node determination unit.

  In the present embodiment, the input unit 310 receives an instruction or request from a user. The input unit 310 may be a user interface. Thereby, the design module 210 can acquire an instruction or request from the user. In one embodiment, the input unit 310 receives an input related to an EPG to which the relay node belongs for at least one of the relay nodes included in the communication network 160. For example, the user designates or inputs the EPG to which the relay node belongs for at least one of the one or more relay nodes included in the topology information while referring to the input screen on which the topology information is displayed. In another embodiment, the input unit 310 receives information related to specifications requested by the user from the communication network 160.

  In the present embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 320 acquires various policies. For example, the policy acquisition unit 320 acquires a policy applied to the EPG of the site 140. The policy acquisition unit 320 may acquire a policy applied to the EPG of the site 150. The policy acquisition unit 320 may acquire a policy regarding communication between the EPG of the site 140 and the EPG of the site 150. In the present embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 320 acquires a policy applied to each of one or more EPGs related to the communication network 160. The policy acquisition unit 320 may acquire a policy regarding communication between an EPG related to the communication network 160 and an EPG that uses a service provided by the communication network 160. The policy acquisition unit 320 may transmit information regarding the acquired policy to the setting information generation unit 350.

  The policy acquisition unit 320 may extract a policy that matches a specific condition with reference to the storage module 230. According to one embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 320 first refers to the information stored in the storage module 230 and extracts the policy applied to the EPG of the site 140 and the policy applied to the EPG 192. Next, the policy acquisition unit 320 refers to the information related to the communication policy between EPGs stored in the storage module 230, and the policy applied to the EPG of the site 140 from among the plurality of policies related to communication between EPGs. And a policy matching the combination of policies applied to the EPG 192 is extracted.

  According to another embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 320 first extracts the policy applied to the EPG of the site 140 and the policy applied to the EPG 192 with reference to the information stored in the storage module 230. . Next, the policy acquisition unit 320 refers to the information related to the communication policy between the EPGs stored in the storage module 230, and the policy applied to the EPG of the site 140 from among the plurality of policies related to the communication between the EPGs. The policy that matches the combination of the policy applied to the EPG 192 and the specification required for the communication network 160 is extracted.

  In this embodiment, the topology information acquisition unit 330 defines the connection relationship between one or more nodes constituting the EPG of each site and at least one of one or more relay nodes included in the communication network 160. Get information. The topology information acquisition unit 330 may acquire the topology information with reference to the storage module 230. The topology information acquisition unit 330 may acquire the above topology information from the user via the input unit 310. The topology information acquisition unit 330 may transmit the acquired topology information to the target node determination unit 340.

  For example, the topology information acquisition unit 330 acquires topology information that defines a connection relationship between the server 142 and the CE router 144 included in the EPG of the site 140 and the PE router 162 and the PE router 164 included in the communication network 160. The topology information may include information indicating that the PE router 162 belongs to the EPG 192 and information indicating that the PE router 164 belongs to the EPG 191. The topology information acquisition unit 330 may acquire topology information that defines a connection relationship between the client terminal 152 and the CE router 154 included in the EPG of the site 150 and the PE router 166 included in the communication network 160. The topology information may include information indicating that the PE router 166 belongs to the EPG 192.

  In the present embodiment, the target node determination unit 340 determines a relay node to which a specific policy is applied among one or more relay nodes configuring the communication network 160. The target node determination unit 340 may determine a policy to be applied to each relay node for each of one or more relay nodes configuring the communication network 160. The target node determination unit 340 may determine a relay node to which a specific policy is applied by determining an EPG to which each relay node belongs, or may determine a policy to be applied to each relay node. The target node determination unit 340 may determine the EPG to which each relay node belongs based on the topology information acquired by the topology information acquisition unit 330. The target node determination unit 340 transmits information regarding the determined relay node to the setting information generation unit 350.

  For example, the target node determination unit 340 is connected to the CE router 144 from among a plurality of relay nodes included in the communication network 160 based on the topology information acquired by the topology information acquisition unit 330, and the intra-site network 146 and communication A relay node connecting the network 160 is determined. Next, the target node determination unit 340 determines the EPG to which each of the relay nodes connecting the intra-site network 146 and the communication network 160 belongs based on the topology information acquired by the topology information acquisition unit 330. The target node determination unit 340 may associate each of the relay nodes connecting the intra-site network 146 and the communication network 160 with a policy applied to the EPG to which each relay node belongs.

  In the present embodiment, the setting information generation unit 350 generates endpoint setting information included in the EPG of each site based on the content of the policy applied to the EPG of each site. The setting information generation unit 350 may generate endpoint setting information based on the content of the policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit 320. The setting information generation unit 350 may store the generated setting information in the storage module 230 in association with the endpoint identification information.

  According to the present embodiment, the setting information generation unit 350 applies the GBP model to “one or more relay nodes included in the communication network 160” and “endpoint using the service provided by the communication network 160”. Thus, each EPG is created, and endpoint setting information included in each EPG is generated. Thereby, according to the service which the relay node or the communication network 160 provides, the setting of the said relay node can be set automatically or changed.

  According to one embodiment, the setting information generation unit 350 uses a method known in the field of constructing an SDN using GBP and a policy applied to the EPG of the site 140 and a policy applied to the EPG 191. The setting information of the PE router 164 is generated based on the policy included in the contract 182. More specifically, for example, the setting information generation unit 350 first receives a policy applied to the EPG of the site 140, a policy applied to the EPG 191, and the contract 182 from the policy acquisition unit 320. Next, the setting information generation unit 350 refers to one or more policies included in the contract 182 and extracts a rule associated with the policy subject applied to the combination of the EPG of the site 140 and the EPG 191. . Next, the setting information generation unit 350 generates configuration information for controlling the PE router 164 based on the extracted rule contents. The configuration information may be information that defines the direction in which the flow is allowed to pass and the action for the flow based on the classifier of the flow received by the PE router 164.

  Similarly, the setting information generation unit 350 generates setting information of the PE router 162 based on the policy applied to the EPG of the site 140, the policy applied to the EPG 192, and the policy included in the contract 184. In addition, the setting information generation unit 350 generates setting information for the PE router 166 based on the policy applied to the EPG of the site 150, the policy applied to the EPG 192, and the policy included in the contract 186.

  According to another embodiment, the setting information generation unit 350 includes a policy applied to the EPG of the site 140, a policy applied to the EPG 191, a policy included in the contract 182, and a specification required for the communication network 160. Based on the above, setting information for controlling the PE router 164 is generated. Similarly, the setting information generation unit 350 generates setting information for controlling the PE router 162 and the PE router 166.

  More specifically, for example, the setting information generation unit 350 first receives a policy applied to the EPG of the site 140, a policy applied to the EPG 191, and the contract 182 from the policy acquisition unit 320. Next, the setting information generation unit 350 extracts only policies that satisfy the specifications required for the communication network 160 from one or more policies included in the contract 182. Next, the setting information generation unit 350 extracts a policy that matches a combination of a policy applied to the EPG of the site 140 and a policy applied to the EPG 191 from the extracted policies. Then, a rule is extracted from the policy that matches the above combination. Next, the setting information generation unit 350 generates configuration information for controlling the PE router 164 based on the extracted rule contents.

  FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of processing in the setting information generation unit 350. In the present embodiment, the setting information generation unit 350 is based on a policy 440 applied to the site 140, a policy 450 applied to the EPG 191, and a contract 460 that defines connectivity between the EPG and the EPG 191 of the site 140. Then, setting information 480 is generated. In the present embodiment, the contract 460 stores one or more policies related to communication between sites. Each of the one or more policies related to communication between sites may be information in which a subject 462, a classifier 464, a direction 466, and an action 468 are associated with each other.

  The subject 462 may be identification information for identifying a policy. Subject 462 may be the name of a policy. The classifier 464 may be information indicating the class or classification of traffic to be policy-targeted. The direction 466 may be information indicating a direction in which traffic subject to the policy is permitted to pass through the node. The action 468 may be information indicating the content of processing for the traffic that is the subject of the policy.

  According to the present embodiment, the setting information generation unit 350 acquires, for example, the policy 440 applied to the site 140 and the policy 450 applied to the EPG 191 from the policy acquisition unit 320. Next, the setting information generation unit 350 extracts a policy that matches the contents of the policy 440 and the policy 450 from the plurality of policies included in the contract 460. Thereafter, the setting information generation unit 350 generates the setting information of the PE router 164 based on the content of the policy extracted from the contract 460 and the content of the EPG 191.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the setting information generation unit 350 extracts a rule whose subject 462 is “QoS_100M” from the policies included in the contract 460. Thereafter, the setting information generation unit 350 generates the setting information of the PE router 164 so that the contents of the policy can be realized. For example, the setting information generation unit 350 can appropriately change the direction of traffic according to the traffic class or classification, or can realize QoS indicated as primary queuing 100 Mbps or best effort 10 Mbps. , The setting information of the PE router 164 is generated.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the control module 220. In the present embodiment, in the control module 220, each unit of the control module 220 including the setting information application unit 510 and the system monitoring unit 520 may transmit / receive information to / from each other. Further, the division of roles of each part of the control module 220 is not strict, and information processing in each part of the control module 220 may be arbitrarily separated or integrated. The setting information application unit 510 may be an example of a setting information transmission unit. The setting information application unit 510 may transmit the setting information via a policy agent.

  The setting information application unit 510 executes configuration of nodes constituting the virtual network 130. For example, the setting information application unit 510 transmits the setting information generated by the design module 210 to each node. The system monitoring unit 520 monitors the virtual network 130 or the network service providing system 100. The control module 220 may determine to update the setting information based on the monitoring result.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of a design method of the virtual network 130 using the design module 210. For example, the user operates the design module 210 via the input unit 310. According to the present embodiment, in step 602 (step may be omitted as S), a user first creates a virtual “tenant” for providing a service. Next, in S604, the user creates a VPN used in the tenant. In S606, the user creates a site in the tenant. For example, the site 140 and the site 150 are defined.

  Next, in S608, the user creates an access line to each site. The user places a CE in each site and connects to one of the access lines. Moreover, PE corresponding to each CE is arranged on the other side of each access line. Furthermore, the address of each CE is registered. The user may register the topology information of each CE and each PE. In S610, the design module 210 generates the setting information of each PE at the stage where the address of each CE is registered. In addition, the design module 210 performs configuration of each PE.

  Next, in S612, the user creates an intra-site network for each site. Further, the user registers the topology information of the endpoint included in each site. In S614, the design module 210 generates setting information of each PE at the stage where the intra-site network of each site is created. In addition, the design module 210 performs configuration of each PE. Thereby, the virtual network 130 is created.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a PE router setting method. FIG. 7 may be an example of a method in which the design module 210 performs the configuration of the PE router in S610 or S614 described with reference to FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, first, in S <b> 702, the topology information acquisition unit 330 acquires topology information that defines the connection relationship of each node of the virtual network 130. For example, the topology information acquisition unit 330 receives the input unit 310 and extracts the topology information related to the virtual network 130 from the topology information stored in the storage module 230. Thereby, the topology of each node included in the virtual network 130 can be determined.

  In S704, one or more endpoints included in the topology information are grouped to create one or more EPGs. For example, the input unit 310 receives an instruction from the user, and groups the endpoints based on the instruction. For example, the user designates or inputs the EPG to which the endpoint belongs for at least one of the one or more endpoints included in the topology information while referring to the input screen on which the topology information is displayed. As a result, the EPG to which each of the PE router 162, the PE router 164, and the PE router 166 belongs is determined.

  Next, in S706, a policy to be applied to each EPG is determined. For example, when the policy acquisition unit 320 acquires a policy applied to each EPG, the policy applied to each EPG is determined. The policy acquisition unit 320 may inquire the user about the policy applied to each EPG, or may acquire the policy applied to each EPG with reference to information stored in the storage module 230. At this time, the user may input the specification required for the communication network 160 to the input unit 310 and edit the content of the policy.

  In S708, a policy to be applied to communication between EPGs is determined. For example, the policy acquisition unit 320 acquires a policy applied to communication between EPGs for at least one of a plurality of created EPG combinations. The policy acquisition unit 320 may inquire the user about the policy applied to the communication between the EPGs, and acquires the policy applied to the communication between the EPGs with reference to the information stored in the storage module 230. May be. At this time, the user may input the specification required for the communication network 160 to the input unit 310 and edit the content of the policy.

  In S710, the setting information generation unit 350 generates setting information for controlling each of the PE router 162, the PE router 164, and the PE router 166. In S712, the setting information application unit 510 transmits the setting information of the PE router 162, PE router 164, and PE router 166 to the PE router 162, PE router 164, and PE router 166, respectively. When each of the PE router 162, the PE router 164, and the PE router 166 receives each setting information, it executes configuration.

  When designing an SDN using GBP, according to the conventional method, the policy applied to the EPG of the site 140, the policy applied to the EPG of the site 150, and the EPG of the site 140 and the EPG of the site 150 Configuration information for each endpoint included in each site is generated based on the contract relating to the communication. At this time, among the settings of the PE router 162, the PE router 164, and the PE router 166 included in the communication network 160, the service provided by the EPG of the site 140 to the EPG of the site 150, or the EPG of the site 150 is the EPG of the site 140. Setting information is also generated for settings related to the service to be provided.

  However, the PE router 162, the PE router 164, and the PE router 166 included in the communication network 160 are elements that are interposed between the site 140 and the site 150 and transmit information between the sites 140 and 150. Then, setting information could not be generated for the settings related to the service provided by the PE router 162, the PE router 164, or the PE router 166 to the site 140 or the site 150. For this reason, it has been impossible to automatically set or change settings such as route control and QoS in the PE router.

  On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, one or more relay nodes included in the communication network 160 are treated as endpoints, and one or more relay nodes are handled based on a policy applied to each relay node. Grouped into EPGs. The above policy is determined based on, for example, the contents of services provided by the EPG and the communication standard in the EPG. In the present embodiment, a contract is created between an EPG composed of a relay node and an EPG that uses a service provided by the EPG. Thereby, setting information of a service provided by a relay node belonging to each EPG can be generated using a method similar to a design method using a conventional GBP.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. In addition, the matters described in the specific embodiment can be applied to other embodiments within a technically consistent range. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The order of execution of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “prior to”. It should be noted that the output can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings, even if it is described using “first”, “next”, etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It is not a thing.

  10 physical resources, 20 user terminals, 100 network service providing system, 110 SDN controller, 114 policy agent, 115 policy agent, 116 policy agent, 120 SDN controller, 130 virtual network, 140 site, 142 server, 144 CE router, 146 site Internal network, 150 sites, 152 client terminals, 154 CE router, 156 intra-site network, 160 communication network, 162 PE router, 164 PE router, 166 PE router, 172 contract, 182 contract, 184 contract, 186 contract, 191 EPG, 192 EPG, 193 EPG, 194 EPG, 210 Design module 220 control module, 230 storage module, 310 input unit, 320 policy acquisition unit, 330 topology information acquisition unit, 340 target node determination unit, 350 setting information generation unit, 440 policy, 450 policy, 460 contract, 462 subject, 464 classifier, 466 direction, 468 action, 480 setting information, 510 setting information application unit, 520 system monitoring unit

Claims (17)

A setting information generation device that generates setting information of a relay node that constitutes a relay network that interconnects a first user network and a second user network,
A first network policy applied to the first user network and a policy applied to a first relay node connected to the first user network, the service provided by the first relay node to the first user network A policy acquisition unit that acquires a first relay node policy that defines the content of the first communication policy, and a first communication policy relating to communication between the first user network and the first relay node;
A setting information generating unit that generates first setting information for controlling the first relay node based on the contents of the first network policy, the first relay node policy, and the first communication policy;
A setting information generation apparatus comprising: A topology information acquisition unit that acquires topology information that defines a connection relationship between one or more nodes constituting the first user network and one or more of the relay nodes;
A relay node determining unit that determines the first relay node from the one or more relay nodes based on the topology information acquired by the topology information acquiring unit;
Further comprising
The setting information generation device according to claim 1. The topology information includes information indicating that at least one of the one or more relay nodes included in the topology information belongs to a group of relay nodes to which the first relay node policy is applied,
The relay node determining unit determines a relay node belonging to the group among the one or more relay nodes as the first relay node;
The setting information generation device according to claim 2. The setting information is configuration information for controlling a physical or virtual network device in a software defined network (SDN: Software Defined Network).
The first user network is an endpoint group in a GBP (Group Based Policy) model,
The first relay node is treated as an endpoint constituting an endpoint group in the GBP model,
The first communication policy is treated as a contract in the GBP model, or a policy rule or subject included in the contract.
The setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A communication policy storage unit that stores each of the plurality of first communication policies in association with each combination of the first network policy and the first relay node policy;
The policy acquisition unit refers to the information stored in the communication policy storage unit, and determines a communication policy that matches the combination of the first network policy and the first relay node policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit, Obtain as the first communication policy
The setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A request specification acquisition unit for acquiring information on specifications required for the relay network;
The communication policy storage unit stores each of the plurality of first communication policies in association with each of the first network policy, the first relay node policy, and a combination of specifications required for the relay network. ,
The policy acquisition unit refers to the information stored in the communication policy storage unit, and the first network policy and the first relay node policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit, and the requirement specification acquisition unit acquires Obtaining a communication policy that matches a combination of specifications required for the relay network as the first communication policy;
The setting information generation device according to claim 5. A request specification acquisition unit for acquiring information on specifications required for the relay network;
The setting information generation unit generates the first setting information based on contents of the first network policy and the first communication policy, and specifications required for the relay network acquired by the request specification acquisition unit. To
The setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The owner or administrator of the first user network is different from the owner or administrator of the relay network,
The setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The policy acquisition unit is a second network policy applied to the second user network and a policy applied to a second relay node connected to the second user network, wherein the second relay node is the second network node. Obtaining a second relay node policy defining the content of a service provided to the user network, and a second communication policy relating to communication between the second user network and the second relay node;
The setting information generating unit generates second setting information for controlling the second relay node based on contents of the second network policy, the second relay node policy, and the second communication policy;
The setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A setting information transmitting unit for transmitting the first setting information generated by the information generating device to the first relay node;
A network control device comprising: A method for generating at least one setting information of a plurality of relay nodes constituting a relay network interconnecting a first user network and a second user network,
Among the plurality of relay nodes, a relay node connected to the first user network, and an application target of a first relay node policy applied to a relay node that provides a first service to the first user network; Determining a first relay node comprising:
Applying the first relay node policy to the first relay node;
Have
The owner or administrator of the first user network is different from the owner or administrator of the relay network,
Method. A method for generating setting information of a relay node constituting a relay network that interconnects a first user network and a second user network,
A computer has a first network policy applied to the first user network and a policy applied to a first relay node connected to the first user network, wherein the first relay node is connected to the first user network. A policy acquisition stage for acquiring a first relay node policy that defines the content of the service to be provided, and a first communication policy relating to communication between the first user network and the first relay node;
A setting information generating step in which a computer generates first setting information for controlling the first relay node based on the contents of the first network policy, the first relay node policy, and the first communication policy;
Having a method. The setting information is configuration information for controlling a physical or virtual network device in a software defined network (SDN: Software Defined Network).
The first user network is an endpoint group in a GBP (Group Based Policy) model,
The first relay node is treated as an endpoint constituting an endpoint group in the GBP model,
The first communication policy is treated as a contract in the GBP model, or a policy rule or subject included in the contract.
The method of claim 12. The computer generates the first setting information by the method according to claim 12 or 13, and
A setting information transmitting step in which the computer transmits the first setting information generated in the step of generating the first setting information to the first relay node;
Having a method.   A program for causing a computer to function as the setting information generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   A program for causing a computer to function as the network control device according to claim 10.   The program for making a computer perform the method as described in any one of Claim 11-14.