JP2020195068A - Network system and switch device constituting the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a network system with excellent maintainability and operability, and a switch device constituting the same.SOLUTION: In a network system in which a plurality of switch devices (3) are hierarchically connected, a MGR switch device (3M) constituting a root node is directed to a plurality of AGT switch devices (3A) constituting a non-root node, and periodically transmits a request frame (101p) requesting hierarchical information and status information on a network. When the AGT switch device receives the request frame, the AGT switch device acquires hierarchy information of the own device on the network on the basis of the request frame, generates a response frame (101r) including the hierarchy information and the status information of the own device, and send the response frame to the MGR switch device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present disclosure relates to a network system and a switch device constituting the network system.

Conventionally, in an IP (Internet Protocol) network, a plurality of switch devices that perform layer 2 processing and layer 3 processing of an OSI (Open System Interconnection) reference model have been installed in order to construct a communication path between various terminals. ing. In the network system, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) proposed by RFC (Request For Comments) 1157 and the like is used as a network monitoring protocol for monitoring the aliveness and status of these plurality of switch devices (for example,). See Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-146519

However, network monitoring by SNMP is performed by using dedicated monitoring software on an external terminal such as a PC connected to the network system. When such dedicated monitoring software depends on the OS (Operating System) of the external terminal, it cannot be used with an OS that does not support it, so that the exchangeable external terminal is limited and the maintainability of the network system is inferior.

Further, in network monitoring by SNMP, since the switch device is specified by the IP address, it is necessary to statically set the IP address for each switch device in advance. In a general network system, information such as the IP address of each switch device is managed by an external terminal as an address management table. For this reason, it is necessary to manually update the information in the address management table each time a change such as addition, replacement, or deletion of a switch device is made, which imposes a heavy burden on the administrator and improves the operability of the network system. Inferior.

The technique of the present disclosure has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network system having excellent maintainability and operability and a switch device constituting the network system.

In order to achieve the above object, in the technology of the present disclosure, at least one switch device is provided with a management function for alive monitoring and status monitoring of other switch devices by the cooperation of a plurality of switch devices constituting the network system. I tried to have it.

Specifically, the first aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is intended for a network system in which a plurality of switch devices are hierarchically connected. Here, the term "hierarchically connected" means a configuration in which frames can be transferred from a switch device in a higher layer to a switch device in a lower layer and from a switch device in a lower layer to a switch device in a higher layer. For example, any connection form may be used.

In the network system of the first aspect, the plurality of switch devices include a first switch device that constitutes a root node and a plurality of second switch devices that constitute a non-root node. The first switch device periodically transmits a request frame requesting hierarchical information and status information on the network to the plurality of second switch devices. When the second switch device receives the request frame, it acquires the hierarchy information of its own device on the network based on the request frame, and generates a response frame including the hierarchy information and the status information of its own device. It transmits to the first switch device. Further, when another second switch device is connected to the lower layer, the second switch device transfers the request frame to the other second switch device.

In the network system of the first aspect, the first switch device transmits a request frame to a plurality of second switch devices, and the second switch device transmits the hierarchical information and status information of its own device in response to the reception of the request frame. The including response frame is transmitted to the first switch device. The first switch device that has received the response frame can analyze the response frame and acquire the hierarchical information and the status information of the individual second switch devices. Then, the first switch device indicates which port is the hierarchical information of each second switch, the port that transmitted the request frame for obtaining the hierarchical information, or the port that received the response frame for the request frame. The port information can be managed as the position information of the second switch device in the network. As a result, life and death is based on the position information and status information of the second switch device without using dedicated monitoring software that needs to be installed on the external terminal and without setting an IP address for the second switch device. You can monitor and monitor the status. Therefore, the maintainability and operability of the network system can be improved.

In the second aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure, in the network system of the first aspect, the first switch device sets a hop value indicating the number of hops of the second switch device from the first switch device as a request frame. A network system that sends frames containing hop fields to be made. When the second switch device receives the request frame, it adds the hop value set in the hop field of the request frame, and adds the hop value before or after the addition of the hop field to itself on the network. Acquired as device hierarchy information.

In the network system of the second aspect, the second switch device adds the hop value indicating the number of hops of the second switch device from the first switch device of the hop field included in the request frame to the self on the network. Acquire the hierarchy information of the device. According to this, the second switch device can acquire the hierarchical information of its own device on the network by a simple mechanism. Further, even if changes such as addition, replacement, and deletion of switch devices are made in the network system, the hierarchical information of the second switch device according to the changed network configuration can be dynamically acquired. This is suitable for realizing the network system of the first aspect.

A third aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is a network system in which, in the network system of the second aspect, the first switch device transmits a frame including an ID field in which a base ID is set as a request frame. .. When the second switch device receives the request frame, the second switch device acquires the base ID set in the ID field of the request frame, and reflects the hop value before or after the addition of the hop field in the base ID. The identification ID is acquired, and the identification ID is included in the response frame and transmitted.

In the network system of the third aspect, the second switch device acquires the identification ID by reflecting the hop value of the hop field in the base ID of the ID field included in the request frame, and includes the identification ID in the response frame. Send with. By doing so, the identification ID unique to each of the plurality of second switch devices can be easily set. As a result, the administrator of the network system can individually perform various operations such as setting change and reset for the plurality of second switch devices by using the identification ID. Further, when the switch device is added, replaced, or deleted in the network system, the setting of the identification ID of the second switch device is dynamically changed according to the changed network configuration. Therefore, the administrator does not have to manually update the identification ID of the second switch device each time the network system is changed. This contributes to reducing the burden on the administrator and is advantageous for improving the operability of the network system.

A fourth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is intended for a switch device that constitutes a root node in a network system in which a plurality of switch devices are hierarchically connected.

The switch device of the fourth aspect includes a plurality of ports connected to other switch devices in the network system, and a control unit that generates frames transmitted from the ports and analyzes frames received at the ports. The control unit periodically transmits a request frame requesting hierarchical information and status information on the network from the port to other switch devices included in the network system. Further, when the control unit receives a response frame containing the hierarchy information and the status information on the network of another switch device at the port, the control unit analyzes the response frame and the hierarchy information on the network of the other switch device. And get status information.

In the switch device of the fourth aspect, the control unit periodically transmits a request frame to another switch device included in the network system, and analyzes the received response frame to analyze the received response frame of the other switch device. Get hierarchy information and status information on the network. This switch device is complementary to other switch devices that send a response frame containing the hierarchy information and status information of the own device when a request frame is received, and the other switch device is used as a non-root node in the network. By constructing it, the network system of the first aspect can be realized.

A fifth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is intended for a switch device that constitutes a non-root node in a network system in which a plurality of switch devices are hierarchically connected.

The switch device of the fifth aspect includes a plurality of ports connected to other switch devices in the network system, and a control unit that generates frames transmitted from the ports and analyzes frames received at the ports. When the control unit receives a request frame for requesting hierarchy information and status information on the network on any one of the plurality of ports, the control unit receives the hierarchy information of its own device on the network based on the request frame. Is acquired, a response frame containing the hierarchy information and status information of the own device is generated, and the response frame is transmitted from the port where the request frame is received.

In the switch device of the fifth aspect, when the control unit receives the request frame, the control unit generates a response frame including the hierarchical information and the status information of the own device, and sends the response frame from the port where the request frame is received. Send it. This switch device is complementary to another switch device that periodically transmits a request frame, and realizes the network system of the first aspect by constructing a network with the other switch device as a root node. be able to.

According to the technique of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a network system having excellent maintainability and operability and a switch device constituting the network system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a switch device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the format of the monitoring frame according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the contents of the header field of the monitoring frame according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the contents of the data field of the monitoring frame according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow regarding network monitoring of the MGR switch device according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control flow regarding network monitoring of the AGT switch device according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a network monitoring operation in the network system according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a flow of request frames in the network system according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of response frames in the network system according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the network system according to the technique of the present disclosure and the switch device constituting the same will be described by taking as an example a network system adopting a tree-type network topology.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 1 is configured by hierarchically connecting a plurality of switch devices 3. The plurality of switch devices 3 include a manager switch device (hereinafter referred to as "MGR switch device") 3M and a plurality of agent switch devices (hereinafter referred to as "AGT switch device") 3A in the network system 1. There is. The MGR switch device 3M is an example of the first switch device. The AGT switch device 3A is an example of the second switch device.

In the network system 1, a plurality of AGT switch devices 3A are connected in such a manner that they belong to the MGR switch device 3M. The MGR switch device 3M constitutes a root node which is the highest node of the tree structure. The AGT switch device 3A constitutes a non-root node. A non-root node is a leaf node, which is the lowest node in the tree structure, or an intermediate node located between the root node and the lowest node.

The network system 1 has a hierarchical structure composed of these MGR switch devices 3M and a plurality of AGT switch devices 3A.

The hierarchical structure of the network system 1 illustrated in this embodiment includes a first layer L1, a second layer L2, and a third layer L3. The MGR switch device 3M belongs to the first layer L1. A plurality of AGT switch devices 3A connected point-to-point by using the communication cable 5 and the MGR switch device 3M belong to the second layer L2. A plurality of AGT switch devices 3A connected point-to-point with the AGT switch device 3A of the second layer L2 by using the communication cable 5 belong to the third layer L3.

An external terminal 7 such as a personal computer for making various settings to the switch device constituting the network system 1 is connected to the MGR switch device 3M of the first layer L1 via a communication cable 5. An IP address is set in the MGR switch device 3M. The administrator of the network system 1 can access the MGR switch device 3M by using the external terminal 7.

Although not shown, various terminal devices such as personal computers and printers can be connected to the AGT switch devices 3A of the second layer L2 and the third layer L3 via a communication cable (not shown). An IP address may or may not be set in each of these AGT switch devices 3A.

The MGR switch device 3M and the AGT switch device 3A are devices having a plurality of ports 9 connected to other switch devices 3 and terminal devices, and relaying communication between devices connected to different ports 9. Both the MGR switch device 3M and the AGT switch device 3A are devices that perform layer 2 (data link layer) processing or layer 3 (network layer) processing in addition to layer 2 processing, and are a switching hub or a device. It can be called a network switch or bridge.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the switch device 3 according to this embodiment.

Although some functions are different, the MGR switch device 3M and the AGT switch device 3A basically use the switch device 3 having the same configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switch device 3 switches the plurality of ports 9, the interface unit 11 for connecting to the network via the port 9, and the relay destination port 9 for the frame received from the port 9. A switching processing unit 13 that performs the above operation, a buffer 15 that temporarily holds a frame received at the port 9, a table memory 17 that stores an address table, and a control unit 19 that comprehensively controls the operation of the switch device 3. It has.

The plurality of ports 9 are physical ports composed of connectors into which the communication cable 5 is inserted. Each of the plurality of ports 9 is assigned a port number for identifying each port 9.

The interface unit 11 mediates the transfer of frames between the plurality of ports 9 and the switching processing unit 13 and the control unit 19. The interface unit 11 has a transformer and a PHY (Physical layer controller) provided for each port 9, and performs layer 1 (physical layer) processing such as coding.

The switching processing unit 13 holds the frame received from the interface unit 11 in the buffer 15, and for the frame held in the buffer 15, learns the address table stored in the table memory 17 and transfers the frame based on the address table. Do. The address table is tabular data that holds the correspondence between the MAC address of the device constituting the network system 1 and the port number of the port 9 that can communicate with the device.

In the learning process, the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the source device included in the received frame is acquired by analyzing the frame received on any of the plurality of ports 9. Then, the MAC address of the source device included in the frame is stored in the address table in association with the port number of the port 9 that received the frame.

In the transfer process, the MAC address of the source device included in the frame and the MAC address of the destination device are acquired by analyzing the frame received on any one of the plurality of ports 9. .. Then, the relay content of the frame, that is, unicast, multicast, or flooding is determined, and the frame is forwarded to the corresponding port 9 according to the relay content. At this time, if the relay content of the frame is unicast or multicast, the frame is transferred to the port 9 of the port number corresponding to the MAC address of the destination device based on the address table learned in advance.

The control unit 19 is a controller based on a well-known microcomputer. The control unit 19 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 that executes programs, and a memory 23 that stores various programs and data executed on the CPU 21. By executing the program stored in the memory 23 on the CPU 21, the control unit 19 acquires the link-up information of the network device connected to the port 9, generates a frame to be transmitted from the port 9, and receives the information on the port 9. It analyzes frames and controls network monitoring.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the format of the monitoring frame 101. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the contents of the header field 111 of the monitoring frame 101. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the contents of the data field 113 of the monitoring frame 101.

In the control related to network monitoring, the monitoring frame 101 shown in FIG. 3 is used to create and update the network monitoring table 51, and based on the network monitoring table 51, alive monitoring and status monitoring of a plurality of AGT switch devices 3A are performed. I do.

The network monitoring table 51 is tabular data that holds the correspondence between the identification ID of the AGT switch device 3A, the port number of the port 9 that can communicate with the AGT switch device 3A, and the status information of the AGT switch device 3A. .. The network monitoring table 51 is stored in the memory 23 of the MGR switch device 3M. The administrator of the network system 1 can check the network monitoring table 51 by accessing the MGR switch device 3M using the external terminal 7.

Types of the monitoring frame 101 include a request frame 101p, a response frame 101r, and a setting frame 101s.

The request frame 101p is a frame in which the MGR switch device 3M requests the AGT switch device 3A for hierarchical information and status information on the network. The response frame 101r is a frame in which the AGT switch device 3A responds to the request frame 101p with hierarchical information and status information on its own network. The setting frame 101s is a frame for the MGR switch device 3M to perform various setting changes, resets, and other operations on the AGT switch device 3A.

For the request frame 101p, the response frame 101r, and the setting frame 101s, the format of the monitoring frame 101 conforming to the format of the Ethernet frame is commonly used. The monitoring frame 101 is an untagged frame, and performs error detection of the destination field 103, the source field 105, the frame length field 107, the protocol identification field 109, the header field 111, the data field 113, and these fields. Includes FCS (Frame Check Sequence, not shown) for.

The destination field 103 is, for example, a field having a data size of 6 bytes. A fixed multicast address is set in the destination field 103 as the MAC address of the destination device.

The source field 105 is, for example, a field having a data size of 6 bytes. The MAC address of the source switch device 3 (MGR switch device 3M or AGT switch device 3A) is set in the source field 105.

The frame length field 107 is, for example, a field having a data size of 2 bytes. The data size of the monitoring frame 101 is set in the frame length field 107.

The protocol identification field 109 is, for example, a field having a data size of 3 bytes. Fixed data indicating that the monitoring frame 101 is set is set in the protocol identification field 109.

The header field 111 is, for example, a field having a data size of 10 bytes. Information data that supplements the data content of the data field 113 is set in the header field 111. The header field 111 includes a frame type field 115, a Hopfield 117, an ID field 119, and a target ID field 121, as shown in FIG.

The frame type field 115 is, for example, a field having a size of 1 byte. Data indicating the type of the monitoring frame 101, that is, data indicating whether the monitoring frame 101 is the request frame 101p, the response frame 101r, or the setting frame 101s is set in the frame type field 115. Will be done.

The hop field 117 is a field for counting the number of hops of the AGT switch device 3A from the MGR switch device 3M, which has a data size of, for example, 1 byte. When the monitoring frame 101 is the request frame 101p or the setting frame 101s, a hop value indicating the number of hops of the AGT switch device 3A from the MGR switch device 3M is set in the hop field 117. When the monitoring frame 101 is the response frame 101r, a hop value indicating the number of hops from the MGR switch device 3M of the source AGT switch device 3A is set in the hop field 117. The number of hops of the AGT switch device 3A from the MGR switch device 3M corresponds to the hierarchical information of the AGT switch device 3A.

The ID field 119 is, for example, a field having a data size of 4 bytes. When the monitoring frame 101 is the request frame 101p or the setting frame 101s, the ID field 101 is fixed to each port 9 of the MGR switch device 3M, which is the base of the identification ID given to the AGT switch device 3A. The base ID is set. When the monitoring frame 101 is the response frame 101r, the identification ID of the source AGT switch device 3A is set in the ID field 119.

The target ID field 121 is, for example, a field having a data size of 4 bytes. When the monitoring frame 101 is the request frame 101p or the response frame 101r, a predetermined fixed value is set in the target ID field 121. When the monitoring frame 101 is the setting frame 101s, the identification ID of the AGT switch device 3A to be set is set in the target ID field 121.

The data field 113 is a field having an arbitrary data size. When the monitoring frame 101 is the response frame 101r, the data field 113 is set with data indicating the status information of the contents preset to respond to the request frame 101p. In this case, a plurality of unit fields 123 are set in the data field 113 as shown in FIG. Each unit field 123 includes a data type field 125, a data length field 127, and a content field 129.

The data type field 125 is, for example, a field having a data size of 1 byte. In the data type field 125, data indicating the data type of the content field 129 is set. The data type of the content field 129 is, for example, a classification of status information such as a device type, software version information, a port 9 type, and an alive state.

The data length field 127 is, for example, a field having a data size of 1 byte. The data size of the content field 129 is set in the data length field 127.

The content field 129 is a field having data according to the data type of the data type field 125. In the content field 129, data indicating the status information of the content according to the data type of the data type field 125 is set.

When the monitoring frame 101 is the request frame 101p, dummy data called padding is set in the data field 113. When the monitoring frame 101 is the setting frame 101s, the data field 113 is set with setting types such as various setting changes and resets and data indicating the contents thereof.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow regarding network monitoring of the MGR switch device 3M.

The MGR switch device 3M performs polling control according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 as a control related to network monitoring. In this polling control, the control unit 19 of the MGR switch device 3M periodically transmits the request frame 101p to the plurality of AGT switch devices 3A, and the response frame 101r is set to the port 9 of any one of the plurality of ports 9. Is received, the response frame 101r is analyzed to acquire hierarchical information and status information on the network of the source AGT switch device 3A.

Specifically, in the polling control of the MGR switch device 3M, as shown in FIG. 6, first, in step P-ST01, it is determined whether or not the request frame is transmitted after the execution of the polling control is started. Here, if the request frame 101p has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step STP-03. If the request frame 101p is being transmitted, the process proceeds to step P-ST02.

In step P-ST02, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous request frame 101p was transmitted. The predetermined time here is set to, for example, 10 seconds. If the predetermined time has not elapsed in this step P-ST02, step ST02 is repeated until the predetermined time elapses. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step P-ST03.

In step P-ST03, the request frame 101p is transmitted from each port 9 of the MGR switch device 3M to the plurality of AGT switch devices 3A under the control. At this time, "0" is set as the hop value in the hop field 117 of the request frame 101p. In the ID field 119 of the request frame 101p, a unique base ID is set as the base ID for each port 9 of the MGR switch device 3M that transmits the request frame 101p. Next, the process proceeds to step P-ST04.

In step P-ST04, it is determined whether or not the response frame 101r is received on any of the plurality of ports 9. Whether or not the response frame 101r has been received is determined by analyzing the frame received on the port 9 and based on the data set in the protocol identification field 109 and the frame type field 115 of the frame. Here, if the response frame 101r has not been received, the process proceeds to step P-ST05. If the response frame 101r has been received, the process proceeds to step P-ST06.

In step P-ST05, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned predetermined time has elapsed since the previous request frame 101p was transmitted. Here, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step P-ST03, and the subsequent steps are performed again. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step P-ST04, the response frame 101r is received, or steps P-ST04 and P-ST05 are repeated until the predetermined time elapses.

In step P-ST06, the MAC address set in the source field 105 of the received response frame 101r and the hop value set in the hop field 117 are associated with the port number of the port 9 that received the response frame 101r. As a result, the position information of the transmission source AGT switch device 3A that transmitted the response frame 101r is registered in the network monitoring table 51 together with the status information set in the data field 113. After that, it returns.

Further, the MGR switch device 3M is adapted to transmit the setting frame 101s to the subordinate AGT switch device 3A by the administrator accessing using the external terminal 7 and performing a predetermined setting operation. ..

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control flow regarding network monitoring of the AGT switch device 3A.

The AGT switch device 3A performs response control according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 as control related to network monitoring. In this response control, when the control unit 19 of the AGT switch device 3A receives the request frame 101p on any one of the plurality of ports 9, the control unit 19 of the own device on the network based on the request frame 101p. The layer information is acquired, the response frame 101r including the layer information and the status information of the own device is generated, and the response frame 101r is transmitted from the port 9 on which the request frame 101p is received.

Specifically, in the response control of the AGT switch device 3A, as shown in FIG. 7, first, in step R-ST01, it is determined whether or not the request frame 101p is received at any of the plurality of ports 9. To do. Whether or not the request frame 101p is received is determined by analyzing the received frame and based on the data set in the protocol identification field 109 and the frame type field 115 of the frame. Here, if the request frame 101p has not been received, the process proceeds to step R-ST02. If the request frame 101p has been received, the process proceeds to step R-ST04.

In step R-ST02, it is determined whether or not the response frame 101r is received on any of the plurality of ports 9. Whether or not the response frame 101r has been received is determined by analyzing the received frame and based on the data set in the protocol identification field 109 and the frame type field 115 of the frame. Here, if the response frame 101r has not been received, the process returns to step R-ST01. If the response frame 101r has been received, the process proceeds to step R-ST03.

In step R-ST03, the received response frame 101r is transferred to the upper layer switch device 3 (MGR switch device 3M or AGT switch device 3A) based on the address table stored in the table memory 17. After that, it returns.

In step R-ST04, the hop value set in the hop field 117 of the received request frame 101p is added by the amount of increasing the number of hops, and the added hop value is acquired as the hierarchical information of the AGT switch device 3A. Further, by reflecting the added hop value in the base ID set in the ID field 119 of the request frame 101p, the identification ID unique to the AGT switch device 3A is acquired. Next, the process proceeds to step R-ST05.

In step R-ST05, status information such as device type, software version information, port 9 type, and alive state for the AGT switch device 3A is acquired. Then, the response frame 101r in which the added hop value is set in the hop field 117, the identification ID is set in the ID field 119, and the status information of the AGT switch device 3A is set in the data field 113 is generated. Next, the process proceeds to step R-ST06.

In step R-ST06, the response frame 101r generated in step R-ST05 is transmitted from the port 9 that received the request frame 101p to the MGR switch device 3M. Next, the process proceeds to step R-ST07.

In step R-ST07, it is determined whether or not another AGT switch device 3A is connected to the lower layer based on the link-up information of the AGT switch device 3A. Here, if another AGT switch device 3A is not connected to the lower layer, it returns. If another AGT switch device 3A is connected to the lower layer, the process proceeds to step R-ST08.

In step R-ST08, the request frame 101p including the added hop value is transferred to the lower layer AGT switch device 3A. After that, it returns.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a network monitoring operation in the network system 1. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of the request frame 101p in the network system 1. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of the response frame 101r in the network system 1.

In the network system 1, network monitoring is performed by the polling control of the MGR switch device 3M and the response control of each AGT switch device 3A described above.

In the network monitoring by the network system 1, first, the request frame 101p is transmitted from the MGR switch device 3M in the first layer L1 to the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 (step P-ST01). The request frame 101p transmitted from the MGR switch device 3M is received by the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2.

The AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 confirms that the frame is the request frame 101p by analyzing the received request frame 101p (step R-ST01). When the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 confirms that the received frame is the request frame 101p, the AGT switch device 3A of the own device from the MGR switch device 3M of its own device based on the hop value and the base ID included in the request frame 101p. The hop value and the identification ID indicating the number of hops are acquired and stored in the memory 23 of the own device (step R-ST04).

Further, the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 acquires status information such as the device type, software version information, port 9 type, and alive state of the own device. Then, the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 sets the MAC address of the MGR switch device 3M in the destination field 103, sets the hop value of its own device in the hop field 117, and sets the identification ID of its own device to ID. A response frame 101r set in the field 119 and the status information of the own device is set in the data field 113 is generated (step R-ST05).

Next, the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 transmits the generated response frame 101r from the port 9 that received the request frame 101p to the MGR switch device 3M in the first layer L1 (step R-ST06). ). The response frame 101r transmitted from the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 is received by the MGR switch device 3M.

The MGR switch device 3M confirms that the received response frame 101r is the response frame 101r by analyzing the received response frame 101r (step P-ST03). When the MGR switch device 3M confirms that the received frame is the response frame 101r, the MGR switch device 3M of the AGT switch device 3A of the second layer L2 which is the source is based on the hop value and the status information included in the response frame 101r. The position information (hop value and port number) is registered in the network monitoring table 51 together with the status information (step P-ST05).

Further, the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 directs the request frame 101p including the added hop value (that is, the hop value of the own device) toward the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 which is the lower layer. Transfer (step R-ST08). The request frame 101p transferred from the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 is received by the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3.

The AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 confirms that the frame is the request frame 101p by analyzing the received request frame 101p (step R-ST01). When the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 confirms that the received frame is the request frame 101p, the AGT switch device 3A of the own device from the MGR switch device 3M of its own device based on the hop value and the base ID included in the request frame 101p. The hop value and the identification ID indicating the number of hops are acquired and stored in the memory 23 of the own device (step R-ST04).

Further, the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 acquires status information such as the device type and software version information of the own device, the type of the port 9, and the alive state. Then, the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 sets the MAC address of the MGR switch device 3M in the destination field 103, sets the hop value of its own device in the hop field 117, and sets the identification ID of its own device to ID. A response frame 101r set in the field 119 and the status information of the own device is set in the data field 113 is generated (step R-ST05).

Next, the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 transmits the generated response frame 101r from the port 9 that received the request frame 101p to the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2. The response frame 101r transmitted from the AGT switch device 3A in the third layer L3 is received by the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2.

The AGT switch device 3A in the second layer L2 confirms that the frame is the response frame 101r by analyzing the received response frame 101r (step R-ST02). When the AGT switch device 3A in the second layer confirms that the received frame is the response frame 101r, the AGT switch device 3A transfers the response frame 101r toward the MGR switch device 3M in the first layer L1 (step R-ST03). ). The response frame 101r transferred from the AGT switch device 3A on the second layer L2 is received by the MGR switch device 3M.

The MGR switch device 3M confirms that the received response frame 101r is the response frame 101r by analyzing the received response frame 101r (step R-ST03). When the MGR switch device 3M confirms that the received frame is the response frame 101r, the MGR switch device 3M of the AGT switch device 3A of the third layer L3 which is the source is based on the hop value and the status information included in the response frame 101r. The position information (hop value and port number) is registered in the network monitoring table 51 together with the status information (step P-ST05).

Such network monitoring sequence control is periodically executed triggered by the MGR switch device 3M transmitting the request frame 101p.

In the network system 1 of this embodiment, in network monitoring, the MGR switch device 3M transmits a request frame 101p to the AGT switch device 3A of the second layer L2, and the AGT switch device 3A is the AGT switch device of the third layer L3. The request frame 101p is transferred toward 3A. As a result, the request frame 101p transmitted from the MGR switch device 3M is delivered to each AGT switch device 3A constituting the network system 1 as shown in FIG.

At this time, the number of hops from the MGR switch device 3M is counted using the hop field 117 of the request frame 101p. Then, in each AGT switch device 3A, a hop value indicating the number of hops from the MGR switch device 3M of the own device and an identification ID reflecting the hop value in the base ID are acquired. Further, each AGT switch device 3A generates a response frame 101r including the hop value of the own device, the identification ID, and the status information, and transmits the response frame 101r to the MGR switch device 3M as shown in FIG.

Then, the MGR switch device 3M receives the response frame 101r from each AGT switch device 3A, and registers the position information and the status information of each AGT switch device 3A acquired based on the response frame 101r in the network monitoring table 51. And manage it. According to this, it is based on the network monitoring table 51 of the AGT switch device 3A without using the dedicated monitoring software that needs to be installed in the external terminal 7 and without setting the IP address in the AGT switch device 3A. You can monitor life and death and status. Therefore, the maintainability and operability of the network system 1 can be improved.

Further, in the network system 1 of this embodiment, the AGT switch device 3A adds a hop value indicating the number of hops of the AGT switch device 3A from the MGR switch device 3M set in the hop field 117 of the request frame 101p. , Acquire the hierarchical information of the own device on the network. According to this, the AGT switch device 3A can acquire the hierarchical information of its own device on the network by a simple mechanism.

Further, in the network system 1 of this embodiment, the AGT switch device 3A creates an identification ID by reflecting the hop value of the hop field 117 in the base ID set in the ID field 119 of the request frame 101p, and identifies the base ID. The ID is included in the response frame 101r and transmitted. By doing so, it is possible to easily set an identification ID unique to each of the plurality of AGT switch devices 3A. According to this, the administrator of the network system 1 generates the setting frame 101s in which the setting target is specified by using the identification ID in the target ID field 121 by operating the external terminal 7, and the setting frame 101s is used as the MGR switch device. By transmitting to 3M, it becomes possible to individually perform operations such as various setting changes and resets for the plurality of AGT switch devices 3A.

Further, in the network system 1 of this embodiment, even if the switch device 3 is added, replaced, or deleted, the hierarchical information and the identification ID of the AGT switch device 3A according to the changed network configuration are dynamically changed. Can be obtained. Therefore, the administrator does not have to manually update the identification ID of the AGT switch device 3A each time the network system 1 is changed. This contributes to reducing the burden on the administrator and is advantageous for improving the operability of the network system 1.

As described above, a preferred embodiment has been described as an example of the technique of the present disclosure. However, the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are made as appropriate. In addition, the components described in the attached drawings and the detailed description may include components that are not essential for solving the problem. Therefore, it should not be immediately determined that those non-essential components are essential by the fact that those non-essential components are described in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

For example, in the above embodiment, the AGT switch device 3A adds the hop value included in the request frame 101p, acquires the hop value after the addition as the hierarchical information of the own device on the network, and bases the ID field. The identification ID is acquired by reflecting the hop value after addition in the ID, but the present invention is not limited to this. The AGT switch device 3A acquires the hop value (hop value before addition) included in the request frame 101p as the hierarchical information of its own device, and reflects the hop value before addition in the base ID of the ID field 119 to identify the identification ID. Is acquired, and the hop value of the hop field 117 may be added when the request frame 101p is transferred.

Further, in the above embodiment, the network system according to the technique of the present disclosure has been described by exemplifying the network system 1 having a hierarchical structure of the first to third layers L1, L2, L3, but the present invention is not limited to this. The network system 1 may have a hierarchical structure including only the first layer L1 and the second layer L2, or may be a network system having a hierarchical structure of four or more layers.

As described above, the technique of the present disclosure is useful for a network system and a switch device constituting the network system.

L1 1st layer L2 2nd layer L3 3rd layer 1 Network system 3 Switch device 3A AGT switch device (2nd switch device)
3M MGR switch device (first switch device)
5 Communication cable 7 External terminal 9 Port 11 Interface unit 13 Switching processing unit 15 Buffer 17 Table memory 19 Control unit 21 CPU
23 Memory 51 Network monitoring table 101 Monitoring frame 101p Request frame 101r Response frame 101s Setting frame 103 Destination field 105 Source field 107 Frame length field 109 Protocol identification field 111 Header field 113 Data field 115 Frame type field 117 Hopfield 119 ID Field 121 Target ID field 123 Unit field 125 Data type field 127 Data length field 129 Content field

Claims (5)

A network system in which multiple switch devices are connected hierarchically.
The plurality of switch devices include a first switch device constituting a root node and a plurality of second switch devices constituting a non-root node.
The first switch device periodically transmits a request frame requesting hierarchical information and status information on the network to the plurality of second switch devices.
When the second switch device receives the request frame, the second switch device acquires the hierarchy information of its own device on the network based on the request frame, and generates a response frame including the hierarchy information and the status information of the own device. Then, the information is transmitted to the first switch device, and when another second switch device is connected to the lower layer, the request frame is transferred to the other second switch device. system. In the network system according to claim 1,
The first switch device transmits, as the request frame, a frame including a hop field in which a hop value indicating the number of hops of the second switch device from the first switch device is set.
When the second switch device receives the request frame, the hop value set in the hop field of the request frame is added, and the hop value before or after the addition of the hop field is added. A network system characterized in that it is acquired as hierarchical information of its own device on the network. In the network system according to claim 2,
The first switch device transmits a frame including an ID field in which a base ID is set as the request frame.
When the second switch device receives the request frame, the second switch device acquires the base ID set in the ID field of the request frame, and sets the hop value before or after the addition of the hop field to the base ID. A network system characterized in that an identification ID is acquired by reflecting the identification ID, and the identification ID is included in the response frame and transmitted. A switch device that constitutes a root node in a network system in which multiple switch devices are connected hierarchically.
A plurality of ports connected to the other switch device in the network system, and
It includes a control unit that generates a frame transmitted from the port and analyzes a frame received at the port.
The control unit
Request frames requesting hierarchical information and status information on the network are periodically transmitted from the port to other switch devices included in the network system.
When a response frame containing hierarchical information and status information on the network of the other switch device is received by the port, the response frame is analyzed and the hierarchical information and status information on the network of the other switch device are analyzed. A switch device characterized by acquiring. A switch device that constitutes a non-root node in a network system in which multiple switch devices are hierarchically connected.
A plurality of ports connected to the other switch device in the network system, and
It includes a control unit that generates a frame transmitted from the port and analyzes a frame received at the port.
When the control unit receives a request frame for requesting hierarchical information and status information on the network at any one of the plurality of ports, the control unit of its own device on the network based on the request frame. A switch device characterized in that it acquires hierarchical information, generates a response frame including the hierarchical information and status information of its own device, and transmits the response frame from the port in which the request frame is received.

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