JP3447674B2 - Automatic route selection method and method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a virtual LAN.
The present invention relates to an automatic route selection method for a system that connects network devices having a (local area network) function, and particularly to a system that connects network devices in a trunk and configures an active route and a standby route in many-to-one correspondence. And about the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When configuring a network system,
In preparation for a failure such as a cable disconnection, physical connection for redundant configuration is performed.

At this time, until now, the physical connection between the active system and the standby system has a one-to-one correspondence.

A conventional configuration is shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, a network device 91
And the network device 92 are connected by cables 93 to 96. This system has a redundant configuration in preparation for a failure, and the cables 93 to 94 are operating routes and the cables 95 to 96 are standby routes.

This system operates as follows.

Normally, the network equipment 91 and the network equipment 92 communicate with each other using the cables 93 and 94.

For example, when the cable 93 becomes an obstacle such as a cable disconnection, the standby path of the cable 95 is replaced.

When the cable 94 becomes an obstacle such as a cable disconnection, the standby path of the cable 96 is replaced.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, since the operation route and the standby route must be one-to-one, a large number of communication ports and connection cables of network equipment are required. There is a point.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic route selection method and method in which a working route and a standby route are required to be many-to-one and the communication ports and connection cables of network devices can be saved.

[0012]

The automatic route selection method of the first invention of the present application is a network having a virtual LAN function.
Of the system that connects the routes between the devices
It is a route selection method, and the network device
Multiple active communications that send and receive data to and from network devices
It exchanges control packets with the port and the other network device.
Received a failure in the route related to the operating communication port
In case of the above, instead of the operational communication port related to the above failure
There is a single standby communication port that sends and receives data
Data input to the active communication port is transferred to other active communication
The communication that performs the switching control for sending from the port.
Data flow between the communication control means and the operational communication port.
Monitored and detected an operational communication port with an abnormal data flow
When the standby system is connected to the route related to the operating communication port,
Failure control means to substitute for the route related to the communication port,
And the communication control means communicates with a communication port.
An address that manages the correspondence with the address of the device connected to the port.
Communication port for each dress table and virtual LAN
Switch referring to the VLAN information table for managing
Ing control, and the control means at the time of failure is the operation communication.
An alternative table that manages the standby communication port for the port
The VLAN information table is updated by referring to the file .

[0013] automatic route selection method of the present second invention, Bas
-Route between network devices with virtual LAN function
Is an automatic route selection method for systems that connect
The first network device has multiple active communication ports.
Define a single standby communication port for the
Network equipment is a single
The standby communication port is defined, and the first network device
Device and the second network device are mutual communication for operation.
Data communication between ports and standby communication port
Sending and receiving control packets to check each other's status
However, the first network device is
The data input to the port is sent from another operational communication port.
Switch control for communication with the communication port
An address that manages the correspondence with the address of the device connected to the port.
Communication port for each dress table and virtual LAN
When referring to the VLAN information table for managing
Both monitor the flow of data on the operational communication port, and
Detects an abnormal data flow in the operating communication port
Manages the standby communication port for the active communication port
VLAN information table by referring to the alternative table
The second network via the standby communication port.
Work equipment is negotiated and the data flow
Waiting for the communication that was performed on the abnormal communication port
The control is performed using the machine communication port, and the second
Network equipment is input to an operational communication port.
To send the stored data from other operational communication ports.
Connect the switching control to the communication port and the communication port.
Address table that manages the correspondence with the address of the device
Communication port for each virtual LAN and virtual LAN
Refers to the VLAN information table and performs the operation
Monitor the flow of data on the communication port and
If it detects that the data flow of the
The alternate table that manages the standby communication port for the communication port.
Update the VLAN information table,
With the first network device via a machine communication port
Negotiation is performed and the data flow is abnormal.
The communication that was performed at the active communication port is
Control as if using the
Device and second network device have abnormal data flow
The communication that was performed on the active communication port is the standby communication
It is characterized by using a port .

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a system in which network devices having a virtual LAN function are connected by a plurality of routes, and the routes are trunk connections, one standby route for a plurality of active routes It is characterized by replacing with a standby route when a failure occurs in the active route.

In a network device having a virtual LAN (VLAN) function, it is possible to set a plurality of ranges (broadcast domains) to which a broadcast frame reaches, and the set range is virtually LA.
Control can be performed by regarding it as the N region. In addition, MAC (Media Access Control) flowing in the virtual LAN
l) The frame includes a VLAN identifier for identifying the virtual LAN.

The trunk connection means that one connection between communication ports, which is a path connecting network devices, is one physical connection = multi-logical connection. That is, it refers to a connection in which a plurality of virtual LAN paths pass on one cable connecting network devices.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the embodiment of the present invention comprises a network device 1, a network device 2 and cables 3 to 5 connecting them.

The network device 1 has a plurality of communication ports and communicates with other devices connected to the communication ports.
A specific example is a switching hub or the like. In addition,
In FIG. 1, three communication ports (communication ports 13 to 15)
Is illustrated.

The network device 1 includes a communication control mechanism 11
And a failure control mechanism 12 and communication ports 13, 14 and 15. The communication ports 13 and 14 are active communication ports, and are used for data communication with other devices. The communication port 15 is a standby communication port, and normally transmits / receives control packets to / from other devices. However, when the communication port 13 or the communication port 14 becomes unavailable, it serves as a substitute for the communication port 13 or the communication port 14. Used for data communication.

The communication control mechanism 11 manages the correspondence between the communication port and the MAC address of the device connected to the communication port, and an address table (not shown) and a virtual L.
A VLAN information table (not shown) that manages communication ports for each AN is referred to, and switching control for sending a data packet input to a certain operation communication port from another operation communication port is performed. That is, the input data packet is sent to the communication port to which the device having the destination address is connected. If the destination address of the input data packet is registered as another virtual LAN, communication between different virtual LANs is not permitted, so the input data packet is discarded. If the destination address of the data packet is the broadcast address, the data packet is broadcast to the communication port belonging to the same virtual LAN as the device corresponding to the source address.

The failure control mechanism 12 monitors the data flow of the active communication port and sends a control packet from the standby communication port to the partner device. If the data flow of the active communication port is abnormal (data does not flow for a certain period of time), the VLA is referenced by referring to an alternative table (not shown) that manages an alternative port for the active communication port.
The N information table is updated, and control is performed so that communication is performed by substituting the standby communication port for the active communication port for which data did not flow for a certain period of time. That is, the communication ports 13, 1
The link pulse signal in 4 is monitored, and if the link pulse signal is flowing normally, it is determined that the data communication of the operation system is normal, and a control packet indicating that it is normal is transmitted via the communication port 15. If the data flow of the communication port 13 or the communication port 14 is abnormal (the data flow is interrupted for a certain period of time, etc.), the control packet for negotiating to substitute for the communication port 15 fails through the communication port 15. The communication port 13 to the communication port 1 when the negotiation with the failure control mechanism 22 is established.
Replace with 5.

The network device 2 includes a communication control mechanism 21.
It includes a failure control mechanism 22 and communication ports 23, 24, 25, and has the same configuration and function as the network device 1.

The cables 3 to 5 are cables for connecting the network device 1 and the network device 2.
The cable 3 connects between the communication port 13 and the communication port 23,
The cable 4 connects between the communication port 14 and the communication port 24,
The cable 5 connects between the communication port 15 and the communication port 25.

FIG. 1 shows the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
~ It demonstrates using FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the VLAN information table and the alternative table.

Referring to FIG. 2, the network device 1 and the network device 2 include a communication port 13 and a communication port 2.
3 to the cable 3, the communication port 14 and the communication port 24 to the cable 4, and the communication port 15 and the communication port 25.
And a cable 5 for Ethernet (registered trademark) connection. The communication ports 13 to 14 and 23 to 24 are active communication ports, and the communication ports 15 and 25 are standby communication ports.

The communication port 3 of the network device 1
The devices A1 to A8 are connected to the devices 1 to 38, and the devices B1 to B8 are connected to the communication ports 41 to 48 of the network device 2.

The VLAN information table is defined for the network device 1 as shown in FIG. 3A and for the network device 2 as shown in FIG. 3C, and the substitute table is shown for the network device 1 as shown in FIG. 3B and network device 2. Is defined as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the device A1, the device A2, the communication port 31, the communication port 32, the communication port 13, the cable 3,
The communication port 23, the communication port 41, the communication port 42, the device B1 and the device B2 form a VLAN1, and the device A
3, device A4, communication port 33, communication port 34, communication port 13, cable 3, communication port 23, communication port 43, communication port 44, device B3 and device B4 VL
Forming AN2, device A5, device A6, communication port 3
5, the communication port 36, the communication port 14, the cable 4, the communication port 24, the communication port 45, the communication port 46, the device B5 and the device B6 form the VLAN3, and the device A7,
Device A8, communication port 37, communication port 38, communication port 14, cable 4, communication port 24, communication port 4
7, VLA with communication port 48, device B7 and device B8
N4 is formed, and the communication port 15, the cable 5, and the communication port 25 are for standby (see FIG. 2A).

(1) Normally, between the network device 1 and the network device 2, data packets are exchanged through the connections of the active communication ports 13, 14, 23, 24, and the standby communication ports 15, 25 are controlled. Packets are flowing.

(2) It is assumed that the devices A5 and B5 and the devices A8 and B8 are now communicating. Since the devices A5 and B5 belong to the VLAN3 and the devices A8 and B8 belong to the VLAN4, data packets are exchanged via the cable 4. At this time, the failure control mechanism 12 monitors the data flow of the active communication ports 13 and 14, and sends a control packet indicating that the communication is normal from the standby communication port 15 to the failure control mechanism 22. On the other hand, the failure control mechanism 22 also monitors the data flow of the operating communication ports 23 and 24, and sends a control packet indicating normal from the standby communication port 25 to the failure control mechanism 12.

(3) Here, it is assumed that the cable 4 connecting the communication port 14 and the communication port 24 has failed.

(4) Failure control mechanism 12 which detects that the data flow from the communication port 14 has been interrupted for a certain period of time
Sends out a control packet indicating information of which VLAN communication is interrupted from the communication port 15 to the failure time control mechanism 22 to negotiate with the failure time control mechanism 22.
On the other hand, the failure control mechanism 22 that detects that the data flow from the communication port 24 has been interrupted for a certain period of time
A control packet indicating whether the AN communication is interrupted is sent from the communication port 25 to the failure control mechanism 12 to negotiate with the failure control mechanism 12.

(6) When the negotiation between the failure control mechanism 12 and the failure control mechanism 22 is established, the failure control mechanism 12 transfers the communication of the VLANs 3 to 4 in which communication is impossible to the standby communication port 15 VL to do using
The AN information table is changed, and the failure control mechanism 22 changes the VLAN information table so that communication of the VLANs 3 to 4 in which communication is impossible is performed using the standby communication port 25 (for the network device 1, FIG. 3 (e),
For the network device 2, see FIG. 3 (g). At this time, the alternative table is also updated (the network device 1
3 (f), and FIG. 3 (h) for the network device 2). In this way, the VLAN 3 includes the devices A5 to A6, the communication ports 35 to 36, and the communication port 1
5, cable 5, communication port 25, communication ports 45 to 4
6, and devices B5 to B6, the VLAN 4 includes devices A7 to A8, communication ports 37 to 38, and communication port 1
5, cable 5, communication port 25, communication ports 47 to 4
8 and devices B7 to B8.

(7) Equipment A5, Equipment B5 and Equipment A
8 and the device B8 communicate with each other via the cable 5 to exchange data packets.

In the above description of the operation, the case where the cable 4 has a failure has been described as an example, but the same operation is performed when the cable 3 has a failure.

Further, on the extension of the operations of (1) to (7), when a failure occurs in the cable 3 connecting the communication port 13 and the communication port 23, the failure time control mechanism 12
Detects that the data flow from the communication port 13 has been interrupted for a certain period of time and negotiates with the failure control mechanism 22. The failure control mechanism 22 confirms that the data flow from the communication port 23 has been interrupted for a certain period of time. When it detects and negotiates with the failure control mechanism 12 and the negotiation is established between the failure control mechanism 12 and the failure control mechanism 22, the failure control mechanism 12 communicates with the VLANs 1 and 2 which cannot communicate. Change the VLAN information table and the alternative table so that communication is performed using the standby communication port 15 (rewrite port numbers "13" of VLANs 1 and 2 in the VLAN information table to "15", and replace the port number of the alternative table "). The alternative number "15" corresponding to 13 "is deleted), and the failure control mechanism 22 cannot communicate with V.
The VLAN information table and the alternative table are changed so that the communication of the LANs 1 and 2 is performed using the standby communication port 25 (the port numbers "23" of the VLANs 1 and 2 of the VLAN information table are rewritten to "25", and the alternative table is used). Delete the alternative number "25" corresponding to the port number "23")
Then, communication is performed via the cable 5 to exchange data packets.

In this way, when a failure occurs in the active route, communication can be performed by substituting the standby route.
Moreover, there is a remarkable effect that cables and communication ports can be saved by the configuration having one standby system route in a plurality of active system routes.

In the above embodiment, the standby communication port is always fixed to the communication port 15 and the communication port 25, but the standby communication port may be variable. In this case, the VLAN information table and the substitution table are referenced and updated, and the operation is performed as follows. (1) Communication ports 13 and 23 and cable 3 and communication ports 14 and 24 and cable 4 are the operating system and communication port 1
5, 25 and the cable 5 are used as a standby system (Fig. 3 (a)-
(See (d)). (2) For example, the cable 4 breaks down. (3) The communication ports 15 and 25 and the cable 5 are used as an active system, and the communication ports 14 and 24 and the cable 4 are used as a standby system (see FIGS. 4A to 4D). Replace the cable 4 with a normal one. (4) For example, the cable 3 breaks down. (5) The communication ports 14 and 24 and the cable 4 are used as an active system, and the communication ports 13 and 23 and the cable 3 are used as a standby system (see FIGS. 4E to 4H). Replace the cable 3 with a normal one. After that, the same operation is performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, one standby communication port is provided for an arbitrary plurality of active communication ports among the active communication ports existing in the network equipment. One standby communication port may be provided for all the active communication ports existing in the device, or the active communication ports existing in the network device may be divided into a plurality of groups, one standby for each group. A system communication port may be provided.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the Ethernet is used for explanation, but ATM (Asynchronous Transfe
r Mode) connection is also applicable.

[0049]

The effect of the present invention is that the active communication port and the standby communication port can be constructed in a many-to-one correspondence, and the number of cables and the communication ports of the equipment can be saved.

The reason is that the VLA is equipped with a failure control mechanism.
This is because a means for performing communication by substituting the active communication port and the standby communication port with reference to the N information table and the substitution table is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a VLAN information table and an alternative table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a VLAN information table and an alternative table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 network equipment 2 Network equipment 3 cables 4 cables 5 cables 11 Communication control mechanism 12 Failure control mechanism 13 Communication port 14 Communication port 15 Communication port 21 Communication control mechanism 22 Failure control mechanism 23 Communication port 24 communication ports 25 communication port 31 communication port 32 communication ports 33 communication port 34 Communication port 35 Communication port 36 Communication port 37 Communication port 38 communication ports 41 Communication port 42 Communication port 43 Communication port 44 communication port 45 communication port 46 communication port 47 communication port 48 communication ports 91 Network equipment 92 Network equipment 93 cable 94 cable 95 cable 96 cable A1 equipment A2 equipment A3 equipment A4 equipment A5 equipment A6 equipment A7 equipment A8 equipment B1 equipment B2 equipment B3 equipment B4 equipment B5 equipment B6 equipment B7 equipment B8 equipment

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A network having a virtual LAN function.
Of the system that connects the routes between the devices
It is a route selection method, and the network device uses multiple network devices that send and receive data to and from the partner network device.
The operation communication port and the other party's network device send and receive control packets
Before a failure occurs in the route related to the active communication port
Sending data instead of the operational communication port related to the failure
A single standby communication port that receives data, and the data that was input to one active communication port to another active communication port
Performs switching control for sending from the communication port.
Communication control means and the data flow of the operating communication port to monitor the data flow.
When an active communication port whose flow is abnormal is detected
Routes related to standby communication ports
And a failure control means for substituting for another path , wherein the communication control means includes a communication port and an address of a device connected to the communication port.
Address table and virtual L for managing correspondence
VLAN information table that manages communication ports for each AN
The switching control is performed with reference, and the failure control means manages the standby communication port with respect to the active communication port.
The VLAN information table is updated by referring to the alternative table.
A new automatic route selection method. 2. A network having a virtual LAN function.
Of the system that connects the routes between the devices
A method of selecting a route, wherein the first network device is connected to a plurality of active communication ports.
Define a single standby communication port, and the second network device supports multiple active communication ports.
To define a single standby communication port, the first network device and the second network
The device performs data communication between the operating system communications port of each other
Check each other's status with the standby communication port together with
For transmitting and receiving a control packet for transmission, and the first network device is an operating communication port.
The data input to the other operating communication port
Switching control for communication port and communication port
Address that manages the correspondence with the address of the device connected to the
Communication port for each stable and virtual LAN
To do this by referring to the VLAN information table to be managed
Monitor the data flow of the active communication port and
When it detects that the data flow of the system communication port is abnormal
Manage standby communication ports for active communication ports
The VLAN information table is updated by referring to the alternative table.
Newly, the second network via the standby communication port
And the data flow.
Communication that was performed on the abnormal operating communication port was changed to the standby system.
The communication is controlled to be performed using a communication port, and the second network device is an operating communication port.
The data input to the other operating communication port
Switching control for communication port and communication port
Address that manages the correspondence with the address of the device connected to the
Communication port for each stable and virtual LAN
To do this by referring to the VLAN information table to be managed
Monitor the data flow of the active communication port and
When it detects that the data flow of the system communication port is abnormal
Manage standby communication ports for active communication ports
The VLAN information table is updated by referring to the alternative table.
Newly, the first network via the standby communication port
And the data flow.
Communication that was performed on the abnormal operating communication port was changed to the standby system.
The communication port is used to control the first network device and the second network device
The data flow was abnormal at the operational communication port.
Characterized by performing communication using the standby communication port
And automatic route selection method .