JP4600697B2 - Network equipment test system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device test system for testing various network devices.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network equipment test system of the background art.

As shown in FIG. 4, the network device test system of the background art includes an L2SW (Layer 2 switch) 11, an upper server 12, a management server 13 and a test setting server 14. In this configuration, devices (here, radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and terminal stations 16 _{1 to} 16 _m (n and m are positive positive numbers)) are connected. The host server 12, the management server 13, the test setting server 14, and the radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n are connected so as to be communicable with the L2SW 1 through an interface compliant with, for example, the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard. The radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and the terminal stations 16 _{1 to} 16 _m are connected to the radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _{m so that} they can communicate with each other by a known radio apparatus.

The L2SW 11 performs switching of data transmitted and received between the upper server 12, the management server 13, or the test setting server 14 and the radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and the terminal stations 16 _{1 to} 16 _m that are test targets.

The host server 12 is a server device used for testing network devices that transmits / receives test data to / from network devices to be tested (wireless base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and terminal stations 16 _{1 to} 16 _m ). .

  The management server 13 is a server device for controlling and managing network devices to be tested.

  The test setting server 14 is a server device that controls a test performed on a network device and manages a history of test results for each network device.

  In the network device system shown in FIG. 4, first, a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address is assigned to each network device to be tested, and then various tests are performed according to instructions from the test setting server 14. .

A technique for automatically assigning a unique MAC address to a network device to be tested is described in Patent Document 1, for example. A method for automatically setting various device data (MAC address, IP address, software version number, etc.) in a network device is described in Patent Document 2, for example.
JP 2006-246223 A JP 2005-174195 A

  In recent years, not only computer devices and mobile phones but also various home appliances have been built with wireless devices to build networks. Therefore, it is strongly desired to reduce the cost of network devices including such wireless devices.

  Therefore, it is desirable that various tests performed after the manufacture of the network equipment can be automatically performed in order to reduce the test time by minimizing operator intervention. Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above show a method for automatically setting a unique MAC address and other device data for each network device, but do not show subsequent test automation.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides a network device test system and method that can reduce the cost of the network device by reducing the test time of the network device. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the network device test system of the present invention discriminates the status of the network device to be tested from the value of its address, and transmits status information indicating the determined status of the network device,
A test setting server for transmitting an instruction for a test according to a state of the network device to the network device based on connection information transmitted from the state notification unit;
Have

On the other hand, in the network device testing method of the present invention, the device to which the network device to be tested is connected so as to be communicable determines the state of the network device from the value of the address,
Notifying the server device that controls the test of the network device connection information indicating the status of the determined network device,
In this method, the server device transmits an instruction for a test according to a state of the network device to the network device based on the connection information.

  According to the present invention, since the network device test can be automatically started and ended, the test time of the network device can be shortened and the cost of the network device can be reduced.

  Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network device test system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a modification example of the network device test system of the present invention.

  In the network device test system of the present invention, a MAC address corresponding to a state of the network device, for example, an initial state having no unique MAC address is assigned to the network device to be tested. Then, a device to which the network device is connected at the time of the test (status notification means) determines the status of the network device from the MAC address of the network device to be tested, and sets the information indicating the status as a test setting for managing the test Notify the server. The test setting server transmits an instruction for a test according to the state of the network device to the network device based on the connection information transmitted from the state notification unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network device test system of the present invention includes an extended L2SW1, an upper server 2, a management server 3, and a test setting server 4. The extended L2SW1 includes a network device to be tested (in the example shown in FIG. Radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m (n and m are positive positive numbers)) are connected. The host server 2, the management server 3, the test setting server 4, and the radio base station are connected to the extended L2SW 1 so as to be communicable by an interface that complies with, for example, the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard. The radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m are communicably connected by a known radio apparatus.

The extended L2SW1 is data transmitted / received between the host server 2, the management server 3 or the test setting server 4 and the network equipment (radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m ) to be tested. When the network device to be tested is connected, the state of the network device is determined from its MAC address, and the determined state of the network device is notified to the test setting server 4. In the network device test system shown in FIG. 1, the extended L2SW1 serves as the state notification unit. The network device status includes, for example, an initial state immediately after manufacturing that does not have a unique MAC address, a test preparation status that is assigned a unique MAC address, and a test when a network device is tested in multiple stages. There is a mid-test state that is an intermediate stage. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a predetermined MAC address (hereinafter referred to as a temporary MAC address) is assigned to the network device in the initial state. This temporary MAC address is assumed to be assigned the same value for all network devices in the initial state. However, when the types of network devices are different (for example, a radio base station and a terminal station), it is desirable to assign a temporary MAC address having a different value for each type.

The host server 2 is a server device used for testing network devices that transmits / receives test data to / from network devices to be tested (radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m ). .

  The management server 3 is a server device for controlling and managing network devices to be tested.

  The test setting server 4 is a server device that assigns a unique MAC address to each network device to be tested, controls a test performed on the network device, and manages a history of test results for each network device. is there.

  The host server 2, the management server 3, and the test setting server 4 are realized by a known computer device. The extended L2SW1 can be realized by, for example, a known hub, router, computer device, etc., and is a function added to the background L2SW in this embodiment, that is, a function for notifying the test setting server 4 of the state of the network device to be tested May be realized by an LSI combined with a logic circuit or the like, or may be realized by changing a program for causing a processor included in the hub, router, computer device or the like to execute processing.

Since the configurations and operations of the radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m shown in FIG. 1 are well known to those skilled in the art, description thereof is omitted here.

  The network device test system shown in FIG. 1 shows a configuration example in the case where a function test or the like of a network device that does not require a wireless license or a network device that has completed radio wave inspection is performed by wireless communication.

Generally, a wireless license is required for wireless devices including network devices to communicate wirelessly. However, it is rare that an experimental station license can be obtained for a communication test of the radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m immediately after manufacture. In the case of network equipment for export, the radio frequency to be used may be assigned to other communication applications in the country where the test is being performed, so it is often impossible to perform a test by wireless communication.

The network device test system shown in FIG. 2 shows a configuration example in which the test is performed by connecting the wireless base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m to be tested with wires. The network device test system shown in FIG. 2 is an example in which radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m are connected by an RF coupler 7. The number of terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m of connecting to a wireless base station 5 ₁ to 5 _n is set according to the contents of the test of the radio base station 5 ₁ to 5 _n. The RF coupler 7 may incorporate a simulator that simulates reception level attenuation according to the propagation distance of radio waves, reception level fluctuations due to fading, and the like. In the network equipment test system shown in FIG. 2, the wireless base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m are connected by the RF coupler 7 to stabilize the state of the communication path. The reproducibility of the test data of 5 _{1 to} 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m is improved.

Next, the operation of the network device test system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows an operation example when a test is performed by connecting the plurality of radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n shown in FIG. 1 to the extended L2SW one by one.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the network device test system of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the radio base station 5 ₁ tested and connected to the expansion L2SW1, if during extended L2SW1 and wireless base station 5 ₁ is linked up, extended L2SW1 is connected radio base station 5 ₁ Detect the MAC address.

Extended L2SW1 is detected MAC address is registered in advance, if the value indicating the initial state of the wireless base station (the temporary address), the connection information indicating that the wireless base station 5 ₁ in the initial state is connected The test setting server 4 is notified.

Test setup server 4 recognizes that the wireless base station 5 ₁ in the initial state by the notified connection information from the extended L2SW1 is connected, it has been secured in advance, to the wireless base station 5 ₁ a unique MAC address allocation, notifies the value of the MAC address assigned to the wireless base station 5 _1, transmits a unique address change instruction to change the MAC address.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ receives the unique address change instruction, and updates value notified the MAC address of the device from the test configuration server 4, once cut the link with the extension L2SW1. Extended L2SW1 detects the link disconnection of the radio base station 5 _1, and notifies the disconnection information indicating it to the test configuration server 4.

The wireless base station 5 _1, the update of the MAC address is terminated, again linked up and extended L2SW1. Extended L2SW1, when 5 ₁ link-up radio base station, detects the connected MAC address of the wireless base station 5 _1. In this case, extension L2SW1 notifies the connection information indicating that the wireless base station 5 ₁ of the test ready with unique MAC address is connected to the test setup server 4.

Test setup server 4 detects that the radio base station 5 ₁ of the test preparation state by the notified connection information from the extended L2SW1 is connected, for instructing the preparation of the test with respect to the radio base station 5 ₁ Send test preparation instructions.

The wireless base station 5 _1, which has received the test preparation instruction transmits a pilot request for confirming the operation (Experimental) whether for testing to the management server 3.

The management server 3 receives the pilot request from the wireless base station 5 _1, against the information indicating the radio base station that allows the pre-registered pilot, a radio base wireless base station 5 ₁ permits the pilot If it is a station, the operation permission is returned. In this case, the wireless base station 5 ₁ goes to the operation ready to perform the test.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ and shifts to the operation state, and notifies the scheduling information or the like for specifying the reception timing for each terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m to be used in the test. Terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m, in accordance with the scheduling information notified from the radio base station 5 _1, to ensure the link used for communication with the wireless base station 5 ₁ at the timing when the wireless base station 5 ₁ designates Send a connection request.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ receives a connection request from a terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m, the transmitted terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m of the connection request is allowed to connect based on the acquired terminal information from the management server 3 It is determined whether or not the terminal station is a terminal station, and if the terminal station 6 _{1 to} 6 _m is a terminal station that permits connection, a connection permission is returned, and the connection with the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m is completed. Note that the radio base station 5 ₁ may acquire the terminal information from the management server 3 together with the pilot allowed, also acquire the terminal information by requesting to the management server when receiving a connection request from the terminal station Good.

The wireless base station 5 _1, when the terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m and the link-up, transmits a test start instruction to start the communication test to the host server 2 and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m, the host server 2 and the terminal A predetermined communication test determined in advance is performed while relaying test data transmitted and received between the stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m .

When the predetermined communication test is completed, the upper server 2, the radio base station 5 _1, and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m transmit a test result report indicating the test result to the test setting server 4. Test setup server 4, the host server 2, upon receiving a report each test result from the radio base station 5 ₁ and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m, and transmits the end instruction of the test to the radio base station 5 _1. Note that the transmission destination of the test start instruction and the transmission source of the test result report differ depending on the test item, and an example thereof is shown here.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ receives the test end instruction from the test setup server 4, and disconnects the link with the expansion L2SW1 end the communication test. Extended L2SW1 detects the link disconnection of the radio base station 5 _1, and notifies the disconnection information indicating it to the test configuration server 4.

Test configuration server 4 is extended when receiving the disconnection information from L2SW1, recognizes that the test of the radio base station 5 ₁ that has been tested has been finished.

When a test of a radio base station to be tested next (for example, the radio base station 5 ₂ ) is performed after the test is completed, the test operator connects the radio base station 5 ₂ to the extension L2SW 1 so that the radio base station 5 processing similar to the above are repeated for _2.

The operation of the network device test system according to the present embodiment has been described above by taking as an example the case where a plurality of radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n are tested one by one. However, the extended L2SW 1 may include a plurality of communication ports. For example, a plurality of radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n can be tested simultaneously. In this case, the extended L2SW 1 opens one of the plurality of radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n to which the temporary MAC address has been assigned, and opens one of the ports, and the radio base station connected to the opened port When the assignment of the unique MAC address to is completed, the control for opening one next port may be repeated sequentially. In this way, a unique MAC address can be assigned to each of the plurality of radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n connected to the extended L2SW ₁ . Further, if each of the wireless base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n changes the MAC address to a unique value and then links up again with the extended L2SW ₁ , the test setting server 4 sets each of the wireless base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n with the MAC address. since discernible, can be carried out is connected to the expansion L2SW1 plurality of radio base stations test 5 ₁ to 5 _n simultaneously.

Further, the network device test system of the present embodiment can also test the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m shown in FIG. In this case, as in the processing for the radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n described above, the extended L2SW 1 is configured so that the terminal station in the initial state when the terminal station in the initial state having a temporary MAC address is connected to the radio base station. The test setting server 4 assigns a unique MAC address to the terminal station, and transmits the assigned MAC address and a unique address change instruction to the terminal station. Upon receiving the unique address change instruction, the terminal station updates its own MAC address with the unique value notified from the test setting server 4, disconnects the link with the radio base station, and links with the radio base station again. Up. In this way, the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m can perform a communication test in the same manner as the radio base stations 5 _{1 to} 5 _n .

  In the network device test system of the present embodiment, when a terminal station test is performed, the wireless base station has a function of notifying the test setting server of the state of the connected network device provided in the above-described extended L2SW. Is also possible. That is, it is possible for the radio base station to operate as the state notification unit. In addition, if the wireless base station has a plurality of communication ports, it is possible to test a plurality of terminal stations simultaneously. In that case, as with the extended L2SW1, if the control is performed such that each time the wireless base station finishes assigning a unique MAC address to the terminal station, the port is opened one by one. MAC addresses can be assigned sequentially.

Furthermore, in the network device test system according to the present embodiment, when a multi-stage test is performed on a network device to be tested, if a different MAC address is assigned to the network device according to the test step, the network device is identified by the MAC address. The test stage to be performed can be determined. For example, the test setting server 4 transmits the MAC address indicating the next test item to the test base station together with the process of transmitting the test end instruction shown in FIG. 5, and sets the MAC address to the base station. Update it. In that case, the test setting server 4 determines the test item to be performed on the radio base station from the connection information indicating the state of the radio base station that has been linked up again, and issues a test preparation instruction for performing the corresponding test. Just send it to the radio base station,
The network device test system according to the present embodiment is suitable for an automatic test of a radio system including the radio base station and the terminal station shown in FIG. 1, but is not limited to the radio system and includes all terminal stations and various types. The network device can be applied to an automatic test of a wired system connected by, for example, Ethernet.

  According to the present invention, the extension L2SW1 or the wireless base station notifies the test setting server 4 of the state of the network device to be tested, so that the test setting server 4 can assign a MAC address or It is possible to instruct preparation for a test to be performed on the network device. Therefore, it is possible to automatically assign a unique MAC address to each network device, and to automatically start and end the network device test. Therefore, the test time of the network device can be shortened and the cost of the network device can be reduced.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the network equipment test system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the network equipment test system of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the network equipment test system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network equipment test system of background art.

Explanation of symbols

1 Extended L2SW
2 upper server 3 management server 4 test setting server 5 _{1 to} 5 _n radio base station 6 _{1 to} 6 _m terminal station 7 RF coupler

Claims (10)

A status notification means for determining the status of the network device to be tested from the value of the address, and transmitting connection information indicating the status of the determined network device;
A test setting server for transmitting an instruction for a test according to a state of the network device to the network device based on connection information transmitted from the state notification unit;
A network equipment test system. The state notification means includes
The network device test system according to claim 1, wherein the network device test system is a layer 2 switch that switches data transmitted and received by the network device to be tested. The state notification means includes
The network device test system according to claim 1, wherein the network device test system is a radio base station that relays data transmitted and received by the network device to be tested. The test setting server
When it is detected from the connection information that the network device is in the initial state, a unique address is assigned to the network device, the assigned address value is notified to the network device, and an address change is instructed. The network device test system according to claim 1, wherein a change instruction is transmitted to cause the network device to update an address value. The test setting server
The test preparation instruction for instructing the network device to prepare for performing a required test is detected when the connection information detects that the network device has a unique address. Network equipment testing system. The test setting server
When performing a multi-stage test on the network device, upon receiving a test result report that is a test result of the network device, the network device is notified of the address value corresponding to the next-stage test and the address 6. The network device test system according to claim 5, wherein a unique address change instruction for instructing update is transmitted. A device to which the network device to be tested is communicably connected determines the state of the network device from the value of the address,
Notifying the server device that controls the test of the network device connection information indicating the status of the determined network device,
A network device test method in which the server device transmits an instruction for a test according to a state of the network device to the network device based on the connection information.   When the server device detects that the network device is in an initial state based on the connection information, the server device assigns a unique address to the network device, notifies the network device of the value of the assigned address, and changes the address. The network device test method according to claim 7, wherein a unique address change instruction is transmitted to cause the network device to update an address value.   8. The network according to claim 7, wherein when the server device detects that the network device has a unique address based on the connection information, the server device transmits a test preparation instruction for instructing the network device to prepare for performing a required test. Equipment test method.   When performing a multi-stage test on the network device, when the server device receives a test result report that is a test result of the network device, the address value corresponding to the next-stage test is sent to the network device. The network device test method according to claim 9, wherein a unique address change instruction for instructing address update is transmitted.

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