JP5006894B2 - Network simulation system and network simulation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network simulation technique for verifying network operation.

  With the spread of the Internet in recent years, many various network systems have been newly constructed. In addition, various protocols are used in network systems, and network devices such as switches and routers are actively developed. In order to verify the operation of such a newly-developed network device and a new protocol, conventionally, the operation was verified by connecting to a dedicated measuring device. However, there are cases where problems such as the network not operating normally after the network system is actually constructed. In view of this, a method of constructing a virtual network including data of an actual device on a simulator and performing operation verification is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-101537 A

  However, the conventional method for verifying operation by building a virtual network system on a simulator is to construct a newly developed network device virtually on a virtual network, for example, when verifying the operation of a newly developed network device. Thus, there is a problem that it is impossible to verify whether or not the actual machine operates normally on the actual network system.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a network simulation system and a network simulation method capable of verifying the operation of a network system by connecting a virtual network and a real network.

The network simulation system of the present invention is a network simulation system that performs operation verification of a network system, and includes a simulator terminal that builds a virtual network and simulates network operation, and the simulator terminal and a target device to be verified for operation. A data conversion device for converting data input / output between each other, and the data conversion device encapsulates data output by the target device into a predetermined packet that can be handled by the simulator terminal, and outputs the packet to the simulator terminal, relates to a network simulation system for outputting data decapsulates the predetermined packet which the simulator terminal output to the target device.

Then , in the simulator terminal, capture information storage means for holding the monitor result for each connection section on the network as capture information, display control means for displaying the simulation result on the monitor, and the connection section on the network to be displayed on the monitor and a monitor portion instruction means for instructing provided, wherein the display control unit, the capture of the capture information storage means sequentially to update the captured information for each connection section is held in, the monitor portion connection section which is instructed by the instructing means Information is displayed on a monitor.

Further, setting information storage means for holding network configuration information, virtual device and setting information of the target device in the simulator terminal, and performance information storage means for holding the number of frames flowing through each connection section on the network as performance information When a display control means for displaying a simulation result on a monitor, and a monitor portion instruction means for instructing the connection section of the network to be displayed on the monitor provided, wherein the display control means is held in the performance information storage means The performance information for each connection section is sequentially updated, and the performance information for the connection section instructed by the monitor location instruction means is displayed on the monitor.

  More preferably, the data converter uses a UDP packet as the predetermined packet.

  More preferably, the data conversion device uses a specific port number of a UDP header of the UDP packet.

The network simulation method of the present invention is a network simulation method for verifying the operation of a network system, wherein the target is between a simulator terminal that builds a virtual network and simulates the network operation and the target device to be verified. the data device, and outputs the encapsulated in a predetermined packet that can be handled by the said simulator terminal output to the simulator terminal has a data conversion step of outputting decapsulates the data of the predetermined packet which the simulator terminal outputs to the target device The present invention relates to a network simulation method .

Then, the capture information storage step of holding the capture information storage unit monitoring result for each connection section on the network as a capture information, and a monitor portion instruction step for instructing the connection section of the network to be displayed on the monitor, the capture information storage And a step of sequentially updating the capture information for each connection section held in the means and displaying the capture information of the connection section instructed by the monitor location instruction step on the monitor.

A performance information storage step for storing in the performance information storage means the number of frames flowing through each connection section on the network as performance information; a monitor location instruction step for indicating the connection section on the network to be displayed on the monitor; and the performance information And a step of sequentially updating the performance information for each connection section held in the storage means and displaying the performance information of the connection section instructed in the monitor location instruction step on the monitor.

  More preferably, the data conversion step uses a UDP packet as the predetermined packet.

  More preferably, the data conversion step uses a specific port number of a UDP header of the UDP packet.

  The network simulation system and network simulation method according to the present invention can verify the operation of a network system by connecting a virtual network and a real network. In particular, since the simulator device and the target device are connected by encapsulating in a general-purpose protocol such as UDP, it can be used for a general-purpose simulator terminal.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the network simulation system 100 which concerns on this embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a simulator terminal 101. FIG. 6 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining the operation of the packet conversion apparatus 102. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example 1 of a display of capture information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example 2 of a display of capture information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example 3 of a display of capture information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of performance information. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the network simulation system 100 which concerns on this embodiment.

  Embodiments relating to a network simulation system and a network simulation method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  A configuration example of a network simulation system 100 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The network simulation system 100 can perform operation verification of a network system by connecting a virtual network and a real network. In FIG. 1, a network simulation system 100 includes a simulator terminal 101, a packet conversion device 102, and a target real network 103. In FIG. 1, as an example of the real network 103, a real target device 104 and a target terminal 105 are connected to the simulator terminal 101 via the packet conversion device 102. On the other hand, in the simulator terminal 101, as shown in the screen example of the monitor 204 of the simulator terminal 101, a virtual network is constructed using the virtual terminal 301, the virtual network device 302, and the virtual network device 303.

  Here, in the conventional simulator terminal, the virtual target device that performs the same operation as the actual target device whose operation is to be verified is built on the virtual network of the simulator terminal, and the operation is verified, but the network simulation according to the present embodiment In the system 100, the actual network 103 is connected to the virtual network of the simulator terminal 101, and the actual target device or target terminal is operated to perform verification.

  In FIG. 1, a packet converter 102 encapsulates a packet of a target device 104 in a general-purpose protocol such as UDP, and connects the simulator terminal 101 and the target device 104 to each other. For this reason, even when the target device 104 is a device corresponding to a special protocol, the packet of the target device 104 is encapsulated and transmitted to the simulator terminal 101, and conversely, the packet encapsulated from the simulator terminal 101 is the target device. 104, the general-purpose simulator terminal can be used as the simulator terminal 101.

  Here, the simulator terminal 101 that has received the data encapsulated in UDP by the packet converter 102 recognizes, for example, a specific port of UDP as an identifier, extracts relevant information from the payload portion, and faithfully reproduces the data of the target device 104. Can be reproduced. Conversely, when data is sent from the simulator terminal 101 to the target device 104, the data on the virtual network is encapsulated by UDP, output to the packet conversion device 102, and sent to the target device 104.

  In the simulator terminal 101, each device other than the target device 104 acquires setting information from the actual device, is assigned as setting information of the device constructed in the simulator terminal 101, and is stored in the database 205. Here, the setting information and the database 205 will be described in detail later.

  Next, the configuration of the simulator terminal 101 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the simulator terminal 101. In FIG. 2, a LAN I / F (LAN interface) 201, a control unit 202, an operation unit 203, a monitor 204, a database 205, a capture information memory 206, and a performance information memory 207 are configured.

  A LAN I / F 201 is a LAN interface for connecting a real network or the like, and is an interface corresponding to a general-purpose protocol.

  The control unit 202 is a block corresponding to a computer constituted by a CPU or the like. In the case of the simulator terminal 101, network simulation software is executed.

  The operation unit 203 includes an operation interface such as a keyboard (KB) and a mouse. The operator operates the keyboard (KB) and the mouse to construct a network on the screen of the monitor 204 and set each device. The input of information or the location to be verified is specified and the simulation result is displayed on the monitor 204.

  The database 205 stores the setting information of each device constructed on the screen of the monitor 204 and the data flowing through the lines of the respective units during the simulation operation while sequentially updating them.

For example, the following setting information is set in the database 205.
Device basic information: network settings such as monitoring IP address, management information settings such as SNMP and NTP, L2 monitoring function information such as EtherOAM (Ethernet is a registered trademark), etc.
Function information for satisfying the forwarding function as an L2 switch: port setting, QOS setting, L2TP, VLAN, etc.

  The virtual device to which the setting information as described above is given can exchange information corresponding to the L2 layer with the target device 104 via the packet conversion device 102. Then, the data flowing through the lines and devices of each part during the simulation operation is stored in the database 205 while being sequentially updated. With these pieces of information, capture information, performance information, and the like described later can be obtained.

  When an arbitrary line (section) on the network drawn on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulator terminal 101 is selected with a pointing device such as a mouse, the capture information memory 206 displays the packet contents flowing on the line in that section. This is a memory for capturing and saving.

  Actually, the control unit 202 of the simulation terminal 101 processes the data sent from the target device 104 to the simulation terminal 101 via the packet conversion device 102 based on the information of each device set in the database 205. The data is stored in the database 205 while being sequentially updated in correspondence with an arbitrary line or device on the network drawn on the screen of the monitor 204. Then, the control unit 202 determines the information in the database 205 that is sequentially updated as the simulation operation progresses, the connection of the network configuration diagram drawn on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulation terminal 101, and the position on the screen of the apparatus. Link. Thus, when the user moves the pointing device to the connection drawing position on the screen of the monitor 204, the control unit 202 takes the data flowing in the pointed connection unit into the capture information memory 206, and displays the screen of the monitor 204. The data (capture data) captured in the capture information memory 206 is displayed above.

  The performance information memory 207, when an arbitrary line (section) on the network drawn on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulator terminal 101 is selected twice with a pointing device such as a mouse, the first selection time and the second time This is a memory for capturing and storing performance information of frames that have passed through the section during selection. Here, the performance information is information (at least one piece of information such as quantity, size, frame speed, error rate) of frames flowing through each connection section on the network.

  For example, on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulation terminal 101, the pointing device is set to the connection drawing section that the user wants to monitor, the measurement period is instructed by instructing the start and end of measurement twice, and the data of the measurement period is displayed. Changes are captured as performance information and stored in the performance information memory 207. At the same time, the performance information stored in the performance information memory 207 is displayed on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulation terminal 101.

  Here, the operation of the network simulation system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3 is the same as the network simulation system 100 shown in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same devices. In FIG. 3, the data flow from the target terminal 105 to the simulator terminal 101 will be described. Data is transmitted and received between the target terminal 205 and the target device 204 using (Protocol Stack 1) of a general-purpose protocol. Since the target device 204 transmits and receives data using the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2), the data of (Protocol Stack 1) received from the target terminal 205 is placed on (Protocol Stack 2) and transmitted to the packet conversion device 102. Is done.

  However, when the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2) of the target device 204 uses a newly developed protocol, the LANIF 201 of the simulator terminal 101 cannot support the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2) and cannot be physically connected. The problem arises. On the other hand, in the case of the network simulation system 100 according to the present embodiment, the packet conversion device 102 encapsulates the data of the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2) received from the target device 204 into the general protocol (Protocol Stack 1). To the simulator terminal 101. In this manner, even the simulator terminal 101 that does not support the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2) installed in the target device 204 can physically receive the data of the target device 204. Then, the simulator terminal 101 that physically received the data of the target device 204 takes out the data of the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2) encapsulated in the general-purpose protocol (Protocol Stack 1) on the simulation software, and sends it to the simulator terminal 101. The built network can be simulated.

  Here, in FIG. 3, when there is no packet conversion device 102, the simulator terminal 101 receives a packet directly from the target device 104, so what protocol the target device 104 uses in the simulator terminal 102. You need to know and the connection environment will be different. Therefore, by arranging the packet conversion device 102 between the simulator terminal 101 and the target device 104, the data transmitted from the target device 104 to the simulator terminal 101 is directly encapsulated by, for example, fixed-length Ethernet UDP. Whatever protocol is used by the network connecting the target device 104 and the packet conversion device 102, the network connecting the packet conversion device 102 and the simulator terminal 101 can be connected by general-purpose Ethernet. In this case, by designating a unique port number to be used in the UDP header, the simulator terminal 101 can recognize the unique port number as a packet operating in the target device 104. .

[Capture information monitor example]
Next, a monitor example of capture information will be described. FIG. 4 shows a network constructed on the screen of the monitor 204 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the simulation software is already operating. The monitor mode of the simulation software is set to display the capture information on the monitor.

  The user operates the mouse to align the cursor 351 with the connection part 352 on the screen of the monitor 204 and clicks the mouse button. In response to this operation, the control unit 202 captures the data flowing in the connection unit 352 pointed by the cursor 351 into the capture information memory 206, and displays the capture information 401 captured in the capture information memory 206 on the screen of the monitor 204. indicate. For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the connection unit 352 pointed to by the cursor 351 is between the target device 104 and the virtual network device 303, so the new protocol (Protocol Stack 2) output by the target device 104 described in FIG. ) Is displayed as capture information 401. In this way, data transmitted from the target device 104, which is a real device, to the virtual network device 303 can be monitored on the virtual network.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, data transmitted from the target terminal 105 that is an actual device to the target device 104 that is also an actual device can be monitored on the screen of the monitor 204. In FIG. 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 denote the same components. In the case of FIG. 5, the actual connection unit 354 pointed to by the cursor 353 is located between the target terminal 105 and the target device 104, so that the general-purpose protocol (Protocol Stack 1) output by the target terminal 105 described in FIG. Is displayed as capture information 401a. In this way, data transmitted and received on the real network can be monitored on the simulation.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, data transmitted and received on the virtual network can be monitored on the screen of the monitor 204. In the example of FIG. 6, data of (Protocol Stack 1) of the virtual connection unit 356 pointed by the cursor 355 between the virtual terminal 301 and the virtual network device 302 is displayed as the capture information 401a. In this way, data transmitted and received on the virtual network can be monitored on the simulation.

  In this way, any of data transmitted / received on the real network, data transmitted / received between the real network and the virtual network, and data transmitted / received on the virtual network can be freely monitored as capture information. .

[Example of performance information monitoring]
Next, an example of monitoring performance information will be described. FIG. 7 shows a network constructed on the screen of the monitor 204 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the simulation software is already operating. In addition, it is assumed that the monitor mode of the simulation software is set to display performance information on a monitor.

  The user operates the mouse to move the cursor 357 to the connection portion 358 on the screen of the monitor 204 and clicks the mouse button (first click). In response to this operation, the control unit 202 starts to import the data flowing in the connection unit 358 pointed by the cursor 357 into the performance information memory 207. Up to this point, it is the same as the monitor example of the capture information described above, but the capture information is not displayed because the performance information is set to be displayed on the monitor. By the first click, the control unit 202 updates the data frame information (at least one information such as quantity, size, frame speed, error rate, etc.) flowing in the connection unit 358 to the performance information memory 207 while sequentially updating the information. Remember.

  Then, the user operates the mouse to align the cursor 357 with the connection portion 358 on the screen of the monitor 204 and clicks the mouse button (second click). In response to this operation, the control unit 202 finishes taking the data flowing in the connection unit 358 pointed by the cursor 357 into the performance information memory 207. By this second click, the control unit 202 causes the data frame information (quantity, size, frame speed) flowing to the connection unit 358 captured in the performance information memory 207 during the period from the first click to the second click. , At least one piece of information such as an error rate) is displayed as performance information 402 on the screen of the monitor 204. In the above description, the case where the performance information of the data frame transmitted / received between the target device 104 of the real device and the virtual network device 302 is monitored has been described, but it is the same as the monitor example of the capture information described above. In addition, it is possible to monitor freely as performance information for both data transmitted and received on the real network and data transmitted and received on the virtual network.

[Simulation procedure]
Next, a simulation procedure of the network simulation system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  (Step S101) Simulation is started. Here, the user prepares necessary software such as the simulator terminal 101, the target device 104, and the target terminal 105, and starts up simulation software.

  (Step S102) The user sets an actual network device. As shown in FIG. 1, the packet converter 102, the target device 104, and the target terminal 105 are physically connected to the simulator terminal 101, and the setting information of the actual network device is set in the database 205 on the simulation software.

  (Step S103) The user sets a virtual network device. As shown in FIG. 1, the setting information of the virtual terminal 301 and the virtual network devices 302 and 303 constructed on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulator terminal 101 is set in the database 205.

  (Step S104) As shown in FIG. 1, the user constructs a network for simulation on the screen of the monitor 204 using the apparatus set in Steps S102 and S103 on the screen of the monitor 204 of the simulator terminal 101. To do.

  (Step S105) The user instructs the control unit 202 to start a simulation operation on the simulator terminal 101.

  (Step S106) The control unit 202 executes a simulation operation on the simulator terminal 101.

  (Step S107) The control unit 202 appropriately updates information in the database 205, the capture information memory 206, and the performance information memory 207 in accordance with the execution of the simulation operation.

  (Step S108) The control unit 202 determines whether or not the point to be monitored is designated by the user. If the user designates a monitor point, the process proceeds to step S109, and if the user does not designate a monitor point, the process proceeds to step S110. Here, the designation of the monitor point by the user is determined by whether or not a click operation with a mouse or the like has been performed, for example.

  (Step S <b> 109) The control unit 202 reads capture information or performance information at a location where the user designates a monitor point from the capture information memory 206 or the performance information memory 207 and displays it on the screen of the monitor 204.

  (Step S110) The control unit 202 determines whether or not the user has instructed the end of the simulation. If the user has instructed to end the simulation, the process proceeds to step S111. If the user has not instructed to end the simulation, the process returns to step S106 to continue the simulation. Here, the simulation end instruction means the end of the operation of the simulation software.

  (Step S111) The simulation is terminated.

  As described above, the network simulation system and the network simulation method according to the present embodiment can perform the operation verification of the network system by connecting the virtual network and the real network. In particular, since the simulator device and the target device are connected by encapsulating in a general-purpose protocol such as UDP, it can be used for a general-purpose simulator terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Network simulation system 101 ... Simulator terminal 102 ... Packet conversion apparatus 103 ... Real network 104 ... Target apparatus 105 ... Target terminal 201 ... LAN I / F
202 ... Control unit 203 ... Operation unit 204 ... Monitor 205 ... Database 206 ... Capture information memory 207 ... Performance information memory 301 ... Virtual terminal 302, 303 ... Virtual network Apparatus 351,353,355,357 ... Cursor 352,354,356,358 ... Connection part 401,401a, 401b ... Capture information 402 ... Performance information

Claims (8)

A network simulation system for verifying the operation of a network system,
A simulator terminal that builds a virtual network and simulates network operation;
A data converter for converting data input / output between the simulator terminal and the target device to be verified for operation;
The data conversion device encapsulates the data output from the target device into a predetermined packet that can be handled by the simulator terminal, outputs the packet to the simulator terminal, and decapsulates the data output from the simulator terminal. In the network simulation system that outputs to
The simulator terminal is instructed to capture information storage means for holding monitor results for each connection section on the network as capture information, display control means for displaying simulation results on the monitor, and connection sections on the network to be displayed on the monitor. Monitor location instruction means,
Wherein the display control unit, and wherein successively to update the captured information for each connection section is held in the capture information storage unit to display the captured information on connection section indicated by the monitoring point instruction means to monitor Network simulation system. A network simulation system for verifying the operation of a network system,
A simulator terminal that builds a virtual network and simulates network operation;
A data converter for converting data input / output between the simulator terminal and the target device to be verified for operation;
The data conversion device encapsulates the data output from the target device into a predetermined packet that can be handled by the simulator terminal, outputs the packet to the simulator terminal, and decapsulates the data output from the simulator terminal. In the network simulation system that outputs to
In the simulator terminal, setting information storage means for holding network configuration information, virtual device and setting information of the target device, performance information storage means for holding the number of frames flowing through each connection section on the network as performance information, Display control means for displaying the simulation result on the monitor, and monitor location instruction means for instructing the connection section on the network to be displayed on the monitor,
Wherein the display control unit, and wherein successively to update the performance information for each connection section is held in the performance information storage means, and displays the performance information of the connection section indicated by the monitoring point instruction means to monitor Network simulation system. The network simulation system according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The network simulation system, wherein the data converter uses a UDP packet as the predetermined packet. The network simulation system according to claim 3 ,
The data conversion apparatus uses a specific port number of a UDP header of the UDP packet. A network simulation method for verifying the operation of a network system,
Between the simulator terminal that builds a virtual network and simulates network operation and the target device to be verified, the data output by the target device is encapsulated into a predetermined packet that can be handled by the simulator terminal and output to the simulator terminal In the network simulation method including a data conversion step of outputting data obtained by decapsulating the predetermined packet output from the simulator terminal to the target device ,
A capture information storage step for holding the monitor result for each connection section on the network as capture information in the capture information storage means;
A monitor location instruction step for indicating a connection section on the network to be displayed on the monitor;
And a step of sequentially updating the capture information for each connection section held in the capture information storage means and displaying the capture information of the connection section instructed by the monitor location instruction step on a monitor. Simulation method. A network simulation method for verifying the operation of a network system,
Between the simulator terminal that builds a virtual network and simulates network operation and the target device to be verified, the data output by the target device is encapsulated into a predetermined packet that can be handled by the simulator terminal and output to the simulator terminal In the network simulation method including a data conversion step of outputting data obtained by decapsulating the predetermined packet output from the simulator terminal to the target device ,
A performance information storage step for holding the number of frames flowing through each connection section on the network as performance information in the performance information storage means;
A monitor location instruction step for indicating a connection section on the network to be displayed on the monitor;
And a step of sequentially updating the performance information for each connection section held in the performance information storage means and displaying the performance information of the connection section instructed by the monitor location instruction step on a monitor. Simulation method. In the network simulation method according to claim 5 or 6 ,
The data conversion step uses a UDP packet as the predetermined packet. The network simulation method according to claim 7 , wherein
The data conversion step uses a specific port number of a UDP header of the UDP packet.

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