JP5281502B2 - Device search apparatus and device search method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device searching apparatus and a device searching method for searching for devices connected to a network.

  Conventionally, when there are many devices connected to the network, when performing maintenance or removal of specific devices or exchanging cables connected to specific devices, the worker is not allowed It was not possible to clearly distinguish that they were the same, and the labels affixed to each device were examined one by one to find the corresponding device from among a large number of devices, and the work was performed.

  In the conventional technology described above, when there are many similar overviews connected to the network or when the overview cannot be identified, one label is attached to each device to find a specific device from many devices. One worker reads and finds the target device, and maintains or removes the device or replaces the cable connected to the device. Therefore, a specific device is selected from the many devices connected to the network. There was a problem that it was difficult to find it quickly and reliably.

  In order to solve these problems, the present invention transmits a packet to a device connected to a hub of the network, and only one of the ports of the hub to which the device is connected is connected. The purpose is to clearly indicate the connection location of the device by lighting or blinking the port, cable, device, etc.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in a device search apparatus that searches for a device connected to a hub of a network, a MAC that registers a MAC address of a device connected to the end of a hub port in association with a port number is registered in each hub. Comparison between the table and the destination MAC address in the packet when a specific packet is received from the network and referring to the MAC table to determine whether there is a port with only one destination MAC address registered When a port where only one destination MAC address of the packet received by the means and the comparing means is registered is found, the port is lit brightly or blinks, and the device specified ahead of the port is connected. And a means for displaying that it is present.

  At this time, a port is brightly lit or blinked to indicate that a device specified at the end of the port is connected, and an indicator is provided near the port to illuminate or blink.

  In addition, when a port is brightly lit or blinked to indicate that the device specified at the end of the port is connected, a connector or cable connected to the port is provided with a display portion to light the connector or cable. Or it is made to blink.

  In addition, a signal is sent to the device via an unused line in the connector connected to the port, with the port lighted or blinking to indicate that the device specified at the end of the port is connected. The display on the device is turned on or blinked.

  Also, when a specific packet is received, a specific packet in which a PING command is set with the MAC address of the search target device as the destination MAC address is received.

  Further, after a packet in which a clear command for clearing the MAC table is set is transmitted to each hub via the network to clear the MAC table, a specific packet is transmitted to each hub after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  In addition, the aging function for clearing the learning table every predetermined time is enabled to clear the learning table of the hub every predetermined time.

  The present invention illuminates a hub connected to a network hub by transmitting a packet and connecting only one of the hub ports to which the device is connected or a hub port, cable, device, etc. It is possible to indicate the connection location of the device by blinking.

  The present invention relates to a device connected to a hub of a network, a hub to which only one of the hub ports to which the target device is connected by transmitting a packet is connected, or a hub port, cable, device, etc. Illuminated and flashed to clearly indicate the connection location of the device.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a switching hub (hub) 11 is a switching hub (hub) constituting a network, and a packet (for example, see FIG. 2A described later) received from any port is a destination of the packet. In this example, the receiving unit 12, the transmitting unit 13, the comparing unit 14, the MAC table 15, the lighting unit 16, the LED 17, the port 18, and the like are configured.

  The receiving means 12 receives a packet transmitted from the outside to any one of the ports 18 and temporarily holds it.

  The transmission unit 12 transmits the packet received and held by the reception unit 12 from the port directed to the destination of the packet with reference to the MAC table 15.

  The comparing means 14 takes out the destination MAC address in the temporarily held packet received by the receiving means 12, and obtains the port number registered in the MAC table 15 and the number of MAC addresses registered in the port. In addition, a port number in which one MAC address is registered is determined.

  The MAC table 15 registers MAC addresses of devices, switch hubs, and the like ahead of the port number in association with the port number.

  When the lighting unit 16 receives from the comparison unit 14 a notification of the port number registered with reference to the MAC table 15 for the destination MAC address in the specific packet (for example, the specific packet in which the PING command is set). The LED 17 of the corresponding port number is turned on or blinked, and the fact that the device 21 specified by the specific packet is connected to the end of the port 18 of the port number corresponding to the LED 17 that has been turned on or blinked is displayed. (Described later).

  The LED 17 is a light emitting element provided in association with the port 18 number.

  The port 18 is a port provided in the switching hub 11 and is a port (port) for transmitting and receiving packets, and is N ports from port number 0 to port number (N−1).

  The device / switching hub 21 is a device or switching hub composed of N devices of device 0 / switching hub 0, device 1 / switching hub 1,..., Device (N-1) / switching hub (N-1). It is a device (terminal such as a personal computer) or a switching hub (hub) 11 connected to the network.

  The investigation PC 21 turns on or blinks the LED 17 corresponding to the port 18 of the switching hub 11 to which the search target device is connected (for example, (a) and (b) specific packet in which the PING command is set in FIG. 2). Is to send.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention.

  FIG. 2A shows a network example. The network shown in the figure is SW1 (same configuration as the switching hub 11 in FIG. 1), SW2 (same configuration as the switching hub 11 in FIG. 1), SW3 (same configuration as the switching hub 11 in FIG. 1) from the leftmost investigation PC 22 to the right. ), And SV4 (device 21 in FIG. 1) to be turned on (search target), and SV1 (device 21 in FIG. 1) to SW1, SV2 (device 21 in FIG. 1) to SW2, SV3 (device 21 in FIG. 1). An example of a network to which the devices 21) of FIG. 1 are connected is shown. Then, other SW (switching hub) or SV (device) is connected to the illustrated ports of SW1, SW2, and SW3 as illustrated, and MACs 11, 21, 31, and 30, which are MAC addresses, and IP11, which is an IP address. , IP21, IP31, and IP30 are each uniquely (MAC address) or assigned (IP address), and the operation will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the operation. In FIG. 2B, survey PC22, SW1, SW2, and SW3 correspond to survey PC22, SW1, SW2, and SW3 in FIG. Further, the processing from S2 to S8 in SW1 is similarly executed in SW2 and SW3.

  2B, S1 is a specific packet (for example, FIG. 3 described later) in which the leftmost investigation PC 22 sets the MAC address (MAC30) of SV4 as the destination MAC address on the network of FIG. The PING commands (a) and (b) are set, and a specific command (MAC30 (SV4 MAC address) is set as the destination MAC address) is transmitted.

  In S2, the receiving means 12 of SW1 in FIG. 2A receives the packet transmitted in S1.

  In S3, the destination MAC address is extracted. In this case, the MAC 30 (the MAC address of SV4) is taken out here as the destination MAC address set as the destination MAC address from the packet received in S2 by the comparison means 14 of SW1 in FIG.

  In S4, it is determined whether it is in the MAC table. This determines whether the destination MAC address (MAC30) extracted in S3 is registered in any port number of the MAC table 15. In the case of YES, the packet is transmitted (transmitted to the outside) from the corresponding port (the port having the registered port number) in S5. In the case of NO, since it is found that the packet is not registered in the MAC table 15, the packet is transmitted from all ports in S6 (so-called blue cast is performed for the received packet).

  Through S2 to S6 described above, SW1 can execute a process of transferring the received packet toward the destination MAC address registered in the MAC table 15.

  In S7, one is determined in the MAC table. Whether the comparison means 14 of SW1 in FIG. 2A refers to the MAC table 15 and the destination MAC address of the received packet is registered with only one destination MAC address. Determine. If YES, the lighting process in S8, that is, the LED 17 of the port number determined to have only one lighting means 16 in FIG. 1 is turned on or blinked, and the port number corresponding to the LED 17 that has been turned on or blinked is determined. It is possible to display to the port that there is a device connected to only one destination MAC address to be searched, and to notify the operator (inspector). In the case of NO, it turns out that not only one but also a plurality of devices and SWs are connected, so the lighting process is not performed.

  In the above example, in the case of the packet set with the destination MAC address (MAC30) transmitted from the leftmost investigation PC 22 in FIG. 2A, the packets are sequentially transferred to SW1, SW2, and SW3 ((( b) S5), SW3 becomes YES and S8 of S7 of FIG. 2A, and the LED of port number 0 of the SW3 is turned on or blinked (MAC of (c-2) of FIG. 3). (Refer to LED lighting of table (SW3)).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a PING packet of the present invention.

  FIG. 3A shows a configuration example of a packet (PING). The packet in which the PING command is set is obtained by setting the following information shown in the figure.

・ MAC address:
-Destination MAC address:
-Source MAC address:
・ IP address:
-Source IP address:
-Destination IP address:
・ PING information:
・ PING parameter 1:
·data:
・ Other (CRC, etc.)
Here, the MAC address is a MAC address unique to the device, and the destination MAC address (destination MAC address) and the source MAC address (source MAC address) are set in the packet. The IP address is an IP address assigned to the device, and the source IP address (source IP address) and the destination IP address (destination IP address) are set in the packet. The PING information is a command for transmitting / receiving data to / from a device having a destination MAC address and a destination IP address, and measuring the time required for the transmission / reception, for example, details of the packet in FIG. By setting “08” to the type in the example, it becomes a specific packet of the present invention, and it becomes possible to execute the above-described YES processing of S7 and the lighting processing of S8 in FIG. Data is each data set in a packet and transmitted. Others are information for checking such as CRC.

  FIG. 3B shows a detailed example of the packet (PING). The illustrated packet shows details of the packet in FIG. 3A, and the MAC address and IP address correspond to the MAC address and IP address in FIG. Also, by setting the type “08”, a packet (specific packet of the present invention) in which the PING command is set is obtained. Here, the PING command is the specific packet of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but the fact that it is the specific packet of the present invention is set in the parameter or data, and S7 in FIG. YES, the lighting process of S8 may be executed.

  The IP address is ***. ***. ***. ***, where *** is a known number consisting of any number between 0 and 255. The MAC address is a publicly known one expressed by a number unique to the device.

  FIG. 3C shows an example of the MAC table.

  (C-1) of FIG. 3 shows the MAC table (SW1) of SW1 of (a) of FIG. Here, the following destination MAC addresses shown in the figure are set (registered) for ports 0 and 1, respectively.

-Port 0: MAC21, MAC30, MAC31
-Port 1: MAC11
Here, since SV2 (MAC21), SV3 (MAC31), and SV4 (MAC30) are connected to the end of port 0 of SW1 in FIG. 2A, the destinations of these devices SV2, SV3, and SV4 The MAC addresses MAC21, MAC31, and MAC30 are registered. Since SV1 (MAC11) is connected to the end of port 1, the destination MAC address MAC11 is registered.

  The actual registration procedure is as follows. When the investigation PC 22 transmits a packet ((a), (b) in FIG. 3) to the SV 4 in the network of FIG. 2 (a) and a response packet is received in response to the packet. The destination MAC address (MAC30) is registered in the MAC table in association with port 0 of SW3, port 0 of SW2, and port 0 of SW1, which are the response paths (known technique). Similarly, not only the response to the PC 22 but also SV2 to SV4 transmit any response packet, the MAC address is registered in the MAC table of the corresponding SW.

  (C-2) of FIG. 3 shows the MAC table (SW3) of SW3 of (a) of FIG. Here, the following destination MAC addresses shown in the figure are set (registered) for ports 0 and 1, respectively.

-Port 0: MAC30
-Port 1: MAC31
As described above, since it is automatically registered in the MAC table ((c-1), (c-2) in FIG. 3) of each SW1, SW2, SW3 constituting the network in FIG. 2 (a), FIG. When a specific command ((a), (b) in FIG. 3) specifying the device SV4 (MAC30, IP30) is transmitted from the investigation PC 22 in (a) to the network, the MAC table (SW3) in (c-2) in FIG. ), Only one destination MAC address (MAC30) to be searched is connected (registered) to port 0 of SW3, so that the LED of port 0 of SW3 to which the device SV4 to be searched is connected is turned on or blinked. It can be displayed.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of LED lighting processing according to the present invention.

  FIG. 4A shows a flowchart.

  In FIG. 4A, S11 turns on the LED of the corresponding port (lights on, blinks, changes color). As a result, when it is found that only one destination MAC address is registered in the MAC table for the port in which the destination MAC address is registered in S7 of FIG. By turning on, blinking, and changing the color of the LED, it is possible to explicitly display that the search target device (destination MAC address) is connected to the corresponding port of the switching hub 11.

  FIG. 4B shows an overview example of the connectors and LEDs that constitute the ports of the switching hub. When the LAN cable connector is inserted into the connector constituting the port of the switching hub and the device is connected, when the destination MAC address is set and transmitted to the specific packet from the investigation PC 22 in FIG. The LED of the port where only one destination MAC address is registered with reference to the table is displayed so as to turn on, blink, and change color, so the switching hub to which the search target device is connected is very easily displayed. It is possible to find a port and replace cables and perform maintenance and inspection of equipment.

  FIG. 5 shows a cable issuance explanatory diagram of the present invention.

  FIG. 5A shows a flowchart.

  In FIG. 5A, an electric field is applied to the cable of the corresponding port to light (flash). This is because when it is found that only one destination MAC address is registered in the MAC table for the port in which the destination MAC address is registered in S7 of FIG. By applying an electric field to the connected cable and turning it on and blinking, it is possible to explicitly display that the search target device (destination MAC address) is connected to the corresponding port of the switching hub 11. Become.

  FIG. 5B shows an example of a cable. This shows a cross-sectional view of the cable connected to the port of the switching hub. Applying (or forming) a conductive (semiconductive) conductor and a substance that emits light in an electric field to the left and right sides of the cable. An example in which a high-frequency voltage is applied to generate an electric field by causing a substance to emit light, or an organic light-emitting substance is formed to emit light is shown. By making the cable itself emit light in this way, it becomes possible to find a device to be searched very easily and perform replacement work of the cable or the like, and maintenance and inspection of the device.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining lighting of the search device of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, S31 sends a lighting instruction signal using an unused line of the cable. For example, when the device SV4 in which the SW3 in FIG. 2A described above is connected to the port 0 is found as the search device, it is unused in the LAN cable connecting the port 0 of the SW3 and the device SV4. A lighting instruction signal is transmitted to the line.

  In S32, the searching device receives the lighting instruction signal using the unused line of the cable and lights up. In this case, the searching device SV4 receives the lighting instruction signal transmitted in SW3 in S31 and lights up (for example, all the LEDs provided in the device SV4 are blinked). Accordingly, when the operator transmits a packet in which the destination MAC address of the search device is set from the investigation PC 22 in FIG. 2A to the network, the LED of the search device blinks, so that the search device can be easily found. Thus, maintenance work and the like can be performed.

  FIG. 7 shows a lighting process flowchart according to the clear command of the present invention.

  In FIG. 7, S41 transmits a clear table command. For example, the survey PC 22 in FIG. 2A described above is operated, and a packet in which a clear table command is set (for example, a packet in which clear bridge is set) is transmitted to the network.

  In S42, the MAC table of each SW is cleared. This is because when the investigation PC 22 in FIG. 2A transmits the packet in which the clear table command is set in S41, the received SW1, SW2, and SW3 are registered in association with the port number of its own MAC table 15. Clear the existing MAC address.

  S43 transmits a packet in which a PING command is set after a predetermined time has elapsed. Of the SW1, SW2, and SW3 in FIG. 2A that received the packet in which the PING command is set, in the above-described example, only one destination MAC address (MAC30) is registered in port 0 of SW3. (It becomes clear by referring to the MAC address of SW3), and the LED of the port of the device SV4 can be turned on. At this time, since the MAC table of all SWs is first cleared with the clear command, the LED of the port in which only one destination MAC address is registered is turned on when a predetermined time elapses after the clearing. The MAC address of the other device connected to can be deleted, and the port of the search device can be reliably determined based on the information currently connected.

  FIG. 8 shows a lighting process flowchart by the aging function of the present invention.

  In FIG. 8, S51 erases the MAC address without communication during the aging time. In this case, all the SWs (SW1, SW2, SW3) constituting the network of FIG. 2A delete the non-communication MAC address for the MAC table 15 during the set aging time.

  In S52, only the port that has learned only one MAC address is turned on.

  As described above, by setting a predetermined aging time for all SWs constituting the network, a non-communication MAC address is automatically deleted during the predetermined aging time in the MAC table 15, and communication is performed within the aging time. The switch hub port that is registered with only one destination MAC address and only one registered MAC address can be turned on, and only the MAC address communicated within the latest aging time is set as the destination MAC address 1 Only one registered switching hub port is turned on, and the port of the search device can be reliably determined based on the currently connected information.

  The present invention relates to a device connected to a hub of a network, a hub to which only one of hub ports to which a search device is connected by transmitting a packet is connected, or a hub port, cable, device, etc. The present invention relates to a device search apparatus and a device search method that clearly indicate a connection location of a device by turning on and blinking.

1 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is an example of the PING packet of this invention. It is LED lighting process explanatory drawing of this invention. It is cable light emission explanatory drawing of this invention. It is lighting explanatory drawing of the search device of this invention. It is a lighting process flowchart by the clear command of this invention. It is a lighting process flowchart by the aging function of this invention.

11: Switching hub (SW)
12: reception means 13: transmission means 14: comparison means 15: MAC table 16: lighting means 17: LED
18: Port 21: Device / switching hub 22: Survey PC

Claims (8)

In a device search device for searching for devices connected to a network hub,
For each hub,
A MAC table for registering the MAC address of the device connected to the end of the hub port in association with the port number;
When a specific packet in which the command for instructing the device search and the MAC address of the device to be searched is set as the destination MAC address is received from the network, the destination MAC address in the packet is extracted and the MAC table is referred to Comparing means for determining whether there is a port in which only one MAC address of the extracted destination is registered;
If the MAC address of the destination of the packet received by said comparing means is found port that is only one registered, the instructions have been equipment brightly lit or blinks the indicator of the port ahead of the port And a device for displaying that the device is connected. The port indicator is lit or blinks brightly to indicate that the device specified at the end of the port is connected, and an indicator is provided near the port to light or blink. The device search apparatus according to claim 1. The display of the port is brightly lit or blinked to indicate that the device specified at the end of the port is connected. A connector or a cable connected to the port is provided with a display portion, and the connector 2. A device searching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display portion of the cable is turned on or blinked. The indicator on the port is lit brightly or blinks to indicate that the device specified at the end of the port is connected, and to the device via an unused line in the connector connected to the port. 4. The device search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal is transmitted to turn on or blink a display of the device.   The time when the specific packet is received is when the specific packet in which the PING command is set with the MAC address of the device to be searched as the destination MAC address is received. 4. The device search apparatus according to any one of 4 above.   The specific packet is transmitted to each hub after a predetermined time elapses after a packet in which a clear command for clearing the MAC table is set is transmitted to each hub via the network to clear the MAC table. The apparatus search apparatus in any one of Claim 1-5.   The device search apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an aging function for clearing the learning table every predetermined time is enabled to clear the learning table of the hub every predetermined time. In a device search method for searching for devices connected to a network hub,
For each hub,
Provide a MAC table that registers the MAC address of the device connected to the end of the hub port in association with the port number;
When a specific packet in which the command for instructing the device search and the MAC address of the device to be searched is set as the destination MAC address is received from the network, the destination MAC address in the packet is extracted and the MAC table is referred to A comparison step for determining whether there is a port in which only one MAC address of the extracted destination is registered;
If the MAC address of the destination of the packet received by said comparing means is found port that is only one registered, the instructions have been equipment brightly lit or blinks the indicator of the port ahead of the port And a step of displaying that the device is connected.

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