JPH0213151A - Local area network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To bring a faulty LAN adaptor into a usable state automatically by discriminating it as the occurrence of a fault in its own LAN adaptor when a fault detection packet is not received from a fault detection packet transmission means in a prescribed time so as to initialize the LAN adaptor. CONSTITUTION:When the fault is generated in a data reception mechanism of a local area network system LAN adaptor 4, since the LAN adaptor 4 cannot receive the fault detection packet from a LAN monitor 8, a fault detection timer is not reset in the usual timing but the counting is continued as it is. When the counted time of the fault detection timer reaches a preset time, it is discriminated that the fault is generated in the LAN adaptor 4 automatically and an initial signal is outputted to the control section of the LAN adaptor 4. Thus, the LAN adaptor 4 is restored into the usable state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a local area network system in a data communication system.

(Technology from J) Generally speaking, local area network systems (hereinafter referred to as
A LAN (referred to as a LAN) consists of a host computer and a terminal each connected to a LAN transmission path via a LAN adapter.

The above-mentioned LAN adapter controls the transmission and reception of packet data between stations via a LAN transmission path.

By the way, in such a LAN, if a system error occurs in the data transmission mechanism or data reception mechanism of the LAN adapter, it only takes one person to detect the occurrence of the error, or it is possible to automatically remove the abnormal LAN adapter. There was a problem in that the device could not be returned to a state where it could be used for a long time.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional local area network system.
To provide a local area network system which can easily detect a LAN adapter inside a LAN adapter body and can automatically initialize a LAN adapter in which an abnormality has occurred to restore it to a usable state again.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the local area network system of the first invention uses
In a local area network system in which multiple terminals and host computers are connected to a capable data transmission path via LAN adapters that perform data transmission and reception functions, failure detection packets are sent to each LAN adapter at a predetermined period. A failure detection packet transmission means is attached to each LAN adapter, and when a failure detection packet is not received from the failure detection packet transmission means within a predetermined time, the failure detection packet sending means is attached to each LAN adapter. The LAN adapter is equipped with a control means that determines that a failure has occurred and initializes the LAN adapter.

In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the local area networking system of the second invention connects a plurality of terminals and host computers to a data transmission path capable of packet transfer via a LAN adapter having a data transmission/reception function. In a local area network system in which each LAN adapter is connected, each LAN adapter includes a failure detection packet transmitting means for transmitting failure detection packets to other LAN adapters at a predetermined cycle, and failure detection packet transmission means for failure detection from other LAN adapters. response packet sending means for sending a response packet to the source LAN adapter in response to the reception of the packet; and a response packet sending means for sending a response packet to the source LAN adapter when a failure detection packet is not received from another LAN adapter within a predetermined time or from another LAN adapter. Each device is provided with a control means that determines that a failure has occurred in its own LAN adapter and initializes the LAN adapter when a response packet is not received from the computer.

(Function) In the local area network system of the first invention, the control means attached to each LAN adapter receives failure detection packets transmitted at a predetermined period from the failure detection packet transmission means within a predetermined time. is not received, it is determined that a failure has occurred in the own LAN adapter and the LAN adapter is initialized.
It can be easily detected inside the N adapter main body, and the LAN adapter in which the abnormality has occurred can be automatically initialized and returned to a usable state again.

Further, in the local area network system of the second invention, the control means provided in each LAN adapter controls the control means when a failure detection packet is not received from another LAN adapter within a predetermined period of time, or when a fault detection packet is detected from another LAN adapter. When no response packet is received from the own L
Since it is determined that a failure has occurred in the AN adapter and the LAN adapter is initialized, a failure occurring in the data transmitter/receiver of the LAN adapter can be easily detected inside the LAN adapter itself. A LAN adapter in which an abnormality has occurred can be automatically initialized and returned to a usable state again.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a local area network system according to an embodiment of the first invention.

In the figure, 1 is a LAN transmission line such as a coaxial cable that is a data transmission line capable of packet transfer, 2 and 3 are terminals and host computers connected to each other via the LAN transmission line 1, and 4 is a LAN transmission line. LAN that controls data transmission and reception between 1 and terminal 2 or host computer 3
It's an adapter.

Also, a transceiver cable connects the LAN transmission line 1 and each LAN adapter 4, etc., 6 is a transceiver for directly connecting the transceiver cable 5 to the LAN transmission line 1, and 7 is a connection between the terminal 2 or the host d1 computer 3 and the LAN. This is a connection cable such as an R8232C type cable for connecting the adapter 4.

Furthermore, 8 is a LAN monitoring device, and this LAN monitoring device 8 has a function of periodically transmitting a failure detection packet to each LAN adapter 4.

Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned LAN adapters 4 is equipped with a LAN monitoring device 8, except when a failure occurs in the data receiving mechanism.
A response packet return function is provided to send a response packet back to the LAN monitoring device 8 in response to the reception of a failure detection packet from the LAN monitoring device 8.

Furthermore, each LAN adapter 4 is configured with a fault detection timer (not shown) that is reset each time a fault detection packet is received, and the time of this fault detection timer is monitored and the LAN monitoring device If the failure detection packet from 8 is not received within a predetermined time, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in its own data reception mechanism, and it can automatically initialize and use its own LAN adapter 4. It is configured to return to a normal state.

Next, the operation of this embodiment system will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a timing diagram for explaining the failure detection operation in this embodiment system.

In the figure, (a) is a fault detection packet signal transmitted from the LAN monitoring device 8 to the LAN adapter 4 at predetermined time intervals, and (b) is a fault detection packet signal received by the LAN adapter 4. (C) shows the reset timing of the fault detection timer, and (d) shows the initial signal output to initialize the LAN adapter 4.

As shown in this figure, in this embodiment system, the LAN monitoring device 8 always sends failure detection packets to each LAN adapter 4 at regular time intervals while the system is in operation.

The LAN adapter 4 that has received this failure detection packet returns a response packet to the LAN monitoring device 8 every time it receives the packet.

At the same time, the failure detection timer is reset.

If a failure occurs in the data reception mechanism of the LAN adapter 4, the failure detection timer is reset at the normal timing because the LAN adapter 4 cannot receive the failure detection packet from the LAN monitoring device 8. Timing continues without interruption.

When the time measured by the fault detection timer reaches a preset value, it is automatically determined that an abnormality has occurred in the LAN adapter 4, and an initial signal is sent to the control unit (not shown) of the LAN adapter 4. ) is output.

As a result, the LAN adapter 3 is initialized and returned to a usable state.

Thus, according to the local area network system of this embodiment, a fault occurring in the data receiving mechanism of each LAN adapter 4 can be easily detected within the main body of the LAN adapter 4, and furthermore, the fault occurring in the data receiving mechanism of each LAN adapter 4 can be easily detected within the main body of the LAN adapter 4. The LAN adapter 4 can be automatically initialized and returned to a usable state.

Next, an embodiment related to the second invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a local area network system according to an embodiment of the second invention.

In the figure, 11 is a LAN transmission line such as a coaxial cable which is a pig transmission line capable of packet transfer, 12 and 13 are terminals and host computers respectively connected via the LAN transmission line 11, and 14 is a LANU transmission line. This is a LAN adapter that controls data transmission and reception between the computer 11 and the terminal 12 or host computer 13.

Further, 15 is a transceiver cable that connects the LAN transmission line 11 and each LAN adapter 14, etc., 16 is a transceiver for directly connecting the transceiver cable 15 to the LAN transmission line 1, and 17 is a terminal 12 or host computer 13 and a LAN adapter. This is a connection cable such as an R3232C type cable that connects 14.

-L Each of the LAN adapters 14 described above has a function of transmitting failure detection packets to other LAN adapters 14 at predetermined time intervals, and a function of receiving failure detection packets from other LAN adapters 14 and sending response packets. It also has the ability to send back.

Furthermore, each LAN adapter 14 connects other LAN adapters 1
4] or a fault detection timer that is reset each time a response packet is received.

Then, each LAN adapter 14 monitors 17 the time measured by the failure detection timer and detects whether the other LAN adapters are connected within a preset time.
If a failure detection packet from the AN adapter 14 or a response packet to the failure detection packet sent from its own LAN adapter 14 is not received, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in its own data transmission/reception mechanism, and the The device is configured to initialize its own LAN adapter 14 and return it to a usable state.

Next, LA using the embodiment system configured as above is explained.
The failure detection operation of the N adapter 14 will be explained.

First, when each LAN adapter 14 is started, each LAN adapter 14 switches to another LAN adapter 14 at a predetermined time interval.
A failure detection packet is sent to

The LAN adapter 14 that received the failure detection packet,
A response packet is returned to the LAN adapter 14 that is the source.

On the other hand, the failure detection timer in each LAN adapter 14 is reset every time a failure detection packet or response packet is received.

Here, when a failure occurs in the data transmission/reception mechanism of a certain LAN adapter 14, failure detection packets from other LAN adapters and failure detection buckets sent from itself to the other LAN adapters 14! Since the response packet for ・ cannot be received, the failure detection timer is not reset at the normal timing and continues to be 1 o'clock.

When the failure detection timer reaches a preset value of 1 hour, it is determined that a failure has occurred in the LAN adapter 14, and the LAN adapter is reconfigured and becomes usable. returned to a normal state.

Thus, according to the local area network system of this embodiment, a fault occurring in the data transmitter/receiver (1 The user can automatically initialize his or her own LAN adapter 14 and return it to a usable state.

In this embodiment, failure detection packets are sent from one LAN adapter 14 to all other LAN adapters 14 connected to the system at regular time intervals to detect the occurrence of a failure in each LAN adapter 14. However, as shown in FIG. 4, when a large number of LAN adapters 14 are connected, these LAN adapters 4 are divided into several groups, and the LAN adapters 14 in each group are mutually connected for fault detection. It may be configured to transmit and receive packets and response packets.

As a method of grouping each LAN adapter 14 in this way, when each LAN adapter 14 is initially started up,
There is a method of transmitting a failure detection packet signal to all LAN adapters 14 at once, and grouping several LAN adapters 14 that have returned a response more quickly.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the local area network system of the present invention, a failure occurring in the data transmission/reception mechanism of a LAN adapter can be easily detected inside the LAN adapter body, and moreover, an abnormality can be detected even when an abnormality occurs. The LAN adapter can be automatically initialized and returned to a usable state again.

4. Brief explanation of the drawings FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a local area network system according to an embodiment of the first invention, and FIG. 2 is a failure detection operation by the local area network system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a local area network system that is an embodiment of the second invention, and FIG. 4 is a signal timing diagram for explaining the configuration of a local area network system according to the second invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing grouping of LAN adapters when a large number of LAN adapters are connected.

1,]1... LAN transmission line, 2.12... terminal, 3
．． 13...Host computer, 4.14...LAN adapter, 8...LAN monitoring device.

Applicant: Toshiba Corporation Toshiba Software Engineering Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Suyama Sa - Kayu/ Figure 2 Time

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) LA that has data transmission and reception functions that connect multiple terminals and host computers to a data transmission path that can transfer packets.
In a local area network system connected to each other via N adapters, a failure detection packet transmitting means for transmitting a failure detection packet to each of the LAN adapters at a predetermined cycle; , control for determining that a failure has occurred in its own LAN adapter and initializing the LAN adapter when the failure detection packet is not received from the failure detection packet transmission means within a predetermined time; A local area network system characterized by comprising means. (2) An LA that has data transmission and reception functions that connect multiple terminals and host computers to a data transmission path that can transfer packets.
In a local area network system in which each LAN adapter is connected via a N adapter, a failure detection packet transmitting means for transmitting a failure detection packet to another LAN adapter at a predetermined period;
response packet sending means for sending a response packet to a sending source LAN adapter in response to reception of the failure detection packet from another LAN adapter; control means for determining that a failure has occurred in the own LAN adapter and initializing the LAN adapter when a response packet is not received or a response packet from another LAN adapter is not received. A local area network system characterized by: