JPH09181722A - System for automatically generating network map using bgp routing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the form of map in optimum arrangement by collecting the map information of network automatically without depending on human labor and automatically analyzing mutual connecting conditions out of that information. SOLUTION: Managing information is collected from one BGP router to be a starting point on a network N while using an SNMP protocol, and BGP- MLB information 20 is extracted while using a managing information extraction engine 10. At a connectional information synthesizing part 11, several autonomous systems (ASS) in the relation of routing are found out of the extracted information 20, and that connecting relation is analyzed and stored as mutual connection information 21. At a network layout generating part 12, AS having the highest number of connected AS are selected so that this information 21 of AS can be displayed on the network map so as to be easily watched, boxes are prepared as many as these ASs, and the AS connected with that AS as a center are arranged on a concentric circle. Thus, the AS can be arranged on the network map in the optimum form.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a BGP (BORDER) network using a TCP / IP protocol.
The present invention relates to a network map automatic generation method used for configuration management of a network management system in an internetwork interconnected by GATEWAY PROTOCOL (router) routers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Network maps are an essential element for efficient planning and management of networks. This network map is needed to give an overview of the physical or logical network topology, as an important input for managing route and traffic flows, network problems and policies, and for public use. Useful as a pool of network map information.

Network maps contain information about network objects. Gateways, routers, bridges, end workstations, Ethernets, interfaces, etc. are themselves network objects as well as networks. The network map information originally shows the interconnection state between various network elements. It is also desired to present the characteristics and capabilities of various network objects and interconnections, such as speed, tariff, protocol, OS used. The device also includes services provided by the network element. Other desirable information elements include policy related information, network name and address related information, network administration and management related information. Other information that can be covered by a network map is geometric and geographical information. Geometrical information is a description of how the network map information is shown to the user. Geographical information is a description of the geographical location of various network objects and can be used to indicate a network map in the context of a geographical network map.

Generally, in an internetwork interconnected by routers, currently, the work of creating a network map is performed manually by a person investigating actual network devices and connection relationships between them and drawing them. It is normal to be there.

[0005]

A problem in creating these network maps is that these network maps are very rapidly outdated and out of date on the Internet and the like. This is because the composition of internetworks is changing and growing at a rapid pace.

As a strategy to overcome this major problem, it is necessary to consider alternatives that minimize human intervention. This is because deploying a server with the appropriate information or calling the network operator or administrator to provide the required information by phone is likely to fail.

Another strategy is to look for information that exists on the network itself. As an example, the distributed X. There is a framework in which each network configuration information is stored in the 500 directory to grasp the configuration of all networks. However, most of the information actually used is not included yet. There are other current information services that provide network related information, such as various N
WHOIS in IC (Network Information Center)
The service provides minimal registration information online. This includes network names, numbers, administrators, primary and secondary nameservers, contact names and addresses. This is called a DNS service and provides an online distributed database service that contains information about network name and address mappings, mail exchanges, well-known services, administrators, and so on. However, there is no service that provides information on the connection relationship of various network elements in an appropriate manner.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the information for routing from the router for properly delivering the packet on the network to the target node is used as the information about the configuration from the network. It is an object to provide an automatic network map generation method for automatically generating a map.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic network map generation method of the present invention exists for managing a network, in which management information is collected from the network using the SNMP protocol. In a network management device system having a portion having a function, a network protocol S
From the management information collected using the NMP protocol, B
Means for extracting GP-MIB information, means for generating interconnection information of network elements from BGP-MIB information, and means for arranging the network elements on the display screen in an optimum manner using the interconnection information. And a means for graphically modifying the layout and a means for the end user to inquire interactively about the network information existing in the map while looking at the displayed map. 1 BGP
The management information is collected from the router using the SNMP protocol, the BGP-MIB information is further extracted, and the extracted BG
Some A's that have a routing relationship from P-MIB information
S (autonomous system) is found, its connection relation is analyzed, it is stored as mutual connection information, and the number of connected AS is the most so that the mutual connection information of this AS can be displayed on the network map in an easy-to-see form. The ASs are optimally arranged on the map by the process of selecting a large number of ASs, creating boxes for the number of ASs, and arranging the connected ASs on the concentric circles with the ASs as the center, and the optimally laid out map information is corrected graphically It is also characterized by enabling this information to be queried by interactive network map display.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a network to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a mutual diagram based on BGP-MIB information according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the procedure which produces | generates connection information and path information.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network map automatic generation method includes a management information extraction engine 10, a connectivity information synthesis unit 11, a network layout generation unit 12, a network layout editor 13, a network information extraction engine 14, and an interactive type. The network map display unit 15 is used. In the figure, 20 is BGP-MIB information, 21 is combined interconnection information, 22 is a network layout (information), and N is a network.

That is, in a network management device system in which a network N using the TCP / IP protocol exists in an internetwork interconnected by BGP routers, management information is collected and managed using the SNMP protocol, A management information extraction engine 10 that extracts the BGP-MIB information 20 from the management information that is collected from the BGP router using the management protocol SNMP protocol, and a connectivity that generates the interconnection information 21 of the network element from the BGP-MIB information 20. A network layout (information) 22 having a function for arranging a network element in an optimum form on a display screen by using the information combining unit 11 and the interconnection information 21 generated by the connectivity information combining unit 11 is generated. Network layout generation unit 12 Network layout generation unit 12
Network layout (information) generated by
A network layout editor 13 that can graphically modify 2 and an interactive network map display unit 15 that allows an end user to inquire the network information existing in the network map while looking at the displayed network map are provided.

In the network management device system, one BGP router from the origin in the network N
The management information is collected using the NMP protocol, and the BGP-MIB information 20 is extracted using the management information extraction engine 10. The connectivity information synthesizing unit 11 finds some ASs (autonomous systems) having a routing relationship from the BGP-MIB information 20 extracted from the management information extraction engine 10, analyzes the connection relationships, and stores them as mutual connection information 21. Keep it. The network layout generation unit 12 selects the AS having the largest number of connected ASs, creates boxes for the number of ASs, and creates the ASs so that the interconnection information 21 of the ASs can be displayed on the network map in an easily viewable form. Optimum A on the network map by arranging AS connected as the center on concentric circles
Place S. The optimally laid out network map information can be graphically modified by the network layout editor 13. Further, this network map information can be inquired on the interactive network map display unit 15. The network information extraction engine 14 is used to use other network information as inquiry information.

In this way, the network map information can be automatically collected and provided to the end user in an easy-to-read form. Next, the role of each functional component of the network map automatic generation method will be specifically described.

The management information collection engine 10 accesses the router in the network N by the SNMP protocol. Related management information base (BGP
Extracting the MIB information 20). This BGP-MIB information 20 is stored as a text file in the logic circuit memory or in the magnetic disk file.

The connectivity information synthesizer 11 analyzes the BGP-MIB information 20 in the logic circuit memory and extracts the interconnection information 21. Analysis of this BGP-MIB information 20,
A method of extracting the interconnection information 21 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The circles in FIG. 2 represent AS, and there are a plurality of networks operated according to the same policy in this AS. DN1, ..., DNm are one of networks existing in a certain AS.

Analysis of the BGP-MIB information 20 and extraction of the interconnection information 21 are performed as follows. To create a network map, select the router that will be the starting point of the network (it will be called the originating router in the future, and will use the symbol AsR), and the BGP-MIB of this originating router AsR.
The information 20 is analyzed to generate a network map. 1 is a network management device (NMS). For example, if the originating router AsR has BGP-MIB information 2
0 is the neighbor BG in the autonomous systems As1, As2, As3 in the routing information about the network DN1.
If it includes a record that it has arrived at the originating BGP router after passing through the P router (BGP-MIB in FIG. 3).
Extraction of information element (bgpPathAttrAsPath)), AS (autonomous system) of the originating BGP router is connected to As1, and then to As2, and then As
3 is connected to the connectivity information synthesizing unit 11
Recognizes. Then, As3 recognizes that it includes the network DN1. The interconnection information 21 is stored in the logic circuit memory. (Generation of Interconnection Information of FIG. 3) In the connectivity information synthesis unit 11, the routing information from the autonomous system As3 is used by the autonomous system As2 and the autonomous system A.
It also records the fact that it flows to the originating router AsR via s1. In addition, the autonomous system As2 sends the routing information from the autonomous system As1 to the autonomous system As3.
It also records what I have informed. That is, this means that the information indicating the path to the AS and the path from the AS is stored in the database for all the ASs. Generating Path (Route) Information in FIG. 3 The network layout generator 12 uses the interconnection information 21 in the logic circuit memory and is suitable for placing network elements in optimal form on the display screen. Use the procedure.

The procedure utilizes a trial and error method. XY
Coordinate format-Based on polar format. That is, first, the display screen is divided into a plurality of blocks in the XY coordinate format. The number of connected ASs is centered on these boxes, in order, starting with the largest number AS. Then, the child AS is arranged in the box in the polar coordinate format around the parent AS.

The network layout editor 13 is
It is a visual and graphical editor that makes it possible to modify the network layout (information) 22 generated by the network layout generation unit 12.

The interactive network map display unit 15 is
It has the function that the end user can view the map and inquire about the elements in the map. The elements that exist in the map are hosts, gateways, networks, interfaces, and their connection status. Inquiries can be related to the AS description and AS country name. This information is used by the network information extraction engine 14
Obtained by using.

The inquiry can be information about the path from the AS through which the routing information flows and the path to the AS. This information is obtained by searching the connection information database.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the generation procedure of the network map automatic generation function in the network management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, focusing on the flow of data, and according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of information from collection of network management information to generation of a visual network map. In FIG. 4, 20 is BGP-MIB information, 21 is combined interconnection information, 22 is a network layout (information), 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes another network related information, which is added to the network layout information, and 24 is another network related information, which is another addition to the network layout information.

Next, each information element will be described. BG
The P-MIB information 20 is as defined in RFC1269 (Internet International Standard) and the document refined version thereafter. This information is extracted from routers exchanging routing information with other routers using the BGP protocol. Information is collected using SNMP protocol. But there are other ways.

The interconnection information 21 is the connectivity information synthesizer 1
1, the BGP-MIB information (information resource) 20
Is synthesized from the information in. It basically consists of information on how the network elements are connected to each other.

The network layout (information) 22 is
Generated by the network layout generator 12 which provides a visually interesting display using the interconnection information 21 as input and some trial and error.

The other network related information 23, which is the first addition to the network layout (information) 22, includes information not directly related to the network configuration display, that is, link speed, interface address, and the like. This information is a product of the connectivity information synthesizer 11.

The other network-related information 24, which is the second addition to the network layout information, is one of the repertoires of information collection on various network elements.
The repertoire is actually the network itself. The network information extraction engine 14 uses a standard protocol or WHOI to retrieve this information when needed.
Scan the network using S or DNS.
Also, local caching techniques can improve performance.

The procedure for generating the interconnection information 21 is as shown in FIG. The connectivity information synthesizer 11 also uses BGP-
Other network related information 23 is also generated from the MIB information 20. This information 23 is an addition to the interconnection information 21. This constitutes other routing related network information.

Next, a description will be given of a more specific procedure of generating the interconnection information in the connectivity information synthesizing unit with reference to FIG.
This is performed using (b). The BGP-MIB information includes BGP.
BgpR consisting of information about the path to the destination network received by all nodes that perform protocol communication
Contains a table named cvdPathAttrTable. Each row in this table has a bgpPathAttrDestNetwo
There is network management information named rk and bgpPathAttrAsPath. The former is the group of ASs that the network address must pass through, and the latter must pass through to reach that network.

Before starting the description of FIG. 5, some explanation will be given. Rootas is an AS to which a BGP router that provides BGP-MIB information belongs. The management information extraction engine accesses the contents of the BGP-MIB information and extracts bgpRcvdPathAttrTable. bgpRcvdPathAttrT
bgpPathAttrAsPath is extracted from each row of able and RecdAs
Paths are assembled. The structure of RecdAsPaths is shown in FIG.

The output of the procedure of FIG. 5A is AsMapTable. AsMapTable is AsMapEle as shown in Fig. 5 (b).
It is a set of ments. AsMapElements consists of AS number and connection. A connection is a parent AS group of this AS, that is, an upstream AS group to which this AS is connected.

The procedure of FIG. 5A will be described below. Procedure 1. If there are no more RecdAsPaths, stop the procedure. Procedure 2. If you still have RecdAsPaths, then RecdAsPath
Extract AsPath from s. The extracted AsPath is "ta
ken-AsPath ”. RooTAs will be the parent AS.

Step 3. AS already in "taken-As Path"
If does not exist, return to step 1. Step 4. The AS is taken out from the "taken-As Path". This As taken out is called “taken-As”.

Step 5. If there is an "AsMapElement" for this "taken-As" (ie "AsMapE"
If the AS number in "lement" is the same as the AS number in "taken-As"), proceed to step 7.

Step 6. "AsMapEle for" taken-As "
ment ”and make the connection null. And step 8
Proceed to. Step 7. If the connection to the parent AS is already "As
If it is in “MapElement”, proceed to step 10.

Procedure 8. Add the parent AS to the corresponding taken-As connection in "AsMapElement". Step 9. Add "AsMapElement" to the set of AsMapElement.

Step 10. Make "taken-As" the parent AS.
Then, the procedure proceeds to step 3. In this way, a map representing the connection between ASs is created using the created AsMapTable.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Network map information can be automatically collected without relying on humans, and the interconnection status can be automatically analyzed from the information and displayed in the form of a map with an optimal arrangement. Further, the displayed map can be modified by the user. In addition, other information about the network can be queried on the map.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a procedure for generating interconnection information and path information from BGP-MIB information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a generation procedure of a network map automatic generation function in the network management device according to the embodiment of the present invention, focusing on a data flow.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for generating interconnection information in a connectivity information synthesizing unit in the network map automatic generation function according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network management device, 10 ... Management information extraction engine, 11 ... Connectivity information synthesis part, 12 ... Network layout generation part, 13 ... Network layout editor, 14 ... Network information extraction engine, 15 ... Interactive network map display part, 20 ... BGP-MIB information, 21 ... Interconnection information, 22 ... Network layout (information), 23, 24 ... Other network related information.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Exist for managing a network,
In a network management device system having a portion having a function of collecting management information from the network using the SNMP protocol, the BGP-MI is used from the management information collected from the network router using the management protocol SNMP protocol.
Means for extracting B information, means for generating interconnection information of network elements from BGP-MIB information, means for arranging the network elements in an optimum manner on the display screen using the interconnection information, A means for modifying the layout graphically and a means for the end user to inquire the network information existing in the map interactively while looking at the displayed map are provided in the network, and one means is provided as a starting point. Management information is collected from the BGP router using the SNMP protocol,
Further, the BGP-MIB information is extracted, and the extracted BGP-
Some ASs that have a routing relationship from MIB information
Find (autonomous system), analyze its connection,
It is stored as mutual connection information, and the AS with the largest number of connected ASs is selected so that the mutual connection information of this AS can be displayed on the network map in an easy-to-see form. The AS is optimally arranged on the map by the process of arranging the connected ASs on the concentric circles, and this optimally laid out map information can be graphically modified, and this information can be displayed by an interactive network map display. An automatic network map generation method that enables inquiries.