JPH09294137A - Multi-port repeater with network management function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reliability of a network management system by automatically selecting a standby management unit when an operation of an active management unit is stopped. SOLUTION: In the case of a management unit 1, since no pre-stage management unit is in existence, a management unit operating signal 807 goes to a high level. On the other hand, On the other hand, as to a management unit 2, since the management unit 1 is in existence at its pre-stage, when the management unit operating signal 807 is at a high level, the management unit 2 acts like managing entire multi-port repeaters. In this case, when the management unit operating signal goes to a low level, the management unit is in standby and does not provide a control signal. Wen the operation of the management unit 1 is stopped due to power interruption, the management unit operating signal of the management unit 2 goes to a high level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-port relay device which interconnects a plurality of multi-port relay units to operate like a single multi-port relay device, and more particularly to a multi-port relay device by connecting a network management unit. The present invention relates to a multiport relay device with a network management function capable of managing and controlling the operating state of a port relay device from another device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to construct a star type network, especially a 10BASE-T network, a multi-port relay device having a port for connecting a large number of terminals is used. A multi-port relay unit called a stackable hub (hereinafter, referred to as "relay unit") operates as a conventional multi-port relay unit by itself, and a plurality of units are connected using a connecting means such as a cable. Occasionally, it operates as one multi-port relay device as a whole, and if a plurality of connected devices have a management unit, it operates as a single multi-port relay device with a management function. The management unit does not have a relay function by itself, but collects or transmits management information by connecting one or more relay units with a cable and receiving or transmitting data. FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration in which three management units 200 and relay units 201 are connected to perform relay and network management. A terminal such as a personal computer is connected to the relay unit 201, and the relay unit 201 performs a relay operation inside the relay unit and exchanges data between the relay units 201 via the connection cable 202. The control information exchanged between the management unit 200 and the relay unit 201 will be described with reference to FIG. The management unit 200 outputs to each relay unit 201 an operation clock signal and a control signal 300 for setting a terminal connection port inside the relay unit. On the other hand, each relay unit
The operating state inside the relay unit and the data 301 received by the relay unit are transmitted to the management unit. From this information, the management unit 200 recognizes the port number used, the number of received data, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional management unit 40.
An internal configuration example of 0 is shown. The inside of the management unit 400 is
Circuit 103 for controlling a plurality of relay units, circuit 101 for collecting management information, circuit 1 for storing management information
02, management control circuit 104 that outputs management information in response to a request from another management apparatus or sets management information in response to a command from another management apparatus, AC100V to DC
It is composed of a power supply 106 that generates 5V.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional relay unit 50.
An internal configuration example of 0 is shown. Inside the relay unit 500,
A circuit 502 for relaying packets, a circuit 503 for interfacing with a terminal, a management unit interface circuit 501 for exchanging and setting control information regarding the relay unit between the management units, and AC100.
It is composed of a power supply 504 that generates DC 5V from V. Since each unit is equipped with a power supply, even if the power supply 504 of any relay unit 500 is cut off for some reason, the operation of other relay units is not affected.

[0005]

According to the above-mentioned conventional technique, the management unit 2 connectable to the relay unit 201.
00 is limited to one unit. Therefore, when the management unit 200 stops operating due to power failure, the management function of the entire multi-port relay device is stopped, and the operation state management of the multi-port relay device is stopped. Control cannot be performed from other devices.

Therefore, the problems to be solved by the present invention (objects)
Even if the operation of the management unit that is performing the management operation is stopped by the value having multiple management units and the work relay device, the management operation is automatically switched to the management operation by the other management unit and the network management continues. It is to provide a multi-port relay device with a management function that is capable of performing.

[0007]

A multiport relay device with a management function provided by the present invention comprises a multiport relay unit having no network management function, and a plurality of management units for managing and controlling the multiport relay unit. In a multi-port relay device that is connected to and operates as one multi-port relay device that also has a network management function, a part that controls a plurality of relay units inside the management unit, and a part that collects management information, A part that stores management information, a management control part that outputs management information in response to a request from another management device, and sets management information in response to a command from another management device, and a management control part of another management unit. A part that determines whether the management unit manages the entire multiport relay device from the power-on status A.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
The specific example of a management unit is shown. Inside the management unit,
Circuit 103 for controlling a plurality of relay units, circuit 101 for collecting management information, circuit 1 for storing management information
02, management control circuit 104 that outputs management information in response to a request from another management apparatus or sets management information in response to a command from another management apparatus, AC100V to DC
It comprises a power supply 106 for generating 5V and a management decision circuit 105 for judging whether or not the management unit manages the entire multi-port relay device.

The operation when a plurality of management units according to the present invention are connected will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, the management unit 1 at the top performs management, and the management unit 2
Has stopped working. In this state, the management unit 2
Does not output control signals for management or receive network information. In this state, when the management unit stops its operation due to a sudden power failure, the management unit 2 below it detects the power failure and starts the management operation instead. Then, a signal for controlling the relay unit is output, and the operation of collecting and storing the management information is performed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a circuit for determining whether or not the management unit manages the entire multiport relay device. Further, the operation of the circuit when the two management units 100 are connected by the connection cable 202 will be described with reference to FIG. In the case of the management unit 1, the management unit operation signal 807 is high (Hi
gh) level. On the other hand, in the case of the management unit 2, since the management unit 1 is present in the preceding stage, the management unit operation signal 807 becomes the low level. When the management unit operation signal 807 is at the high level, the management unit 100 operates to manage the entire multiport relay device. However, when the management unit operation unit operation signal 807 becomes the low level, the management unit 100 enters the standby state and does not output the control signal. Next, when the operation of the management unit 1 is stopped due to power failure, or the management unit operation signal of the management unit 2 becomes high level.

[0011]

According to the multiport relay device with network management function of the present invention as described above, even when the operation of the management unit performing network management is stopped, the spare management unit automatically operates. Since the network management is performed on behalf of the management, the reliability of the network management system can be improved. For this reason, even if the operation of the management unit that is performing the management operation is stopped by the network relay device that has multiple management units, the management operation is automatically switched to the management operation by another management unit, and the network management is continued. The intended problem (purpose) of providing a multiport relay device with a management function that can be performed can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing a management unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration in which a management unit and three relay units are connected to perform relay and network management as a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating control information exchanged between a management unit and a relay unit in a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an internal configuration example of a management unit as a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an internal configuration example of a relay unit as a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing a circuit that determines whether or not a plurality of management units manages according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing a circuit for determining whether or not a plurality of management units manage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a circuit for determining whether or not the management unit manages the entire multiport relay device according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the circuit when two management units are connected by a connection cable according to the embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 management unit 101 circuit for collecting management information 102 circuit for storing management information 103 circuit for controlling a plurality of relay units 104 management control circuit 105 management decision circuit 106 power supply 107 operation status signal of other management unit 108 from relay unit Operation status signal 109 Relay unit control signal 801 Resistor 802 Resistor 803 Diode 804 Inversion buffer 805 Signal of management unit in front stage 806 Signal output to management unit in rear stage 807 Management unit operation signal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multi-port relay unit having no network management function, and a plurality of management units for managing and controlling the multi-port relay unit are connected to form a multi-port relay device having a network management function. In a multi-port relay device that operates, a part that controls a plurality of relay units inside the management unit, a part that collects management information, a part that stores management information, and a request for management information from another management device. Whether the management unit manages the entire multi-port relay device based on the power-on status of the other control unit and the management control part that outputs according to the command and sets the management information according to the command from the other management device. A multi-port relay device with a network management function that has a part for determining