JPH1070553A - Method and device for detecting network constitution element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the increases of traffic compared with the case of detecting a constituting element by unconditional poleing. SOLUTION: At the time of newly connecting a terminal to a network, an address is assigned to the terminal, etc., in advance. A link 8 is provided so that a network managing device 3 may collect an assigning list without omission when address assignment like this is given. Polling is executed based on an address list collected like this, to generate a network constitution element list 6 actually connected to the network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network element detection method and method for detecting a network element in a network management system (NMS) for managing a network, for example, a TCP / IP network. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When managing a network, it is necessary to centrally manage the addresses of terminals and nodes connected to the network. In a TCP / IP network, a network management system performs this management. The network management system has a function of detecting, when a component is connected to a network, its subnet address and node address, and displaying the connection status on a computer screen for management. In order to detect such components, there is a method of acquiring and detecting the address of each terminal or node by unconditional polling, for example.

[0003] In addition, IP Net To Media which is a MIB (management information base) of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).
There is a way to refer to Table. In this method, information of an address management table in which a relay device associates a network address generated during communication with a physical address is accepted by polling and used. In a system in which network management is distributed, a sub-manager is arranged below a main manager. Then, the sub-manager is made to detect the constituent elements, and the main manager is notified. In addition,
The detection of such components is performed in the same manner for both existing components and newly-installed components.

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional method for detecting network elements has the following problems to be solved. In a method of unconditionally detecting the presence or absence of a network component by polling, a response must be obtained while the detection target is operating. Therefore, insignificant traffic is increased in a state where the network load is relatively large. Also, IP Net To
When referencing the Media Table, the contents must be polled while the address management table is stored in the relay device. However, the address management table usually disappears in a short time when the communication is completed. Therefore, fine polling is required to detect this, and the network load increases. Even if network management is decentralized, the number of traffic does not decrease unless there is a change in the component detection method, and communication between management devices becomes complicated. As the network becomes larger, the load of component detection processing increases. There was a problem that it became large.

[0005]

The present invention employs the following structure to solve the above problems. <Configuration 1> Obtain pre-assigned and pooled addresses for components newly connected to the network before those components are connected to the network, and after obtaining the pooled addresses. A network element detection method for detecting a component actually connected to a network by detecting whether or not the element is actually connected to the network.

<Structure 2> An address assignment list for new components that stores addresses that are assigned and pooled in advance for components newly connected to the network, and a predetermined timing based on the address assignment list for new components A polling destination address list that receives the transfer of the contents, and a network component detecting unit that refers to the polling destination address list, accesses the corresponding address, and detects a component that is actually connected to the network. A network element detection device, characterized in that:

<Structure 3> A permanent address management table storing a temporary address management table in which a network address generated during communication by a relay device and a physical address is stored in the relay device to configure a network. A polling destination address list is generated by referring to the permanent address management table of each relay device, and the corresponding address is accessed by referring to the polling destination address list to detect a component actually connected to the network. A method for detecting a network element.

<Structure 4> A method for detecting a network element according to Structure 3, wherein the permanent address management table is obtained by accumulating a temporary address management table detected during a predetermined period in the past.

<Structure 5> In the relay device, a permanent address management table storing a temporary address management table in which a network address generated by the relay device during communication and a physical address are associated with each other, A polling destination address list generated by referring to the permanent address management table of the relay device, and referring to the polling destination address list, access a corresponding address and detect a component actually connected to the network. A network element detection unit, comprising:

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below using specific examples. <Specific Example> FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the device of the specific example 1. The apparatus and method of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, this device stores components to be newly connected to the network in the future, performs polling within the range, and attempts to detect components actually connected. In the figure, a network 1 is, for example, T
It is a CP / IP network. Various nodes and terminals are connected to this. Here, for example, the newly connected terminal 2-
1 and 2-2 have just been connected.

A network management device 3 is provided to manage such a network 1. For a terminal newly connected to the network 1, for example, each node prepares a new component address assignment list as shown in the figure. Here, addresses for terminals or nodes to be connected immediately or in the near future are assigned. The method of assigning this address is arbitrary, and may be set artificially or automatically. The address list thus set is stored in each node or the like.

The network management device 3 sets a link 8 to this new component address assignment list. A link is a communication path for collecting information. Also,
The network management device 3 includes a polling destination address list 5, a network component list 6, and a network component detection unit 7. The polling destination address list 5 includes a new component address assignment list 4 collected from each node or the like in the network.
Are collected. The network component list 6 is an address list of terminals and the like that have been detected to be actually connected to the network 1.
The network component detection unit 7 is a unit that performs a polling operation to detect whether a terminal or the like is actually connected to the address listed in the polling destination address list 5. The configuration and operation of the network element detection unit 7 itself is not different from the conventional one.

The new component address assignment list 4 is prepared, for example, in a node or the like for connecting each terminal, and is generated, for example, by an operator's ledger management work. Therefore, when a new terminal is connected,
Any address in the list actually functions as a new address. In addition, the addresses used in the past may be reused. In such a case, the address is not a new address, but it can be reused and can be treated in the same way as a new address when it is listed in the new component address assignment list.

<Operation> This apparatus first operates on the network 1
When a new component address assignment list is created or updated in a node or the like connected to the network management device 3, the contents are notified to the network management device 3 by a link 8 set in advance. The link 8 may be configured by a predetermined notification program or the like, and necessary contents may be transferred to the network management device 3 through the network 1. That is, the IP address included in the new component address assignment list 4 may be notified to the network management device 3 by an arbitrary route. This is stored in the polling destination address list 5. Such a process is performed each time a node connected to the network 1 or various address management devices generates or updates the new component address assignment list 4.

As a result, when the polling destination address list 5 is generated, the network element detecting unit 7
Accesses the IP address in the polling destination address list 5 through the network 1. Then, if there is a response, it is detected that the component is actually connected to the address. If there is no response, it recognizes that it has not been used yet. If it is recognized that the component is actually connected to the network 1, the address is added to the network component list 6. When this operation is performed for all the addresses stored in the polling destination address list 5, the network component detection processing for all the addresses indicated in the new component address assignment list group ends.

<Effect of Specific Example 1> When a new component address assignment list is generated and updated, a notification of its contents is received, and an address list listed therefrom is used as the polling destination address list 5, so that there is no Polling targets are limited as compared with the case where polling is performed according to conditions, and there is an effect of reducing unnecessary traffic. In addition, by providing a link to the address allocation list for new components, information on the maximum address list newly set can be efficiently collected, and the linking method is arbitrary, so that the network is lightly loaded. If such a link is executed at the time, the load can be distributed.

<Embodiment 2> FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus of Embodiment 2. When the communication is started, the relay device configuring the network as described above generates an address management table in which the IP address is associated with the physical address. This table is generated for the communication and is deleted for a very short time, for example, 5 minutes after the communication is completed. In this specific example, in the relay device 9, such a temporary address management table is accumulated as a history, and a permanent address management table is generated.

The contents of the temporary address management table 10 generated by the relay device 9 correspond to the IP address and the physical address as shown in the figure. This is accumulated for each communication and a permanent address management table 11 is generated. This permanent address management table 11 is linked with the polling destination address list 5 of the network management device 3. The configuration of the network management device 3 includes a polling destination address list 5, a network component list 6, and a network component detection unit 7, and is similar to that of the first embodiment. Polling destination address list 5
Is generated with reference to the permanent address management table 11 of each relay device 9 when the network is in a relatively light load state, for example. That is, a list of a portion corresponding to the IP address of the permanent address management table 11 is taken in through the link 8 to generate the polling destination address list 5.

<Operation> In the normal operation state, when the relay device 9 relays an arbitrary communication, if the temporary address management table 10 is generated, this table disappears in a fixed time after the end of the communication. The entry is stored in the permanent address management table 11. When such communication is repeated, the permanent address management table 11 accumulates data in which an IP address and a physical address that constitute a network used for actual communication are associated with each other. Each of the relay devices constituting the network holds such a permanent address management table 11.

On the other hand, as described above, the network management device 3 sets the link 8 with each relay device at a predetermined timing when the network is lightly loaded, and requests a list of IP addresses. The list of the transferred IP addresses is collected in the polling destination address list 5. Thereafter, as in the case of the first embodiment, the network element detection unit 7 actually accesses the addresses listed in the polling destination address list 5 and detects the elements connected to the network. This is listed in the network component list 6 and displayed as the latest information on a display or the like (not shown) as necessary.

Note that the address management table has an AR
The P (address resolution protocol) table is generated by a conventionally known method.
Further, for example, an address management table prepared as a private MIB (management information uniquely set by a company) of the IP relay apparatus is used. In the relay device,
The permanent holding of the address management table is, for example, the MIB
(Management information base) or the like.

<Effect of Specific Example 2> According to the above example, when the temporary address management table 10 is generated in the relay device 9, the permanent address management table 11 is generated each time.
Is stored, and the IP address of the terminal that is actually performing communication is stored. By collecting this by the network management device 3, an address list of network components to be polled can be obtained. In addition, the relay device 9 overwrites the temporary address management table on the permanent address management table 11, so that even when the correspondence between the existing physical address and the IP address is changed, the content is always updated to the latest. It can also be updated. The accumulated address management table thus obtained is referenced at an arbitrary timing to obtain a necessary address list, so that the address list can be efficiently collected. Then, since only the addresses listed in the polling destination address list are polled to detect the components of the network, unnecessary polling can be omitted as in the first embodiment.

<Specific Example 3> This specific example uses an address management table prepared as, for example, a private MIB (management information uniquely set by a company) of an IP relay apparatus. Unlike the case of the specific example 2, the address management table communicates during a fixed period in the past, and uses an address management table that stores the temporary address management table generated at that time.

FIG. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of the apparatus of the third embodiment.
This device has substantially the same configuration as that of the second embodiment, and is provided with a new address management table 15 that is stored in the relay device 9 for a certain period of time and then refreshed.
Its contents are the same as those of the temporary address management table 10.
The P address is associated with a physical address.
The format of such a new address management table provided in each relay device is arbitrary. It is sufficient if the IP address is included therein. The network management device 3 collects the IP address from the new address management table through the link 8 and stores it in the polling destination address list 5 in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

<Effect of Embodiment 3> Embodiment 3 has basically the same effect as Embodiment 2. Further, in the specific example 3, the new address management table is held for a certain period of time, and while such a new address management table 15 is held, the network management device 3 collects a necessary address list, thereby reducing unnecessary traffic. To collect data efficiently. Moreover, by refreshing the new address management table at an appropriate timing,
Maintenance of the new address management table becomes unnecessary. That is, it is possible to prevent adverse effects caused by accumulation of old data. This is because, even if a network element exists in the past but does not exist now, it should be prevented from being always subject to polling. Of course, unlike the temporary address management table, the new address management table 15 is held in the relay device 9 only for the time necessary for the network management device 3 to collect data, so that when the network is lightly loaded. Data can be collected at an appropriate timing.

As described above, it is possible to detect network components while reducing unnecessary traffic further than in the second embodiment. Note that the above method uses TC
Although the network management in the P / IP network has been described as an example, it can be widely used in networks of other configurations by establishing the above-described procedure executed by the SNMP, MIB, address management table, IP relay device, and the like. It is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus of a specific example 1.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus of a specific example 2.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 TCP / IP network 2-1 and 2-2 New connection terminal 3 Network management device 4 New component address assignment list 5 Polling destination address list 6 Network component list 7 Network component detection unit 8 Link

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Pre-assigned and pooled addresses for components newly connected to the network,
The components that were actually connected to the network by acquiring those components before they were connected to the network and then detecting whether the components were actually connected to the pooled address Detecting a network element. 2. A new component address assignment list for storing pre-assigned and pooled addresses for components newly connected to the network, and at a predetermined timing from the new component address assignment list. A polling destination address list for receiving the content transfer; and a network component detecting unit for accessing the corresponding address with reference to the polling destination address list and detecting a component actually connected to the network. Characteristic network element detection device. 3. The relay device stores a permanent address management table in which a temporary address management table in which a network address and a physical address generated during communication by the relay device correspond to each other is stored in the relay device. Generate a polling destination address list by referring to the permanent address management table of the device, and access the corresponding address by referring to the polling destination address list to detect a component actually connected to the network. A method for detecting a network element, the method comprising: 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the permanent address management table is obtained by accumulating a temporary address management table detected during a predetermined period in the past. 5. A relay device, comprising: a permanent address management table storing a temporary address management table in which a network address generated by the relay device during communication is associated with a physical address; and each relay device constituting a network. A polling destination address list generated by referring to the permanent address management table of the network, and a network that accesses the corresponding address by referring to the polling destination address list and detects a component that is actually connected to the network A network component detection device, comprising: a component detection unit.