JPH11122290A - Network switching system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage the user environment customized by host terminals and simplify the switch configuration and processing by relieving the load of address learning. SOLUTION: Connection management sections 31 ... of host terminals 11 ... write address information to connection/VLAN setting tables 141 ... of local switches 101 ... and resource management sections 41 ,... write resource request information of the host terminals 11 ... to resource assignment tables 151 ... Table management sections 121 ... of the local switches 101 ... exchange address information and resource assignment information of the host terminals 11 ... and connection destinations among table management sections 121 '... of other local switches 101 ... with a table management message. As a result, address learning in the local switches 101 ... is omitted. Furthermore, each of the host terminals 11 ... is provided with each of user environment tables 71 ... and each of user environment management sections 61 ... to manage the user environment customized by the host terminals 11 ....

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
Network (hereinafter abbreviated as LAN), in particular, a logical network based on switching technology so that it can dynamically change in response to changes in business structures such as workgroups and projects of organizations such as companies. The present invention relates to a network switching system of a virtual network that maps segments to segments of physical traffic and enables dynamic reconfiguration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an L-type cable using a twisted pair cable has been developed.
In order to increase a transmission band of a terminal in an AN, a switched network scheme is becoming widespread. Particularly, in a device such as a LAN switch, it is possible to configure a broadcast domain in units of ports or MAC addresses of the device, and a bridging group is logically independent of physical connection. Segmentation (creation of virtual LAN) can be realized.
It is called LAN (Virtual LAN).

[0003] Furthermore, OSI (Open Systems Interco)
nnection) The basic reference model, which has been extended to grouping for layer 3 (layer 3) network layer addresses (network addresses), is called a virtual network or virtual subnet. , Are respectively referred to as a layer 2 (second layer) VLAN and a layer 3 VLAN as described below.

[0004] In a layer 2 VLAN, a port or MA
Based on the C address, a packet of the same VLAN group identified by a frame, a tag, or the like as a VLAN-ID of the layer 2 is multicast to all ports of the same VLAN segment, or a packet whose destination MAC address has been learned is Switching by unicast. Basically the routing protocol subnet and V
LAN segments are set to be the same and other V
LAN groups are routed because they have different subnets.

Conventional bridge standard IEEE8
Regarding priority processing by a traffic class and a group setting and filtering of a dynamic multicast filtering service in a bridge having an enhanced filtering function of IEEE 802.10, IEEE8080 is used.
Standardization of 2.1p is in progress. On the other hand, the above IE
IEEE802.1 which is a service called a virtual bridged LAN which further extends IEEE 802.1p.
Standardization of 1Q is in progress.

[0006] In any case, in the layer 2 VLAN,
For setting / management of the VLAN, the user needs easy-to-use management software that can use a substitute tag or symbol without being aware of the individual physical address. Conventionally, LAN switches have been programmed by a high-speed microprocessor such as a RISC processor. However, some products have been integrated into LSI chips. In the future, highly integrated and highly functional chips will be marketed. There will be.

[0007] On the other hand, also in the layer 3 VLAN, the layer 3 VLAN
-Same VL identified by subnet ID etc. as ID
A packet in the AN group is switched to a port whose network address has been learned by unicast or multicast. Layer 2 VLAN
Similarly, the routing protocol subnet and VL
The subnet ID is set so that the AN segment is the same, and the other VLAN groups are routed because the subnets are different. Layer 3 VLANs based on network addresses allow the user to set network addresses for individual devices within the assigned range, and the major IP addresses for network addresses are logical. In addition, it has a hierarchical address system, is efficiently routed from a large-scale Internet to a small-scale intranet, and has a feature that a user can manage end-to-end transports and applications.
In this sense, for users, Layer 3 V can be managed more efficiently and flexibly than router segmentation.
LAN or layer 3 switches may be desirable.

As described above, in the VLAN switch that learns the address for each port, the packet is switched and transmitted only to the port of the unicast and multicast destination addresses of the same VLAN segment, and the broadcast and multicast are not taken out of the VLAN. It has become. The router routes the packet that goes out of the VLAN, and determines whether or not the packet is included in the VLAN by routing to the port of the destination address by the routing table when the subnet of the network address is different.

A router subnet for a VLAN segment can be configured to have a one-to-one correspondence or a one-to-many correspondence, and a plurality of VLAN segments are not configured in one subnet. Routers are based on the routing of Internet protocols, and SNAs (System Netwow) other than routable protocols that conform to the standard are used.
rk Architecture) etc. are bridging. VLAN
High-speed Ethernet, FDDI as backbone of
(Fiber Distributed Data Interface), high-speed LAN such as ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) are effective.
With the TM as the backbone, the horizontal (QoS)
Ty of Service) support is possible. But,
At present, QoS cannot be supported using LAN emulation.

[0010] The netflow switching scheme employed in Cisco routers in the United States treats a series of packets as a network flow while the flow state is maintained, and the switching service is performed by a single flow-based task. Provided. Only for the first packet of a netflow, switching tasks refer to route tables, security tasks refer to access lists, queuing tasks refer to priorities, accounting tasks refer to accounting and netflow switching. The task is processed, but for subsequent packets of the netflow, only the netflow switching task is performed by the netflow cache. For net flow,
The processing performance of security functions such as access lists and encryption is accelerated.

On the other hand, in an ATM switch used in an ATM, a network address of an NSAP (Network Service Access) of an ATM for routing is used.
Point) VPI of ATM header mapped to address
(Virtual path identifier) and VCI (virtual channel identifier), the transmission path is specified. In LAN emulation, the MAC address is an ATM SNPA (SubN).
etwork Point of Attachment). In a configuration using ATM as a backbone, broadcasting is performed using point-to-multipoint PVC (P
ermament Virtual Connection) to make the ATM switch copy the packet. When a router manufactured by Cisco USA is connected to an ATM network using an ATM DXI (Data Exchange Interface) standardized by the ATM Forum,
RFC 1483 for DXI (Multiprotocol Enc
The LLC / SNAP encapsulation method of apsulation over AAL5) is used.

Further, MPOA (Multi Protocol Over ATM) standardized by the ATM Forum has been advanced.
Some companies, such as Newbridge Networks, have proposed virtual routers based on). The company's VIVID architecture eliminates the need for routers between VLANs because the VLANs become virtual subnets, and the switch fabric performs bridging or routing forwarding. However, a route server corresponding to a main router in the above-mentioned multilayer switch is required, and when a subnet and a VLAN are associated one-to-one, there is not much difference from a virtual router. The company supports setting the quality of service by buffer priority processing.

Fore Systems products support 2000 nodes per VLAN defined as a logical common broadcast area (subnet) such as LANE or CLIP (Classical IPover ATM), and cut between subnets for routing between VLANs. It uses a client-server method (called distributed routing) that performs high-performance routing by through. That is, a route calculation server (RCS) is installed somewhere in the ATM switch or the LAN access switch, the edge device requests the optimum route information for the RCS, performs cut-through across subnets, and transfers data through the SVC. Is done. In addition,
The above routing is also based on the ATM Forum MPOA.

The MPOA of the ATM Forum is also called router emulation, in which a routing function is added on top of LAN emulation and NHRP (Next H).
opResolution Protocol) and implements a virtual router function that separates the routing protocol engine and the forwarding engine. In MPOA, the subgroup IASG (
It is routed in subnet units of Internet Address Sub Group. Information between functional groups is RFC14
It is transferred using the LLC / SNAP encapsulation header defined in 83. Currently, standardization work such as multicasting is underway.

Fore Systems has proposed an architecture for performing QoS for each session, security for each session, recording of sessions, and VC management as application services on distributed routing. IP switches provided by Epsilon in the United States
Replacing the company's "soft" state approach simplifies the error recovery process and allows IP routing over ATM to use Qo.
A connectionless model that supports S can be realized. The soft state is controlled locally rather than end-to-end and is erased after the lifetime expires. This connectionless switch was named an IP switch. The low-level control protocol for IP switches is a general-purpose switch management protocol (GSMP: Generi
c Switch Management Protocol), which provides the function of controlling the ATM switch hardware with the IP switch controller. The extension on top of this function is the Epsilon Flow Control Management Protocol (IFMP).
gement Protocol) is defined, and the IFMP associates the IP flow with the virtual channel of the ATM. In the IP switch, the above soft state called the flow state is valid for the lifetime, the IP flow flows through the switch in a cut-through manner, and the flow state is refreshed. If the flow is interrupted, the flow state is not refreshed, and after the lifetime, the flow state is erased.

The tag switch provided by Cisco is composed of a tag edge router of a router backbone and an internal tag switch.
The router provides full Layer 3 services, tags packets sent to the tag switch, and removes the tags from packets coming from the tag switch. The tag switch is switched by a table lookup using a tag. Tag encapsulation is AT
It is placed at the position of the flow label of IPv6 in the MPI header VPI / VCI, and is added between the ppp header and the layer 3 header in ppp. T flying between tags and switches
The Tag Distribution Protocol (DP) assigns tag numbers to each router and creates a lookup table of local and remote tag numbers and the network address and port of the tag switch router. Switches enable multi-protocol routing, load balancing, and QoS, and provide high-performance network services that integrate NetF1ow and tag switching in routers. The company says that IP switches require connection setup for each flow, support only the IP protocol, and cannot coexist with ATM services, but tag switching makes tags well known in advance, has low delay, and uses multi-protocol. It provides a corresponding data traffic service and claims to coexist with ATM services suitable for real-time services.

As described above, a subnet is dynamically set in a switched network to form a virtual subnet, and a tag is used in a VLAN to check header information for each switch for routing and to perform routing. -Since the procedure for collating the tables is not required, it is possible to efficiently perform cut-through and efficient forwarding even in a multistage connection switch network, thereby improving the throughput. The routing table of tags by setup or signaling is cached, and network flows are transferred between switches at high speed with cut-through. The VPI / VCI corresponding to the tag is set by the setup of the signaling even on the basis of the ATM switch, and the data is transferred at high speed with cut-through.

However, the association between VLAN tags and virtual subnets as broadcast domains and router tags differs from vendor to vendor. For this reason, we have integrated the products of vendors that provide end-to-end solutions, and these vendors provide edge switches with these LAN emulations and VLANs.
With the addition of intelligent functions such as tagging, the main router has a virtual subnet and tag switch setting function, so edge switches and main routers require high-speed CPUs. In networks with a large number of switches and main routers, the cost / performance ratio is poor.

Therefore, there is a need for an address system between switches that reduces the burden of setting a route on intermediate switches. In general, there are few broadcasts in the hierarchical physical configuration of the backbone ATM switch and the edge LAN switch, and in the network configuration that controls traffic by a hierarchical logical configuration of virtual subnets or VLANs. Has been adopted because of its high efficiency. A general system solution by a leading LAN vendor uses a highly scalable ATM switch as a backbone and provides a VLAN function to an edge switch connected to a floor LAN or a desktop by a wiring closet. If limited to the IP protocol, the IP switch method of Epsilon is AT
Although there is a method of mounting on the M switch, in the multi-protocol, the LAN emulation function of the ATM forum and the MPOA function on the LAN emulation function are mounted.

An ATM terminal having a built-in NIC (Network Interface Card) is directly connected to an ATM switch.
If all are ATM terminals, all switches are ATM
As a switch, an ATM service that integrates a telephone, a PC (personal computer), and a television becomes possible by cell multiplex transmission, and an edge switch becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the ATM switch is dedicated to the exchange / relay function, and the terminal only has to process the end-to-end communication service.
However, in reality, it is impossible to switch from the terminal to the network all at once, and low-cost equipment is provided,
ATM conversion of public networks, ATM services and the spread of ATM software take time. On the other hand, although the speed of Ethernet has been increased, an ATM may be required for switching functions and expandability corresponding to multimedia information services. In general, an existing or high-speed Ethernet terminal with a low cost burden is desired. Therefore, the demand and quantity of Ethernet terminals will be larger for the time being. However, ATM
There is a tendency for large-scale canvases in which both terminals and terminals are mixed and the desktop is Ethernet and the backbone is ATM.

In order to realize a VLAN function that is transparent to existing Ethernet, it is common that a terminal directly connected to an ATM and an edge switch connected to the existing Ethernet have a built-in LAN emulation function and MPOA function. Conversely, the CIF method (Cells In Fraud) in which ATM cells are carried on Ethernet frames
mes) is being studied led by Cornell University in the U.S., and aims to provide an Ethernet terminal with ATM service. In the above CIF method, Qo is applied to the edge switch.
Multiple queuing memories supporting S, marking of RM cells for flow control, VC lookup routing, ATM signaling and routing software, etc. are implemented, and CIF-AD
(CIF-attachment device) function is realized. The Ethernet of the workstation terminal includes a driver for encapsulating a CIF packet in an Ethernet frame, a SIHM for managing a plurality of queuing thereon, an NDIS thereon, and an SI on the above.
G, TCP / IP stack implemented, as if ATM
Provides an ATM service equivalent to that of NIC.
Microsoft's Winsock 2.0, Win32
By ITU-TH. 323 (A for general LAN
Video conference of the recommendation regarding the V terminal device) is supported.

By the way, if the backbone is composed of only connectionless Ethernet, a bridge function, a router function, a VLAN function (layer 2 or layer 3)
If filtering is performed for each switch port of the LAN switch having the above, in a network having a large number of switch stages, there is a waste that the opposite port performs the same filtering twice.

On the other hand, when the backbone is configured by the ATM, the LAN emulation function and the MPOA function are provided with the layer 2 or layer 3 V such as IEEE 802.1Q.
In addition to the LAN function, the function of the edge switch becomes complicated, and the LAN emulation function,
In some cases, a server with an MPOA function and a router function for external connection are required, which increases costs.

[0024]

However, in the conventional system, a server / client or peer-to-peer in a corporate intranet is used in a virtual network system in which a user can easily construct a virtual network and support a function of customizing the virtual network.
In a private LAN such as a network, connecting and allocating resources for each intermediate switch that should only perform relaying requires a large amount of software for each switch, is costly and inefficient, and requires individual end users. There is a problem that it is difficult to satisfy.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to manage a user environment customized by a host terminal and to reduce a load of address learning to realize a switch configuration and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a network switching system capable of simplifying processing.

[0026]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a LAN is configured by connecting a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports to each other to achieve the above object. A network / switching system, comprising: a connection / VLAN setting table in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by a host terminal are set together with a port number to which the host terminal is connected, a physical address and a protocol address of the host terminal, and at least Each switch is provided with a resource allocation table in which service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of virtual groups distributed and managed among a plurality of switches, and connection of directly connected switches. / VLAN setting A connection management unit that writes connection channels and virtual groups together with its own port number, physical address and protocol address of the host terminal in a table, a resource management unit that writes service quality in a resource allocation table, and a user environment in which a user environment is set A table and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table are provided in each host terminal. The contents written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table are exchanged by a table management message, and the exchanged connection and resource allocation are exchanged. A table management unit for writing update information to the virtual group registration / routing table is provided in each switch, and the updated contents exchanged by the table management unit are written to a look-up table provided in the switch at the time of communication from the host terminal. When the host terminal starts communication, the host terminal writes the source and destination address information and resource allocation information in the switch connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table, respectively. By exchanging the address information and the resource allocation information by the table management message between the switches, each switch can omit the address learning on the port to which the host terminal and other switches are connected, and By sharing the user environment customizing function by the user environment management unit and the user environment table, the user environment customized in the host terminal can be managed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network switching system in which a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports are connected to each other to form a LAN. So,
A connection / VLAN setting table in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with a port number to which the host terminal is connected, a physical address and a protocol address of the host terminal, and a resource allocation table in which at least service quality is set And a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches, and each port has its own port number in a connection / VLAN setting table of a directly connected switch. Management unit that writes connection channels and virtual groups together with the physical address and protocol address of the host terminal and the host terminal, a resource management unit that writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table,
A host terminal having a user environment table in which a user environment is set and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table, and an existing host having no connection management unit, resource management unit, user environment table, and user environment management unit At least one of the terminals is connected to a port of each switch, and a port number to which the existing host terminal is connected, a physical address of the existing host terminal, and a protocol in a connection / VLAN setting table in response to a request from the existing host terminal. The switch to which the existing host terminal is connected is provided with an existing host terminal agent which writes the connection channel and the virtual group together with the address and the like and writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table.
Each switch is provided with a table management unit for exchanging the contents written in the LAN setting table and the resource allocation table with a table management message, and for writing updated information of the exchanged connection and resource allocation in a virtual group registration / routing table. The update contents exchanged by the unit are written in a lookup table provided in the switch at the time of communication from the host terminal or the existing host terminal, and when the host terminal starts communication, the host terminal starts communication of the switch. The source / destination address information and the resource allocation information are written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table, respectively, and the address information and the resource allocation information are exchanged between the switches by a table management message. Individual In the switch, the address learning for the port to which the host terminal and other switches are connected can be omitted, the address learning in each switch is limited to those for the directly connected existing host terminal, and the user environment of the host terminal is also limited. By sharing the user environment customizing function with the management unit and the user environment table, the host terminal can manage the customized user environment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network switching system in which a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports are connected to each other to form a LAN. So,
A connection / VLAN setting table in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with a port number to which the host terminal is connected, a physical address and a protocol address of the host terminal, and a resource allocation table in which at least service quality is set And a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches, and each port has its own port number in a connection / VLAN setting table of a directly connected switch. Management unit that writes connection channels and virtual groups together with the physical address and protocol address of the host terminal and the host terminal, a resource management unit that writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table,
A host terminal having a user environment table in which a user environment is set and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table, and an existing host having no connection management unit, resource management unit, user environment table, and user environment management unit At least one of the terminals is connected to a port of each switch, and a port number to which the existing host terminal is connected, a physical address of the existing host terminal, and a protocol in a connection / VLAN setting table in response to a request from the existing host terminal. A network service server with an existing host terminal agent that writes the connection channel and virtual group together with the address and writes the quality of service to the resource allocation table is connected to the switch, and is written to the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table. Each switch is provided with a table management unit for exchanging the content by a table management message and writing the updated information of the exchanged connection and resource allocation to the virtual group registration / routing table, and the updated content exchanged by the table management unit is stored in the host terminal or existing When a communication is received from a host terminal, the information is written into a lookup table provided in the switch. When the host terminal or the existing host terminal starts communication, the existing host terminal or network service server The host terminal agent writes the source and destination address information and resource allocation information in the switch connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table, respectively. In each switch, the address learning on the port to which the host terminal and other switches are connected can be omitted in each switch, and the user environment customization function and the user environment table of the host terminal can be used. , The user environment customized in the host terminal can be managed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a management policy setting table in which a policy setting parameter for setting a management policy of each switch is written, and a management policy setting according to an operation of a network administrator. The network service server includes a supervisor management unit that writes policy setting parameters in a table, and the table management unit of each switch has a connection / VLAN setting table and resource allocation within an allowable range according to the policy conditions of the management policy setting table. It is characterized in that the contents written in the table are exchanged by a table management message, and the address learning of the switch can be omitted within an allowable range according to the policy condition.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the state of the resource allocation of each switch is autonomously observed in accordance with the conditions set in advance for the network environment, and the state of the resource allocation between other switches or other switches is determined. Each host terminal and a switch to which an existing host terminal is connected are provided with coordination control means for controlling optimal connection and resource allocation while cooperating with each other, and the table management units of the switches mutually perform table management via the coordination control means. It is characterized by exchanging messages, simplifies the configuration by omitting address learning at the switch even when a host terminal or an existing host terminal is moved, and also manages the user environment with a management policy. And automatic configuration can be performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a virtual system for controlling a supervisor management unit to set default authority and priority policy for a supervisor and to set authority and priority according to a user. · Characterized in that a supervisor agent is provided in the network service server,
Automatic configuration can be performed by customizing the user environment according to the management policy. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, the state of resource allocation of each switch is autonomously observed according to a condition set in advance for the network environment, and other host terminals, switches, and network service servers are provided. Each host terminal, a switch to which an existing host terminal is connected, and a network service server are provided with cooperative control means for controlling optimal connection and resource allocation while cooperating with each other. The table management units exchange table management messages with each other, so that even if a host terminal or an existing host terminal is moved, address learning in the switch can be omitted to simplify the configuration. In addition, the user environment can be customized according to the management policy to perform the automatic configuration.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system of the present embodiment.
Is shown. Multiple local switches 10 ₁The compound that… has
Number of ports (input port 20₁… And output port 21₁
…) Includes the desktop personal computer
Host terminals 1 such as data₁... are connected. Ma
Each port (not shown) of the main router 70 has an interface.
-Backbone of the network or WAN (Wide Area Ne
twork) and a member of the intranet segment
A certain local router switch 30 is connected.
Further, a plurality of ports included in the local router
Each local switch 10₁... and net
A network service server 50 is connected.

[0033] 1 ₁ ... each host terminal, the communication protocol control unit 2 ₁ ..., the connection management unit 3 ₁ ..., resource management unit 4 ₁ ..., port 5 ₁ ..., and user environment manager to customize the user environment (UE management unit) 6 ₁ ... And a user environment table 7 ₁ . The communication protocol control unit 2 ₁ ... is, TCP / IP, signaling, and executes various standard protocols, such as routing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the local switches 10 ₁ . Each of the local switches 10 ₁ has the same configuration, and includes a communication protocol control unit 11 ₁ , a table management unit 12 ₁ , a management agent 13 ₁ , a connection / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ , and a resource allocation table 15 ₁ . , switching engine 16 ₁ ... virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ..., client definition table 23 ₁ ... and intranet routing processor 24 ₁ ... comprises a priority transmission control part 17 ₁ ... supporting forwarding and multicast lookup Lookup table sections 18 _1, ..., Buffer sections 19 _1, ..., Input ports 20 _1, ..., Output ports 21 ₁ ,.
.. Constitute the switch engine 16 ₁ . The virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ is a registration / routing table relating to a virtual group (VLAN) that is distributed and managed among the local switches 10 ₁ .

On the other hand, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. The local router switch 30 includes a communication protocol control unit 31, a table management unit 32, an intranet management unit 33, and a management agent 3.
4, a connection / VLAN setting table 35, a resource allocation table 36, an intranet management table 37, a switch engine 38, a virtual group registration / routing table 46, a client definition table 47, and an intranet routing processing unit 48. Also,
The switch engine 38 includes a priority transmission control unit 39 that supports forwarding and multicast, an input port 44, a buffer unit 43, an output port 45, a lookup table unit 42 that manages a lookup table and supports a cut-through operation, and a main router 70. And a filter unit 40 and an encapsulation / reassembly unit 41 for intranet packets between the local router and the main router 60 so that intranet traffic inside the local site is not processed by the main router 60.

The switching engine 16 ₁ ... Performs switching by dividing the Ethernet frame or the Ethernet frame into small packets called micro frames, and performs access control of input / output ports of the LAN packet system in the case of Ethernet. CSMA
/ CD function is included. In the case of a cut-through in which a bus identifier that is passed as it is by a lookup table is assigned, the virtual group registration /
The routing tables 22 ₁ ... Are not compared, but L
In the first communication of the flow of the IP frame or the Ethernet frame of the AN, the header information is collated with the virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ... By the table management unit 12 ₁ . Update the lookup table.

The intranet management unit 33 of the local router switch 30 connects the intranet information of the remote site to the intranet management table 37 shown in FIG. 10 via the table management unit 32 / L3 / L2 group of the VLAN setting table 35 It is stored as an ID (layer 3 or layer 2 virtual group ID). Then, the switch engine 38 of the local router switch 30 uses the lookup table unit 42 as a tunnel gateway to store L3 / L in the lookup table.
2 The connection and resource information necessary for forwarding are cached together with the group ID, and the encapsulation / reassembly unit 41 encapsulates / reassembles the communication packet with the intranet at the remote site by the tunneling protocol, and
Communication is performed by exchanging with a remote site via a WAN (or the Internet) through the Internet.

The switch engine 38 is configured by ATM-system cell switching. The access control of the input / output ports of the ATM system includes a signaling function, and a channel identifier that passes through as a cell is assigned by a look-up table. In the case of a cut-through that is not performed, packetization and cellization are not performed, but LA
In the first communication of the flow of N IP frames or Ethernet frames, packetization is performed for priority processing and QoS support for each virtual group, and the header information is collated by the table management unit 32 with the virtual group registration / routing table 46. Update the lookup table. The input / output ports 44 and 45 of the local router switch 30 are connected to the local switch 10.
₁ are connected to the backbone connection ATM interface 25.

The local switch 10₁In ...
Power port 20₁Are sent from the buffer management unit 19
The same as stored in the area of the buffer unit 19 designated by a.
Sometimes the buffer management unit 19a points to this storage location
Generate a packet pointer. Virtual group knowledge
The separate unit 26 sets a pair of a destination and a source of the packet.
Register client address in virtual group / rule
Ting table 22 ₁Virtual glue
If a buffer is identified,
Table section 27₁… Cue-in by virtual group
The packet pointer is stored in the
Queue the data only with the pointer without moving the
You. Also, if the above packet is a broadcast packet
In that case, the broadcast queuing unit 28₁…
To store the packet pointer.

On the other hand, when the destination address of the packet is a unicast address and does not correspond to a virtual group, a pointer indicating the storage address of the packet in the transmission buffer is assigned to the unknown group queuing unit 29 ₁ . Is stored in Moreover, the priority transmission control part 17 ₁ ... instructs the transmission of the packet to the forwarding unit 101 when the output port 21 ₁ ... are vacated by the output port 21 ₁ ... port state detector of.
The forwarding unit 101 reads the pointer of the designated packet from the buffer pointer, and sends out the packet data of the buffer from the output ports 21 ₁ . For the forwarding of scheduling control packet, the priority transmission control part 17 ₁ ... is according to the priority of the virtual group, performs control by timer priority transmission control part 17 ₁ ... the virtual at short time intervals in order of priority Forward packets in group queue order.

The network service server 50
Management manager unit 51, intranet server management unit 5
2. Communication protocol control unit 53, connection management unit 54, resources
Management unit 55, port 56, supervisor management unit 57,
Management policy setting table 58, network service
(NS) management unit 59, network service table 6
0 and other system linkage / learning table 61
You. Here, the resource management unit 55₁…from
Manage intranet policies for resource allocation requests
It is to do the processing. As an intranet policy
Is the host terminal 1 ₁… May occupy resources without permission
And set a frame according to the priority order as an intranet
And the host terminal 1₁Scope and authority assigned to ...
It is stipulated. Also intranet server
The management unit 52 manages a WWW server for the intranet.
Management, security management, database management, etc.
It is. The management manager unit 51 is an SNMP (Simple
 Network Management Protocol) based networks
A management manager, each local switch 10₁…common
Management agent 1 for local router switch 30
3₁..., 34 are SNMP agents, each of which is described above.
Switch 10₁…, MIB (Management Inf) inside 30
or the status of the ormation base). S
The supervisor management unit 57 has a network flow
Policies for virtual groups
Group settings / virtual group registration / routing table
Le 22₁..., 46, client definition table 23
₁..., 47, user environment table 7₁…, Connection / VLA
N setting table 14₁..., 35 and resource allocation table 1
5₁.., 36.

By the way, in a conventional distributed L3 (Layer 3) switch which has provided service quality such as real-time communication and multicast communication end-to-end,
The L3 switch itself or the main router 70 has allocated resources in response to a resource request from the host terminals 1 ₁ . Therefore, when the L3 switches are connected in multiple stages, there is a problem that the amount of calculation of the L3 switches and the main router 70 is increased and the delay time is increased because the route is set by the resource allocation protocol between the L3 switches. . In the case where the resource management server that manages the resources of the L3 switch negotiates with the terminal host that makes the resource request, performs the route setting of the L3 switch, and performs the cut-through operation, the L3 switch performs the cut-through operation. There is a problem that the amount of calculation for route calculation and setting increases, and the resource management server becomes a bottleneck. Furthermore, in the conventional distributed L3 switch, it has been difficult for a network administrator to manage and control everything and customize the environment of each host terminal.

[0043] Thus, in this embodiment, connections for the host terminal 1 ₁ ... connection management unit 3 ₁ ... local switch 10 ₁ ... internal host terminal 1 ₁ ... address of the as shown in FIG. 1 / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ ... manage, together with the host terminal 1 ₁ ... resource managing unit 4 ₁ ... manages 15 ₁ ... local switch 10 ₁ ... resource allocation table, the host terminal 1 ₁ ... user environment management unit ₆₁ ... is .. Manages its own user environment table 7 ₁ .
₁ ... writes the connection channel and the virtual group request from an application executed (virtual group ID) to the connection / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ ... as shown in FIG. 4, the indicating the quality of service requested in Figure 5 Are written in such a resource allocation table 15 ₁ . The local switch 10 ₁ ... table management unit 12 ₁ ... are connected / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ ...
As well as exchanged between the local switch 10 ₁ ... table management unit 12 ₁ ... by the resource allocation table 15 ₁ ... contents table management messages. Furthermore, writing the update information of the connection and the resources allocated to each local switch 10 ₁ ... table management unit 12 ₁ ... is replaced by the table management message registration / routing table 22 ₁ ... each local switch 10 ₁ ... Virtual Group , to be written in a look-up table which the host terminal 1 ₁ ... Virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ... connection and resource allocation each local switch 10 ₁ ... switch engine updates 16 when communicating from ₁ ... is provided ing.

As described above, the host terminal 1₁… And local
Switch 10₁Host end in first message exchange with…
End 1₁Input port 20 to which ... is connected₁… And output
Port 21₁… Port number, physical address, protocol
Connection and resource allocation information such as file addresses are connected / VL
AN setting table 14₁… And resource allocation table 15 ₁
... so that each local switch 10
₁... then host terminal 1 ₁Regarding the port to which… is connected
Address learning can be omitted.

That is, since the address collation necessary for address learning needs to be performed at a high speed for many registered addresses, conventionally, an expensive address collation circuit and a memory for storing addresses are provided in each local switch. Had to be prepared. According contrast to the present embodiment, information of the address by the host terminal 1 ₁ ... is (one of the switches 10 ₁ ..., information that what the host terminal 1 ₁ ... are connected to the 30 either port) each local switch 10 ₁ ... each local switch 10 ₁ with given ... and the local router switch 3
0, the address information is exchanged between the local switches 10 ₁ ... With respect to the destination address.
It is only necessary to refer to the LAN setting table 14 ₁ ... Or the lookup table that supports the cut-through operation, and the expensive address collation circuit and memory as described above are not required.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the resource allocation table when the local switches 10 ₁ ...
In addition, the switch port numbers, physical addresses,
The protocol address and the ATM address are defined so that the VLAN can be defined by a pair of a sender / receiver address.
Each of the source and destination can be set. Also,
The term “resource allocation (resource reservation)” includes not the RSVP protocol itself but general resources such as QoS, priority processing, and other parameters related to network quality performance.

FIG. 15 is a diagram conceptually showing the relationship between the virtual group and the user environment. Each virtual group (A,
B, C,..., V1, V2, V3,... In the same figure, a user class (client U1, client U1,
U2, U3...) Represent the user environment, and the user environment can be customized for each user class shown by the clients U1, U2, U3. The user classes represented by these clients U1, U2, U3... Are images of the user environment tables 7 ₁ ... Shown in FIG. 11, and the user environments are managed by the user environment tables 7 ₁ . User environment table 7 ₁
.. Indicate the client unit by the user name, the user class by the user class ID, and describe the requirements of the parameters for each virtual group.

By the way, the current building automation (BA) equipment protects the entire sanitary environment while maintaining and managing the electrical equipment and energy consumption of the whole building. Are manually operated by the resident as needed. On the other hand, in the current OA system, a centralized business system provided by the information system department or an information groupware installed in a work group of each department are mixed, and the user must control each system. Is difficult and the user has to adapt to the system.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user sets the temperature, humidity, lighting, ventilation, etc. to the conditions for creating an atmosphere suitable for him / her using the above BA system, and also provides the OA environment with information necessary for his / her work. The service setting is performed using the network service system so as to receive the network service so that the user can access the network. In the network switching system according to the present embodiment, these user environment settings are set as shown in FIG. Can be met by setting virtual groups and supporting QoS (CoS). That is, the BA environment set by the user is supported by the information communication / building equipment service virtual group of the user environment table image, and the OA environment
Supported by computing virtual groups. The environment that users need is changing with the times due to technological innovation or social demands.
It is thought that various concepts will be created depending on the emphasis such as multimedia. However, the present invention considers the components of the user environment service, including information and communication / building equipment, as well as the service quality required for each. By dividing the virtual group into provided ones, it is possible to provide a technical mechanism using an information network that allows a user to customize a user environment. The "building equipment" here is connected to a network such as air conditioners, lighting equipment, odor generators, silencers, sound equipment such as background music, and home appliances such as coffee makers and cooking utensils. This includes all equipment and facilities related to user operation and user environment, including production facilities required for access to disaster prevention systems required for residents and production management in factories.

As described above, in this embodiment, each host
Terminal 1₁… Is the user environment management unit 6 ₁… The above user
Management table 7₁… To manage the user environment
Switch 10₁…, 30 connections / VLAN settings
Table 14₁..., 35 and the resource allocation table 15
₁, 36, the switch 10₁…, 30
Eliminates the need to customize the user environment,
Itch 10₁…, The burden on 30 is reduced,
Individual host terminal 1₁… Customized in
User environment can be managed. In addition, user environment
User group environment and client by residential unit
User environment that is set for each host terminal
In this embodiment, the two are separated.
User group environment without the
Network service, depending on the user environment settings.
The use of is also possible.

The table management units 12 ₁ ... Hold the network addresses and the physical addresses of the local switches 10 ₁ ..., And are controlled by table management messages as switch-host terminal communication messages and switch-switch communication messages. The update information of the connection / VLAN setting table 14 _{1 and the} resource allocation table 15 ₁ is exchanged between the host terminal 11 ₁ and the table management units 12 _{1 of the} other local switches 10 ₁ . By setting the priority of the table management message to the highest, the subnet of the L3 / L2 group ID or the network address is kept inside the local router switch 30, that is, on the intranet. However, if it is necessary to send the table management message to the remote site intranet via the Internet, the local router switch 30
Then, the table management message may be encapsulated and the Internet may be tunneled. The management agents 13 _1, ..., 34 convert management information including attributes such as switch and port states into S
It is provided to the management manager unit 51 by the NMP protocol, and supports setting from the management manager unit 51.

The buffer units 19 ₁ ... 43 provided in the local switches 10 ₁ ... And the switch engines 16 ₁ .
0 ₁ ..., the packet received from the local switch 10 ₁ ... the host terminal 1 ₁ ... or adjacent are temporarily stored from 44. , And the switch engines 16 _1, ... Of the local switches 10 ₁ .
38 priority transmission control part 17 ₁ ... which is equipped, 39 buffer unit 19 ₁ ... by referring to the lookup table, the output port 21 to the packet read out from the 43 ₁ ..., transmits 45. As shown in FIG. 7, the look-up table manages flow processing and priority processing. Here, in the case of cutting through a continuous flow, the look-up table units 18 _1, ... By transmitting the packet to the network, the throughput is increased. In the case of non-continuous packets having a high real-time property, the look-up table units 18 _1, ... allocation table 15 ₁ ..., 36 is preferentially transmitted within the set allowable delay time (see Figure 5). When other normal packets are not in a congestion state, normal processing of transmission is performed within a default delay time set by the connection / VLAN setting tables 14 ₁ ,. Is discarded. Further, it is possible to set the priority of the priority processing according to the user priority higher than the flow processing for the same output port 21 ₁ ... 45, and in this case, the priority of the normal processing is the priority processing And lower than flow processing.

Generally, RSVP (Resource Reservation P)
With respect to a resource reservation protocol such as rotocol, a protocol stack such as WinSock 2.0 of the host terminal 1 ₁ ... ₁ ... with the configuration of the lookup table is also the main router 60 is performed, and also settings for each local switch 10 ₁ ... lookup table so that the main router 60 is performed. As for the resource reservation protocol used on the Internet, if a user terminal makes a reservation for a castle on its own, inconvenience will occur. Therefore, a method of allocating it from the Internet service provider administrator is under study. As for the intranet, a resource reservation protocol common to the Internet is generally applied.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the resource management unit 55 of the network service server conforms to the industry standard communication protocol and frame format.
, The priority and the CoS assigned to the resource allocation tables 15 ₁ ... Of the local switches 10 ₁ .
(QoS) is set.

As described above, the intranet basically uses the same protocol as that of the Internet. However, different addresses are set for the intranet and the Internet to provide security against unauthorized access from the Internet to the intranet, and for intranet use. Firewall-based extensions that add value to each of the groupware and software may be added.

In this embodiment, the local switch 10₁
... table management unit 12₁… And host terminal 1₁Between ...
Switch-host terminal communication message text
The host terminal 1 by the cable management message.₁… Contact
Connection management unit 3₁... is the host terminal 1₁…
Local switch 10₁… Connection / VLAN setting table
14₁... and the host terminal 1₁… Resources
Management unit 4₁... is the host terminal 1₁… Resource request information
Cal switch 10₁... resource allocation table 15 ₁Written in ...
The local switch 10₁The tape of ...
File management unit 12₁… Is another local switch 10₁… No
Cable management unit 12₁… And the above-mentioned host terminal 1₁... and
And the address information and resource allocation information of the connection destination
Switch-to-switch communication
Exchange by message and register this result as a virtual group
/ Routing table 22₁…, Connection / VLAN settings
Table 14₁… And resource allocation table 15₁Change of…
Host terminal 1 as a message₁Reply to ... So
And the host terminal 1₁Confirm that… meets communication requirements
Virtual group registration / routing table 2
2₁..., connection / VLAN setting table 14₁… And resources
Allocation table 15₁Update the information for…
Chi 10₁... table management unit 12₁… Via the above
Local switch 10₁… Switch engine 1
6₁Writing to the look-up table provided by…
Allows the host terminal 1₁Packet forwarding for ...
Ding is performed.

On the other hand, the host terminal 1₁… Is the user environment table
Bull 7₁… And for communication requests from applications
Address information and resource allocation information of the connection destination
Judge whether to accept the conditions and if you judge it is insufficient
Is the local switch 10 ₁… And table management between
By exchanging messages, the address information of the connected
Information and resource allocation information to the local switch 10.₁… Bar
Char group registration / routing table 22₁…,
Connection / VLAN setting table 14₁… And resource allocation table
Bull 15₁Write to and update.

The table management unit 12 ₁ of each of the local switches 10 ₁ ... Stores the connection destination address information and the resource allocation information of the host terminal 1 ₁ .
₁ ... and when insufficient resource allocation table 15 ₁ ..., the local router switches 30 and the local switch 10 ₁ ... between the switch - the local switch by message communication between the switch 10 ₁ ... table management unit 12 of the
_{By 1} ... to exchange table management messages to each other, the host terminal 1 ₁ ... of the destination address information and resource allocation information Virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ..., connection / VLAN setting table 14 ₁
.. And the resource allocation table 15 ₁ .

[0059] In such a case where the host terminal 1 ₁ ... starts communication, the host terminal 1 ₁ ... of the attached local switch 10 ₁ ... connection / VLAN setting table 14
_, And the resource allocation table 15 ₁ , the address information and the resource request information of the transmission source host terminal 11 _1, and the address information and the resource allocation information of the transmission destination are respectively written. The table management unit 12 of the local switch 10 _{1, 1}
... by the exchanging table management messages to one another, can be omitted address learning in local switch 10 ₁ ..., in which it is possible to simplify the process for packet forwarding in the local switch 10 ₁ .... Note that even when one or more intermediate local switches that relay packets are connected between the local switches 10 ₁ ... And the local router switch 30,
It is clear that exchanging the table management message between the local switches makes it possible to omit the address learning in all the local switches 10 ₁ .

Further, in this embodiment, when a large amount of traffic is concentrated at a local limited place on the intranet, when realizing a quality of service (CoS) such as a wide band or a short response time, the local switches 10 ₁ .
And controls direct connection and resource allocation Intranet local router switch 30 from the host terminal 1 ₁ ..., by allocation to for processing with the main router 70 conforming traffic Internet standards, the host terminal 1 ₁ … And local switch 1
0 ₁ ... and replace the original table management messages between the local router switch 30, it is possible to support the customization of the logical / physical network connections and resource allocation. Moreover, the local switch 10
Combined with the optional and processing host terminal 1 ₁ ... address learning in ₁ ... is simplified, the higher the local switch 10 ₁ ... processing efficiency of the assigned host terminal 1 ₁ ... address using resources , End-to-end service quality such as real-time communication and multicast communication can be provided.

[0061] In this embodiment as described above, by implementing the setting and agent function depends on the user and the host terminal 1 ₁ ... to the host terminal 1 ₁ ..., the host terminal 1 ₁ ... in as a member of the network community .., While maintaining the simplicity of the distributed network itself, while simplifying and speeding up CoS (QoS) such as priority processing of the local switches 10 ₁ .
We try to reduce the burden on the network. Furthermore, in connection-type systems such as ATMs, such as telephones, VPIs between host terminals are similarly related to end-to-end requirements in a local area partitioned as an intranet and under the condition that the number of host terminals is small.
/ VCI and QoS class arbitration can be performed.

(Embodiment 2) FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system, and a basic configuration is an embodiment.
1 is the same as that of FIG.
And the description is omitted. In this embodiment, each local
Switch 10₁… Input port 20₁… And output port
To 21₁... in the host terminal 1 in the first embodiment₁What is ...
Another host terminal 1 ₁’..., the user environment management unit,
User environment table, local switch 10₁… Connection
/ VLAN setting table 14₁Write address information in ...
Connection manager and resource allocation table 15₁... resources
Host terminal without resource management unit for writing allocation information
(Hereafter, such a host terminal 1₁’In the first embodiment.
Host terminal 1₁Called "existing host terminal" distinguishing from ...
Huh. ) Is connected and such existing host end
End 1₁’... instead of host terminal 1₁… Connection management unit 3
₁…, Resource Management Department 4₁… And user environment management section 6₁…
Existing host terminal agent 110 that realizes the function of₁
... and existing host terminal 1₁’…
Bull 111₁... and existing host terminal 1₁’…
Local switch 10₁… Provided in this book
There is a feature of the embodiment.

The existing host terminals 1 ₁ ′... Incorporate a standard network interface (NIC). The network interface includes a host terminal ₁₁
... port and communication protocol control unit 2 ₁ ... corresponding to port 5 ₁ '... and a communication protocol controller 2 _1' ... are contained in. In the present embodiment, the existing host terminal 1
₁ '... but is configured to local router switch 30 is not equipped with existing host terminal agent to have a configuration that is connected local switch 10 ₁ ... only, existing in the local router switch 30 host terminal 1 _1' ... Connecting Of the present invention, it is of course possible to incorporate an existing host terminal agent into the local router switch 30.

In this embodiment, the local switch
10₁… Existing host terminal agent 110₁…But,
Existing host terminal 1₁’… Customize the user environment
User environment table 111 for₁User environment at…
Manages the existing host terminal 1₁’… No
Connection / VLAN setting table 14 for dress₁... and
And resource allocation table 15₁... for example, RSVP
Existing host terminal 1 for router as host₁…of
Connection channel and bar requested by application
Local group ID of char group ID₁… Connection
/ VLAN setting table 14₁Write in ...
Service quality to local switch 10₁… Resource allocation te
Table 15₁Write in ... Then, write the above contents
Local switch 10₁... for table management messages between
Therefore, each local switch 10₁... table management unit 1
2₁Exchange between and update connections and resource allocation
Information to each local switch 10₁… Virtual glue
Registration / routing table 22₁…, Connection / VLA
N setting table 14₁… And resource allocation table 15 ₁…
To existing host terminal 1₁’…
-Group registration / routing table 22₁…
Switch engine 16
₁Write to the look-up table. Like this
Local switch 10₁… Existing host terminal agents
110₁... existing host terminal 1₁’… Customization
Existing host terminal 1 while managing the user environment₁’…
Local switch for connection and resource allocation update information
10₁Because it is set to…
Switch 10₁… Is an existing host end that is directly connected
End 1₁’… Like RSVP host router
Supports customized user environment
And as a result, the local switch 10₁Address in…
The existing host terminal 1 that is directly connected₁’…
Limited to the local switch 10₁The processing in…
Can be simple.

(Embodiment 3) FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system, and a basic configuration is an embodiment.
Same as 1 and 2 so common parts are the same
And the description is omitted. In this embodiment,
In the mode 2, each local switch 10₁...
Existing host terminal agent 110₁Like…
Existing host terminal 1₁’... instead of host terminal 1₁… Contact
Connection management unit 3₁…, Resource Management Department 4₁… And user environment management
Department 6₁Existing host terminal agent that realizes the function of ...
63 and the existing host terminal 1₁’… User environment
The table 64 and the network service server 50
And the local switch 10₁… And b
The local router switch 30 has an existing host terminal agent.
This point is a feature of the present embodiment.
You. That is, the network service server 50
The existing host terminal agent 63 is the existing host terminal 1
₁', User environment, local switch 10₁… Inside
Resource reservation such as priority processing, connection setup
Cable (connection / VLAN setting table 14)₁… And resources
Reservation table 15₁…)) And the existing
Strike terminal 1₁’… To satisfy the user environment setting conditions
Connection channel and virtual group 1D
Existing host terminal 1₁’… Is connected to the local switch
Chi 10₁... connection / VLAN setting table 14₁Written in ...
And the existing host terminal 1₁’… Service goods
The quality of the local switch 10 ₁… Resource allocation table
Fifteen₁Write in ...

The written contents are exchanged between the table management units 12 ₁ of the local switches 10 ₁ ... By a table management message between the local switches 10 ₁ . Write to the virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ , connection / VLAN setting table 14 _1, and resource allocation table 15 ₁ … of the switches 10 _1, and provide feedback to the existing host terminal agent 63. set condition is satisfied or judgment, or allow communication to align the local switch 10 ₁ ... conditions existing host terminal agent 63 to change the setting conditions of the user environment, the existing host terminal 1 ₁ '... When communicating from each of the local switches 10 ₁ … The table management unit 12 ₁ ... a virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ... connection and switching engine 16 updates the resource allocation ₁ ...
Write to the lookup table. As a result, address learning in the local switches 10 ₁ ... Becomes unnecessary, processing can be simplified, and a customized user environment can be managed.

In the first to third embodiments,
Is a switch provided in the network service server 50.
-The supervisor manager 57 operates the network manager.
Policy setting in the management policy setting table 58
Write parameters. And each b
Local switch 10₁... table management unit 12₁…
The policy set in the management policy setting table 58
-Within the allowable range according to the conditions, the host terminal 1
₁… Or existing host 1₁… Or terminal agent 1
10₁Update of connection and resource allocation set by…, 63
New information in other tables by table management message
Management unit 12₁... and exchange the contents with each local
Switch 10₁… Virtual group registration / route
Table 22₁…, Connection / VLAN setting table
14₁… And resource allocation table 15 ₁Write to ... already
Existing host terminal agent 110₁…, Feed to 63
And the existing host terminal agent 63
Environment setting conditions are met or an existing host
Terminal agent 110₁…, 63 are user environment settings
Change the fixed conditions and change the local switch 10₁Meet the conditions of ...
Communication with the host terminal 1₁… Or
Existing host terminal 1₁’… Each local switch
Switch 10₁... table management unit 12₁… Is a virtual group
Loop registration / routing table 22₁… Connection and
Switch Engine 16 Updates Resource Allocation Information₁… No
Write to the backup table. As a result, the local switch
Switch 10 ₁Processing without address learning in…
Can be simplified and customized
It is possible to manage the set user environment.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the local switches 10 ₁ . Since the basic configuration is common to the first to third embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the common parts, and the description will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the host terminal 1₁… To bar
Char User Agent 8₁… With local
Switch 10₁... the existing host terminal coordination agent 1
12 ₁… And virtual network agent
113₁... and the local router switch 30 has a bar
If you have a char network agent 49,
First, the network service server 50
Network service agent 65
There is a characteristic in the point.

As shown in FIG. 19, the local switch 1
0 ₁ ... Inside existing host terminal cooperative agent 112 ₁ ... of, the host terminal 1 ₁ ... and are included virtual user agent 8 ₁ ... structure of comprising, further, the agent Negotiation engine 113a and rule The engine 113b shares that of the virtual network agents 113 ₁ . In the case of the virtual user agents 8 ₁ ... Of the host terminals 1 ₁ .

[0071] In the host terminal 1 ₁ ... is a virtual user agent 8 ₁ ... of the cooperation control section 8a controls the user environment management unit ₆₁ ..., the local switch 10 ₁
... writes the connection channel and the virtual group ID to request from the connection / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ ... to the host terminal 1 ₁ ... address information and the host terminal 1 ₁ ... application, resource allocation table 1
In the setting area of 5 ₁ ..., Resource request information of service quality such as real-time communication and multicast communication is set. Also, in each of the local switches 10 ₁ ... And the local router switch 30, the cooperative control units 113 a and 49 of the virtual network agents 113 ₁ .
a controls the table management units 12 ₁ ... Further, in the network service server 50,
Virtual Network Service Agent 6
5 controls the network service management unit 59.

On the other hand, FIG. 20 shows local switches 10 ₁ .
Existing host terminal coordination agent 112 provided by
₁ ..., virtual network host terminal 1 ₁ virtual ... it is provided a user agent 8 ₁ ... cooperative control unit 8a, the local router switch 30 is provided
The coordination control unit 49a of the agent 49 and the coordination control unit 65 of the virtual network service agent 65 provided in the network service server 50
3 shows an operation model of FIG. These cooperative control units 8
a, 49a, 65a and the existing host terminal coordinating agents 112 ₁ ... allocate the resources of each local switch 10 ₁ . Observe the state autonomously, learn the conditions of optimal connection / resource allocation, and dynamically manage the virtual group registration / routing tables 22 ₁ … 46 distributed to the local switches 10 ₁ … and the local router switch 30. I do. And Thus, the virtual user agent 8 ₁ ..., local switch 10 ₁ ... and the local router switch 30 virtual network agent 113 ₁ dispersed ..., 49 cooperate with each other, each of the local switches 10 ₁ ... table Management unit 12
_{By 1} ... to exchange table management messages to one another via a cooperation control section 23 ₁ ..., automatically set transmission destination address information and resource allocation information local switch 10 ₁ ... Virtual group registration of / routing table 22 ₁ …, connection / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ …
And resource write allocation table 15 ₁ ..., the host terminal 1 ₁ ... or existing host terminal 1 ₁ '... switch engine 16 ₁ updates the connection and resource allocation upon communication from
.., And the network service quality under customized conditions for the host terminals 1 ₁ ... And the existing host terminals 1 ₁ ′. 112 ₁ ... is adapted to be provided by assigning autonomously. As a result, the host terminal 1 ₁
Is moved, the host terminal 11 ₁
… Or existing host terminal coordination agent 112 ₁ …
Can be omitted address learning in local switch 20 ₁ ..., it is possible that the process also simple.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the coordination control units 8a, 49a, 65a and the existing host terminal coordination agents 112 ₁ ... Terminal 1 ₁
... provided for the user, setup / routing / bridging and VLA of the local switches 10 ₁ ...
N management connection / VLAN setting table and resource allocation table are written, and the user enters LLC (Logical Link
Control) and higher-level protocols, such as filtering and security, and data compression / encryption can be customized, while the network administrator can use common rules for preset constraints and conflict detection / negotiation / plan modification / learning rules. There is an advantage that management including policy-based settings can be performed.

In the first to third embodiments, the QoS class or AAL (ATM Adaptati) of the resource allocation table 15 ₁ ... Provided in each local switch 10 ₁ .
on Layer) class, a dynamic connection channel providing the best effort bandwidth and a static connection channel having a higher priority and a larger bandwidth guaranteed are provided, and the default multicast between the local switches 10 ₁ . if the segments to assign to the connection channel, it is possible to provide a network quality of service under the conditions customized for the host terminal 1 ₁ ... and existing host terminal 1 ₁ '....

Further, the host terminal 1₁… And local sui
Switch 10₁… Existing host terminal agent 112₁…
The connection and resource management information set by
10 ₁... table management unit 12₁… But each other a table tube
The local switch 10
₁The resource arbitration work in… becomes simple.
You. In particular, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the host terminal 1₁…
And other cooperative control units 8a, 49a, 65a and existing hosts
Terminal coordination agent 112₁... is the local switch 1
0₁Because resources are allocated and provided autonomously,
Cal switch 10₁… More automated mediation of resources
There is an advantage that it is done.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a system according to this embodiment. Note that the basic configuration is the same as that of the fourth embodiment, and thus the common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. This embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the network service server 50 has the virtual supervisor agent 66
The feature is that it is provided with.

[0077] The virtual supervisor agent 66 controls the supervisor manager 57 to set a management policy. Management policy setting table 5
8, a default authority / priority is set for the supervisor, and an authority /
The priority is set, and the virtual supervisor agent 66 controls the supervisor management unit 57 to set policies such as priority, thereby customizing the user environment according to the management policy and performing automatic configuration.

In this embodiment, the connection ports of each virtual group are distributed to the local switches 10 ₁ ... Distributed on the network and the local router switch 30. Therefore, the virtual network agent, the user environment table and the virtual user
When the distribution of agents to host terminals is considered, default settings are made in the direction of zero administration, or users are classified into general users and privileged users (supervisors), and the user environment table 7 ₁ of the host terminals 1 ₁ .
... and the virtual user agents 8 ₁ ... have a role such as a general user environment table for general users and a virtual general user agent.
For a supervisor (network administrator), a management policy is set by a supervisor management unit 57, a management policy setting table 58, and a virtual supervisor agent 66 of the network service server 50. That is, the supervisor sets the authority / priority according to the role / position between the virtual user agent 8 ₁ ... And the virtual supervisor agent 66 so that the supervisor can set the policy such as the priority. Default authority / priority is set for.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of an operation using an agent according to the present embodiment. Host terminal 1 ₁ ... virtual user agent 8 ₁ ... and the local switch 10 ₁ ... virtual network agent 113 ₁ ... and existing host terminal cooperative agent 112
₁ ... and the virtual network agent 49 of the local router switch 30, by the cooperative problem solving between virtual network service agent 65 and virtual supervisor agent 66 of the network service server 50, the user environment Are provided as a virtual network environment as shown in FIG. As a result, a comfortable environment including the building equipment environment is provided to the user's living unit.

[0080] In the host terminal 1 ₁ ... is a virtual user agent 8 ₁ ... of the cooperation control section 8a controls the user environment management unit ₆₁ ..., the local switch 10 ₁
... writes the connection channel and the virtual group ID to request from the connection / VLAN setting table 14 ₁ ... to the host terminal 1 ₁ ... address information and the host terminal 1 ₁ ... application, resource allocation table 1
In the setting area of 5 ₁ ..., Resource request information of service quality such as real-time communication and multicast communication is set. Also, in each of the local switches 10 ₁ ... And the local router switch 30, the cooperative control units 113 a and 49 of the virtual network agents 113 ₁ .
a controls the table management units 12 ₁ ... Further, in the network service server 50,
Virtual Network Service Agent 6
5 controls the network service management unit 59, and the virtual supervisor agent 66 controls the supervisor management unit 57.

These cooperative control units 8a, 49a, 66a
And the existing host terminal cooperation agent 112 ₁ …
The state of resource allocation of each local switch 10 ₁ ... Is autonomously observed in accordance with constraints set in advance for the network environment and rules for conflict detection / negotiation / plan modification / learning, and optimal connection / resource allocation conditions. , And the local switch 10 ₁ … and the local router switch 30
The Virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ... dispersed, to manage 46 dynamically.
Thus, the virtual user agents 8 _1, ..., The local switches 10 ₁ ,.
Virtual network agent 113 dispersed in ₁ ..., 49 and virtual supervisor agent 66 of the network service server 50
Cooperate with each other, the table managers 12 ₁ of the local switches 10 ₁ exchange table management messages with each other via the coordinator 23 ₁ , and the virtual supervisor agent 66 controls the supervisor manager 57. By doing so, the user environment is customized according to the management policy, and the automatically set destination address information and resource allocation information are set in the virtual group registration / routing table 22 ₁ ... Connection / VLAN setting table of the local switch 10 ₁ . 14 ₁ …
And resource write allocation table 15 ₁ ..., the host terminal 1 ₁ ... or existing host terminal 1 ₁ '... switch engine 16 ₁ updates the connection and resource allocation upon communication from
., And the network service quality under customized conditions for the host terminals 1 ₁ ... And the existing host terminals 1 ₁ ′. 112 ₁ ... is adapted to be provided by assigning autonomously. As a result, the host terminal 1 ₁
Is moved, the host terminal 11 ₁
.. Or the existing host terminal cooperation agents 23 ₁ ... Can omit the address learning in the local switches 20 ₁ .

[0082]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network switching system in which a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports are connected to each other to form a LAN. A connection / VLA in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with the port number to be connected, the physical address of the host terminal, the protocol address, etc.
An N setting table, at least a resource allocation table in which service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of virtual groups distributed and managed among a plurality of switches; A connection management unit that writes a connection channel and a virtual group together with its own port number, the physical address and the protocol address of the host terminal in the connection / VLAN setting table of the switch, and a resource management unit that writes the service quality in the resource allocation table. , A user environment table in which a user environment is set, and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table are provided in each host terminal.
Each switch is provided with a table management unit for exchanging the contents written in the LAN setting table and the resource allocation table with a table management message, and for writing updated information of the exchanged connection and resource allocation in a virtual group registration / routing table. The update contents exchanged by the unit are written in a lookup table provided in the switch at the time of communication from the host terminal, so that when the host terminal starts communication, the host terminal starts the switch connection / VLAN setting table and resource allocation. The source and destination address information and resource allocation information are written in the table, and the address information and resource allocation information are exchanged between the switches by a table management message. No Address learning for the port to which the switch is connected can be omitted, and by sharing the user environment customizing function with the user environment management unit and the user environment table of the host terminal, the user environment customized in the host terminal can be saved. There is an effect that management can be performed.

A second aspect of the present invention is a network switching system in which a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports are connected to each other to form a LAN. Connection / VLAN in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with the port number of the host terminal, the physical address of the host terminal, the protocol address, etc.
Each switch is provided with a setting table, a resource allocation table in which at least service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches, and is directly connected. A connection management unit that writes a connection channel and a virtual group together with its own port number, a physical address and a protocol address of a host terminal in a connection / VLAN setting table of a switch, a resource management unit that writes service quality in a resource allocation table, a user environment A host terminal having a user environment table in which the user environment table is set and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table; and a connection management unit, a resource management unit, a user environment table and a user environment management unit. At least one of the existing host terminals is connected to the port of each switch, and the connection / VLAN setting table responds to a request from the existing host terminal. An existing host terminal agent which writes connection channels and virtual groups together with physical addresses and protocol addresses and writes service qualities in a resource allocation table is provided in a switch to which an existing host terminal is connected, and is provided in a connection / VLAN setting table and a resource allocation table. Each switch is provided with a table management unit for exchanging the written contents by a table management message and writing the exchanged connection and resource allocation update information to a virtual group registration / routing table. The contents are written in a look-up table provided in the switch at the time of communication from the host terminal or an existing host terminal. Therefore, when the host terminal starts communication, the connection / VLAN setting table of the switch and the resource allocation by the host terminal. The source and destination address information and resource allocation information are written in the table, and the address information and resource allocation information are exchanged between the switches by a table management message. Address learning on the port to which the switch is connected can be omitted, the address learning on each switch is limited to the one for the directly connected existing host terminal, and the user environment management unit and the user environment table of the host terminal Customizing machine for user environment By sharing the functions, the host terminal can manage the customized user environment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network switching system in which a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or a plurality of ports are connected to each other to form a LAN. Connection / VLAN in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with the port number of the host terminal, the physical address and the protocol address of the host terminal
Each switch is provided with a setting table, a resource allocation table in which at least service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches, and is directly connected. A connection management unit that writes a connection channel and a virtual group together with its own port number, a physical address and a protocol address of a host terminal in a connection / VLAN setting table of a switch, a resource management unit that writes service quality in a resource allocation table, a user environment A host terminal having a user environment table in which the user environment table is set and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table; and a connection management unit, a resource management unit, a user environment table and a user environment management unit. At least one of the existing host terminals is connected to the port of each switch, and the port number to which the existing host terminal is connected and the existing host terminal are added to the connection / VLAN setting table in response to a request from the existing host terminal. A network service server having an existing host terminal agent which writes connection channels and virtual groups together with physical addresses and protocol addresses and writes quality of service in a resource allocation table is connected to a switch, a connection / VLAN setting table and a resource allocation table. Each switch is provided with a table management unit for exchanging the contents written in the table with a table management message and writing updated information of the exchanged connection and resource allocation to a virtual group registration / routing table. Is written into the lookup table provided in the switch when communicating from the host terminal or the existing host terminal, so that when the host terminal or the existing host terminal starts communication, each host terminal or The source / destination address information and resource allocation information are written in the switch connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table by the existing host terminal agent of the network service server. By exchanging the allocation information by the table management message, it is possible to omit the address learning for the port to which the host terminal and other switches are connected in each switch, and to exchange the user environment management unit of the host terminal with the user environment table. User environment customization By sharing the mize function, there is an effect that a customized user environment can be managed in the host terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a management policy setting table in which a policy setting parameter for setting a management policy of each switch is written, and the policy setting parameter is written in the management policy setting table in response to an operation of a network administrator. A supervisor management unit is provided in the network service server, and the table management unit of each switch stores the contents written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table within an allowable range according to the policy conditions of the management policy setting table. Since it is exchanged by the table management message, there is an effect that the address learning of the switch can be omitted within an allowable range according to the policy condition.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the state of the resource allocation of each switch is autonomously observed in accordance with the conditions set in advance for the network environment, and the optimum connection is performed while cooperating with another host terminal or switch. And a switch to which each host terminal and the existing host terminal are connected is provided with cooperative control means for controlling resource allocation, and the table management units of the switches exchange table management messages with each other via the cooperative control means. Even if a host terminal or an existing host terminal is moved, the configuration can be simplified by omitting address learning in the switch, and the user environment can be customized according to a management policy to perform automatic configuration. There is an effect that can be.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a virtual supervisor agent which controls a supervisor management unit to set default authority and priority policy for a supervisor and sets authority and priority according to a user is provided to a network supervisor. Since it is provided in the service server, there is an effect that the user environment can be customized according to the management policy and the automatic configuration can be performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the state of resource allocation of each switch is autonomously observed in accordance with conditions set in advance for the network environment, and other host terminals, switches and the network service server cooperate. While each host terminal, the switch to which the existing host terminal is connected, and the network service server are provided with cooperative control means for controlling optimal connection and resource allocation while the table management unit of each switch is provided through the cooperative control means. Since table management messages are exchanged with each other, even if a host terminal or an existing host terminal has been moved, address learning at the switch can be omitted to simplify the configuration, and the user environment can be managed by a management policy. In this case, there is an effect that the automatic configuration can be performed by customizing according to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a local switch in the above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a local router switch in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a connection / VLAN setting table in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a resource allocation table in the above.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a resource allocation table in the case of the ATM system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a virtual group registration / routing table in the above.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a client definition table in the above.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a lookup table in the above.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an intranet management table in the above.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a user environment table in the above.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a network service table in the above.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of another system interlocking / learning table in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a management policy setting table in the above.

FIG. 15 is a diagram conceptually showing a relationship between a virtual group and a user environment in the above.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a local switch in Embodiment 1;

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining an agent operation of cooperative control in the above.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host terminal 2 Communication protocol control part 3 Connection management part 4 Resource management part 5 Port 6 User environment management part 7 User management table 10 Local switch 12 Table management part 14 Connection / VLAN setting table 15 Resource allocation table 18 Lookup table 22 Virtual Group registration / routing table 30 Local router switch 50 Network service server 70 Main router

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A LAN comprising: a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports;
And a connection / VLAN setting in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with a port number to which the host terminal is connected, a physical address and a protocol address of the host terminal, and the like. Table and
Each switch is provided with at least a resource allocation table in which service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches. Connection / V
A connection management unit that writes a connection channel and a virtual group together with its own port number, the physical address and the protocol address of the host terminal in the LAN setting table, a resource management unit that writes the service quality in the resource allocation table, and a user environment are set. A user environment table and a user environment management unit for managing the user environment table are provided in each host terminal, and the contents written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table are exchanged by a table management message, and the exchanged connections and resources are exchanged. Each switch is provided with a table management unit for writing the update information of the allocation to the virtual group registration / routing table, and the updated contents exchanged by the table management unit are written in a lookup table provided in the switch when communication is performed from the host terminal. Network switching system characterized by comprising in the useless. 2. A LAN, comprising: a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports;
And a connection / VLAN setting in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with a port number to which the host terminal is connected, a physical address and a protocol address of the host terminal, and the like. Table and
Each switch is provided with at least a resource allocation table in which service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches. Connection / V
A connection management unit that writes a connection channel and a virtual group together with its own port number and the physical address and protocol address of the host terminal in the LAN setting table, a resource management unit that writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table, and a user environment in which a user environment is set At least one of a host terminal having a user environment management unit for managing a table and a user environment table, and an existing host terminal not having a connection management unit, a resource management unit, a user environment table and a user environment management unit. And the connection channel and virtual address together with the port number to which the existing host terminal is connected and the physical address and protocol address of the existing host terminal in the connection / VLAN setting table in response to a request from the existing host terminal. An existing host terminal agent that writes a loop and writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table is provided in a switch to which the existing host terminal is connected, and the contents written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table are exchanged by a table management message. And a table management unit for writing the exchanged connection and resource allocation update information in the virtual group registration / routing table together with each switch. The exchanged contents of the table management unit are switched when communication is performed from the host terminal or the existing host terminal. A network switching system, wherein the data is written into a look-up table provided in the network switching system. 3. A LAN by connecting a plurality of switches each having a host terminal connected to one or more ports, respectively.
And a connection / VLAN setting in which a connection channel and a virtual group requested by the host terminal are set together with a port number to which the host terminal is connected, a physical address and a protocol address of the host terminal, and the like. Table and
Each switch is provided with at least a resource allocation table in which service quality is set, and a virtual group registration / routing table for registration and routing of a virtual group distributed and managed among a plurality of switches. Connection / V
A connection management unit that writes a connection channel and a virtual group together with its own port number and the physical address and protocol address of the host terminal in the LAN setting table, a resource management unit that writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table, and a user environment in which a user environment is set At least one of a host terminal having a user environment management unit for managing a table and a user environment table, and an existing host terminal not having a connection management unit, a resource management unit, a user environment table and a user environment management unit. And the connection channel and virtual address together with the port number to which the existing host terminal is connected and the physical address and protocol address of the existing host terminal in the connection / VLAN setting table in response to a request from the existing host terminal. A network service server having an existing host terminal agent that writes a loop and writes the quality of service in the resource allocation table is connected to the switch, and the contents written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table are exchanged by a table management message. In addition, each switch is provided with a table management unit for writing the exchanged connection and resource allocation update information to the virtual group registration / routing table, and the updated contents exchanged by the table management unit when communication is performed from the host terminal or the existing host terminal. A network switching system for writing to a look-up table of a switch. 4. A management policy setting table in which a policy setting parameter for setting a management policy of each switch is written, and a supervisor management unit that writes the policy setting parameter in the management policy setting table in response to an operation of a network administrator. Prepared in the network service server, the table management unit of each switch exchanges the contents written in the connection / VLAN setting table and the resource allocation table by a table management message within an allowable range according to the policy conditions of the management policy setting table. 4. The network switching system according to claim 3, wherein the network switching system comprises: 5. An autonomous observation of a resource allocation state of each switch according to a preset condition for a network environment, and control of optimal connection and resource allocation while cooperating with another host terminal or switch. Wherein each host terminal and a switch to which an existing host terminal is connected are provided, and the table management units of the switches exchange table management messages with each other via the cooperative control means. Item 3. The network switching system according to Item 3. 6. A network service server is provided with a virtual supervisor agent that controls a supervisor management unit to set default authority and priority policy for a supervisor and sets authority and priority according to a user. 4. The network switching system according to claim 3, comprising: 7. An autonomous observation of a resource allocation state of each switch according to a condition set in advance for a network environment, and an optimum connection and connection between other host terminals, switches and a network service server in cooperation with each other. Each host terminal, a switch to which an existing host terminal is connected, and a network service server are provided with cooperative control means for controlling resource allocation, and the table management units of the switches exchange table management messages with each other via the cooperative control means. 7. The network switching system according to claim 6, wherein the network switching system is replaced.