KR101044917B1 - Network switch system for checking link connection state and switch included in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A network switch system for checking a link connection state is provided to enable a first communication element to check a link connection state between a second communication element and a switch. CONSTITUTION: A first switch(200) comprises a first MAC table. A second switch(202) is connected to the first switch. The second switch comprises a second MAC table. The first MAC table and the second MAC table shares the MAC address of the communication element connected to the first and the second switches. A first communication element connected to the first switch checks the link connection state of the second communication element connected to the second switch through the analysis of the MAC information of the first MAC table.

Description

NETWORK SWITCH SYSTEM FOR CHECKING LINK CONNECTION STATE AND SWITCH INCLUDED IN THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a network switch system.

The network switch system refers to a system composed of a plurality of switches as shown in FIG. 1 below.

1 is a diagram illustrating a general network switch system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a network switch system includes a plurality of switches 100, 102, and 104.

Communication elements are connected to the switches 100, 102, and 104, respectively, which communicate through the switches 100, 102, and 104.

On the other hand, the connection between the communicating communication elements may be lost. That is, a failure may occur in communication between the communication elements.

This communication failure can be caused by a loss of the physical link connection between the communication element and the corresponding switch 100, 102 or 104 or a fault in the communication element itself (eg, a software failure). However, in the conventional network switch system, it was not possible to determine what kind of defect caused the communication failure. For example, when the first communication element connected to the first switch 100 and the second communication element connected to the second switch 102 do not communicate with the second communication element while communicating, the first communication element is connected. The communication element could not know the cause of the communication defect with the said 2nd communication element. That is, the first communication element cannot know whether the physical link connection between the second communication element and the second switch 102 is broken or a software failure of the second communication element, and thus cannot correspond to the communication defect properly. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a network switch system capable of confirming a link connection state.

In order to achieve the above object, a network switch system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first switch having a first MAC table; And a second switch connected to the first switch and having a second MAC table. Here, the first MAC table and the second MAC table share MAC address information of communication elements connected to the switches, and the first communication element connected to the first switch analyzes the MAC information of the first MAC table. Check the link connection state of the second communication device connected to the second switch through.

Network switch system according to another embodiment of the present invention is a first switch; A first MAC database coupled with the first switch and storing a first MAC table for the first switch; A second switch connected to the first switch; And a second MAC database connected with the second switch and storing a second MAC table for the second switch. Here, the first MAC table and the second MAC table share MAC address information of communication elements connected to the switches, and the first communication element connected to the first switch analyzes the MAC information of the first MAC table. Check the link connection state of the second communication device connected to the second switch through.

Network switch system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first switch; A second switch connected to the first switch; And a MAC database connected to the first switch and the second switch, respectively, and having a MAC table. Here, the MAC table stores MAC address information of communication elements connected to the switches, and the switches identify link connection states of communication elements communicating with the MAC address information of the MAC table.

In a network switch system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a first switch connected to a second switch may include a first MAC table; And a control unit managing the first MAC table. Here, the first MAC table shares the MAC address information of the communication device connected to the second switch included in the second MAC table of the second switch with the second MAC table, and the first switch connected to the first switch. The communication device checks the link connection state of the second communication device connected to the second switch by analyzing the MAC information of the first MAC table.

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In the network switch system according to the present invention, since the switches share MAC address information of communication elements, when the communication between the first communication element and the second communication element being communicated is lost, the first communication element corresponds to the second communication element. You can directly check the link status between the switches. Thus, the first communication element can appropriately respond to the interruption of communication. In addition, there is no need to purchase an expensive management tool separately to check the link connection state.

1 is a diagram illustrating a general network switch system.
2 is a diagram illustrating a network switch system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating a MAC table according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a link connection state checking process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating a network switch system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a diagram illustrating a network switch system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is assumed that the network switch system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of switches, and includes three switches 200, 202, and 204 for convenience of description below. Here, the switches 200, 202, and 204 are connected to transmit and receive data with each other.

The first switch 200 includes a first MAC database 210 and is connected to at least one first communication element 222 through corresponding ports as shown in FIG. 2.

The second switch 202 includes a second MAC database 212 and is connected to at least one second communication element 220 or the like through corresponding ports.

The third switch 204 includes a third MAC database 214 and is connected with at least one third communication element through corresponding ports.

Looking at the overall structure of the network switch system, the switches 200, 202, and 204 are interconnected, so that the communication elements connected with the switches 200, 202, or 204 are connected with other switches 200, 202, or 204. Data can be sent and received with the device, ie communicate with it. For example, the first communication element 222 connected to the first switch 200 may communicate with the second communication element 220 connected to the second switch 202 through the switches 200 and 202.

On the other hand, in the network switch system, communication failure may occur between communication elements, and thus data may not be exchanged. In this case, the specific communication device may continuously transmit data without knowing that the counterpart communication device has failed, and even if the failure occurs, the cause of the failure is that the physical link connection between the counterpart communication device and the corresponding switch is broken. Off) It may not be possible to distinguish whether the counterpart communication element itself is caused by a defect, for example, a software failure. As a result, the communication element may not adequately respond to a communication defect with the counterpart communication element.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a network switch system capable of accurately identifying whether a physical link connection between a communication element and a switch is broken or an internal failure of the communication element.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the switches 200, 202 and 204 each comprise a MAC database 210, 212 or 214, wherein the MAC databases 210, 212 and 214 are MAC addresses of communication elements. Information is shared through the MAC table.

Specifically, each of the MAC databases 210, 212, and 214 includes MAC address information of a communication device connected to the corresponding switch 200, 202, or 204, and a MAC address of a communication device connected to another switch while being connected to the communication device. Information, number information of the other switch, and port number information of the other switch connected to the communication device. For example, the first MAC database 210 of the first switch 200 may include the MAC address information of the first communication element 222 and the MAC of the second communication element 220 communicating with the first communication element 222. Address information, number information of the second switch 202, and port (port 3) information connected to the second communication element 220 among the ports of the second switch 202 are stored in the first MAC table. Here, the information stored in the first MAC table is also shared in the second MAC database 212 of the second switch 202.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the switches 200, 202 and 204 share the MAC table and continuously update. Specifically, the switches 200, 202, and 204 check information on communication devices connected to the device at predetermined intervals or at predetermined time units, and exchange information on the checked communication devices with their MAC. You can update the table.

Hereinafter, the process of checking the connection state of the link when the link connection of the communication element is lost will be described. However, for convenience of description, the first communication element 222 and the second communication element 220 communicate with each other, and the physical link connection between the second switch 202 and the second communication element 220 is lost. I suppose.

When the first communication element 222 loses communication with the second communication element 220, the first communication element 222 queries the first switch 200 for MAC address information of the second communication element 220. .

Subsequently, the first switch 200 reads the MAC address information of the second communication device 200 from the MAC table stored in the first MAC database 210, and reads the read MAC address information from the first communication device 222. To provide.

Subsequently, the first communication element 222 connects a link between the second communication element 220 and the second switch 202 through the MAC address information of the second communication element 220 provided from the first switch 200. Check. Of course, the first communication element 222 may determine that there is an internal defect, for example, a software failure, in the second communication element 220 when the link connection of the second communication element 220 is well established.

That is, the first communication device 222 checks the link state of the second communication device 220 by inquiring the MAC address information of the second communication device 220 to the first switch 200.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the first communication element 222 is a server, even if there is no inquiry of the first communication element 222, the first switch 200 may provide MAC address information of the second communication element 220. May be provided to the first communication element 222. Accordingly, the first communication element 222 may check the link connection state between the second communication element 220 and the second switch 202 without inquiring the first switch 200.

In summary, the first communication device 222 may receive the MAC address information of the second communication device 220 that communicates with the first switch 200 to determine the link state of the second communication device 220. Accordingly, the first communication element 222 can check the link connection state of the second communication element 220 without a separate management tool, and can determine the cause of the communication failure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the MAC databases are not included in the switches 200, 202, and 204, and may be connected to the switches 200, 202, and 204, respectively, in a state where they are externally present. In this case, the switches 200, 202, and 204 may request MAC address information, etc. of the communication device from the corresponding MAC database, and provide MAC address information provided from the MAC database to the communication device.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating a MAC table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the switches 200, 202, and 204 determine MAC addresses of communication elements connected thereto (S300). Of course, the switches 200, 202 and 204 also know their port numbers corresponding to the corresponding communication elements.

Subsequently, the switches 200, 202, and 204 may include MAC address information of a communication device connected thereto, port number information corresponding to the communication device, MAC address information of a counterpart communication device connected to another switch while being connected to the communication device, and Port number information and the like connected to the counterpart communication device among the ports of the other switch are stored in its MAC table (S302).

Subsequently, the switches 200, 202, and 204 share the information (S304). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the switches 200, 202, and 204 transmit their MAC table to the remaining switches, and include information of the MAC table transmitted from another switch in their MAC table.

That is, through the above processes, the switches 200, 202, and 204 may generate MAC tables that share MAC information of communication elements.

Subsequently, the switches 200, 202, and 204 repeat the steps of S300 to S304 to update the MAC tables (S306). Here, the update may be automatically performed at a predetermined cycle or may be performed by an administrator's instruction.

Hereinafter, a process of obtaining MAC address information and updating of a MAC table will be described.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the switches 200, 202, and 204 may include a switch chip and a central processing unit (CPU). The switch chip transfers the packet transmitted from the other switch to the CPU, and the CPU obtains the MAC address information of the counterpart communication element by securing the MAC address area of the forwarded packet. Subsequently, the CPU stores the obtained MAC address information of the counterpart communication device in a MAC table. Of course, each of the switches 200, 202 and 204 also stores the MAC address information of the communication device connected to it in the MAC table. Looking at the update process, each of the switches 200, 202 and 204 may be periodically updated by exchanging the MAC tables, but at the time of updating the MAC table information by receiving the packet to obtain the MAC address information The MAC table may be updated by sharing the MAC tables between 202 and 204.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, since the communication device can know the MAC address information of the counterpart communication device when a communication connection is established with the counterpart communication device, the corresponding device 200, 202 Or 204). In this case, the switch 200, 202 or 204 stores the MAC address information of the provided counterpart communication element in the MAC table. This MAC address registration method is advantageous under load rather than using a CPU. Looking at the update process, each switch (200, 202 and 204) may be periodically updated by exchanging the MAC table, but the communication device checks the MAC address information of the counterpart communication device to the corresponding switch (200, 202 or 204) The MAC table may be updated by exchanging MAC tables between the switches 200, 202, and 204 at the time of registering with.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a link connection state checking process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when a failure occurs between communicating communication devices (S400), the defective communication device requests the corresponding MAC address information of the counterpart communication device. In this case, the switch provides MAC address information to the communication device, and the communication device analyzes the provided MAC address information to check whether a link connection between the counterpart communication device and the corresponding switch is well established ( S402).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the switch may provide the communication device with information about the link connection state of the counterpart communication device according to the analysis of the MAC address information, not the MAC address information.

5 is a diagram illustrating a network switch system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the network switch system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of switches 500, 502, and 504 and a MAC database 506. Although not shown in FIG. 5, communication elements are connected to the switches 500, 502, and 504.

The switches 500, 502, and 504 are jointly connected to the MAC database 506.

The MAC database 506 stores number information and port number information of the switches 500, 502 and 504, and MAC address information of communication elements. Therefore, when the communication device wants to know the link connection state of the counterpart communication device, the communication device obtains MAC address information of the counterpart communication device from the MAC database 506 through the corresponding switch 500, 502, or 504.

On the other hand, the switches 500, 502 and 504 acquires the MAC address information of the communication elements connected to it at predetermined intervals or according to an administrator's command, and transmits the obtained MAC address information to the MAC database 506 to transmit the MAC database. Update the MAC table at 506.

In summary, in the network switch system of the present embodiment, the switches 500, 502, and 504 each use a common MAC database 506 without including a MAC database.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art having ordinary knowledge of the present invention may make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

100, 102, 104: switch 200, 202, 204: switch
210, 212, 214: MAC database 220, 222: communication device
500, 502, 504: switch 506: MAC database

Claims (22)

A first switch having a first MAC table; And
A second switch connected to the first switch and having a second MAC table;
The first MAC table and the second MAC table share MAC address information of communication devices connected to the switches, and the first communication device connected to the first switch may analyze the MAC information of the first MAC table. And confirming a link connection state of a second communication element connected to the second switch. The second MAC table of claim 1, wherein the first MAC table comprises port information related to a first communication device connected to the first switch, a number of the second switch, and a second device connected to the second switch while being connected to the first communication device. And MAC address information of the communication element and port number information corresponding to the second communication element. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the client checks the link connection state by inquiring the MAC information to the first switch when the first communication element is a client, and wherein the first communication element is the server when the second communication element is a server. And a switch verifies a link connection state by transmitting the MAC information to the server. The method of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a switch chip and a CPU,
The switch chip transfers a packet transmitted from a second communication element connected to the second switch to the CPU, and the CPU analyzes the transmitted packet to obtain MAC address information of the second communication element. Network switch system. The second communication device of claim 1, wherein the first communication device communicates with the second communication device when the first communication device connected to the first switch communicates with the second communication device connected to the second switch. Acquiring MAC address information of the device, wherein the first communication device provides the obtained MAC address information of the second communication device to the first switch. A first switch;
A first MAC database coupled with the first switch and storing a first MAC table for the first switch;
A second switch connected to the first switch; And
A second MAC database coupled with the second switch, the second MAC database storing a second MAC table for the second switch;
The first MAC table and the second MAC table share MAC address information of communication devices connected to the switches, and the first communication device connected to the first switch may analyze the MAC information of the first MAC table. And confirming a link connection state of a second communication element connected to the second switch. The second MAC table of claim 7, wherein the first MAC table comprises port information related to a first communication device connected to the first switch, a number of the second switch, and a second connection connected to the second switch while connected to the first communication device. And MAC address information of the communication element and port number information corresponding to the second communication element. delete The method of claim 7, wherein the first switch comprises a switch chip and a CPU,
The switch chip transfers the packet transmitted from the second communication element connected to the second switch to the CPU, the CPU analyzes the transmitted packet to obtain MAC address information of the second communication element, and the acquisition Providing the MAC address information of the second communication element to the first MAC database. The method of claim 7, wherein when the first communication device connected to the first switch and the second communication device connected to the second switch communicate with each other, the first communication device communicates with the second communication device when the call is connected to the second communication device. Acquiring MAC address information of the device, wherein the first communication device provides the obtained MAC address information of the second communication device to the first switch, and the first switch provides the MAC address information of the second communication device. The network switch system, characterized in that provided to the first MAC database. A first switch;
A second switch connected to the first switch; And
A MAC database each connected to the first switch and the second switch and having a MAC table;
The MAC table stores MAC address information of communication elements connected to the switches, and the switches identify link connection states of communication elements communicating through MAC address information of the MAC table. The network switch system of claim 12, wherein the MAC table further comprises port information of the switches connected to the communication elements and the switches. The method of claim 12, wherein the first switch comprises a switch chip and a CPU,
The switch chip transfers the packet transmitted from the second communication element connected to the second switch to the CPU, the CPU analyzes the transmitted packet to obtain MAC address information of the second communication element, and the acquisition Providing the MAC address information of the second communication element to the MAC database. The method of claim 12, wherein when the first communication device connected to the first switch and the second communication device connected to the second switch communicate with each other, the first communication device communicates with the second communication device when the second communication device connects to the second communication device. Acquiring MAC address information of the device, wherein the first communication device provides the obtained MAC address information of the second communication device to the first switch, and the first switch provides the MAC address information of the second communication device. Network switch system, characterized in that provided to the MAC database. In a first switch connected to the second switch,
A first MAC table; And
A control unit for managing the first MAC table,
The first MAC table shares MAC address information of a communication device connected to the second switch included in the second MAC table of the second switch with the second MAC table, and the first communication device connected to the first switch. The switch for the network switch system, characterized in that for confirming the link connection state of the second communication device connected to the second switch by analyzing the MAC information of the first MAC table. The method of claim 16, wherein the first MAC table is connected to the second switch while being connected to the port number information corresponding to the first communication element connected to the first switch, the number of the second switch, and the first communication element. And switch port number information corresponding to the second communication element. delete The method of claim 16, wherein the first switch further comprises a switch chip,
The switch chip transfers a packet transmitted from a second communication element connected to the second switch to the control unit, and the control unit analyzes the transmitted packet to obtain MAC address information of the second communication element. A switch used in network switch systems. The method of claim 16, wherein when the first communication element connected to the first switch and the second communication element connected to the second switch communicate with each other, the first communication element communicates with the second communication element when the call is connected to the second communication element. Acquiring MAC address information of the device, wherein the first switch receives MAC address information of the second communication device from the first communication device. delete delete

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