TWI459757B - A interconnection management method and redundancy mechanism between a ring network and other networks - Google Patents

Description

How to operate the inter-network link architecture

The invention relates to a method for operating an inter-network connection architecture, and is particularly suitable for a method for connecting a ring network to at least one external network.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a conventional ring network and an external network connection. As shown in the figure, the ring network 1 is constructed by connecting a plurality of nodes in series by a plurality of network cables. In the ring network 1, packet messages can be transmitted to each node sequentially through a ring path.

The external network 2 can be a single network device, a RAPID SPANNING TREE PROTOVOL (RSTP) network connected to multiple network nodes, or another ring network.

The above network routes are used in the network to connect network devices and serve as a transmission path for data/messages. The network route may be a twisted pair cable, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, or a network transmission medium such as wireless.

The above nodes are usually composed of a computer, a terminal device, or a network device. In the use of the network, a node is usually referred to as a switch.

In addition to the internal transmission line for data transmission, the ring network 1 and the external network 2 can use external connection lines to transmit data between the ring network 1 and the external network 2. As shown, the two nodes 11, 12 in the ring network 1 are respectively connected to the two nodes 21, 22 of the external network 2 through two connection lines.

The connection line connecting the two nodes 11 and 21 is a forward active link 211, which can be used for transmitting data. Packet. The connection line connecting the two nodes 12, 22 is a blocked standby node 212, which is used for redundancy, and is enabled when the main path 211 is disconnected.

It is worth noting that when the above network architecture is in normal operation, the user must set which nodes perform the linking action, and specify the primary path and the alternate path.

In addition, the use of the backup mechanism is only one time. If the backup mechanism is enabled and the alternate path is turned on, and the disconnection problem occurs, the data cannot be transmitted between the two networks. When the primary path is replied to, the transmission path is switched back to the primary path by the alternate path due to user settings, resulting in a network topology change.

Furthermore, when the ring network breaks or the external network breaks, it cannot be repaired.

Therefore, the inventor has a feeling that the prior art can be more refined and desired to be improved. Therefore, a better method of operating the inter-network connection architecture is proposed.

One of the objects of the present invention is that the network architecture of the present invention and its operation method can provide a more powerful and redundant capability between the two networks.

Another object of the present invention is that, by the operation method of the present invention, when a new external line is added between the two networks, the network topology does not need to be changed, and no recovery time (restore time=0) is required. There will be no problem with lost packets.

The invention provides a method for operating an inter-network connection architecture, which is suitable for a ring network to be connected to at least one external peer. The ring network is complexed by a plurality of network routes. Several nodes are connected in series. The ring network is connected to the external network by at least one external line, and each external line is connected to one of the nodes on the ring network, and the operation method includes the automatic detection of the coupled group, the main path and the backup path. Maintenance of selected, coupled groups, repair of external line breaks and node failures, repair of ring network breaks, repair of external network breaks, etc.

The automatic detection of the coupling group and the selection of the main path include at least the following steps: when each external line is connected to each node, each node is then blocked and connected to the external line.

The node connecting the external line periodically sends a hello packet to the external network through the external line.

The node connecting the external lines periodically issues a keep alive packet to each node in the ring network.

When the node connecting the external line can simultaneously receive the hello packet and the keep alive packet sent by each other, the external circuit connected to the nodes is in the same coupling group. Standby path.

Next, one of the alternate paths in the selected coupling group is a primary link and is forwarded, while the other alternate paths remain blocked.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention, as well as the more detailed embodiments, can be further understood from the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Coupling group auto detection:

Please refer to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2F, which are schematic diagrams of the automatic detection mechanism process of the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention is constructed by at least a ring network 3 connected to at least one foreign peer 2.

The ring network 3 is formed by connecting a plurality of nodes in series by a plurality of network routes. The ring network 3 is connected to the external network by at least one external line. The embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by three lines, and is connected to the external network 2 by 321, 322, and 323, and each external line is connected to one of the nodes on the ring network 3. The nodes 31, 32, 33 on the ring network 3 are connected to the nodes 21, 22, 23 of the external network 2 by external lines 321, 322, 323, respectively. Wherein, when the external network 2 is connected to the ring network 3 by a plurality of external lines, a loop path can be formed. That is, as shown in this embodiment, when the packet is transmitted to the external network 2 via one of the three external lines 321, 322, 323, the packet is transmitted back to the ring network 3 via the other two external lines. .

In the embodiment of the present invention, one node 34 of the ring network 3 is further connected to another external network 84 through another external line 381. The external network 84 is connected to the ring network 3 only by an external line 381, and a loop path cannot be formed. That is, when the packet is transmitted to the external network 84 via the external line 381, the packet has no transmission path back to the ring network 3.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the external network 2, 84 may include a single network device, a RAPID SPANNING TREE PROTOVOL (RSTP) network or another ring connected by multiple network nodes. Network...etc. The node according to the present invention is usually constituted by a computer, a terminal device or a network device. In general, a node is usually referred to as a switch.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when any of the external lines 321, 322, 323, 381 is connected to any of the nodes 31, 32, 33, 34 on the ring network 3, each node is then blocked to the external line. 321, 322, 323, 381. At this time, all the external lines 321, 322, 323, and 381 belong to a transmission path that can only transmit the control packet.

It is worth noting that the general data packet is mainly transmitted through the unblocked network line, and the blocked network line does not allow the data packet to pass, and only certain specific control packets are allowed to pass.

Next, referring to FIG. 2B to FIG. 2E, the nodes 31, 32, 33, and 34 connecting the external lines 321, 322, 323, and 381 periodically issue a hello packet through the external lines 321, 322, 323, and 381. The external network 2, 84, and periodically a keep alive packet are sent to each node in the ring network 3.

Among them, the hello packet and the keep alive packet belong to the control packet, and the packet content includes the priority level specified by the user of the external line, the connection speed of the external line, the nickname of the external line, and the network of the node. Path address (mac address). The purpose of periodically issuing hello and keep alive packets is the relationship between the mutual detection and maintenance of the external lines.

When several nodes can simultaneously receive the hello packets and the keep alive packets sent by each other, the external lines connected to the nodes are the alternate paths in the same coupling group. (standby path).

As shown in Figure 2F, nodes 31, 32, and 33 can receive each other and send them to each other. The keep alive packet of the ring network 3 and the hello packet sent back to the external network 2, so the external lines 321 , 322 , 323 connected by the nodes 31 , 32 , 33 It becomes a standby path in the same coupling group 71.

When the node connecting the external line fails to receive one of the hello packet and the keep alive packet sent by the other external line within a certain period of time, the external line is regarded as independent. The external line (stand alone), the external line will be directly forwarded, allowing the data packet to pass.

As shown in FIG. 2E, the node 34 of the ring network 3 and the other nodes 31, 32, and 33 can receive the keep alive packets sent by each other, but the node 34 cannot receive other nodes 31, 32, 33 Hello (Hello) packet, other nodes 31, 32, 33 can not receive the hello packet sent by node 34. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2F, the external line 381 to which the node 34 is connected is self-contained into another coupling group 72. Moreover, since the coupling group 72 has only one external line 381 of its own, the external line 381 is directly turned on to become a path for transmitting data packets.

Selection of primary and backup paths:

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the main path and the second path of the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention. After the above coupling group is detected, the selection of the primary link and the secondary path in the coupling group is then performed.

As shown in the figure, the present invention selects one of the external lines 321 in the coupling group 71 as a main path and is forwarded to make a ring network. 3 Data packets with the external network 2 can be transmitted via this main path. The other alternate paths (external lines 322, 323) in the coupling group 71 remain in a blocking state.

After the main path (external line 321) in the coupling group 71 is selected, a second path (external line 322) is then selected by the alternate path (external lines 322, 323) in the coupling group 71. When the primary path (external line 321) fails, the second path (external line 322) can then be turned on to replace the original primary path (external line 321) to become the new primary path.

Controlling the content carried by the hello and keep alive, providing the selected conditions of the main path and the second path, including the user-defined priority (User defined priority) and the transmission speed (link speed). , the device MAC address of the connected node or the port nimber of the port. According to the information provided by each external line, the roles of each line are compared, wherein the first position is the primary path, the second is the second path, and the other is the alternate path, and the alternate path is also in order. Priorities.

Maintenance of the coupled group:

After the selected primary path and the second path are selected, the inter-network connection architecture enters a normal state of operation. Moreover, the nodes 31, 32, and 33 connecting the external lines 321, 322, and 323 periodically issue Hello (Hello) packets and keep alive packets to detect the connection state of each node and each line, and maintain Coordinating the sorting order of each path within the group.

In a certain period of time, if a certain group within the coupling group has not been received If a hello packet or a keep alive packet is sent by a node connected to the external line, the external line will be removed outside the coupling group 71, and the path of the coupling group will follow. The membership resort creates a new role relationship.

In addition, although the three external lines are taken as an example in the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the paths in the coupling group of the inter-network connection architecture may be multiple. Moreover, when the inter-network link architecture is functioning properly, external lines can continue to be added to connect the ring network to the external network.

After the newly added external line passes the above automatic detection procedure and finds that the newly added external line belongs to a certain coupling group, the newly added external line becomes another new alternate path in the coupled group, and according to the foregoing The path selects the condition for sorting the backup priorities. However, when there is a main path in the coupled group, the main path does not participate in the above sorting, thereby avoiding the change of the network topology.

Repair of external line breaks and node failures:

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which is a schematic diagram of starting a backup mechanism when the main path in the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention is disconnected. During the operation of the inter-network link architecture, when any alternate path in the coupling group is down, the node connecting the alternate path of the disconnection immediately sends an uplink disconnection (uplink link) Down) The packet is removed from the coupling group, and the paths within the coupling group are reordered to create a new role relationship.

As shown in the figure, when the alternate path of the disconnection is the main path of the coupled group (external line 321), in addition to the above procedures, it also includes redundancy. The initiation of the mechanism. The original second path (external line 322) becomes a new primary path after reordering, and then the 埠 is turned on to maintain the connection between the ring network and the external network.

Please refer to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C, which are diagrams showing the startup backup mechanism when the node connecting the external path fails in the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention. During the operation of the inter-network link architecture, when the node connected to any path in the coupled group fails, the node adjacent to the failed node immediately sends a ring link down packet to the ring network. On each node on the road, after receiving the message, each node of the coupled group sends a hello and keep alive packet, and if it is not received within a certain time, it will be moved from the coupled group. Except and reorder.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the failed node is the node 31 connecting the main path (external line 321), the node adjacent to the failed node 31 immediately sends a ring link down packet to the ring network. Each node.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the nodes 32 and 33 connected to the paths in the coupling group immediately issue a hello packet and a keep alive packet. When the hello packet and the keep alive packet sent by the node 31 connected to the primary path (external line 321) are not received, the original primary path is removed from the coupling group 71. As a result of the reordering, the second path (external line 322) is replenished as the new primary path and the other alternate path is selected as the new second path.

Repair of ring network breakage:

Please refer to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D, which are the inter-network connection architectures of the present invention. When one or two connection failures occur in the ring network, the backup machine is started. Schematic diagram of the system.

As shown in FIG. 6A, this is a schematic diagram of the state in which the inter-network connection architecture is in normal operation. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the ring network 3 has a link failure 38, the nodes 31, 32 adjacent to the link failure 38 then issue a ring link down packet to the ring network. Each node on the road 3. At this time, the hello packet and the keep alive packet sent by each node connected to the path in the coupling group can be normally received, and no path change is required, and the data packet is also Can be transmitted normally.

As shown in FIG. 6C, when the ring network 3 has a second connection failure 39, the ring network is broken into two, and some of the alternate paths (external lines 322, 323) in the coupling group are connected. The nodes 32, 33 can only receive the hello packet of the primary path and cannot receive the keep alive packet of the primary path (external line 321), and vice versa. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6D, the main path (external line 321) is removed from the coupling group, and the other main path is selected from the above-mentioned alternate path (external lines 322, 323). There are two main paths connecting the broken ring network for normal transmission of data.

Repair of external network broken:

When the break occurs in the external network, the nodes 32, 33 connected to some of the alternate paths (external lines 322, 323) in the coupled group can only receive the connection of the main path (external line 321) (keep alive) When the packet is not received, the main path (external line 321) is also removed by the coupling group, and the other main path is from the above alternate path (external line 322, 323). ) selected, at this time, the Internet connection The junction architecture has two main paths for normal data transfer.

Multiple ways to connect:

As shown in FIG. 6A, this embodiment is connected to a node (one-to-one) of the external network by a node of the ring network through an external line. In addition, please refer to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D, which are various modified embodiments of the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7A, one node 31 of the ring network is respectively connected to three nodes 21, 22, 23 (one-to-many) of the external network through three external lines. The three external lines are a coupling group and can be used for mutual backup.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the three nodes 31, 32, and 33 of the ring network are respectively connected to one node 21 (many to one) of the external network through one of the external lines connected thereto. The three external lines are a coupling group and can be used for mutual backup.

As shown in FIG. 7C, the three nodes 31, 32, and 33, which are ring networks, are respectively connected to the three nodes 21, 22, and 23 of the external network through three external lines connected thereto (multiple pairs) many). Among them, the nine external lines are a coupling group, which can be used for mutual backup. This embodiment has more heavy backup capabilities.

As shown in Figure 7D, the ring network 3 can be connected to multiple external networks 2, 4, 5, 6 to become a larger network architecture. The three nodes 31, 32, and 33 of the ring network 3 are respectively connected to the three nodes 21, 22, and 23 of the external network 2 through the external lines 321, 322, and 323. In addition, the same three nodes 31, 32, and 33 of the ring network 3 also pass through the external line 341, 342, 343 are respectively connected to the three nodes 41, 42, 43 of the external network 4. In this embodiment, the external lines 321, 322, 323 and the external lines 341, 342, 343 belong to two different groups.

In summary, the method for operating the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention has at least the following advantages:

1. With the network architecture and operation method of the present invention, a stronger and more redundant capability can be obtained between the two networks.

Second, the network architecture using the present invention does not need to additionally set the node role, the main path and the alternate path, and the setting can be completed by the automatic detection mechanism.

3. When a new external line is added as an alternate path between the two networks, since the main path does not need to participate in reordering, the network topology does not need to be changed, and no recovery time is required (restore time=0). There will be no problem with lost packets.

4. With the technology and backup mechanism of the present invention, when the ring network generates two link failures, or the external network breaks, the data transmission between the ring network and the external network can still operate normally.

The present invention has been described above by way of a preferred example, and it is not intended to limit the spirit of the invention and the inventive subject matter. Those skilled in the art can easily understand and utilize other components or means to produce the same effect. Modifications made within the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

1, 3‧‧‧ ring network

2, 4, 5, 6, 84‧‧‧ external network

11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43‧‧‧ nodes

211‧‧‧ main path

212‧‧‧Alternative path

321, 322, 323, 341, 342, 343, 381‧‧‧ external lines

The above and other advantages of the invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a conventional ring network and an external network connection. Figure 2A to Figure 2F are schematic diagrams of the automatic detection mechanism of the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the main path and the second path of the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention; The schematic diagram of starting the backup mechanism when the main path in the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention is disconnected; FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention, when the node connected to the main path fails, the startup is started. Schematic diagram of the backup mechanism; Figure 6A to Figure 6D are diagrams showing the startup backup mechanism when one or two connection failures occur in the ring network in the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention; and Figure 7A to Figure 7D is a diagram showing various variations of the inter-network connection architecture of the present invention.

3‧‧‧Ring network

2‧‧‧External network

21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33‧‧‧ nodes

321, 322, 323‧‧‧ external lines

Claims (8)

An operation method of inter-network connection is applicable to a ring network connected to at least one foreign peer, wherein the ring network is a plurality of node strings by a plurality of network routes Connected to each other, the ring network is connected to the external network by a plurality of external lines, and each of the external lines is connected to one of the nodes on the ring network, and the operation method comprises the following steps: Each of the external lines is connected to each of the nodes, and each of the nodes is then blocked to be connected to the external line; the nodes connecting the external lines periodically send a greeting through the external line (Hello Encapsulating to the external network; the nodes connecting the external lines periodically issue a keep alive packet to each node of the ring network; and when connecting the nodes of the external lines When receiving the hello packet and the keep alive packet sent by each other at the same time, the external lines connected to the nodes are the alternate paths in the same coupling group. (s Tandby path); one of the selected ones in the coupling group is a primary link and is forwarded, and the other alternate paths are kept in a blocking state; the nodes connecting the external lines Periodically issuing a hello packet and a keep alive packet to detect a connection state of each node and each line to maintain a sorting state; when any path in the coupling group is connected When the node fails, the node adjacent to the failed node sends a ring link down packet to each node on the ring network, and reorders the coupled group; when the node that is invalid is the link The node of the primary path, and the node connected to the alternate path does not receive the hello packet and the keep alive packet of the primary path, Reordering, transforming the second path into a new primary path, and selecting another alternate path to become the new second path; when the ring network has two link failures, and the part in the coupled group And when the node connected to the backup path does not receive the keep alive packet of the primary path, further select another primary path from the spare paths; and when the external network breaks, and the node When the node connected to the alternate path does not receive the hello packet of the primary path, the other primary path is selected from the alternate paths; wherein, when another node is added After the line is detected and the external line belongs to the coupled group, the external line becomes another alternate path in the coupled group. The operation method of claim 1, wherein the nodes connecting the external lines periodically issue a hello packet and a keep alive packet, when a node is in a certain If one of the hello packets and the keep alive packet sent by the other external line is not received within a certain period of time, then the node connected to the external line directly connects to the external line. (forward). The method of operation of claim 1, wherein the selected condition of the primary path includes a user-set priority level, a transmission speed, a MAC address of the connected node, or a connection port. Numbering. For example, in the operation method described in claim 1, wherein after the step of selecting the main path, when any of the alternate paths is down, the following steps are further included: issuing an uplink link disconnection (uplink link) Down) the packet; the alternate path of the disconnection is removed from the coupled group; and the coupling group is re-scheduled. The operation method of claim 4, wherein when the alternate path of the disconnection is the primary path, the method further includes the following steps: the second path is replenished as a primary path, and the ring is maintained to maintain the ring network The road is connected to the external network. The operating method of claim 1, wherein the node that is inactive is a node that connects the primary path, and the node connected to the alternate path does not receive the hello packet and maintenance of the primary path. When the keep alive packet is encapsulated, the method further includes the steps of: converting the second path to a new primary path by reordering the coupling group; and selecting the other alternate path to become the new second path. The method of operation of claim 1, wherein the node is formed by a switch. The method of operation of claim 1, wherein the external network comprises a single network device, a Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) network connected by multiple network nodes, or another A ring network.