WO2009157286A1

WO2009157286A1 - Network device test system

Info

Publication number: WO2009157286A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/060261
Authority: WO
Inventors: 哲也加藤
Original assignee: 日本電気株式会社
Priority date: 2008-06-24
Filing date: 2009-06-04
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Also published as: TW201004218A; JP2010010751A; JP4600697B2; TWI483582B

Abstract

A device connected to a network device to be tested detects the state of the network device according to an address value thereof and reports connection information indicating the identified network device state, to a server device controlling the test of the network device. The server device transmits an instruction for a test corresponding to the network device state to the network device in accordance with the connection information.

Description

Network equipment test system

The present invention relates to a network device test system for testing various network devices.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network equipment test system of the background art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network equipment test system of the background art includes an L2SW (Layer 2 switch) 11, a host server 12, a management server 13, and a test setting server 14, and the L2SW 11 includes a network to be tested. In this configuration, devices (in this case, radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and terminal stations 16 ₁ to 16 _m (n and m are positive positive numbers)) are connected. The host server 12, the management server 13, the test setting server 14, and the radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n are connected to be able to communicate with the L2SW ₁ through an interface compliant with, for example, the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard. The radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and the terminal stations 16 ₁ to 16 _m are communicably connected to the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m by a known radio apparatus.

The L2SW 11 performs switching of data transmitted and received between the host server 12, the management server 13, or the test setting server 14 and the radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n and the terminal stations 16 ₁ to 16 _m that are the test targets.

The host server 12 is a server device used for testing network devices that transmits / receives test data to / from network devices to be tested (radio base stations 15 ₁ to 15 _n , terminal stations 16 ₁ to 16 _m ). .

The management server 13 is a server device for controlling and managing network devices to be tested.

The test setting server 14 is a server device that controls a test performed on a network device and manages a history of test results for each network device.

In the network device system shown in FIG. 1, a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address is first assigned to each network device to be tested, and then various tests are performed according to instructions from the test setting server 14. .

A method for automatically assigning a unique MAC address to a network device to be tested is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-246223. A method of automatically setting various device data (MAC address, IP address, software version number, etc.) in a network device is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-174195.

In recent years, not only computer devices and mobile phones, but also various home appliances have been incorporated with wireless devices to build networks. Therefore, it is strongly desired to reduce the cost of network devices including such wireless devices.

Therefore, it is desirable that various tests performed after the manufacture of the network equipment can be automatically performed in order to reduce the test time by minimizing operator intervention. In the above-mentioned JP-A-2006-246223 and JP-A-2005-174195, a method for automatically setting a unique MAC address and other device data for each network device is shown. Does not show anything.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a network device test system and method that can shorten the test time of the network device and reduce the cost of the network device.

In order to achieve the above object, the network device test system of the present invention determines the state of the network device to be tested from the value of its address, and transmits a connection information indicating the determined state of the network device,
Based on connection information transmitted from the state notification device, a test setting server that transmits an instruction for a test according to the state of the network device to the network device;
Have

On the other hand, in the network device testing method of the present invention, the device to which the network device to be tested is connected so as to be communicable determines the state of the network device from the value of the address,
Notifying the server device that controls the test of the network device connection information indicating the status of the determined network device,
In this method, the server device transmits an instruction for a test according to a state of the network device to the network device based on the connection information.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network equipment test system of the background art. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the network equipment test system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a modification of the network device test system of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the network device test system of the present invention.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the network device test system of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a modification of the network device test system of the present invention.

In the network device test system of the present invention, a MAC address corresponding to a state of the network device, for example, an initial state having no unique MAC address is assigned to the network device to be tested. Then, a device (status notification device) to which the network device is connected at the time of the test determines the status of the network device from the MAC address of the network device to be tested, and information indicating the status is a test setting for managing the test. Notify the server. The test setting server transmits an instruction for a test according to the state of the network device to the network device based on the connection information transmitted from the state notification device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the network device test system of the present invention includes an extended L2SW1, an upper server 2, a management server 3, and a test setting server 4, and the extended L2SW1 includes a network device to be tested (in the example shown in FIG. Radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m (n and m are positive positive numbers)) are connected. The host server 2, the management server 3, the test setting server 4, and the radio base station are connected to the extended L2SW 1 so as to be communicable by an interface that complies with the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard, for example. The radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m are communicably connected by a known radio apparatus.

The extended L2SW1 is data transmitted / received between the host server 2, the management server 3 or the test setting server 4 and the network equipment (radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m ) to be tested. When the network device to be tested is connected, the state of the network device is determined from its MAC address, and the determined state of the network device is notified to the test setting server 4. In the network device test system shown in FIG. 2, the extended L2SW1 is the state notification device. The network device status includes, for example, an initial state immediately after manufacturing that does not have a unique MAC address, a test preparation status that is assigned a unique MAC address, and a test when a network device is tested in multiple stages. There is a mid-test state that is an intermediate stage. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a predetermined MAC address (hereinafter referred to as a temporary MAC address) is assigned to the network device in the initial state. This temporary MAC address is assumed to be assigned the same value for all network devices in the initial state. However, when the types of network devices are different (for example, a radio base station and a terminal station), it is desirable to assign a temporary MAC address having a different value for each type.

The host server 2 is a server device used for testing network devices that transmits / receives test data to / from network devices to be tested (radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m ). .

The management server 3 is a server device for controlling and managing the network device to be tested.

The test setting server 4 is a server device that assigns a unique MAC address to each network device to be tested, controls a test performed on the network device, and manages a history of test results for each network device. is there.

The host server 2, the management server 3, and the test setting server 4 are realized by a known computer device. The extended L2SW1 can be realized by, for example, a known hub, router, computer device, etc., and is a function added to the background L2SW in this embodiment, that is, a function for notifying the test setting server 4 of the state of the network device to be tested May be realized by an LSI combined with a logic circuit or the like, or may be realized by changing a program for causing a processor included in the hub, router, computer device or the like to execute processing.

Since the configurations and operations of the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m shown in FIG. 2 are well known to those skilled in the art, description thereof is omitted here.

The network device test system shown in FIG. 2 shows a configuration example in the case where a function test or the like of a network device that does not require a wireless license or a network device that has completed radio wave inspection is performed by wireless communication.

Generally, a wireless license is required for wireless devices including network devices to communicate wirelessly. However, it is rare that an experimental station license can be obtained for a communication test of the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m immediately after manufacture. In the case of network equipment for export, the radio frequency to be used may be assigned to other communication applications in the country where the test is being performed, so it is often impossible to perform a test by wireless communication.

The network device test system shown in FIG. 3 shows a configuration example in which a test is performed by connecting the wireless base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n to be tested and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m by wire. The network device test system shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m are connected by an RF coupler 7. The number of terminal stations ₆ 1 ~ _{6 m} connected to the radio base station ₅ 1 ~ _{5 n} is set depending on the contents of the test of the radio base station _₅ 1 ~ ₅ _n. The RF coupler 7 may incorporate a simulator that simulates reception level attenuation according to the propagation distance of radio waves, reception level fluctuations due to fading, and the like. In the network equipment test system shown in FIG. 3, the wireless base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n and the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m are connected by the RF coupler 7 so that the state of the communication path is stabilized. The reproducibility of test data of 5 ₁ to 5 _n and terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m is improved.

Next, the operation of the network device test system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4, taking as an example the case of testing a radio base station. FIG. 4 shows an operation example when a test is performed by connecting the plurality of radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n shown in FIG. 2 to the extended L2SW one by one.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the network device test system of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the radio base station _{5 1} tested and connected to the expansion L2SW1, if during extended L2SW1 and wireless base station _{5 1} is linked up, extended L2SW1 is connected radio base station _{5 1} Detect the MAC address.

Extended L2SW1 is detected MAC address is registered in advance, if the value indicating the initial state of the wireless base station (the temporary address), the connection information indicating that the wireless base station 5 ₁ in the initial state is connected The test setting server 4 is notified.

Test setup server 4 recognizes that the wireless base station 5 ₁ in the initial state by the notified connection information from the extended L2SW1 is connected, it has been secured in advance, to the wireless base station 5 ₁ a unique MAC address allocation, notifies the value of the MAC address assigned to the wireless base station 5 _1, transmits a unique address change instruction to change the MAC address.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ receives the unique address change instruction, and updates value notified the MAC address of the device from the test configuration server 4, once cut the link with the extension L2SW1. Extended L2SW1 detects the link disconnection of the radio base station 5 _1, and notifies the disconnection information indicating it to the test configuration server 4.

The wireless base station _{5 1,} the update of the MAC address is terminated, again linked up and extended L2SW1. Extended L2SW1, when _{5 1} link-up radio base station, detects the connected MAC address of the wireless base station _{5 1.} In this case, the extended L2SW ₁ notifies the test setting server 4 of connection information indicating that the test ready wireless base station 51 having a unique MAC address is connected.

Test setup server 4 detects that the radio base station 5 ₁ of the test preparation state by the notified connection information from the extended L2SW1 is connected, for instructing the preparation of the test with respect to the radio base station 5 ₁ Send test preparation instructions.

The wireless base station 5 _1, which has received the test preparation instruction transmits a pilot request for confirming the operation (Experimental) whether for testing to the management server 3.

The management server 3 receives the pilot request from the wireless base station 5 _1, against the information indicating the radio base station that allows the pre-registered pilot, a radio base wireless base station 5 ₁ permits the pilot If it is a station, the operation permission is returned. In this case, radio base station 5 ₁ goes to the operation ready to perform the test.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ and shifts to the operation state, and notifies the like scheduling information for specifying a transmission and reception timing to each terminal station 6 _{1 ~} 6 _m to be used in the test. Terminal stations 6 _{1 ~} 6 _m, in accordance with the scheduling information notified from the radio base station 5 _1, to ensure the link used for communication with the wireless base station 5 ₁ at the timing when the wireless base station 5 ₁ designates Send a connection request.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ receives the connection request from the terminal station 6 _{1 ~} 6 _m, the transmitted terminal stations 6 _{1 ~} 6 _m the connection request is allowed to connect based on the acquired terminal information from the management server 3 It is determined whether or not the terminal station is a terminal station, and if the terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m is a terminal station that permits connection, a connection permission is returned, and the connection with these terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m is completed. Note that the radio base station 5 ₁ may acquire the terminal information from the management server 3 together with the pilot allowed, also acquire the terminal information by requesting to the management server when receiving a connection request from the terminal station Good.

The wireless base station 5 _1, the terminal station 6 ₁ to 6 _m and the link-up, transmits a test start instruction to start the communication test to the host server 2 and the terminal stations 6 _{1 to} 6 _m, the host server 2 and the terminal A predetermined communication test determined in advance is performed while relaying test data transmitted and received between the stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m .

When a predetermined communication test is completed, the host server 2, the wireless base station 5 ₁ and the terminal stations 6 _{1 ~} 6 _m transmits a test result report indicating the test results to the test configuration server 4. Test setup server 4, the host server 2, upon receiving a report each test result from the radio base station 5 ₁ and the terminal stations 6 _{1 ~} 6 _m, and transmits the end instruction of the test to the radio base station 5 _1. Note that the transmission destination of the test start instruction and the transmission source of the test result report differ depending on the test item, and an example thereof is shown here.

The wireless base station 5 ₁ receives the test end instruction from the test setup server 4, and disconnects the link with the expansion L2SW1 end the communication test. Extended L2SW1 detects the link disconnection of the radio base station 5 _1, and notifies the disconnection information indicating it to the test configuration server 4.

Test configuration server 4 is extended when receiving the disconnection information from L2SW1, recognizes that the test of the radio base station 5 ₁ that has been tested has been finished.

When carrying out the test after the test to the next test target radio base station (e.g., base station 5 _2), that the operator of the test connects the radio base station 5 ₂ to the expansion L2SW1, radio base station 5 processing similar to the above are repeated for _2.

The operation of the network device test system according to the present embodiment has been described above by taking as an example the case where a plurality of radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n are tested one by one. However, the extended L2SW 1 may be provided with a plurality of communication ports. For example, a plurality of radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n can be tested simultaneously. In that case, when the plurality of radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n to which the temporary MAC address is assigned are connected to the port, the extended L2SW 1 opens any one port, and the radio base station connected to the opened port When the assignment of the unique MAC address to is completed, the control for opening one next port may be repeated sequentially. In this way, a unique MAC address can be assigned to each of the plurality of radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n connected to the extended L2SW ₁ . Further, if each of the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n changes the MAC address to a unique value and then links up again with the extended L2SW ₁ , the test setting server 4 sets each of the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n with the MAC address. Since identification is possible, tests 5 ₁ to 5 _n of a plurality of radio base stations connected to the extended L2SW ₁ can be performed simultaneously.

Further, the network device test system of this embodiment can also test the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m shown in FIG. In this case, as in the processing for the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n described above, the extended L2SW 1 is configured so that the terminal station in the initial state when the terminal station in the initial state having the temporary MAC address is connected to the radio base station. The test setting server 4 assigns a unique MAC address to the terminal station, and transmits the assigned MAC address and a unique address change instruction to the terminal station. Upon receiving the unique address change instruction, the terminal station updates its own MAC address with the unique value notified from the test setting server 4, disconnects the link with the radio base station, and links with the radio base station again. Up. In this way, the terminal stations 6 ₁ to 6 _m can perform the communication test in the same manner as the radio base stations 5 ₁ to 5 _n .

In the network device test system of the present embodiment, when a terminal station test is performed, the wireless base station has a function of notifying the test setting server of the state of the connected network device provided in the above-described extended L2SW. Is also possible. That is, the radio base station can operate as the state notification device. In addition, if a wireless base station includes a plurality of communication ports, it is possible to test a plurality of terminal stations simultaneously. In that case, as with the extended L2SW1, if the control is performed such that each time the wireless base station finishes assigning a unique MAC address to the terminal station, the port is opened one by one. MAC addresses can be assigned sequentially.

Furthermore, in the network device test system according to the present embodiment, when a multi-stage test is performed on a network device to be tested, if a different MAC address is assigned to the network device according to the test step, the network device is identified by the MAC address. The test stage to be performed can be determined. For example, the test setting server 4 transmits the MAC address indicating the next test item to the test base station together with the process of transmitting the test end instruction shown in FIG. 4, and sets the MAC address to the base station. Update it. In that case, the test setting server 4 determines the test item to be performed on the radio base station from the connection information indicating the state of the radio base station that has been linked up again, and issues a test preparation instruction for performing the corresponding test. Just send it to the radio base station,
Note that the network device test system of the present embodiment is suitable for use in an automatic test of a radio system including the radio base station and the terminal station shown in FIG. 2, but is not limited to the radio system and is applicable to all terminal stations. It can also be applied to automatic testing of wired systems in which various network devices are connected by, for example, Ethernet.

According to the present invention, the extension L2SW1 or the wireless base station notifies the test setting server 4 of the state of the network device to be tested, so that the test setting server 4 can assign a MAC address or It is possible to instruct the preparation for a test to be performed on the network device. Therefore, a unique MAC address can be automatically assigned to each network device, and the start and end of the network device test can be automatically performed. Therefore, the test time of the network device can be shortened and the cost of the network device can be reduced.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with reference to embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-164314 filed on June 24, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

Claims

A state notification device that determines the state of the network device to be tested from the value of the address, and transmits connection information indicating the determined state of the network device;
Based on connection information transmitted from the state notification device, a test setting server that transmits an instruction for a test according to the state of the network device to the network device;
A network equipment test system.
The state notification device includes:
The network device test system according to claim 1, wherein the network device test system is a layer 2 switch that switches data transmitted and received by the network device to be tested.
The state notification device includes:
The network device test system according to claim 1, wherein the network device test system is a radio base station that relays data transmitted and received by the network device to be tested.
The test setting server
When it is detected from the connection information that the network device is in the initial state, a unique address is assigned to the network device, the assigned address value is notified to the network device, and an address change is instructed. The network device test system according to claim 1, wherein a change instruction is transmitted to cause the network device to update an address value.
The test setting server
The test preparation instruction for instructing the network device to prepare for performing a required test is detected when the connection information detects that the network device has a unique address. Network equipment testing system.
The test setting server
When performing a multi-stage test on the network device, upon receiving a test result report that is a test result of the network device, the network device is notified of the address value corresponding to the next-stage test and the address 6. The network device test system according to claim 5, wherein a unique address change instruction for instructing update is transmitted.
A device to which the network device to be tested is communicably connected determines the state of the network device from the value of the address,
Notifying the server device that controls the test of the network device connection information indicating the status of the determined network device,
A network device test method in which the server device transmits an instruction for a test according to a state of the network device to the network device based on the connection information.
When the server device detects that the network device is in an initial state based on the connection information, the server device assigns a unique address to the network device, notifies the network device of the value of the assigned address, and changes the address. The network device test method according to claim 7, wherein a unique address change instruction is sent to instruct the network device to update an address value.
8. The network according to claim 7, wherein when the server device detects that the network device has a unique address based on the connection information, the server device transmits a test preparation instruction for instructing the network device to prepare for performing a required test. Equipment test method.
When performing a multi-stage test on the network device, when the server device receives a test result report that is a test result of the network device, the address value corresponding to the next-stage test is sent to the network device. The network device test method according to claim 9, wherein a unique address change instruction for instructing an address update is transmitted.