JP2000172600A - Network constitution investigation method, network equipment control method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform recognition even for a management object device connected to a network by using a different protocol by performing a search by using the plural protocols at the time of preparing a device list. SOLUTION: This method is provided with a request step for transmitting the data of requesting a response onto the network based on plural communication protocols and a recognition step for recognizing equipment connected to the network and the communication protocol to which each equipment can correspond based on the response to the response request. For instance, a network management software is, stored in a hard disk 511 and executed by a CPU 501. At the time, the CPU 501 uses a RAM 503 as a work area. In the management software, a search module searches the device connected to the network. Then, modules searched by the module are listed and displayed by the device list.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to computer network management, and more particularly to a method for investigating a network configuration useful for computer network management effective for a network in which a plurality of protocols are mixed, and a method for controlling a device using the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computers can be connected to each other to form a network. Further, a larger network can be formed by connecting the networks to each other. A computer network basically has a configuration in which a plurality of computer networks are interconnected. Of the individual computer networks, those that cover a relatively small area such as a building floor or the entire building, a group of buildings (premises), etc. Is called a local area network (LAN). LAN
By connecting to other networks, it can be incorporated into larger network systems, covering regions or even larger areas, up to the global system. Each LAN may have a variety of hardware interconnect technologies and a number of network protocols.

A LAN that is separated from other networks and has a simple configuration is unlikely to cause a serious problem even if a user of a device connected to the LAN manages the LAN individually. In other words, even if the user replaces the device or installs software on the device, the problem is unlikely to occur, and even if a problem occurs, it is relatively easy to diagnose and deal with the problem, and the extent to which the problem affects Is also narrow.

On the other hand, in the case of a large-scale complex LAN or a large interconnected LAN group, the effect of the occurrence of a problem also increases, and it becomes difficult to search, diagnose, and cope with the problem. Specialized “management” is required. "Management" means management by both a human network administrator and the software used by that administrator. Hereinafter, in this specification, "management" means management of the entire network system by software, and "user" means a person who uses network management software. This user is typically the system administrator. By using the network management software, the user can obtain management data on the network and change this data.

[0005] Large-scale network systems are usually dynamic systems that require constant addition and removal of equipment, software updates, and problem detection. Moreover, in general, it is often constituted by various systems owned by various people and supplied by various companies.

Hereinafter, an example of a large-scale network requiring management will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer network in which three LANs are interconnected. A printer 102 having an open architecture is connected to a first LAN 100 via a network board (NEB) 101 connected to a network and connected to an internal slot, for example, an Ethernet interface 10Base having a coaxial connector. 2, RJ-45
They are connected by a LAN interface such as 10Base-T having a connector.

The personal computers (PCs) 103, 104, 106 and 108 are also connected to the first LAN 1
00, and can communicate with the NEB 101 of the printer 102 under the control of the network operating system. One of the PCs, for example, PC103
Can be specified to be used as a network manager. Further, an external device such as a printer 105 connected to the PC 104 may be connected to each PC.

[0008] The PC 106 is used as a file server, and manages access to files stored in a connected large-capacity (for example, 10 gigabytes) network disk 107. The PC 108 is used as a print server, and causes a printer such as the connected printers 109a and 109b or the printer 105 at a remote place to perform printing. Further, another device may be connected to the LAN 100.

In such a LAN, software that is commercially available as so-called network software can be used to efficiently communicate between connected devices (network members). Specific examples of such network software include Novell's Netware (trade name), but the use of any other network software is not limited. By using network software,
The PC 106 as a file server plays a role of a file management unit that receives, stores, queues, caches, and transmits data files between members of the network (LAN 100).

For example, the data files created by the PC 103 and the PC 104 are sent to the file server 106, which arranges these data files in order, and
In accordance with the command from 08, the arranged data files are transmitted to the printer 109a.

Each of the PC 103 and the PC 104 generates a data file and a LAN of the generated data file.
It comprises a general-purpose computer capable of transmitting to the LAN 100, receiving a file from the LAN 100, and displaying and / or processing such a file. The general-purpose computer mentioned here is not limited to a so-called personal computer, but may be a computer called a workstation, and the OS running on each general-purpose computer is not limited. For example, if you are using software that runs on UNIX, you may include UNIX workstations as LAN members, and these workstations, under appropriate circumstances,
It can be used with the PC shown.

Typically, a LAN such as LAN 100 provides services to a somewhat local group of users, such as a group of users on one floor or multiple consecutive floors in a building. For example, a wide area network (WAN) may be created as one user moves away from another user, such as when the user is in another building or another prefecture. A WAN is basically an aggregation formed by interconnecting several LANs with a high-speed digital line such as an integrated services digital network (ISDN) line. That is, the network shown in FIG.
N100, the second LAN 110, and the third LAN 12
0 means modulation / demodulation (MODEM) / transponder 1
30 and a backbone 140 to form a WAN. These connections are simple electrical connections with several buses. Each LAN includes a dedicated PC and, although not necessarily, usually includes a file server and a print server.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a PC 111, a PC 112, a file server 113, a network disk 114, a print server 115, a printer 116, and a printer 1
17 is included. In contrast, the third LAN 120 is PC1
21 and the PC 122 only. LAN 100 and LAN
Devices connected to the LAN 110 and the LAN 120 are connected to each other via a line (WAN connection) for connecting each other.
Can access the functions of members.

As described above, management is required in a network in which such LANs are interconnected.
Therefore, as a method for managing devices on a network constituting a large-scale network system, several attempts have been made by many standard organizations. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has provided a universal reference framework called the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. The OSI model of the network management protocol is based on the Common Management Information Protocol (Common Management Information Protocol).
ol, CMIP). CMIP is a common European network management protocol.

In the United States, a simple network management protocol (Simple Network Management Protocol, SN)
There is a variant of the protocol related to CMIP called MP). (Marshall T. Rose, The Simple Book, Prenti
ce-Hall, 1991).

According to the SNMP network management technology,
A network management system includes at least one network management station (NMS), a number of managed nodes, each including an agent, and a network management protocol used by the management stations and agents to exchange management information. The user can obtain data on the network and change the data by communicating with the agent software on the managed node using the network management software on the NMS.

An agent is software that operates as a background process for each target device. When a user requests management data from a device on the network, the network management software sends the object identification information in a management packet or frame to the agent of the target device. The agent interprets the object identification information, retrieves data corresponding to the object identification information,
The data is sent back to the user in a packet. Sometimes, the corresponding process is called to retrieve the data.

The agent holds data relating to its own state in the form of a database. This database is called MIB (Management Information Base)
Call. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the MIB. As shown in FIG. 2, the MIB has a tree-structured data structure, and all nodes are uniquely numbered. In FIG. 2, the number written in parentheses is the identifier of the node.

For example, in FIG. 2, the identifier of the node 401 is 1. The identifier of the node 402 is
Since it is 3 below, it is written as 1.3. Similarly, the identifier mgmt (2) of the node 403 is described as 1.33.6.1.2.

This node identifier is called an object identifier (OBJECT IDENTIFIER). This MIB has a management information structure (SMI: Structure of Managemen).
t Information) and RFC1155: Structure and Id
entification of ManagementInformation for TCP / IP-b
Specified by ased Internets.

As an example of mounting the agent, it is conceivable to mount the agent on a network board for connecting the printer to a network. Thus, the printer can be managed by the network management software. The user can obtain the information of the printer to be controlled using the network management software and change the status. More specifically, for example, a character string displayed on a liquid crystal display of a printer can be obtained, or a default paper cassette can be changed.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a printer on which a network board on which an agent is mounted is mounted. The network board (NEB) 101 is preferably built in an internal expansion I / O slot of the printer 102, and the NEB 101 is an "embedded" network node having the processing and data storage functions described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the NEB 101 comprises a printed circuit board 101a on which a face plate 101b for network connection is installed, and a printer interface card 15 through a connector 170.
Connected to 0. The printer interface card 150 directly controls the printer engine of the printer 102. The print data and the printer status command are input from the NEB 101 to the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170.
Printer status information is also obtained from the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170. The NEB 101 transmits this information to the face plate 10.
Communication is performed on the LAN 100 via the network connector 1b. At the same time, the printer 102 is connected to the conventional serial port 102a and parallel port 102b.
Print data can also be received.

The configuration of the NEB 101 provides an advantage of having a characteristic auxiliary function for controlling and managing a large multi-area WAN network. These auxiliary functions include, for example, printer control and status monitoring from a remote location on the network (such as the network administrator's office), and a guaranteed initial environment for the next user after each print job. This includes automatic management of the printer configuration, characterization of the load on the printer, or access via a network to schedule replacement of toner cartridges, acquisition of printer logs or usage statistics, and the like.

An important factor in such NEB design is through a bidirectional interface such as a shared memory.
This function accesses the printer control status from the NEB 101. In addition to the shared memory, an interface such as a SCSI interface can be used. As a result, the printer operation information can be sent to the NEB 101 or the external network node so that a number of useful auxiliary function programs can be executed. The block of print image data and control information is configured by a microprocessor on the NEB 101, described in a shared memory, and read by the printer 102. Similarly, the printer status information is stored in the printer 10
2 to the shared memory from which it is read by the NEB processor.

FIG. 4 shows the NEB 101 and the printer 102.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection between the LAN and a LAN. The NEB 101 is directly connected to the LAN 100 via a LAN interface and to the printer 102 via a printer interface card 150. The microprocessor 151 accesses data with the NEB 101 via the shared memory 200 installed in the NEB 101. Microprocessor 15
1 is a printer engine 16 that actually operates the printing mechanism.
Also communicates with 0.

Next, a PC on which network management software (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “management software”) operates will be described below. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC on which network management software can operate.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a PC on which network management software operates,
It is equivalent to C103 and the like. The PC 500 has a ROM 502
Or, stored in the hard disk (HD) 511,
Alternatively, C which executes the network management program supplied from the floppy disk drive (FD) 512
A PU 501 is provided, and a CPU 501 is connected to a system bus 504.
To control each device connected to

Reference numeral 503 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 501. Reference numeral 505 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC).
9 and an instruction input from a pointing device (not shown) or the like. 506 is a CRT controller (CRTC)
Controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 510. A disk controller (DKC) 507 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 511 and a floppy disk controller (FD) 512 that store a boot program, various applications, editing files, user files, a network management program, and the like. A network interface card (NIC) 508 exchanges data with an agent or a network device via the LAN 100 in two directions.

Next, in a large-scale network system having a configuration as shown in FIG. 1, a network configuration investigation method (for example, when the management software running on the PC 500 manages a device to be managed (for example, the printer 102)). The method for recognizing devices connected to the network will be described in more detail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operations performed by the conventional management software until a management target device is found on the LAN 100, and a device list (a list of devices connected to the network) is created and displayed.

Although the type and number of devices to be managed are arbitrary, three devices to be managed are device 1, device 2 and device 3 in FIG.

In this flowchart, the management software first determines a protocol used by the management software in step S701. The method of determining the protocol to be used includes, for example, a method of allowing the user to select when the management software is started, a method of using the one described in the initialization information file read at the time of startup of the management software, and the method of PC 500.
For example, a method may be considered in which the management software automatically determines from among the protocols that can be used in (1).

Next, in step S702, the LAN 10
A device search request is issued in order to check whether or not a device to be managed exists on the device 0.

In step S703, if each managed device on the LAN 100 can respond to the device search request in step S702, it returns a response to the device search request to the management software. In this flowchart, the device 1 and the device 2 return a response. Since the device 3 does not recognize the protocol that the management software has determined to use in step S701, the device 3 cannot return a response to the management software in this step.

Finally, in step S704, the management target devices responding to the device search request in step S702 are displayed in the device list 601 as shown in FIG. 8, and this flowchart ends.

Thereafter, the management software obtains necessary information about the network devices included in the device list, changes setting values, and manages the network. The type and content of the management vary depending on the user's request, the type of device, the function of the agent, the function of the management software, and the like.

Note that reference numeral 801 denotes an example of a managed device that has responded to the device search request in step S702. As described above, it is necessary to create a device list as a premise of network management, and devices not included in the list cannot be managed by the management software.

[0039]

As described above, in a network configuration survey using conventional management software,
Since communication with the managed device was possible only by a single protocol, there was a problem that a managed device that could not respond to the protocol currently used by the management software could not be managed.

On the other hand, even if a certain managed device can respond to a plurality of protocols, the user can acquire detailed information of the managed device only with a single protocol specified when the management software is started. -There was also a problem that it could not be set.

An object of the present invention is to provide a network configuration investigation method and apparatus capable of recognizing managed devices connected to a network using different protocols.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for controlling a network device which can control a device to be managed corresponding to a plurality of protocols by an arbitrary protocol.

[0043]

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
The gist of the invention is a network configuration examination method for examining devices connected to a network, based on a plurality of communication protocols, a requesting step of transmitting data requesting a response over a network, and a method of responding to a response request. And a recognition step for recognizing a communication protocol that can be supported by each device connected to the network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a requesting step of transmitting data requesting a response to a network based on a plurality of communication protocols, and a device connected to the network based on a response to the response request. A recognition step of recognizing a communication protocol that each device can support;
A network device control method characterized in that, based on the result of the recognition step, the responding device controls the responding device using a protocol that can be responded to.

A third aspect of the present invention is a network configuration examination device for examining devices connected to a network, and transmits data requesting a response to the network based on a plurality of communication protocols. There is provided a network configuration research apparatus, comprising: a response request command transmitting unit; and a device recognizing unit that recognizes a device connected to the network and a communication protocol that can be supported by each device based on a response to the response request command. .

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a response request command transmitting means for transmitting data requesting a response to a network based on a plurality of communication protocols, and a connection to a network based on a response to the response request command. Device recognition means for recognizing the transmitted device and a communication protocol that can be supported by each device, and, based on the recognition result of the device recognition means, controlling the device that has responded by using a protocol that the responding device can support. And control means for performing the control.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program which can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus which has executed the program stores data requesting a response based on a plurality of communication protocols on a network. Operate as a network configuration investigation device having a response request command transmitting means to be transmitted above, and a device connected to the network and a device recognizing means for recognizing a communication protocol supported by each device based on a response to the response request command. The present invention resides in a storage medium.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that has executed the program stores data requesting a response based on a plurality of communication protocols on a network. A response request command transmitting means to be transmitted above, a device recognition means for recognizing a device connected to the network and a communication protocol which each device can support based on a response to the response request command, and a recognition result of the device recognition means. A storage device that operates as a control device of a network device having a control unit that controls a device that has responded by using a protocol that can respond to the device that has responded.

[0049]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the management software runs on hardware having the configuration shown in FIG. 5, three managed devices, SNMP as a network management protocol,
The case where the above-described NetWare is used as network software and the operating OS is Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) will be described.

(Software Configuration) FIG. 7 is a module configuration diagram of the network management software according to the embodiment of the present invention. Network management software
It is stored in the hard disk 511 in FIG.
It is executed by the CPU 501. At that time, the CPU 50
1 uses the RAM 503 as a work area.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 601 denotes a device list module which displays a list of devices connected to the network. An overall control module 602 controls other modules based on an instruction from a device list. Reference numeral 603 denotes a configurator module that performs special processing related to the network setting of the agent. A search module 604 searches for a device connected to the network. Devices searched by this module are displayed as a list in a device list 601.

Reference numeral 605 denotes the status of the print job as NetWar
This module is obtained from a network server using an eAPI (Aprication Programming Interface) 616. (Note that the NetWare API is described in the “NetWare Programmer * s Guide for Novell, for example.”
C "and the like. This book can be purchased from Novell, Inc.) 606 and 607 are modules for displaying a device details window showing detailed information of the managed device, and display the detailed information. There is a module for each target model.Control modules 608 and 609 are responsible for control specific to the target model for acquiring detailed information, and these modules also exist for each target model for displaying detailed information. The control modules 608 and 609 control the MI
A module 60 for acquiring MIB data from a device to be managed using a B (Management Information Base) module 610 and displaying a device detail window
6 or 607.

The MIB module 610 is a module for converting between an object identifier and an object key. Here, the object key is a value corresponding to the object identifier on a one-to-one basis, for example, a 32-bit integer. The object identifier is a variable-length identifier, and is difficult to handle when implementing the network management software. Therefore, in the network management software according to the present embodiment, a fixed-length value corresponding to the object identifier on a one-to-one basis is internally used as an identifier. Used for Modules higher than the MIB module 610 handle MIB information using this object key. This facilitates implementation of network management software.

An SNMP module 611 is an SNMP module.
Send and receive packets. A common transport module 612 absorbs a difference between lower protocols for transporting SNMP data. In the present embodiment, an IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) handler 613, a NetBEUI handler 618, or a UDP, depending on the protocol selected by the user during operation.
(User Datagram Protocol) One of the handlers 614 has a role of transferring data. In this embodiment, WinSock 617 is used as a specific implementation of the NetBEUI handler and the UDP handler. (For WinSock, refer to, for example, the specification of Windows Socket API v1.1. This document can be obtained from a plurality of places. However, for example, Visu, a compiler from Microsoft Corporation
al C ++). That is, in the present embodiment, the current protocol 615 used by the configurator 603 is the current protocol 615 selected by the user during operation.
Indicates any of PX, NetBEUI, and UDP.

In this embodiment, the management software can have a path (communication path) for each device to be managed, and the common transport module 612 can use the IPX handler 613 and the UDP handler 614 at the same time. Therefore, in the management software of FIG. 7 having the UIs 606 and 607 and the control modules 608 and 609 for the two managed devices A and B, the managed device A uses IPX / SPX, and the managed device B uses TCP / IP. When communication is performed using the management target device A, the UI A (606) → the control module A (608) → the MIB module 610 → the SNMP module 611 → the common transport module 612 →
IPX handler 613 → NetWare API (61
6), the device to be managed B is UI B
(607) → control module B (609) → MIB module 610 → SNMP module 611 → common transport module 612 → UDP handler 614 → W
Communication is performed through paths called inSockAPI (617).

(Operation of Software) FIG. 9 is a flowchart from when the network management software (management software) according to the present embodiment is started to when the device list is displayed.

The program of the management software executed according to this flowchart is a hard disk (HD) 511
Is stored in The subject of execution of the program of the management software is the CPU 501 on hardware. On the other hand, the subject of control on software is a hard disk (HD) 511
It is management software stored in.

When the user starts the management software, the management software program executes step S901. In step S901, information on a protocol usable by the management software is acquired. As a method of acquisition,

(1) Initialize each protocol, and if this is successful, make the protocol usable. (2) Acquired from an initialization information file (a file describing settings at the time of starting the management software) when the management software is started. (3) The user is allowed to specify a usable protocol in advance. And so on.

Here, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, “TCP / IP”, “IP
X / SPX (Sequenced Packet Exchange) ”,“ Net
It is assumed that three protocols “BEUI” have been obtained.

Next, in step S902, step S902
At 901 it is determined whether at least one protocol has been obtained. If no protocol can be obtained, this flowchart ends. If at least one protocol has been obtained, the process proceeds to step S903.

In step S903, step S901
It is determined whether or not a device search request has been issued using all the protocols acquired in. If all protocols (in this embodiment, “TCP / IP”, “IP
If the device search request has been issued in three protocols (X / SPX "and" NetBEUI "), the process proceeds to step S907.If the device search request has not been issued in all protocols yet, the process proceeds to step S907. Proceed to S904.

In step S 904, the management software issues a device search request using a specified protocol to check whether a device to be managed exists on the LAN 100.

Step S 905 indicates that a device search request has been issued through the LAN 100. By step S905, the device search request is LAN1
00, the process returns to step S903,
Step S903, step S904, step S90
Repeat step 5. In the present embodiment, “TCP / IP”,
Until the device search request is issued using the three protocols “IPX / SPX” and “NetBEUI”,
Step S903, step S904, step S90
5 will be repeated. After a while, step S90
With 6, the response from each managed device (device 1, device 2, device 3 in this embodiment) starts to return.

Each of the devices to be managed is determined in step S904.
Of the search requests issued by the device, the device to be managed, which can respond to a plurality of protocols, returns a plurality of responses to the management software. According to this embodiment, the management software has received a total of five responses.

In step S907, step S906 is executed.
Aggregates the responses returned from the managed device by
The result is recorded in the RAM 503, the hard disk 511, or the like.

In order to aggregate these responses for each device to be managed, the management software uses a MAC address unique to each network board built in the device to be managed. That is, among the responses from the managed devices, those having the same MAC address are determined to be responses from the same managed device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of response results totalized and recorded for each device to be managed in step S907. Device 1 responds to IPX / SPX, device 2 responds to NetBEUI and TCP / IP, and device 3 responds to IPX / SPX and TCP / IP. Finally, in step S908, the device 1, the device 2, and the device 3 are displayed in the device list by using the responses from the managed devices totaled and recorded in the step S907.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a column 802 for displaying "available protocols" is provided in the device list 620, and the protocol name to which each managed device responds is displayed therein.

In the management software, by executing the above-mentioned flowchart at regular time intervals, the latest state of the managed device can be always displayed on the device list.

(Second Embodiment) Next, an information acquisition operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG.
Is selected by the user from the device list window 601 of the management software to select a device to be managed that can be communicated using any of a plurality of protocols, and selecting “Open” from a device menu (not shown) It is a flowchart started by clicking to start the device details window module 606 (or 607).

The management software program executed according to the flowchart is a hard disk (HD) 511.
Is stored in The subject of execution of the program of the management software is the CPU 501 on hardware. On the other hand, the subject of control on software is a hard disk (HD) 511
It is management software stored in.

First, in step S1101, the user issues a request to the management software to open a device detail window of a device to be managed. The request is issued by double-clicking the icon or selecting a command from the menu as described above.

When the request in step S1101 is issued, in step S1102, the management software determines the protocol with which the managed device can actually communicate from among the protocols with which the managed device can currently communicate. The following method can be used for this determination.

(1) The protocol used at the time of managing the device to be managed by the management software last time is written in an initialization information file or the like, and when the device to be managed is managed next time, the protocol is used. Determine the protocol to use by obtaining the information.

(2) When totaling the responses from the devices in step S907 of FIG. 9, the protocol that has returned the earliest response is used. (3) A list of communicable protocols is displayed in a dialog box or the like, and the user is allowed to select a protocol to be used.

The above (3) will be further described with reference to FIG. A protocol selection dialog box 1201 displays a list of communicable protocols and allows the user to select a protocol.

Reference numerals 1202 and 1203 denote selectable protocols (TCP / IP and IPX / SP in the example of FIG. 12).
X), 1204 and 1205 are an OK button to be pressed to validate the selection and a Cancel button to cancel the selection. The user selects either 1202 or 1203 and determines the protocol to be used.

Returning to FIG. 11, when the actual communication protocol is determined in step S1102, the management software executes step S1103 to obtain device information from the device to be managed. At this time, the management software communicates with the device to be managed using the protocol determined in step S1102.

Finally, in step S1104, the device information acquired in step S1103 is displayed on a device detail window (not shown), and the flowchart ends.

One example where the protocol selection according to the present embodiment is effective is when the protocol setting of the managed device is changed. Usually, I in TCP / IP
To change the settings of a protocol such as P address,
You must reset the managed device after the change to make the settings effective.

Here, if the protocol setting of the currently communicating protocol is changed and the managed device is reset, for example, the IP address is changed during communication using TCP / IP, May not be able to communicate with that managed device using that protocol.

For example, when the management software and the device to be managed are communicating using TCP / IP, the TCP / I
When the frame type of P is changed and the device to be managed is reset (setting is enabled), communication between the management software and the device to be managed cannot be performed by TCP / IP after the reset.

In such a case, if a protocol to be communicated can be selected as in the present embodiment, communication with the device to be managed can be performed using a protocol different from the protocol whose protocol setting is to be changed. This eliminates the risk that communication with the managed device will not be possible later.

[0085]

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, only the processing at the time of device list creation and the setting of the communication protocol for each device among the operations of the management software have been described. The communication with the managed device using the protocol can be performed by a method usually performed in the art.

The environment in which the management software operates and the protocol to be used are also arbitrary. If the network has devices connected (or connectable) to the network using different protocols, the present invention Can be applied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0092]

As described above, according to the network management method of the present invention, when a device list is created, a search is performed using a plurality of protocols, so that a device that cannot respond to a specific protocol cannot be managed. It is possible to manage a larger number of devices to be managed as compared with the related art.

Further, since a communication protocol can be set for each management target, it is possible to simultaneously display the management target devices responding to the management target devices corresponding to a plurality of protocols on the device list, and to set the protocol setting. Even if one protocol cannot be used due to a change or a failure, there is an effect that it becomes possible to manage the managed device using another protocol.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a large-scale network in which LANs are interconnected.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of an MIB.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a printer to which a network board on which an agent is mounted is connected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection between a network board, a printer, and a LAN.

FIG. 5 shows a P on which network management software can operate.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of C.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method for displaying a managed device in a device list.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module configuration of network management software.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional device list.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of response results totaled and recorded for each managed device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a protocol selection dialog box.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a device list according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 Printer 103 Personal computer 601 Device list 802 Available protocol display field 1201 Protocol selection dialog box

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A network configuration examination method for examining devices connected to a network, comprising: a request step of transmitting data requesting a response to a network based on a plurality of communication protocols; and a response to the response request. And a recognition step of recognizing a communication protocol that can be supported by each device based on the network configuration. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of confirming a protocol usable on a network before the requesting step. 3. The network configuration investigation method according to claim 1, further comprising a display step of displaying the recognition results in the recognition step collectively for each device. 4. The network configuration examination method according to claim 3, wherein said display item includes a responsive protocol type. 5. A requesting step of transmitting data requesting a response to a network based on a plurality of communication protocols, and a communication protocol that can be supported by devices connected to the network and each device based on a response to the response request. A method for controlling a network device that responds by using a protocol that can be supported by the device that has responded, based on the result of the recognition step. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a predetermined protocol is used for a device having a plurality of responsive protocols. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined protocol can be set for each device. 8. The method of controlling a network device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of protocols having a plurality of responsive protocols are switched and used according to conditions. 9. The network device control method according to claim 5, wherein the control of the device includes one of acquiring predetermined information of the device and changing a setting of the device. 10. A network configuration investigation device that investigates devices connected to a network, comprising: a response request command transmitting unit that transmits data requesting a response to the network based on a plurality of communication protocols; A network configuration research apparatus comprising: a device connected to a network based on a response to a request command; and device recognition means for recognizing a communication protocol that can be supported by each device. 11. The network configuration research apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: storage means for storing a recognition result in said device recognition means; and display means for displaying the recognition result collectively for each device. 12. A response request command transmitting means for transmitting data requesting a response over a network based on a plurality of communication protocols, and a device connected to the network and each device corresponding to the response to the response request command. Device recognizing means for recognizing a possible communication protocol, and control means for controlling the device that has made the response using a protocol that the device that made the response can support, based on the recognition result of the device recognizing device. A control device for a network device, comprising: 13. The network device control device according to claim 12, further comprising protocol setting means for setting a protocol used for controlling the device having a plurality of responsive protocols. 14. The network device control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means performs at least one of acquisition of predetermined information of said device and change of setting. 15. A storage medium storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that has executed the program transmits, to the network, data for requesting a response based on a plurality of communication protocols. A storage medium that is operated as a network configuration investigation device having, based on a response to the response request command, a device connected to a network and device recognition means for recognizing a communication protocol that can be supported by each device. 16. A storage medium storing a program executable by a device, the response request command transmitting means for transmitting data requesting a response to a network on a network based on a plurality of communication protocols. Device recognition means for recognizing a device connected to a network and a communication protocol that can be supported by each device based on a response to the response request command; and a device that makes the response based on a recognition result of the device recognition device. A storage medium operated as a control device of a network device, the control device comprising: a control unit that controls the device that has made the response by using a protocol that is compatible with the network device.