JP2020127061A - Network management system, network relay device, network management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a network management system capable of facilitating a setting of a network device.SOLUTION: A network management system includes: a network device; a plurality of ports; a detection unit that detects that the network device is connected to one of the plurality of ports via a network cable; an acquisition unit that acquires setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected; and a network relay device that includes a supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a network management system, a network relay device, a network management method, and a program.

Patent Document 1 discloses a switching hub in which an address of a network layer of a network device connected to each port is set and whether or not communication in the network layer can be confirmed using the set address.

JP 2001-177538 A

By the way, in a facility such as a school, when the network device is temporarily installed in a place where the network device is not permanently installed, or when the network device is replaced due to a failure etc. It takes a lot of trouble to set the device each time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object thereof is to provide a network management system, a network relay device, a network management method, and a program capable of facilitating setting of network devices. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, a network management system according to an aspect of the present invention is configured such that a network device, a plurality of ports, and one of the plurality of ports are connected to the network device via a network cable. A detection unit that detects the setting information, an acquisition unit that acquires setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected, and a supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device. And a network relay device.

A network relay device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of ports, a detection unit that detects that a network device is connected to one of the plurality of ports via a network cable, and the network device. An acquisition unit that acquires the setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection is detected, and a supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device.

A network management method according to another aspect of the present invention detects that a network device is connected to one port of a plurality of ports via a network cable, and the connection of the network device is detected. The setting information previously associated with the port is acquired, and the acquired setting information is supplied to the network device.

Further, a program of another aspect of the present invention is a detection unit that detects that a computer of a network relay device having a plurality of ports detects that a network device is connected to one of the plurality of ports via a network cable. , An acquisition unit that acquires setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected, and a supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device.

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to facilitate the setting of the network device.

It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a network management system concerning an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a network relay device concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an association of a port and setting information. It is a flow figure showing the example of the 1st procedure of the network management method concerning an embodiment. It is a flow figure showing the example of the 2nd procedure of the network management method concerning an embodiment.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network management system 100 according to the embodiment. The network management system 100 includes a network management device 1, a database 2, a network relay device 3, and a network device 4.

The network management device 1 and the network relay device 3 are connected to a LAN (local area network) and are capable of mutual network communication. The network management device 1 may be, for example, a personal computer or a server computer.

Not limited to this, the network management device 1 may be one or more server computers connected to the Internet (wide area network) outside the LAN.

The network management device 1 can access the database 2. The database 2 may be provided inside the network management device 1 or outside the network management device 1.

The network relay device 3 is, for example, a switching hub (layer 2 switch) and has a plurality of ports 31. The network device 4 is connected to each port 31 via a network cable.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the network relay device 3 according to the embodiment. The network relay device 3 includes a CPU 32, a memory 33, and a switch controller 34.

The memory 33 includes a RAM, a ROM, a non-volatile memory, and the like, and holds a MAC address list of connection destinations of each port 31. The switch controller 34 refers to the MAC address list and bridges two ports of the plurality of ports 31.

The CPU 32 functions as a detection unit, an acquisition unit, a supply unit, etc. by executing information processing according to a program loaded from the ROM or the non-volatile memory to the RAM. By the information processing of the CPU 32, the network relay device 3 becomes a so-called intelligent hub.

Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the network device 4 is connected to the LAN by being connected to the port 31 of the network relay device 3 via the network cable. The network device 4 may be the switching hub 41 or the access points 42 to 44.

The network device 4 is installed in each room of a facility such as a school. In each room, a network cable connected to each port 31 of the network relay device 3 is wired. That is, there is a one-to-one correspondence between each port 31 of the network relay device 3 and each room.

By the way, since the network device 4 needs to be individually set, it is generally installed permanently at a place where the network device 4 is supposed to be used. However, if the network device 4 is permanently installed in a place where the frequency of use is low, such as a conference room or a classroom, a problem arises that the introduction cost increases.

Therefore, there may be a case where a limited number of network devices 4 are reused as needed without permanently installing the network device 4 in a place where the frequency of use is low. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, there are cases where the switching hub 41 is installed only while the conference room is used, cases where the access point 42 used in the classroom 1 is moved to the classroom 2, and the like.

However, when the network device 4 is temporarily installed in a place where the network device 4 is not permanently installed, setting the network device 4 each time requires a lot of trouble.

Even in a place where the network device 4 is permanently installed, it may be necessary to replace the network device 4 due to a failure or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a case where the access point 43 permanently installed in the staff room fails and is replaced with another access point 44.

Even when the network device 4 is replaced as described above, it is very troublesome to set the network device 4 each time.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as will be described below, when the network device 4 is connected to the port 31 of the network relay device 3 via the network cable, the port 31 responds to the port 31 (that is, depending on the installation location). ) It is possible to automatically apply predetermined setting information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the port setting database. The port setting database is built in the database 2 (see FIG. 1).

In the port setting database, each port 31 of the network relay device 3 and the setting information of the network device 4 are associated with each other. That is, the port setting database stores, for each port 31 of the network relay device 3, setting information to be applied to the network device 4 connected to the port 31.

The setting information includes, for example, an IP address used by the network device 4, a VLAN setting, an IP filtering setting, a MAC filtering setting, and the like. These are settings common to the switching hub 41 and the access points 42 to 44.

Further, the setting information may include, for example, PoE (Power over Ethernet) settings used by the switching hub 41. The setting information may also include, for example, the SSID and channel used by the access points 42 to 44.

Note that the types of settings included in the setting information of the port setting database are not limited to the illustrated example, and some of them may be omitted or other settings may be further included.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first procedure example of the network management method according to the embodiment, which is realized in the network management system 100. The CPU 32 (see FIG. 2) of the network relay device 3 functions as a detection unit, an acquisition unit, a supply unit, etc. by executing the information processing shown in FIG.

First, when the network device 4 is connected to the port 31 of the network relay device 3 via the network cable, the network device 4 transmits a request (HELLO-REQ) to the network relay device 3 (S41). The request (HELLO-REQ) is transmitted from the network device 4 to the network relay device 3 by using, for example, broadcast. The request (HELLO-REQ) is sent instead of DHCP Discover, for example.

The request (HELLO-REQ) includes identification information indicating that it is a management target. The management target means a target of the network management method according to the present embodiment, and means that setting information according to the installation location is supplied. The request (HELLO-REQ) may also include identification information indicating whether the network device 4 is a switching hub or an access point.

When the network relay device 3 receives the request (HELLO-REQ) from the network device 4 (S31: YES), the network relay device 3 manages the setting information request for requesting the setting information corresponding to the port 31 to which the network device 4 is connected. The data is transmitted to the device 1 (S32, processing as an acquisition unit).

Upon receiving the request (HELLO-REQ) from the network device 4, the network relay device 3 detects that the network device 4 is connected to the port 31 (processing as a detection unit). Not limited to this, the network relay device 3 may detect that the network device 4 is connected to the port 31 when receiving an arbitrary electric signal at the port 31.

When the network management device 1 receives the setting information request from the network relay device 3, the network management device 1 acquires from the port setting database (see FIG. 3) in the database 2 the setting information associated in advance with the port 31 to which the network device 4 is connected. (S11).

The setting information request includes the device number of the network relay device 3, the port number of the port 31 to which the network device 4 is connected, the type of the network device 4, and the like. The network management device 1 reads the setting information corresponding to the device number and port number specified by the setting information request from the port setting database (see FIG. 3).

The network management device 1 acquires not only common setting information but also setting information for the switching hub when the network device 4 is a switching hub, and for the access point when the network device 4 is an access point. Also acquires setting information.

Next, the network management device 1 transmits the setting information acquired from the port setting database (see FIG. 3) to the network relay device 3 (S12). Here, the request and the response for the setting information performed between the network relay device 3 and the network management device 1 are realized by, for example, broadcasting.

When the network relay device 3 acquires the setting information from the network management device 1, the network relay device 3 supplies the acquired setting information to the network device 4 (S33, processing as a supply unit). The network device 4 applies the setting information supplied from the network relay device 3 as the setting information used by itself (S42), and shifts to the normal operation.

The setting information is also supplied from the network relay device 3 to the network device 4 by using, for example, broadcasting. Therefore, the network device 4 does not need a unique IP address on the network until the setting information is applied.

The setting information is supplied from the network relay device 3 to the network device 4 as a response (HELLO-RSP) to the request (HELLO-REQ). These requests and responses are realized by a protocol such as HTTP.

The network device 4, which has transmitted the request (HELLO-REQ), applies the received setting information when receiving the setting information as the response. On the other hand, the other network device 4 which has not transmitted the request (HELLO-REQ) ignores the setting information even if the setting information is received.

When the network relay device 3 does not receive the request (HELLO-REQ) from the network device 4 (S31: NO), that is, when the network device 4 is not the management target, the network relay device 3 does not supply the setting information, The network communication of the network device 4 is permitted or restricted (S34). Whether to permit or restrict network communication can be switched by setting.

The case where the request (HELLO-REQ) is not received from the network device 4 is, for example, the case where DHCP Discover is received from the network device 4.

With the processing described above, in the example shown in FIG. 1, when the switching hub 41 is connected to the first port 31 corresponding to the conference room among the plurality of ports 31 of the network relay device 3, the first The setting information suitable for use in the conference room, which is associated with the port 31 in advance, is supplied to the switching hub 41.

Further, when the access point 42 removed from the second port 31 corresponding to the classroom 1 is connected to the third port 31 corresponding to the classroom 2, the classroom 2 previously associated with the third port 31 The setting information suitable for use in the access point 42 is supplied to the access point 42. The access point 42 discards the setting information applied so far and applies the newly supplied setting information.

Further, when the access point 43 is removed from the fourth port 31 corresponding to the staff room and the access point 44 is connected, setting information suitable for use in the staff room, which is associated with the fourth port 31 in advance. Are supplied to the access point 44. That is, the same setting information as the setting information applied by the access point 43 until then is supplied to the access point 44.

In the first procedure example described above, the network relay device 3 requests the setting information from the network management device 1 after receiving the request (HELLO-REQ) from the network device 4, but the timing for requesting the setting information. Is not limited to this. For example, as in the second procedure example described below, the network relay device 3 may acquire the setting information from the network management device 1 in advance and store it.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second procedure example of the network management method according to the embodiment. Steps that are the same as those in the first procedure example are assigned the same numbers and detailed explanations thereof are omitted.

First, the network relay device 3 transmits a setting information request to the network management device 1 (S32). Here, the network relay device 3 requests the setting information corresponding to all the ports 31 of itself.

When the network management device 1 receives the setting information request from the network relay device 3, the network management device 1 acquires the setting information previously associated with each port 31 of the network relay device 3 from the port setting database (see FIG. 3), and the network relay device 3 (S12).

Upon receiving the setting information from the network management device 1, the network relay device 3 stores the received setting information in the memory 33 (see FIG. 2) (S35). That is, the memory 33 stores the setting information associated in advance with each of all the ports 31.

When the network relay device 3 receives the request (HELLO-REQ) from the network device 4 (S31: YES), the setting corresponding to the port 31 to which the network device 4 is connected is selected from the setting information stored in the memory 33. Information is acquired (S36), and the acquired setting information is supplied to the network device 4 (S33).

According to the embodiment described above, when the network device 4 is connected to the port 31 of the network relay device 3 via the network cable, predetermined setting information according to the port 31 (that is, according to the installation location). Can be automatically applied.

Therefore, it becomes easy to perform the operation of reusing a limited number of network devices 4 as needed. Further, even when the network device 4 is replaced due to a failure or the like, it becomes easy to inherit the same setting information.

In addition, since the setting request and the response between the network relay device 3 and the network device 4 are performed by using the broadcast, the network device 4 does not need a unique IP address on the network. No DHCP server is required. This is particularly useful in a case where a fixed IP address is assigned to all devices without installing a DHCP server.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art.

1 network management device, 2 database, 3 network relay device, 31 port, 32 CPU, 33 memory, 34 switch controller, 4 network terminal, 41 switching hub, 42 access point, 100 network management system

Claims (11)

Network equipment,
Multiple ports,
A detection unit that detects that the network device is connected to one port of the plurality of ports via a network cable;
An acquisition unit for acquiring setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected,
A supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device;
A network relay device comprising:
A network management system including. The setting information includes at least one of an IP address used by the network device, a VLAN setting, an IP filtering setting, and a MAC filtering setting.
The network management system according to claim 1. The network device is an access point,
The setting information includes at least one of an SSID and a channel used by the access point,
The network management system according to claim 1. The network device transmits identification information indicating that it is a management target to the network relay device,
The network relay device supplies the setting information to the network device when the identification information is received from the network device.
The network management system according to claim 1. The network relay device limits network communication of the network device when the identification information is not received from the network device,
The network management system according to claim 4. The network device transmits identification information indicating that it is a switching hub or an access point to the network relay device,
The network relay device acquires setting information corresponding to a switching hub or an access point from among the setting information associated with the port in advance,
The network management system according to claim 1. The network relay device further includes a storage unit that stores setting information associated in advance with each of the plurality of ports.
The network management system according to claim 1. Further equipped with a network management device,
The acquisition unit acquires the setting information from the network management device,
The network management system according to claim 1. Multiple ports,
A detection unit that detects that a network device is connected to one of the plurality of ports via a network cable;
An acquisition unit for acquiring setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected,
A supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device;
A network relay device. Detects that a network device is connected to one port of multiple ports via a network cable,
Obtaining setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected,
The acquired setting information is supplied to the network device,
Network management method. A network relay device computer with multiple ports,
A detection unit that detects that a network device is connected to one of the plurality of ports via a network cable,
An acquisition unit that acquires setting information associated in advance with the one port in which the connection of the network device is detected, and
A supply unit that supplies the acquired setting information to the network device,
Program to function as.

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