JP3369841B2 - Network management system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network management system for managing managed devices via a network, and more particularly to a configuration for collecting information on managed devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Devices to be managed, such as packet switches,
A network management system is connected via the network. The main purpose of this network management system is to centrally manage information from various managed devices connected to the network and notify the network maintainer. Here, as a method of collecting information from the managed device, there are a method of collecting information (hereinafter referred to as an autonomous message) that rises irregularly (autonomously) from the managed device, and a method of collecting information at regular intervals. Method 2 of polling the managed device and collecting that information
There are different types, but in practice it was common to use both in combination.

Conventionally, there have been the following two types of systems combining both of them. 1. A method of performing periodic polling and interpreting and processing this content when an autonomous message is received. A method of performing periodic polling and polling upon receipt of an autonomous message

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned 1. In the case of the method of (2), information is collected by two interfaces, that is, the periodic polling and the autonomous message, so that different software is required for each of them, and therefore the system becomes bloated and the cost is increased. In addition, the above 2. In this method, when autonomous messages are continuously received, the frequency of polling increases and there is a risk that network traffic will increase extremely.

From this point of view, it has been desired to realize a network management system which can simplify the configuration and which does not increase the traffic of the network.

[0006]

The present invention adopts the following constitution in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. <Structure of Claim 1> In a network management system for managing a managed device via a network, an interface control unit and a timer control unit are provided, and the interface control unit is autonomously sent from the managed device. When a message is received, a timer registration request is sent to the timer control unit, and when a time-out signal is received from the timer control unit, polling is performed to collect information on the managed device, and while the time-out signal is not received. If you receive the following autonomous message,
It has the function of requesting the timer control unit to release the timer, and the timer control unit has a timer with a preset timer value.When the timer registration request is received from the interface control unit, the timer is set. , It has a function to send a time-out signal to the interface controller when it times out, and to reset the timer and set a new timer if a timer release request is received from the timer setting before the time-out. It is characterized by that.

<Explanation of Claim 1> A managed device is a device such as a packet switch, but all devices connected via a network are targeted. Further, the information collected from the management target device is not only the device status but also the information such as billing information and traffic information.

Upon receiving the autonomous message from the device to be managed, the interface control unit requests the timer control unit to register the timer. As a result, the timer control unit
Set the timer. Then, when the interface control unit receives the next autonomous message, the interface control unit requests the timer control unit to cancel the previous timer and request the next timer to be registered. As a result, the timer control unit resets the previous timer and sets a new timer. The interface control unit repeats such an operation while it does not receive the timeout signal from the timer control unit. On the other hand, when the timer times out, a timeout signal is sent from the timer control section, and the interface control section executes polling based on this. Then, by polling, information of the managed device is collected, and the result is displayed on the display unit.

As described above, the network management system concentrates the interface processing with the device to be managed on the processing by polling, not the interpretation / processing of autonomous messages, and therefore only the configuration for polling processing is required. It can be simplified. In addition, since the timer process at the time of receiving the autonomous message is performed, polling is not performed every time the autonomous message is received, and therefore, the traffic of the network is not increased.

Further, in the network management system according to the first aspect of the present invention, if the autonomous message from the managed device is not interpreted / processed, it has a function of collecting information by polling after waiting for a certain time. The function sharing between the interface control unit and the timer control unit may be other than this.

<Structure of Claim 2> In the network management system according to Claim 1, the interface control unit counts the number of receptions of autonomous messages sent autonomously from the management target apparatus, and the number of receptions is set in advance. It is characterized in that it is configured to perform polling when the value reaches the specified value.

<Explanation of Claim 2> The invention of claim 2 is, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, provided with a configuration for performing polling by monitoring the number of times an autonomous message is received. For example, when autonomous messages are continuously received within the timer value, the invention of claim 1 may lose the polling timing.
Therefore, in the invention of claim 2, when a certain number of autonomous messages are received, polling is performed at that time.

As a result, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, there is an effect that the polling can be surely performed even when the autonomous message is continuously received.

<Structure of Claim 3> In the network management system according to claim 1, the timer control unit includes a monitoring timer having a longer timeout time than a preset timer, and receives a timer registration request from the interface control unit. If both are started, both timers are started, and when the timer release request is received from the interface control unit, only the timer is released, and when the monitoring timer reaches a predetermined time, the interface control unit is notified. It is characterized by having a function of transmitting a time-out signal.

<Explanation of Claim 3> In addition to the configuration of the invention of Claim 1, the invention of Claim 3 is provided with a monitoring timer which, once set, is not reset by the reception of the next autonomous message. It is a thing. Further, the monitoring timer has a timer value set longer than the value of the timer set / reset each time an autonomous message is received.

Thus, when the autonomous message is continuously received in a short time, the timer is set / reset each time, but the monitoring timer continues the time monitoring as it is. Therefore, even in such a case, the time-out signal by the monitoring timer is always transmitted, so that in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2,
Even if the autonomous message is continuously received, the polling can be reliably performed.

In the network management system according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the timer is once set, it is not reset by the reception of the next autonomous message, and is set / reset each time the autonomous message is received. The function sharing between the interface control unit and the timer control unit may be other than this as long as it has a function of polling with a monitoring timer whose timer value is longer than the value of.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. << Specific Example 1 >><Configuration> FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system to which the network management system of the present invention is applied.

The illustrated network system comprises a network management system 10 and packet switches 20 and 30. The network management system 10 includes a packet switch 20 and a subscriber connection line 40, which are managed devices.
And the packet switch 20 is connected to the private line 50.
Via the packet switch 3 that is the second managed device.
It is connected to 0. Network management system 10
Are packet switches 20 and 30 which are managed devices,
For example, X. 25 interfaces are used for communication.

The network management system 10 is composed of a personal computer or the like, and includes an interface control unit 11, a timer control unit 12, and a display unit 13.
When the interface control unit 11 receives an autonomous message sent autonomously from the packet switches 20 and 30 which are managed devices ((1) in the figure), it requests the timer control unit 12 to perform timer registration. {(2) in the figure}, when a time-out signal is received from the timer controller 12 {(3) in the figure}, polling is performed to collect information of the packet switches 20, 30 {(4 )}, The result is displayed ((5) in the figure), and if an autonomous message is received while the timeout signal is not received from the timer registration request, the timer control unit 12 is requested to release the timer. {(2a) in the figure} function.

The timer control unit 12 has a timer set in advance. When the timer registration request is received from the interface control unit 11, the timer control unit 12 starts the timer, and when it times out, the interface control unit 1
It has a function of transmitting a time-out signal to 1 and resetting the timer when a timer cancellation request is received before the time-out from the start of the timer.

The display unit 13 includes the interface control unit 11
It is a display for displaying the information of the packet switches 20 and 30 obtained by.

<Operation> In this specific example, the autonomous message notified from the packet switches 20 and 30 which are managed devices is not interpreted and processed, and after waiting for a certain period of time, the same interface as that of the fixed cycle polling is used. 20 and 30 are polled.

FIG. 2 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the first specific example. In addition, in the specific example 1, the constant period polling is simultaneously performed, but this is omitted in FIG.

First, when the network management system 10 receives an autonomous message from the packet switches 20 and 30, the interface control unit 11 causes the timer control unit 1 to operate.
2 request timer registration. As a result, the timer control unit 12 starts the timer. The time-out time of this timer is t.

On the other hand, when the network management system 10 receives the next autonomous message before the time-out time t has elapsed, the interface control unit 11 requests the timer control unit 12 to release the timer and the next request. Request timer registration. As a result, the timer control unit 12 resets the set timer,
Set the next timer.

After that, when no autonomous message is sent from the packet switches 20 and 30 and the timer elapses for the time t, the timer controller 12 outputs a time-out signal to the interface controller 11. As a result, the interface control unit 11 performs polling, collects information on the packet switches 20 and 30, and displays the result on the display unit 1.
Display in 3.

<Effect> As described above, according to the specific example 1, since the autonomous message is not interpreted / processed, the polling is performed after waiting for a fixed time. The configuration is not required, the configuration can be simplified, and it is possible to prevent an increase in network traffic even when continuously receiving autonomous messages.

In the specific example 1, when the next autonomous message is received before a certain timer times out, the previous timer is reset, but the previous timer is ignored. Good.

<Specific example 2><Structure> In this specific example 2, in addition to the structure of the specific example 1, the number of autonomous messages is monitored, and when a predetermined number is reached, polling is performed regardless of timeout. It has a configuration for performing. Since the configuration on the drawing is the same as that of the first specific example, the description will be given with reference to FIG.

Interface control unit 1 in specific example 2
1 counts the number of times of receiving autonomous messages sent autonomously from the packet switches 20 and 30 which are managed devices, from the time of requesting the timer registration to the timer control unit 12 to the time-out of this timer. In addition, it has a function of polling when the number of times the autonomous message is received reaches a preset value. Further, since the timer control unit 12 and the display unit 13 have the same configuration,
The description here is omitted.

<Operation> FIG. 3 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the second specific example. Incidentally, in the specific example 2 as well, the fixed-cycle polling is simultaneously performed, but in this case as well, this is omitted. Further, the maximum number of receptions when the continuous autonomous message is received by the interface control unit 11 is 3.

First, when the network management system 10 receives an autonomous message from the packet switches 20 and 30, the interface controller 11 requests the timer controller 12 to register a timer, as in the first specific example. As a result, the timer control unit 12 starts the timer. Further, the interface control unit 11 sets the counter value to the number of receptions of autonomous messages to "1". When the next autonomous message is received before the timer times out, the interface control unit 11
Sets the counter value to "2," and requests the timer control unit 12 to cancel the timer and request the next timer registration, as in the first specific example.

Further, when the next autonomous message is received, the counter value reaches the set value of the maximum number of continuous autonomous messages received, so only the timer controller 12 is requested to cancel the timer, and the timer controller 12 Polling is performed regardless of the time-out signal from 12. Then, the information of the packet switches 20 and 30 is collected, and the result is displayed on the display unit 13.

<Effect> As described above, according to the second specific example, the interface control unit 11 monitors the number of received autonomous messages within a certain time, and when the number reaches the certain number, polling is performed. As a result, the same effect as that of the first specific example can be obtained, and the polling can be reliably performed even when the autonomous messages are continuously received. That is, in the configuration of the first specific example, if the autonomous message is continuously received within the timeout time t, the timing of polling may be lost. On the other hand, in the second specific example, since the number of times the autonomous message is received is further monitored, such fear can be eliminated.

In the second specific example as well, if the next autonomous message is received before a certain timer times out, the previous timer is reset.
It may be configured to ignore the previous timer.

Further, in the specific example 2, when the autonomous messages are continuously received, the polling is performed according to the number of received autonomous messages in a certain period. It is also possible to provide a monitoring timer that has a long time and is unrelated to the timer release request from the interface control unit 11, and to perform polling with a time-out signal from this monitoring timer. explain.

<Specific example 3><Structure> In this specific example 3, in addition to the structure of the specific example 1 described above, a structure for performing polling with a time-out signal from a monitoring timer is provided. Since the configuration on the drawing is the same as that of the first specific example, the description will be given with reference to FIG.

The timer control unit 12 in the specific example 3 includes a monitoring timer having a time longer than the timeout time t, and when the first timer registration request is received from the interface control unit 11, both timers are started. When the timer release request is received from the interface control unit, only the timer of the timeout time t is released and the monitoring timer is left as it is. When the monitoring timer reaches a predetermined time T, the interface control unit 11 has a function of transmitting a time-out signal. Further, since the configurations of the interface control unit 11 and the display unit 13 are the same, description thereof will be omitted here.

<Operation> FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the third specific example. Note that in Specific Example 3 as well, fixed-cycle polling is performed at the same time, but this is also omitted in this case. Further, the timeout time of the monitoring timer in the timer control unit 12 is T (however, T> t).

First, when the network management system 10 receives an autonomous message from the packet switches 20 and 30, the interface control unit 11 causes the timer control unit 1 to operate.
2 request timer registration. As a result, the timer control unit 12 starts the timer as in the first and second embodiments, and also starts the monitoring timer. After that, autonomous messages are continuously received within the timer value t of the timer, and each time the timer is registered / deregistered. On the other hand, when the monitoring timer is first set, the subsequent timer registration request is ignored and the time monitoring is continued as it is. Then, when the monitoring timer has passed the time T, the timer control unit 12 sends a time-out signal to the interface control unit 11.

As a result, the interface controller 11
Performs polling, collects information on the packet switches 20 and 30, and displays the result on the display unit 13.

<Effect> As described above, according to the third specific example, the monitoring timer for monitoring the time from the first reception of the autonomous message is provided, and the polling is performed by the time-out signal from the monitoring timer. In addition to the same effect as the specific example 1, the polling can be reliably performed even when the autonomous message is continuously received within the timer value t.

It should be noted that the values of the timer value t, the maximum number of receptions 3 at the time of continuous autonomous message reception, and the monitoring timer value T described in each of the above specific examples are not fixed, and are set according to the management target device and environment. Is a value that is appropriately set.

Further, in each of the above specific examples, the packet switch is used as the device to be managed, but the device is not limited to this, and in addition to this, a router, a computer, a circuit switch, a frame relay switch, All devices that make up the network system, such as ATM exchanges, can be managed devices. Furthermore, the interface with the device to be managed is X. Other than 25, a LAN or the like may be used. The information to be collected is not only the device status, but also all kinds of information such as billing information and traffic information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system to which a network management system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a specific example 1 of the network management system of the present invention.
3 is a sequence chart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a specific example 2 of the network management system of the present invention.
3 is a sequence chart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a specific example 3 of the network management system of the present invention.
3 is a sequence chart showing the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 network management system 11 Interface control unit 12 Timer control unit 13 Display 20, 30 Packet switch (Managed device)

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Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A network management system for managing a managed device via a network, comprising: an interface control unit and a timer control unit, wherein the interface control unit is autonomously sent from the managed device. When a message is received, a timer registration request is sent to the timer control unit, and when a time-out signal is received from the timer control unit, polling is performed to collect information on the managed device and the time-out signal is sent. When receiving the next autonomous message while not receiving, has a function of requesting the timer control unit to release the timer, the timer control unit has a timer of a preset timer value, When a timer registration request is received from the interface control unit,
When the timer is set and the timer is timed out, the time-out signal is transmitted to the interface controller, and when the timer release request is received before the timer is set, the timer is reset. A network management system having a function of setting a new timer. 2. The network management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface control unit counts the number of receptions of autonomous messages sent autonomously from the managed device, and the number of receptions reaches a preset value. In some cases, the network management system is configured to perform polling. 3. The network management system according to claim 1, wherein the timer control unit includes a monitoring timer having a longer timeout time than a preset timer, and when a timer registration request is received from the interface control unit, When both timers are started and a timer release request is received from the interface control unit, only the timer is released, and when the monitoring timer reaches a predetermined time, the interface control unit is notified. A network management system having a function of transmitting a time-out signal.