Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-02-20
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2757)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192402
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUNDS OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network management system and a network management method capable of controlling an agent even when a fault occurred on a logical communication channel between a manager and the agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional network management system of this kind forms a hierarchical network management system provided with a sub-manager between an agent (management function module of a managed node) and a manager (management function module of a management node, and hereinafter referred to as an integration manager) in a large-scaled network management by use of an (SNMP). Management objects in the management range of a sub-manager are periodically collected under the control of the sub-manager, through the mediation of each agent belonging to the management range, and this collected information is notified to an integration manager in reply to a reference request from the integration manager, thereby controlling the management objects of each agent.
This kind of the conventional technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Heisei 7-334445, “Hierarchical Network Management System”. Logical relationship between agents, sub-managers, and an integration manager in a network management system disclosed in the same publication is shown in FIG.
12
. In the management system shown in
FIG. 12
, between a sub-manager
1210
a
and each agent
1220
a
,
1221
a
, the management objects are controlled by use of the SNMP and ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) that are management standards of the IAB (Internet Activities Board). Between the sub-manager
1210
a
and an agent non-installed IP node
1230
a
, the management objects are controlled by use of the ICMP. The sub-manager
1210
a
is connected with a collected MIB database
1240
a
holding a plurality of management object groups collected through the agents in the management range in the MIB (Management Information Base) format of tree structure. A sub-manager
1210
b
, an agent
1220
b
, an agent non-installed IP node
1230
b
, and a collected MIB database
1240
b
are connected with each other in the same logical relationship. Each sub-manager is connected to an integration manager
1200
.
In a network management system constituted as mentioned above, the respective sub-managers
1210
a
and
1210
b
are provided with the SNMP agent function toward the integration manager
1200
and the information of the collected MIB database is notified in reply to a reference request from the integration manager.
The above-mentioned conventional network management system, however, sets up one unit as a manager (sub-manager) to which each agent notifies the management objects. Therefore, when a fault has occurred on a logical communication channel between a sub-manager and an agent, the agent cannot be controlled by the sub-manager and an integration manager disadvantageously, in spite of actually being in the state capable of notifying the management objects. The similar disadvantage may occur between a sub-manager and an integration manager.
Since a small-sized network containing the small number of agents needs no sub-manager originally prepared for dispersing the processing load of a manager, a hierarchical network management system consisting of an integration manager and sub-mangers would not necessarily improve the quality of the network management.
Further, in case of a hierarchical network management system consisting of an integration manager and sub-managers, a logical communication channel between an integration manager and a sub-manger and a logical communication channel between a sub-manager and an agent must be both in the normal condition in order that the integration manager might control the agents. Therefore, in a small-sized network naturally requiring no sub-manager, the quality of the network management would deteriorate on the contrary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a network management system and a network management method capable of controlling agents even when a fault has occurred on a logical communication channel between a manger and an agent.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a network management system and a network management method capable of improving the quality of the network management regardless of the size of the network.
According to the first aspect of the invention, a network management system for controlling a network having a plurality of agents and a manager for controlling management objects of the plurality of agents which are respectively connected by a logical communication channel, wherein
the plurality of agents are respectively having a function of an acting manager receiving the management objects of the other agents and sending the management objects to the manager, and
the manager having a function of controlling the management objects of an agent incapable of communication, through the mediation of the other agent working as the acting manager, when the manager fails to communicate with the agent because a fault has occurred on the logical communication channel and destroyed the communication.
In the preferred construction, the manager comprises a communication state monitoring means for monitoring communication state between the plurality of agents and the manager itself, an acting manager candidate inquiring means for inquiring of the plurality of agents whether communication with the agent incapable of communication is possible or not and receiving a reply from each acting manager candidate, that is an agent capable of communicating with the agent incapable of communication, an acting manager deciding means for deciding one of the acting manager candidates as an acting manager, and an acting manager controlling means for controlling the management objects of an agent incapable of communicating with the manager, through the mediation of the acting manager, while
each of the agents comprises an acting manager candidate notifying means for checking whether the communication with the agent incapable of communication is possible or not, in reply to the inquiry from the manager, and when it is possible, making a reply indicating that this agent is an acting manager candidate, for the manager, and a management object notifying means for receiving the management objects of the agent incapable of communication and sending the management objects to the manager.
In the preferred construction,
3. A network management system the manager comprises a communication state monitoring means for monitoring communication state between the plurality of agents and the manager itself, an acting manager candidate inquiring means for inquiring of the plurality of agents whether communication with the agent incapable of communication is possible or not and receiving a reply from each acting manager candidate, that is an agent capable of communicating with the agent incapable of communication, an acting manager deciding means for deciding one of the acting manager candidates as an acting manager, and an acting manager controlling means for controlling the management objects of an agent incapable of communicating with the manager, through the mediation of the acting manager, while
each of the agents comprises an acting manager candidate notifying means for checking whether the communication with the agent incapable of communication is possible or not, in reply to the inquiry from the manager, and when it is possible, making a reply indicating that this agent is an acting manager candidate, for the manager, a manager registration change instructing means for instructing the agent incapable of communication to change the sending destination of the management objects from the manager to this agent when this agent is specified as the acting manager by the manager, and a management object notifying means for receiving the management objects of the agent incapable of communication and sending the management o
Maung Zarni
McGuireWoods LLP
NEC Corporation
Trim Nkosi N
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