Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2003-12-16
Sheikh, Ayaz (Department: 2155)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
C709S221000, C709S222000, C709S223000, C709S224000, C370S252000, C370S254000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06665713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUNDS OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for automatically configuring information of topology indicating how to connect each equipment such as a router, a host computer, and the like with a network, and more particularly, it relates to a technique for automatically configuring topology information based on the configuration information set for an interface of each equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional technique for automatically configuring topology information is designed to configure information of topology in management equipment based on the information sent from each equipment connected to a network, by transferring the information necessary for configuring topology information from each equipment to the management equipment of the network. For example, a network configuration recognizing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Heisei 5-136794, is designed to transfer the sending source address of a packet received by each port of a hub, from the hub to the management equipment and according to the information transferred from the hub, configure the topology information in the management equipment.
The conventional technique enables automatic configuration of topology information as for a network already configured. However, in need for automatic configuration of topology information as for a network to be configured from now on, the conventional technique will never do. The case of requiring topology information before configuration of a network is as follows, by way of example.
In the case of configuration of a network, it is necessary to set the configuration information including IP address, subnet mask, routing information, and the like, in each equipment such as a router, a host computer, and the like to be connected to the network. In order to set this configuration information, generally a worker needs to visit the setting place of each equipment. Such a method takes a lot of troubles for setting of the configuration information, and the improvement is desired.
As a method in order to reply to the above desire, such a method can be considered, as transferring configuration information to be set for an interface of each managed equipment, from management equipment of a network to the corresponding managed equipment, through a network, thereby to set the configuration information sent to the managed equipment. In order to realize this method, it is also necessary to input into the management equipment, the topology information indicating how to connect each managed equipment to a network, in addition to the configuration information, so as to have the management equipment recognize the network configuration. Namely, in order to automatically set the configuration information in every managed equipment, it becomes necessary to establish the configuration information in every managed equipment sequentially in the order of starting from one managed equipment connected to the upstream of a network (nearest to the management equipment), thereby requiring the input of the topology information in the management equipment.
For example, when management equipment
101
sets the configuration information in managed equipment
102
and
103
, in a network as shown in
FIG. 24
, it is necessary to set the configuration information in the managed equipment
102
at first, and thereafter set the configuration information in the managed equipment
103
. At this time, if the topology information is not entered in the management equipment
101
, there is a possibility of setting the configuration information in the managed equipment
103
before setting the configuration information in the managed equipment
102
. In this case, the information for setting the configuration information is not relayed correctly by the managed equipment
102
, thereby failing in setting the configuration information.
When automatically setting the configuration information in each managed equipment via a network, it is also necessary to enter the topology information of a network, in addition to the configuration information to be set in each managed equipment. However, even if setting of the configuration information is automated, an additional trouble of configuring and entering the topology information would spoil the merit of automatic setting of the configuration information, and therefore, the improvement is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a topology information automatic configuration method and its topology information automatic configuration system capable of automatically configuring topology information based on the configuration information, even before actual configuration of a network.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a topology information automatic configuration method and its topology information automatic configuration system capable of configuring the topology information, even if there exists a subnetwork having the identical network address within a network using a local address, in other words, even if the network addresses overlap each other.
Further another object of the present invention is to provide a topology information automatic configuration method and its topology information automatic configuration system capable of detecting an error of the configuration information of each equipment before actual configuration of a network.
According to the first aspect of the invention, a topology information automatic configuration method for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including IP address and subnet mask, established for every interface of each equipment connected to a network, comprises
a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and
a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that each equipment including an interface having the identical network address obtained in the network address calculation step, is connected to the subnetwork of the above identical network address and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces connect together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the plurality of interfaces obtained in the network address calculation step.
According to the second aspect of the invention, a topology information automatic configuration method for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address, and subnet mask, established for every interface of management equipment and a plurality of managed equipment connected to a network, comprises
a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and storing a pair of the obtained network address of each interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the interface, into an address list storing unit,
a management equipment key address registration step for storing a pair of the network address of an interface owned by the management equipment which is obtained in the network address calculation step and the corresponding equipment name, into a key address list storing unit,
a pickup step for picking up the same information as that of the head of the network addresses stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information of each interface stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit, and
a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that the equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit in the pickup step,
Hada Masanori
Hayashi Yasuhiro
Kido Masahiro
NEC Corporation
Nguyen Thu Ha
Sheikh Ayaz
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