JPH06276202A - No-answer fault monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a no-answer monitoring device which detects a no-answer fault of a monitoring device and notifies this fault to a monitored device. CONSTITUTION:A no-answer fault monitoring device is provided with the storage means 4 and 6 which store the answer waiting allowable time covering transmission of the echo request information through reception of the echo answer information for each monitored device and the continuous no-answer frequency, a no-answer monitor means 3 which monitors whether the echo answer information is received or not within the answer waiting allowable time, a changing means 5 which updates the answer waiting allowable time in a period covering transmission of the echo request information through reception of the echo answer information when an answer is received and increases the answer waiting allowable time by a fixed time when no answer is received, and a deciding means 7 which reduces the no-answer frequency of the monitored device with an answer received, increases the no-answer frequency by one with no answer received, and decides a no-answer fault when the no-answer frequency reaches a prescribed level respectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-response fault monitoring device, and more particularly, to a process for detecting a non-response fault from a monitoring device for a device (monitored device) remotely connected to a network. And a non-response fault monitoring device having a function of notifying the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Regarding this type of conventional technology, the following technical matters are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-26049 [Communication control device]. That is, a description is given of the process of detecting a no-response fault from the terminal device side in response to polling (corresponding to an echo request) from a certain predetermined communication control device. In this case, even if an attempt is made to retry polling a certain number of times without considering a temporary failure in which response data from the corresponding terminal device causes a data error due to noise or the like on the communication line, as a terminal device failure. Only when there is no response, it is recognized as a terminal device failure and this is notified to the central processing unit side. By the way, such a technique can be applied in the following situations. That is, for a device (monitored device) remotely connected on a predetermined network, an echo request /
The present invention can be applied to the detection processing of a no-response fault and the notification thereof using a response message.

[0003]

However, in the conventional communication control device, this is caused by a delay in data transmission between the monitoring device and the monitored device, a delay in response processing due to the operating state of the monitored device, and the like. It does not consider the case of temporarily becoming unresponsive (when there is no response within a certain period of time, it is considered that all related terminal devices are uniformly unresponsive). However, there is a problem that the unresponsiveness failure cannot be properly detected.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and does not perform fault detection processing based only on the number of consecutive non-responses, but it does not require a monitoring device and a monitored device. By taking into account the data transmission delay between the monitoring devices and the response process delay depending on the operating status of the monitored device, a temporary no response based on the operating status of the corresponding monitored device is immediately treated as a no response failure. Enable the detection of appropriate non-response faults for devices connected to a certain predetermined network, and thus perform unnecessary fault response work for network administrators etc. by notifying the occurrence of erroneous non-response faults. The purpose is to avoid.

[0005]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and a non-response fault monitoring apparatus according to the present invention periodically sends echo request information to a monitored apparatus via a network. In the non-response fault monitoring device (10 in FIG. 1) that receives the echo response information and monitors the non-response fault of the monitored device. Storage means (4, 6 in FIG. 1) for storing the response waiting allowable time until reception and the number of consecutive non-responses, and the reception of the echo response information within the response waiting allowable time corresponding to each monitored device. When there is a response from the non-response monitoring means (3 in FIG. 1) for monitoring the presence or absence and the monitored device, the response waiting allowable time is updated with the time from the transmission of the echo request information to the reception of the echo response information. And the response is If there is a response, the changing means (5 in FIG. 1) for performing the process of increasing the response waiting time by a fixed time, and if there is a response from the monitored device, the non-response of the monitored device. When the number of times of deletion is deleted and there is no response, the number of times of non-response of the monitored device is increased by 1, and when the number of times of non-response reaches a predetermined value, a judgment means for judging non-response failure (Fig. And 7) of 1).

[0006]

In the non-response fault monitoring apparatus according to the present invention, when there is no response from the monitored apparatus, the changing means (5) performs processing for increasing the response waiting allowable time by a fixed time.
And a judging means (7) for judging a no-response failure when the number of no-responses from the monitored device reaches a predetermined value. Rather than performing detection processing, by taking into account the transmission delay of data between the monitoring device and the monitored device and the response processing delay depending on the operating state of the monitored device,
Temporary no-response based on the operating status of the monitored device is not treated as a no-response fault immediately, and an appropriate no-response fault can be detected for a device connected to a certain predetermined network. It

[0007]

1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a hierarchical unresponsiveness fault monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the echo request message transmitting means 1 sends a predetermined echo request message to a monitored device (not shown) connected on the related network under the instruction of the non-response monitoring means 3. Send. In the echo request message transmitting means 1, according to the instruction from the non-response monitoring means 3, for example, ICMP (Internet Control M) in TCP / IP.
The echo request message of the message Protocol is sent to the IP (Internet) of the specified monitored device.
t Protocol) Address Mi is designated as the destination, and the IP address Ms of the non-response fault monitoring device is designated as the source and transmitted. The echo response message receiving means 2 receives the echo response message from the monitored device. That is, it waits for the reception of the echo reply message of the ICMP whose source is the IP address Mi of the monitored device and whose destination is the IP address Ms of the non-response fault monitoring device. The response waiting permissible time table 4 stores [response waiting permissible time information] from the time of transmitting the echo request message to the time of receiving the echo response message in response to the operation of the monitored device. Continuous no response count table 6
Stores information about the number of times that no response has occurred in succession, corresponding to the operation of the monitored device. The non-response monitoring means 3 periodically instructs the echo request message transmitting means 1 to transmit an echo request message to the monitored device. At the same time, it also monitors whether or not the echo reply message from the monitored device is received by the echo reply message receiving means 2 within a predetermined time. That is, whether or not the echo response message from the monitored device is received within the predetermined allowable time stored in the response waiting allowable time table 4 (that is, whether or not there is a response [true / false]). To monitor.
Then, the result of this monitoring is used as the response waiting time changing means 5
And the non-response failure determination means 7 is notified. In response to the notification from the non-response monitoring unit 3, the response waiting allowable time changing unit 5 [1] receives a response from the monitored device, from the transmission time of the echo request message to the reception time of the echo response message. Until the response waiting allowable time of the monitored device is set as the response waiting allowable time table 4
To memorize. On the other hand, [2] when there is no response from the monitored device, the current response waiting allowable time is increased by a fixed time and then stored in the response waiting allowable time table 4. By doing so, when a similar situation occurs subsequently, a corresponding longer response waiting time is given to the corresponding monitored device. As a result, the reliability of transmission is maintained, the occurrence of inconvenience due to the delay of the transmission is reduced, and the probability of occurrence of temporary non-response based on the operating state of the monitored device is reduced. Benefits come. In response to the notification from the unresponsiveness monitoring means 3, the unresponsiveness failure determination means 7 relates to the continuous unresponsiveness frequency held in the continuous unresponsiveness frequency table 6 when there is a response from the monitored device. Reset the information (ie, set the above information to 0). On the other hand, [2] when there is no response from the monitored device, the number of continuous non-responses of the monitored device is increased by 1, and in addition to this, the number of continuous non-responses is a predetermined value. When it reaches, it is considered that the [non-response fault] has occurred in the monitored device, and the fact is notified to the non-response fault notification means 8 in the subsequent stage.
It should be noted that the non-response fault determining means 7 in the embodiment of the present invention
Does not exceed the maximum value Cmax with respect to the number of continuous non-response times stored in the continuous non-response frequency table 6. Then, the non-response fault notification means 8
In response to the notification from the non-response failure determination means 7, the network administrator or the like is notified so that the non-response failure occurs in the related monitored device. For example, with respect to the network to be monitored visually displayed on the screen of an appropriate display means provided in association with the non-response failure notification means 8, the color of the icon indicating the monitored device in which the failure is recognized to have occurred. Is changed (for example, from blue to red) and an appropriate sound generating means (for example, a buzzer) is operated to notify the network management person that a no-response fault has occurred. By these various means, the non-response fault monitoring device 10 which is an embodiment of the present invention is configured.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the flow of processing by the non-response monitoring means 3 in the above embodiment. In FIG. 2, the non-response monitoring means 3 is activated (S21), and the response waiting permissible time WTi for the corresponding monitored device Mi and the corresponding monitored device Mi is started.
Is fetched from the response waiting allowable time table 4 (S22). Then, the echo request message to the monitored device Mi is transmitted via the echo request message transmitting means 1, the transmission time is stored in an appropriate storage means, and the arrival of a response from the monitored device Mi is waited. (S23). In the subsequent step S24, it is determined whether or not the echo reply message, which is the reply from the monitored device Mi, is received by the echo reply message receiving means 2 within the response waiting allowable time WTi for the monitored device Mi. Is done. When the result of this determination is yes, that is,
When it is determined that the corresponding echo reply message has been received within the predetermined reply waiting allowable time WTi, the echo reply message receiving unit 2 receives the echo reply message from the time when the echo request message sending unit 1 sends the echo request message. The time RTi up to the time point is calculated (S25). Following this, the monitored device M
The response from the i-side is notified to both the non-response failure determination means 7 and the response waiting allowable time changing means 5, and the calculated time RTi is sent to the response waiting allowable time changing means 5. Be notified. On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S24 is no, that is, when it is determined that the corresponding echo response message has not been received within the predetermined response waiting allowable time WTi, the monitored The fact that there is no response from the device Mi side is notified to both the non-response failure determination means 7 and the response waiting allowable time changing means 5 (S27). Then, after the processing in either step S26 or step S27 is performed, the required processing for non-response monitoring is ended (S28).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart exemplifying the flow of processing by the response waiting allowable time changing means 5 in the above embodiment. In FIG. 3, the response waiting allowable time changing means 5 is activated (S31), and the subsequent step S
At 32, it is judged whether or not the echo reply message, which is the reply from the monitored device Mi, is received by the echo reply message receiving means 2 within the response waiting allowable time WTi for the monitored device Mi. When the result of this determination is yes, that is, when the corresponding echo response message is the predetermined response waiting allowable time WTi
When it is determined that the echo request message has been received, the time RTi from the time when the echo request message transmitting means 1 transmits the echo request message to the time when the echo response message receiving means 2 receives the echo response message is calculated,
The time RTi calculated in this manner is stored in the response waiting allowable time table 4 as a new response waiting allowable time for the corresponding monitored device Mi (S33). On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S32 is no, that is, when it is determined that the corresponding echo response message is not received within the predetermined response waiting time WTi, the predetermined response is returned. Allowable waiting time WT
i is added with a certain time a, and the response waiting allowable time (WTi + a) as a result of the addition is added to the response waiting allowable time table 4 as a new response waiting allowable time for the corresponding monitored device Mi. It is stored (S3
4). Then, after the processing in either step S33 or step S34 is performed, the required processing for changing the response waiting allowable time is ended (S35).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart exemplifying the flow of processing by the non-response fault judging means 7 in the above embodiment. In FIG. 4, the non-response failure determination means 7 is activated (S41), and in step S42 subsequent thereto, an echo response message which is a response from the monitored device Mi is allowed to wait for a response to the monitored device Mi. Time W
In Ti, it is judged whether or not the echo response message receiving means 2 has received. The result of this determination is y
When it is es, that is, when it is determined that the corresponding echo reply message is received within the predetermined response waiting allowable time WTi, the continuous non-response count data for the corresponding monitored device Mi is continuous non-response. The number of times table 6 is reset (set to 0) (S44), and the process for the no-response failure determination is ended (S49). On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S42 is no, that is, when it is determined that the corresponding echo response message is not received within the predetermined response waiting allowable time WTi, the corresponding target is received. Monitoring device M
The current continuous non-response frequency Ci for i is acquired from the continuous non-response frequency table 6 (S43). Then, in the subsequent step S45, it is determined whether or not the current continuous non-response frequency Ci has reached the maximum continuous non-response frequency Cmax. When the result of this determination is yes, that is, the above-mentioned Ci is the maximum number of continuous non-responses C
If it is determined that max has already been reached, the process for determining a no-response fault ends (S49). On the other hand, the result of the determination in step S45 is n
When it is o, that is, when it is determined that the Ci has not reached the maximum number Cmax of continuous non-responses, the process proceeds to the next step S46 and the following process is performed. That is, 1 is added to the current continuous non-response frequency Ci, and the result (Ci + 1) thus added is stored in the continuous non-response frequency table 6 as a new current continuous non-response frequency. Following this, it is judged whether or not the new current number of consecutive non-responses (Ci + 1) has reached the maximum number of consecutive non-responses Cmax. When the result of this determination is no, that is, when it is determined that (Ci + 1) has not reached the maximum number Cmax of continuous non-responses, the process for the no-response fault determination ends (S4).
9). On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S47 is yes, that is, when it is determined that the Ci has reached the maximum number of consecutive non-responses Cmax, the corresponding monitored device Mi does not respond. After the notification processing of the failure state is performed (S48), the processing for the no-response failure determination is ended (S49).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the response waiting allowable time table 4 in the above embodiment. In FIG. 5, the items included in the response wait allowable time table 4 are the address 41 of the related monitored device and the corresponding response wait time 42 (in seconds), for example, # 1.
Column, the address 41 of the related monitored device
[129.249.96.31] is given as the above, and [3] is given as the response waiting time 42 corresponding thereto. The same applies to the other columns # 2 to #n.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the continuous non-response frequency table 6 in the above embodiment. In FIG. 6, the items included in the continuous non-response frequency table 6 are the address 61 of the related monitored device and the corresponding continuous non-response frequency 62. For example, regarding the column # 1, [12 as the address 61 of the monitoring device
9.249.96.31] is assigned, and [0] is assigned as the number 62 of continuous non-responses corresponding thereto. The same applies to the other columns # 2 to #n.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a network to which the above embodiment is advantageously applied. In FIG. 7, a first network 11A to which a plurality of monitored devices 7a, 7b, ... Are connected, and a plurality of monitored devices 7d, 7
A second network 11B to which e, ... Are connected, and a third network 11C to which a plurality of monitored devices 7g, 7h ,. The operating state of the monitored device in the network system is monitored by the non-response fault monitoring device 10 provided at an appropriate place. It should be noted that the bridge B and the router R are both a kind of connection device, and the former bridge B connects the first network 11A and the second network 11B, and the latter router R makes the first connection. The network 11A and the third network 11C are connected. By the way, such a system configuration diagram is preferably used in the non-response fault monitoring apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is displayed on an appropriate display screen (not shown) of the no-response fault notification means 8 included in 0, and the monitoring staff visually recognizes which of the monitored devices has the non-response fault. Has been made possible. If all of these monitored devices are operating normally, the color displayed on the display screen at this time is, for example, [blue] as a safety color. On the other hand, for example, when the non-responsive fault as described above is found in the monitored device 7g, the color of the monitored device 7g changes to [red] as a dangerous color and the occurrence of an abnormal situation is avoided. If necessary, sound generating means such as siren or buzzer will also be used. In addition, the non-response fault monitoring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention changes the response waiting allowable time for performing a process of increasing the response waiting allowable time by a certain time when there is no response from the monitored apparatus. Means (5)
And a non-response failure determining means (7) for determining a non-response failure when the number of times of no response from the monitored device reaches a predetermined value.
For this reason, in the non-response fault monitoring device according to the above-described embodiment, the fault detection process is not performed only based on the number of consecutive non-responses, but the data between the monitoring device and the monitored device is not detected. By taking into account transmission delays and response processing delays that depend on the operating state of the monitored device, temporary non-response based on the operating state of the corresponding monitored device should not be immediately treated as a no-response fault. The advantage is that it becomes possible to detect a non-responsive fault more appropriately for a device connected to a certain predetermined network.

[0014]

As described above in detail, in the non-response fault monitoring apparatus according to the present invention, the fault detection processing is not performed based on only the number of consecutive non-responses.
By taking into account the data transmission delay between the monitoring device and the monitored device and the response processing delay depending on the operating state of the monitored device, the temporary non-operation based on the operating state of the corresponding monitored device is taken into consideration. The response is not immediately treated as a non-response fault, and an appropriate non-response fault can be detected for a device connected on a predetermined network. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent unnecessary trouble target work by a network administrator or the like due to the notification of the occurrence of an erroneous non-response trouble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a hierarchical unresponsiveness fault monitoring apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart exemplifying the flow of processing by a no-response monitoring means 3 in the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart exemplifying a flow of processing by a response waiting allowable time changing unit 5 in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart exemplifying a flow of processing by a non-response fault judgment means 7 in the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a data structure of a response waiting allowable time table 4 in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a continuous non-response frequency table 6 in the above embodiment.
It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a network to which the above embodiment is advantageously applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 --- Echo request message transmitting means; 2--Echo response message receiving means; 3--No response monitoring means; 4--
Response waiting allowable time table; 5--Response waiting allowable time changing means; 6-Consecutive non-response frequency table; 7-No response failure determination means; 8-No response failure notification means; 10-No response failure monitoring apparatus.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A non-response fault monitoring device for periodically transmitting echo request information to a monitored device via a network and receiving the echo response information to monitor the non-response fault of the monitored device. Storage means for storing the response waiting time from the transmission of the echo request information to the reception of the echo response information for each apparatus and the number of consecutive non-responses, and the echo within the response waiting time corresponding to each monitored apparatus No response monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of response information, and when there is a response from the monitored device, the response waiting time is updated with the time from the transmission of echo request information to the reception of echo response information. If there is no response, changing means for increasing the response waiting time by a fixed time, and if there is a response from the monitored device, the non-response of the monitored device If you delete the number of times and there is no response,
An unresponsiveness failure monitoring apparatus comprising: a judgment unit that judges the unresponsiveness failure when the unresponsiveness frequency of the monitored apparatus is increased by 1, and when the unresponsiveness frequency reaches a predetermined value.