JPH11272625A - Network device management system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] It is not necessary for a user to introduce a manager into a terminal, and a user can easily use all management functions of network devices provided by a vendor. A transfer server transfers a held manager to a browser in response to a request from a management terminal. The manager 33 operates on the browser 35 and manages the network device 21 by being transferred from the transfer server 31 to the browser 35 of the management terminal 23. The device 2 communicates with the agent 25 periodically.
Acquisition and display of various information of 1 and setting (change) of information
And the like. Agent 25 is an SNMP
A server on which an agent and a unique protocol are mounted, and operates as a process on the operation system of the device 21. When a request to provide management information of the device 21 is provided from the manager 33, the agent 25 accesses the device information 27 to collect the information of the device 21 in response to the request. The collected information is provided to the manager 33 via the network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a system for managing network devices by terminals connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Network devices are managed by an agent installed in a plurality of network devices to be managed and a manager operating in a management terminal installed to manage each device. This is performed by communicating with each other via a network such as a LAN.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional network device management system.

As shown in FIG. 1, an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) agent 1 is used as the agent, and an SNMP manager 3 is used as the manager. SNMP
The agent 1 is previously installed in the ROM of each network device X (only one is shown).
SN via network with NMP manager 3
Perform MP communication.

[0005]

In order to manage the network device X using the management terminal M,
It is necessary for the user to install the SNMP manager 3 in the management terminal M. However, since the SNMP manager 3 is software installed in the management terminal M, it depends on the platform of the management terminal M. Will be developed.

For example, when a terminal whose platform is Windows, which is indicated by reference numeral M1 in FIG. 2, is used as the management terminal M, an SNMP manager 31 developed to operate on Windows must be introduced. Similarly, when a terminal whose platform is Solaris is used as the management terminal M, as shown by reference numeral M2 in FIG. 2, an SNMP manager 32 developed to operate on Solaris must be introduced. However, developing the SNMP manager 3 depending on the platform of the management terminal M and providing it to the user is a very troublesome task for the vendor who is the provider of the SNMP manager 3.

Further, the SNMP agent 1 and the SNMP
Communication protocol with the manager 3 (SNM
P) and the database directory format
It is standardized by RFC (Request for Comments). Suppose that the vendor of the network device X originally extended a certain management service and data structure,
Part of the service of agent 1 (extended agent)
If it is desired to provide to the user, it may be considered to use the method described below. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the agent is extended using a vendor extension part (private MIB) of the MIB (Management Information Base) standard, and a unique communication protocol is designed in addition to SNMP. In this method, communication is performed between the SNMP agent 1 and the SNMP manager 3, and between the extension agent 11 and the extension manager 31, respectively.

In this method, the extended agent 11 is an operation similar to the operation of incorporating the SNMP agent 1.
Incorporation work by the vendor and introduction work by the user of the extension manager (application for managing the extension agent 11) 31 which is the same work as the introduction work of the SNMP manager 3 are indispensable. However, there are various types of platforms on which managers are introduced, and since managers must be developed to support these various types of platforms, a management application equivalent to the extension manager 31 is developed. And distributing it to users is very time-consuming for the vendor. This is a serious problem, especially in the case of network equipment systems that have their own extensions and do not make sense with general-purpose managers. For this reason, the vendor needs to read the ROM of the network
Extension manager 31 for users, even if embedded in
The fact is that they haven't done much until the offer.

Moreover, in the current computer network, the above-mentioned manager 3n is not so common as to be installed in a large number of terminals, and as shown in FIG. In many cases, the terminal is introduced to a specific terminal Mn. For this reason, it is necessary to perform the management work of the network device on the few terminals Mn in which the manager 3n is introduced, and it is not possible to perform the management work at a general terminal Mi.

[0010] Further, conventionally, the more an easy-to-use manager using a GUI (graphical user interface) is, the more its operation depends on the platform. Seeking a manager to run on a wide variety of platforms was a conflicting demand.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a network device management system which allows a user to easily use all the network device management functions provided by a vendor without requiring the user to install a manager in the terminal. Is to do.

[0012]

A network equipment management system according to a first aspect of the present invention manages network equipment by a terminal connected to a network, and operates on a terminal built in the network equipment. And a means for transferring the program to a terminal.

According to this configuration, since the management program built in the network device and operated on the terminal is automatically transferred to the terminal by the transfer means, there is no need for the user to introduce a manager into the terminal. .

[0014] In a preferred embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention, the transfer means is provided in a network device in a state in which a program is incorporated. This transfer means is a server that transfers a program in response to a transfer request from a terminal.
A manager for monitoring / controlling network devices, which is a relatively small intermediate code format independent of the terminal platform, is applied to the above-described program.

In the present embodiment, the network device includes an agent that collects information about the device and reports the information to the terminal. The terminal has means for activating the program.

A network equipment management system according to a second aspect of the present invention manages network equipment by a terminal connected to a network, and the terminal includes means for starting a network equipment management program.

In a preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, the program is incorporated in means for transferring the program provided in the network device. This transfer means is a server that transfers a program in response to a transfer request from a terminal. The network device includes an agent that collects information about the device and reports the information to a terminal. The program is activated by the activation unit to acquire information on the network device from the agent.

A network device management system according to a third aspect of the present invention manages a network device by a terminal connected to a network, and includes a management program built in the network device and operated on the terminal, It comprises means for transferring the program to the terminal, and means for activating the program provided in the terminal.

In a preferred embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention, the transfer means is provided in the network device in a state in which the program is stored. This transfer means is a server that transfers a program in response to a transfer request from a terminal.
A manager for monitoring / controlling network devices, which is a relatively small intermediate code format independent of the terminal platform, is applied to the above-described program.

In the present embodiment, the network device includes an agent that collects information about the device and reports the information to the terminal. The terminal has means for activating the program. The program is activated by the activation unit to acquire information on the network device from the agent. In the present embodiment, a browser is used as a starting unit.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a network system to which the network device management system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 5, the network system includes a router 11, a hub 13, a bridge (not shown), a workstation 15, a personal computer (PC) 17, and a plurality of terminals 191 to 191.
9n.

The devices such as the router 11, the hub 13, and the bridge (not shown) are used to make devices that can function as hosts such as the workstation 15, the personal computer 17, and the terminals 191 to 19n into components of a computer network. Network equipment.

The router 11 is a device for transferring a data packet transmitted to a network toward an appropriate route. The hub 13 is a line concentrator that collects various devices that can function as the above-described host, and network cables connected to network devices such as the router 11 and a bridge (not shown). Bridges (not shown) typically have more than one network connection,
This is a device that transfers packets flowing in one network to the other network.

Workstation 15, personal computer 17,
Each of the terminals 191 to 19n is a computer that exchanges various kinds of information with the operator via respective keyboards and displays, and provides a certain application service to the operator. Called.

The plurality of hosts (15, 17, 191)
-19n) and each of the above network devices (11, 13 etc.)
A computer network is configured as described above by combining the above. As described above, when the workstation 15, the personal computer 17, and the terminals 191 to 19n connect to the network devices (11, 13 and the like) (this operation is referred to as "connecting to a network"), the other work is performed. It is possible to communicate with the station 15, the personal computer 17, and the terminals 191 to 19n. One of the plurality of hosts described above may also have a function as a network device therein, in which case the machine is both a host and a network device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a network device management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the network equipment management system includes a plurality of network equipments 21 to be managed (only one is shown in FIG. 1), and a network such as the Internet or a LAN for each network equipment 21. And a management terminal 23 connected via the management terminal 23.

In the present embodiment, as the network device 21, an intelligent hub that incorporates the same equipment as a workstation, such as a CPU and a disk, and has an operating system (OS) installed to enable the use of a network function is used. The network device 21
Transfer server 3 holding agent 25, device information 27, network communication function 29, and manager 33
And 1. On the other hand, a personal computer, which is one of the hosts, is used as the management terminal 23 in the same manner as the workstation. The management terminal 23 is operated by the administrator (user) 24 and has a browser 35, an OS 37, and a network communication function 39.

In the network device 21, the agent 25 receives a process of providing information of the device 21 to the management terminal 23 via a network formed by the device 21 itself, and accepts information setting from the management terminal 23. It performs processing and the like. In other words, the agent 25
Is developed so that appropriate communication can be performed with the manager 33 transferred to the browser 35, thereby enabling the manager 33 to acquire or set (change) information provided from the agent 25. .

In this embodiment, a server in which an SNMP agent and a unique protocol are mounted is used as the agent 25. Since the device 21 also has a network function, the server
Runs as a process above. Agent 25
Receives a request to provide management information of the device 21 from the manager 33, collects information on the device 21 in response to the request. That is, by using the MIB standard as a method of specifying information, the device accesses information such as status information and setting information of the own device 21 and device information 27 including setting rules and operation rules of the own device 21. And
The collected information is provided to the manager 33 via the network.

The network communication function 29 is provided by the OS of the device 21. The network communication function 29 cooperates with the network communication function 39 of the management terminal 23 to capture the network and communicate between the agent 25 and the manager 33. Or the manager 3 from the transfer server 31 to the browser 35
3 is executed.

The transfer server 31 transfers the stored manager 33 to the browser 35 of the management terminal 23. In the present embodiment, the transfer server 31
tpd (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Daemon) is used.

The manager 33 is transferred from the transfer server 31 to the browser 35 of the management terminal 23,
It operates on the browser 35 and manages the network device 21 and has a function of periodically communicating with the agent 25 to acquire and display various information of the device 21 and to set (change) information. . For example, when information relating to the connection status of each port of the device 21 (intelligent hub) is acquired as information from the agent 25, the manager 33 displays the content as a screen (image information). As a communication protocol between the manager 33 and the agent 25, a unique protocol (tentatively called hmp, that is, Hub / Monitor / Protocol) is used.

In the present embodiment, the one developed as a Java applet is used for the manager 33. Here, the Java applet is an object displayed on a WWW page and created by a Java program, and processes input from a mouse or a keyboard, or a Web applet.
b. Interactive contents are created by creating the contents to be displayed on the browser by a program. It should be noted that the HTTP that can store Java applets
Although a hub equipped with d does not exist, in the present embodiment, since an intelligent hub having a built-in computer is used as the device 21, it is feasible to mount an Httpd capable of storing a Java applet on the device 21.

In the management terminal 23, the browser 35
Requests the transfer of the manager 33 from the transfer server 31 via the network communication function 39, the network, and the network communication function 29 when the management terminal 23 needs to manage the network device 21, and acquires the manager 33. I do. The browser 35 interprets and executes the manager 33 by operating the manager 33 transferred from the transfer server 31 on the browser 35 itself. As a result, the manager 33 communicates with the agent 25 as necessary to acquire device information from the device 21 or set device information. In the present embodiment, Netscape Navigator 2.01 or later for a Java applet is used as the browser 35,
A GUI display is performed.

As the OS 37, Microsoft Windows 95 is used in this embodiment.

The network communication function 39 is provided by the OS 37. The network communication function 39 cooperates with the network communication function 29 of the network device 21 to capture a network, and performs communication between the manager 33 and the agent 25 and the transfer server. Manager 3 from 31 to Browser 35
3 is executed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a hub port monitor provided in the management terminal 23.

The hub port monitor 41 is for monitoring the connection status of a plurality of ports provided in the intelligent hub used as the network device 21 in the present embodiment. Hub port monitor 41
, The manager 33 displays on the screen the results of the investigation of the connection status of each port of the intelligent hub in a screen configuration as shown.

In FIG. 7, port numbers 1, 2,
Although three pieces of information, their status information, and their address information are displayed, in this embodiment, ■ is set to indicate a connected state, and □ is set to indicate a non-connected state.
Ports 1 and 3 are connected, and port 2 is not connected.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing a process in which the manager 33 is transferred from the network device 21 to the management terminal 23 in the network device management system described above.

In FIG. 8, when the drive power of the network device 21 and the management terminal 23 is turned on, the agent 25 is started, and the device information 27 and the network communication function 29 etc. Wait for access to. On the other hand, in the case of the browser 35, after the drive power of the management terminal 23 is turned on,
It is started when an administrator (user) 24 logs on to the management terminal 23.

Next, when the administrator (user) 24 specifies the address of the transfer server 31 as the connection destination of the browser 35, the browser 35 requests the transfer of the manager 33 to the transfer server 31. Upon receiving this request, the transfer server 31 transmits the manager 33 held by the transfer server 31 to the management terminal 23 in order to transfer the manager 33 to the browser 35. The manager 33 transmitted to the management terminal 23 is read by the browser 35 as shown in FIG.

When the browser 35 interprets and executes the manager 33, the manager 33 starts its operation and requests the agent 25 to provide management information of the network device 21. Upon receiving this request, the agent 25
Responds to the request, accesses the device information 27, collects information on the network device 21, and
Send to The manager 33 receives the device information and displays the device information on the screen of the port monitor 41 shown in FIG. 7 as a result of checking the connection status of each port of the network device 21 (intelligent hub). The procedure for communication between the manager 33 and the agent 25 may employ SNMP, but the network device 2
It is acceptable to adopt a procedure uniquely determined by one vendor. This is because the manager 33 is dedicated to the network device 21 and no manager for another network device accesses the network device 21. It should be noted that the browser 35 displays the GUI, so that the manager 33 operating on the browser 35 is used.
Can be relatively easily made into a GUI.

FIG. 10 shows a plurality of management terminals 23a having different platforms from the transfer server 31 described above.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the transfer of the manager 33 performed to 23b.

In FIG. 10, the manager 33 held in the transfer server 31 is an execution module in an intermediate code format, and the browser 35 executes the manager 33 in an interpreter format. A common code is sufficient without depending on the platform. That is, the manager 33 can deal with any management terminal having a different platform by using a common code.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an aspect of network device management in a conventional network device management system.

In the conventional network device management system, a manager 133 provided as software for a network administrator from a software vendor is provided.
Has been introduced into the management terminal 123 which is a computer such as a workstation by the administrator (user) 124 itself. The manager 133 installed in the management terminal 123
Operates on the OS 137 of the management terminal 123.

Therefore, there is a problem that the administrator 124 has to perform a very troublesome operation of introducing the manager 133 into the management terminal 123. On the other hand, for the vendor, the manager 33
Is developed in a form depending on the platform of the management terminal 123 and is provided to the administrator 124. In addition, when a management function deviating from the above standard such as SNMP is added to the management terminal 123, the manager 133 has to be developed and distributed for each platform, which is more troublesome for the vendor. Needed work.

However, in this embodiment, the manager 33
Is stored in the network device 21 in advance as a relatively small-scale intermediate code format program independent of the platform of the management terminal 23, and the manager 33 is operated via the network in response to a request from the terminal 23 during operation of the system. The configuration is such that the data is transferred to the terminal 23. Therefore, the administrator 24 can easily use all the management functions of the network device 21 provided by the vendor.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the manager 24 very easily browses the device information 27 of the network device 21 through the management terminal 23,
It is also possible to set (change).

Further, since the operation of the manager 33 is independent of the platform of the management terminal 23, it is not necessary to upgrade the version due to a change in the processing system of the management terminal 23. 33 does not need to be developed, and the development efficiency can be improved. When the firmware of the network device 21 is updated, the manager 33 can be replaced at the same time, so that it is not necessary to separately distribute the updated manager 33 as in the related art.

Further, even when a management function unique to a network equipment vendor is added, the manager 3 corresponding to the management function is added.
Since there is no need to separately distribute 3, the labor of the vendor can be reduced.

The management terminal 23 is connected to the manager 33
Can be obtained from the network device 21 side as needed, so that the manager 24 does not need to install the manager 33 in the management terminal 23 in advance, and can save trouble such as uninstallation. The initial setting time can be reduced.

Even if the terminal is not normally used as a management terminal, the manager 33 can be transferred from the network device 21 to the terminal, so that the terminal can also perform management work. 24, reduction of communication costs, and implementation of emergency measures.

Further, information that is not restricted by standards such as SNMP and MIB can be easily provided to the administrator 24.

Further, the inconsistent problems that the manager has conventionally, such as easy-to-use GUI and compatibility with various platforms, can be simultaneously solved.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned contents are merely related to one embodiment of the present invention, and do not mean that the present invention is limited to only the above-described contents. For example, the server shown as the agent 25 in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 may be an extension of the function of the conventional SNMP agent,
A completely different agent (implementing a unique protocol) instead of the P agent may be newly developed and used.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is no need for the user to introduce a manager into the terminal, and a network device management system can be provided that allows the user to easily use all of the network device management functions provided by the vendor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional network device management system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a management terminal having a different platform used in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network device management system having an extension agent and an extension manager.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a terminal in which a manager is installed and a terminal in which a manager is not installed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which the network device management system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a network device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a hub port monitor provided in the management terminal.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a process in which a manager is transferred from a network device to a management terminal in the system of FIG. 6;

9 is an explanatory diagram showing a process in which a manager is transferred from a network device to a management terminal in the system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing transfer of a manager performed from a network device to a plurality of management terminals having different platforms.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an aspect of network device management in a conventional network device management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 router 13 hub (HUB) 15 workstation 17 personal computer (personal computer) 191-19n terminal 21 network device (intelligent HUB) 23, 23a, 23b management terminal (personal computer) 24 administrator (user) 25 agent 27 device information 29, 39 Network communication function 31 Transfer server 31 33 Manager 35 Browser 37 Operating system (OS) 41 Hub port monitor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04L 12/24 H04L 11/08 12/26

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A system for managing a network device by a terminal connected to a network, comprising: a management program built in the network device to operate on the terminal; and means for transferring the program to the terminal. A network device management system, comprising: 2. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means is provided in said network device in a state in which said program is installed. 3. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit is a server that transfers the program in response to a transfer request from the terminal. 4. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the program is a manager for monitoring / controlling the network device in a relatively small intermediate code format independent of the platform of the terminal. A network device management system, characterized in that: 5. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the network device includes an agent that collects information about the network device and reports the information to the terminal. 6. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal includes a unit that starts the program. 7. A system for managing a network device by a terminal connected to a network, wherein the terminal includes means for activating the network device management program. 8. The network device management system according to claim 7, wherein the program is included in a unit for transferring the program, which is provided in the network device. 9. The network device management system according to claim 8, wherein the transfer unit is a server that transfers the program in response to a transfer request from the terminal. 10. The network device management system according to claim 7, wherein the network device includes an agent that collects information about the network device and reports the information to the terminal. 11. The network device management system according to claim 7, wherein the program is activated by the activation unit to acquire information on the network device from the agent. Network equipment management system. 12. A system for managing a network device by a terminal connected to a network, comprising: a management program built in the network device to operate on the terminal; and means for transferring the program to the terminal. A means for activating the program, which is provided in the terminal. 13. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein said transfer means is provided in said network device in a state in which said program is embedded. 14. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein the transfer unit is a server that transfers the program in response to a transfer request from the terminal. 15. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein the program is a manager for monitoring / controlling the network device in a relatively small-scale intermediate code format independent of a platform of the terminal. A network device management system, characterized in that: 16. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein the network device includes an agent that collects information about the network device and reports the information to the terminal. 17. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein said terminal includes means for starting said program. 18. The network device management system according to claim 16, wherein the program is activated by the activation unit to acquire information on the network device from the agent. Network equipment management system. 19. The network device management system according to claim 17, wherein said activation unit is a browser.