Method of collectively managing dispersive log, network system and relay computer for use in the same

• US 6,336,141 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Katsumata, Osamu, Kayashima, Makoto, Terada, Masato, Fujiyama, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/393,618
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/236, 370/401
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

In a network system in which each of multiple networks, each containing computers and relay computers, is connected to another network via multiple relay computers which belong to the network concerned, and the communication between two computers belonging to different networks is performed on a communication path via multiple relay computers, there is provided a management computer for collectively managing logs which are dispersively and separately recorded in the multiple respective relay computers.

Claims

1. A method of collectively managing log information individually recorded in each of a plurality of relay computers by using one management device in a network system in which a communication among computers belonging to different networks is performed on a communication path via multiple relay computers, comprising:

transmitting request information of a log check from said management computer;

successively transferring the request information of a log check among all the relay computers which relay the communication corresponding to the request information;

successively accumulating the transferring result information of the log check in the opposite direction to the transfer direction of the request information; and

outputting the result information of the log check from said management computer.

2. A relay computer for use in a network system in which two computers belonging to different networks communicate with each other on a communication path via multiple relay computers, comprising:

log recording means for recording log information of a relayed communication for extracting identifier information from data of the communication to record the identifier information being associated with the log information,

wherein said identifier information is generated when the communication path is established for identifying the communication;

log check means for searching the log information for information corresponding to request information of a log check received from a management computer or another relay computer and generating result information of the log check;

request information transmitting means for transmitting the request information of the log check to another relay computer; and

means for transmitting the result information thus generated and result information received from said other relay computer to a relay computer or a management computer which is the origin of the log check.

3. The relay computer according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for receiving the identifier information from said relay computer or another relay computer when the communication path is established; and

means for transmitting the identifier information to another relay computer which establishes a communication path with said relay computer.

4. The relay computer according to claim 3, further comprising:

means for determining whether the identifier information is transmitted, based on a connection address of said computer, before the identifier information being received from said relay computer or another relay computer is transmitted.

5. The relay computer according to claim 3, wherein said request information transmitting means transmits the identifier information corresponding to the received request information as request information of a log check, and said log check means searches the log information based on the identifier information when the identifier information is received as the request information of the log check.

6. The relay computer according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for extracting the identifier information being associated with the log information which relates to the request information of the log check received by said relay computer.

7. The relay computer according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for extracting plural pieces of identifier information being associated with plural pieces of log information which relate to the request information of the log check received by said relay computer, and for collecting the log information relating to a communication specified by each piece of identifier information from all the relay computers concerning the communication.

8. A relay computer for use in a network system in which two computers belonging to different networks perform communication with each other on a communication path via multiple relay computers, said relay computer includes a processor, a network control unit for performing communication in a network;

and a memory unit for storing programs to be executed by said processor and a log file,

wherein said processor executes a process comprising;

receiving identifier information for identifying the communication which is performed on the communication path to be established through said network control unit, and transmitting the identifier information to another relay computer which establishes the communication path with said relay computer,

wherein said identifier information is generated when the communication path is established for identifying the communication, and

recording the log information of the communication relayed by said relay computer as the log file into said memory unit in such a format that the identifier information is extracted from data of the communication and is added to the log information of the communication associated with each other;

specifying the identifier information of the communication corresponding to request information of a log check when the request information of a log check has been received through said network control unit to obtain log information added with the identifier information as a check-result;

transmitting the request information of a log check through said network control unit to another relay computer which relays the communication corresponding to the request information together; and

transmitting the result of the log check thus obtained and a result of a log check transmitted from another relay computer in association with the log check through said network control unit to a relay computer or a management computer which is the origin of the log check.

9. A network system with a function of collectively managing dispersive logs, said network system comprising:

a plurality of networks having relay computers and computers; and

a network including said relay computers which are connected to one another,

wherein communication between said computers which belong to different networks being performed via a plurality of relay computers of said relay computers, and a management computer,

wherein said management computer comprises;

means for receiving a log-check instruction and transmitting request information of the log check to a relay computer belonging to the same network as the computer concerned, and

means for receiving result information of the log check and outputting the result information, and

wherein each of said relay computers comprises;

log recording means for recording log information on a communication relayed by said relay computer and identifier information for identifying the communication while associating the log information and identifier information with each other,

log check means for searching the log information corresponding to the request information of the log check which is received from said management computer or another relay computer and generating the result information of the log check,

request information transmitting means for transmitting the request information of the log check to another relay computer,

means for transmitting the result information thus generated and the result information received from said other relay computer to a relay computer or a management computer which is a request origin,

means for receiving the identifier information from said relay computer or another relay computer when the communication path is established,

means for transmitting the identifier information to another relay computer which establishes a communication path with said relay computer, and

means for determining whether the identifier information is transmitted, based on a connection address of said computer, before the identifier information being received from said relay computer concerned or another relay computer is transmitted.

10. A network system with a function of collectively managing dispersive logs, said network system includes comprising:

a plurality of networks having relay computers and computers; and

a network including said relay computers which are connected to one another,

wherein communications between said computers which belong to different networks being performed via a plurality of relay computers of said relay computers, and a management computer,

wherein said management computer comprises;

means for receiving a log-check instruction and transmitting request information of the log check to a relay computer belonging to the same network as the computer concerned, and

means for receiving result information of the log check and outputting the result information,

wherein each of said relay computers comprises;

log recording means for recording log information on a communication relayed by said relay computer and identifier information for identifying the communication while associating the log information and identifier information with each other,

log check means for searching the log information corresponding to the request information of the log check which is received from said management computer or another relay computer and generating the result information of the log check,

request information transmitting means for transmitting the request information of the log check to another relay computer,

means for transmitting the result information thus generated and the result information received from said other relay computer to a relay computer or a management computer which is an origin of the request, and

means for transmitting the identifier information received from said computer or another relay computer to another relay computer which establishes a communication path with said relay computer concerned,

wherein said request information transmitting means transmits the identifier information corresponding to the received request information as request information of log check, and said log check means searches the log information based on the identifier information when the identifier information is received as the request information of the log management.

11. The network system according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for extracting the identifier information being associated with the log information which relates to the request information of the log check received by said relay computer.

12. The network system according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for extracting plural pieces of identifier information being associated with plural pieces of log information which relate to the request information of the log check received by said relay computer, and collecting the log information relating to the communication specified by each piece of identifier information from all the relay computers concerning the communication.