Network device setting management system, network device setting management method, and recording medium recording thereon network device setting management program

• US 6,516,347 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US09/475,089
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 370/254, 707/100, 713/1
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A device control unit 12, in response to a user'"'"'s instruction to register, registers a network device ID and setting information designated by the user into a device setting information table 31 and an alteration history table 32; reads, in response to the user'"'"'s alteration instruction, setting information corresponding to the ID designated by the user out of the alteration history table 32; displays it on an input/output unit 2 to let the user alter it; updates the device setting information table 31; adds the alteration to the alteration history table 32; reads, in response to the user'"'"'s instruction to have it reflected, setting information corresponding to the ID designated by the user out of the device setting information table 31; displays it on the input/output unit 2 to let the user confirm its contents; and transmits the confirmed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

Claims

1. A network device setting management system intended for management by a computer connected to a network of setting information for a plurality of network devices connected to that network, the computer comprises:

a device setting information table in which setting information for said plurality of network devices is registered; and

a device control unit for entering, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device;

registering these items of information, matched with each other, in said device setting information table;

entering, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

reading setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and displaying it on an input/output unit; and

transmitting, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

2. A network device setting management system intended for management by a computer connected to a network of setting information for a plurality of network devices connected to that network, the computer comprising:

a device setting information table in which setting information for said plurality of network devices is registered;

an alteration history table for recording the registration history of setting information in said device setting information table; and

a device control unit for entering, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device;

registering these items of information, matched with each other, in said device setting information table and said alteration history table;

entering, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reading at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displaying it on an input/output unit;

entering the altered setting information;

updating the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information;

adding the altered setting information to said alteration history table;

entering, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

reading setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and displaying it on an input/output unit; and

transmitting, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

3. A network device setting management system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the computer is provided with:

a schedule management table for recording the time of reflection of setting information registered in said device setting information table; and

said device control unit enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in said schedule management table;

reads the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

reads setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

4. A network device setting management system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computer is provided with:

a backup setting information table for registering a backup of setting information for the network device; and

a device monitoring unit for monitoring any communication trouble that may occur in any of the network devices; and

said device control unit enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displays it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information and the backup setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information;

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table;

registers the backup setting information in said backup setting information table;

receives from said device monitoring unit the identifier of a network device with which any communication trouble has occurred;

reads setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said backup setting information table; and

transmits the read-out setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

5. A network device setting management method comprising:

a registration step at which a computer connected to a network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table; and

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

reads setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

6. A network device setting management method comprising:

a registration step at which a computer connected to a network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

an alteration step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displaying it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information; and

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

reads setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

7. A network device setting management method comprising:

a registration step at which a computer connected to a network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

an alteration step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displaying it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information; and

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a schedule management table;

reads the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

reads setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

8. A network device setting management method comprising:

a registration step at which a computer connected to a network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

an alteration step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displays it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information and the backup setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information;

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

registers the backup setting information in said backup setting information table;

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a schedule management table;

reads the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

reads setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein;

a device monitoring step at which said computer monitors communication trouble that may occur in any network device; and

a backup step at which said computer reads setting information corresponding to the identifier of the network device in which communication trouble was detected at said device monitoring step out of said backup setting information table; and

transmits the read-out setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

9. A recording medium recording thereon a program to cause a computer connected to a network to perform:

registration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

to register these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table; and

reflection processing to enter, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

to read setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and to display it on an input/output unit; and

to transmit, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

10. A group of recording media wherein said program, as claimed in claim 9, is divided into a plurality of portions, each of which is recorded on one of the plurality of recording media.

11. A recording medium recording thereon a program to cause a computer connected to a network to perform:

registration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

to register these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

alteration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

to read at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and to display it on an input/output unit;

to enter the altered setting information;

to update the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information; and

to add the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

reflection processing to enter, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

to read setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and to display it on an input/output unit; and

to transmit, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

12. A group of recording media wherein said program, as claimed in claim 11, is divided into a plurality of portions, each of which is recorded on one of the plurality of recording media.

13. A recording medium recording thereon a program to cause a computer connected to a network to perform:

registration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

to register these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

alteration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

to read at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and to display it on an input/output unit;

to enter the altered setting information;

to update the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information; and

to add the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

reflection processing to enter, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

to register these items of information, matched with each other, in a schedule management table;

to read the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

to read setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and to display it on an input/output unit; and

to transmit, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

14. A group of recording media wherein said program, as claimed in claim 13, is divided into a plurality of portions, each of which is recorded on one of the plurality of recording media.

15. A recording medium recording thereon a program to cause a computer connected to a network to perform:

registration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

to register these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

alteration processing to enter, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

to read at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and to display it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information and the backup setting information;

to update the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information;

to add the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

to register the backup setting information in said backup setting information table;

reflection processing to enter, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

to register these items of information, matched with each other, in a schedule management table;

to read the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

to read setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and to display it on an input/output unit; and

to transmit, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein;

device monitor processing to monitor communication trouble that may occur in any network device; and

backup processing to read setting information corresponding to the identifier of the network device in which communication trouble was detected by said device monitor processing out of said backup setting information table; and

to transmit the read-out setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

16. A group of recording media wherein said program, as claimed in claim 15, is divided into a plurality of portions, each of which is recorded on one of the plurality of recording media.

17. A program embodied in electric signals, enabling a computer connected to a network to process:

a registration step at which the computer connected to the network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table; and

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

reads setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

18. A program embodied in electric signals, enabling a computer connected to a network to process:

a registration step at which the computer connected to the network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

an alteration step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displaying it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information; and

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device the reflection instruction refers to;

reads setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

19. A program embodied in electric signals, enabling a computer connected to a network to process:

a registration step at which the computer connected to the network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

an alteration step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displaying it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information; and

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a schedule management table;

reads the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

reads setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.

20. A program embodied in electric signals, enabling a computer connected to a network to process:

a registration step at which the computer connected to the network enters, in response to an instruction to register setting information, the identifier of a network device the instruction to register refers to and setting information for having it reflected in that network device; and

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a device setting information table and an alteration history table;

an alteration step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to alter the setting information, the identifier of a network device the alteration instruction refers to;

reads at least one item of setting information corresponding to the identifier out of said alteration history table and displays it on an input/output unit;

enters the altered setting information and the backup setting information;

updates the setting information for the pertinent network device, registered in said device setting information table, with that altered setting information;

adds the altered setting information to said alteration history table; and

registers the backup setting information in said backup setting information table;

a reflection step at which said computer enters, in response to an instruction to have the setting information reflected, the identifier of a network device and the reflection time of the setting information the reflection instruction refers to;

registers these items of information, matched with each other, in a schedule management table;

reads the identifier of a network device having reached the reflection time out of the schedule management table;

reads setting information corresponding to the read-out identifier out of said device setting information table and displays it on an input/output unit; and

transmits, upon entry of a notice of confirmation of the displayed setting information, the displayed setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein;

a device monitoring step at which said computer monitors communication trouble that may occur in any network device; and

a backup step at which said computer reads setting information corresponding to the identifier of the network device in which communication trouble was detected at said device monitoring step out of said backup setting information table; and

transmits the read-out setting information to the network device to have it reflected therein.