Topology information automatic configuration method and its topology information automatic configuration system

• US 6,665,713 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hayashi, Yasuhiro, Kido, Masahiro, Hada, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US09/587,802
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 370/254, 370/252, 713/100, 340/285, 340/825
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A topology information automatic configuration method for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including IP address and subnet mask, established for every interface of each equipment connected to a network, comprising: a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface; and a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that each equipment including an interface having the identical network address obtained in said network address calculation step, is connected to the subnetwork of the above identical network address and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces connect together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the plurality of interfaces obtained in said network address calculation step.

Claims

1. A topology information automatic configuration method for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address, and subnet mask, established for every interface of management equipment and a plurality of managed equipment connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and storing a pair of the obtained network address of each interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the interface, into an address list storing unit;

a management equipment key address registration step for storing a pair of the network address of an interface owned by the management equipment which is obtained in said network address calculation step and the corresponding equipment name, into a key address list storing unit;

a pickup step for picking up the same information as that of the head of the network addresses stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information of each interface stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit; and

a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that the equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit in said pickup step, is connected to the identical subnetwork represented by the network address within the information and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces, of all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit, connect together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the plurality of interfaces stored in the address list storing unit.

2. A topology information automatic configuration method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an additional registration step for additionally storing a pair of the network address and the corresponding equipment name as for all the interfaces owned by the equipment in the rearmost portion of the key address list storing unit, when there exists some equipment which has a plurality of interfaces and whose information is not stored in the key address list, in all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit; and

a deleting step for deleting the information which has been stored in the pickup information storing unit from the information stored in the address list storing unit as well as deleting the same information as the head information from the information stored in the key address list storing unit, and thereafter performing said pickup step on condition that some information remains in the key address list storing unit.

3. A topology information automatic configuration method for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address and subnet mask and further including group ID for distinguishing each subnetwork as for an interface of the equipment connected to one of the subnetworks given the identical network address existing in the network, established for every interface of several equipment including one management equipment connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and as for an interface having no group ID in the configuration information, storing a pair of the network address of the interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the same interface into an address list storing unit, and as for an interface having the group ID in the configuration information, storing a pair of the network address of the interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the same interface into the address list storing unit;

a management equipment key address registration step for storing the network address within information in a key address list storing unit when the information about an interface of the management equipment stored in the address list storing unit in said network address calculation step includes no group ID, and storing a pair of the network address and the group ID within the information into the key address list storing unit when the information includes group ID;

a pickup step for picking up the same information as for the network address and the group ID as the head information stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit; and

a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that each equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit in said pickup step, is connected to the identical subnetwork represented by the network address or a pair of the network address and the group ID within the information and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces, of all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit, connects together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the interfaces owned by the equipment or each pair of the network address and group ID of an interface.

4. A topology information automatic configuration method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

an additional registration step for, when there exists the information of an interface of the equipment which has a plurality of interfaces and whose information is not stored in the key address list, in the information of each interface stored in the pickup information storing unit, additionally storing a pair of the network address and the corresponding equipment name of the interface in the rearmost portion of the key address list storing unit, as for an interface including no group ID in the configuration information, of all the interfaces owned by the equipment, and additionally storing a set of the network address, the equipment name and the group ID of the interface in the key address list storing unit, as for an interface including the group ID in the configuration information; and

a deleting step for deleting the information which has been stored in the pickup information storing unit from the information stored in the address list storing unit as well as deleting the same information as the head information from the information stored in the key address list storing unit, and thereafter performing said pickup step on condition that some information remains in the key address list storing unit.

5. A topology information automatic configuration means for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address, and subnet mask, established for every interface of management equipment and a plurality of managed equipment connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

a network address calculation means for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and storing a pair of the obtained network address of each interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the interface, into an address list storing unit;

a management equipment key address registration means for storing a pair of the network address of an interface owned by the management equipment which is obtained by said network address calculation means and the corresponding equipment name, into a key address list storing unit;

a pickup means for picking up the same information as that of the head of the network addresses stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information of each interface stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit; and

a topology information configuration means for configuring the topology information indicating that the equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit by said pickup means, is connected to the identical subnetwork represented by the network address within the information and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces, of all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit, connect together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the plurality of interfaces stored in the address list storing unit.

6. A topology information automatic configuration system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

an additional registration means for additionally storing a pair of the network address and the corresponding equipment name as for all the interfaces owned by the equipment in the rearmost portion of the key address list storing unit, when there exists some equipment which has a plurality of interfaces and whose information is not stored in the key address list, in all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit; and

a deleting means for deleting the information which has been stored in the pickup information storing unit from the information stored in the address list storing unit as well as deleting the same information as the head information from the information stored in the key address list storing unit, and thereafter performing said pickup means on condition that some information remains in the key address list storing unit.

7. A topology information automatic configuration system for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address and subnet mask and further including group ID for distinguishing each subnetwork as for an interface of the equipment connected to one of the subnetworks given the identical network address existing in the network, established for every interface of several equipment including one management equipment connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

a network address calculation means for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and as for an interface having no group ID in the configuration information, storing a pair of the network address of the interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the same interface into an address list storing unit, and as for an interface having the group ID in the configuration information, storing a pair of the network address of the interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the same interface into the address list storing unit;

a management equipment key address registration means for storing the network address within information in a key address list storing unit when the information about an interface of the management equipment stored in the address list storing unit by said network address calculation means includes no group ID, and storing a pair of the network address and the group ID within the information into the key address list storing unit when the information includes group ID;

a pickup means for picking up the same information as for the network address and the group ID as the head information stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit; and

a topology information configuration means for configuring the topology information indicating that each equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit in said pickup means, is connected to the identical subnetwork represented by the network address or a pair of the network address and the group ID within the information and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces, of all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit, connects together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the interfaces owned by the equipment or each pair of the network address and group ID of an interface.

8. A topology information automatic configuration system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

an additional registration means for, when there exists the information of an interface of the equipment which has a plurality of interfaces and whose information is not stored in the key address list, in the information of each interface stored in the pickup information storing unit, additionally storing a pair of the network address and the corresponding equipment name of the interface in the rearmost portion of the key address list storing unit, as for an interface including no group ID in the configuration information, of all the interfaces owned by the equipment, and additionally storing a set of the network address, the equipment name and the group ID of the interface in the key address list storing unit, as for an interface including the group ID in the configuration information; and

a deleting means for deleting the information which has been stored in the pickup information storing unit from the information stored in the address list storing unit as well as deleting the same information as the head information from the information stored in the key address list storing unit, and thereafter performing said pickup means on condition that some information remains in the key address list storing unit.

9. A computer readable memory storing a topology information automatic configuration program for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address, and subnet mask, established for every interface of management equipment and a plurality of managed equipment connected to a network,

the topology information automatic configuration program comprising:

a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and storing a pair of the obtained network address of each interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the interface, into an address list storing unit;

a management equipment key address registration step for storing a pair of the network address of an interface owned by the management equipment which is obtained in said network address calculation step and the corresponding equipment name, into a key address list storing unit;

a pickup step for picking up the same information as that of the head of the network addresses stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information of each interface stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit; and

a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that the equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit in said pickup step, is connected to the identical subnetwork represented by the network address within the information and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces, of all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit, connect together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the plurality of interfaces stored in the address list storing unit.

10. A computer readable memory storing a topology information automatic configuration program as set forth in claim 9,

the topology information automatic configuration program further comprising:

an additional registration step for additionally storing a pair of the network address and the corresponding equipment name as for all the interfaces owned by the equipment in the rearmost portion of the key address list storing unit, when there exists some equipment which has a plurality of interfaces and whose information is not stored in the key address list, in all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit; and

a deleting step for deleting the information which has been stored in the pickup information storing unit from the information stored in the address list storing unit as well as deleting the same information as the head information from the information stored in the key address list storing unit, and thereafter performing said pickup step on condition that some information remains in the key address list storing unit.

11. A computer readable memory storing a topology information automatic configuration program for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including equipment name, IP address and subnet mask and further including group ID for distinguishing each subnetwork as for an interface of the equipment connected to one of the subnetworks given the identical network address existing in the network, established for every interface of several equipment including one management equipment connected to a network,

the topology information automatic configuration program comprising:

a network address calculation step for obtaining network address of a subnetwork to which an interface is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, and as for an interface having no group ID in the configuration information, storing a pair of the network address of the interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the same interface into an address list storing unit, and as for an interface having the group ID in the configuration information, storing a pair of the network address of the interface and the equipment name of the corresponding equipment having the same interface into the address list storing unit;

a management equipment key address registration step for storing the network address within information in a key address list storing unit when the information about an interface of the management equipment stored in the address list storing unit in said network address calculation step includes no group ID, and storing a pair of the network address and the group ID within the information into the key address list storing unit when the information includes group ID;

a pickup step for picking up the same information as for the network address and the group ID as the head information stored in the key address list storing unit, from the information stored in the address list storing unit, and storing the same into a pickup information storing unit; and

a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that each equipment having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit in said pickup step, is connected to the identical subnetwork represented by the network address or a pair of the network address and the group ID within the information and that the equipment having a plurality of interfaces, of all the equipment each having an interface whose information is stored in the pickup information storing unit, connects together the subnetworks indicated by the network addresses of the interfaces owned by the equipment or each pair of the network address and group ID of an interface.

12. A computer readable memory storing a topology information automatic configuration program as set forth in claim 11,

the topology information automatic configuration program further comprising:

an additional registration step for, when there exists the information of an interface of the equipment which has a plurality of interfaces and whose information is not stored in the key address list, in the information of each interface stored in the pickup information storing unit, additionally storing a pair of the network address and the corresponding equipment name of the interface in the rearmost portion of the key address list storing unit, as for an interface including no group ID in the configuration information, of all the interfaces owned by the equipment, and additionally storing a set of the network address, the equipment name and the group ID of the interface in the key address list storing unit, as for an interface including the group ID in the configuration information; and

a deleting step for deleting the information which has been stored in the pickup information storing unit from the information stored in the address list storing unit as well as deleting the same information as the head information from the information stored in the key address list storing unit, and thereafter performing said pickup step on condition that some information remains in the key address list storing unit.