Network managing method and system

• US 6,735,626 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shigeta, Akio, Miyazaki, Satoshi, Miyake, Shigeru, Tezuka, Satoru, Mizuguchi, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HIEU C
• Application Number:
  US09/536,640
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 709/100, 709/221-225, 709/228, 370/396, 370/397, 370/400, 345/853, 714/4, 714/21, 714/25, 714/30
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/122 of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities

Abstract

A network managing method which divides a network to be managed into a plurality of virtual closed area networks, and defines management information on the virtual closed area networks separately in a plurality of logical hierarchies. A virtual LAN/network space defines a connection state among closed area networks, a closed area space defines attribute information on nodes within a closed area network, and a virtual service defines logical arrangement information on nodes in the overall network. The management information is distributively stored in each node and utilized for MAC control. When the configuration of the network is changed due to movements of nodes, an administrator inputs the contents of the change from the manager of each layer, so that the manager communicates with a node containing corresponding management information to instruct the node to update management information.

Claims

1. A network managing system for managing a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising:

physical network managing means for defining and managing a physical network;

closed area managing means for defining and managing each of a plurality of closed areas, each closed area including all nodes in each of a plurality of virtual and one of a plurality of virtual services, each virtual network including some of the nodes in the physical network and being a logical network overlapping the physical network;

service managing means for defining and managing the virtual services, each virtual service being a virtual hierarchical structure network for collectively managing relationships among the nodes and user and belonging information in the hierarchical structure network; and

interconnection managing means for defining and managing each virtual network and each closed area on each virtual service, and interconnection between the virtual networks,

wherein each node belongs to the physical network and at least one of the virtual networks,

wherein each object of each virtual service defines and manages relation between a node of the physical network and a node of the virtual network, and

wherein said respective managing means change their settings with respect to a change of a node of the physical network, a node of the virtual network, or an object of a virtual service and provides a notice of such change to a related managing means.

2. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said node is one of a terminal, a switch circuit, router, a switching node, and a bridge.

3. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein the physical network managing means, the interconnection managing means, closed area managing means, and service managing means communicate with the associated nodes to exchange information respectively.

4. A network managing system according to claim 3, wherein said exchanged information includes:

a capability description of node which is sent from the node to the managing system;

a configuration parameter which is sent from the managing system to the node for changing and/or updating configuration of said node; and

a status report which sent from said node to the managing system for reporting the status of the node and/or a result of changing the configuration in response to receipt of said configuration parameter.

5. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said interconnection managing means defines a group by selecting nodes in the network in response to user indication, stores the defined information, and transmits the defined information to associated nodes.

6. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said interconnection managing means displays current connection state between the virtual networks, updates the connection state in response to user indication, stores the updated connection state, and transmits it to associated nodes.

7. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said closed area managing means requires the node to send the managing information on the node in response to user indication, displays the managing information sent from the node, updates the managing information in response to the user input, and transmits the updated information to the nodes.

8. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said service managing means displays the current service information in response to user indication, registers or updates the service information in response to the user input, and transmits the update service information to associated nodes and the associated interconnection managing means.

9. A network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said network managing system is accomplished by a plurality of network devices.

10. A network managing method for managing a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising:

a first step of defining and managing each virtual network, which includes some of said nodes in a physical network and is a logical network overlapping with the physical network, and interconnection between the virtual networks;

a second step of defining and managing all nodes in each virtual network; and

a third step of defining and managing a relationship among nodes and user and belonging information,

wherein arrangement information on all nodes in the network is hierarchically managed, and

wherein when a piece of hierarchically managed information is changed, a notice of the change and the contents of the change is transmitted to an upper layer and/or a lower layer information to reflect the change in said upper and/or lower layers.

11. A network managing method according to claim 10, wherein said first defining step comprises the steps of:

defining a group by selecting nodes in the network in response to user indication;

storing the defined information; and

transmitting the defined information to associated nodes.

12. A network managing method according to claim 10, wherein said first defining step comprises the steps of:

displaying current connection state between the virtual networks;

updating the connection state in response to user indication;

storing the updated connection state; and

transmitting the updated connection state to associated nodes.

13. A network managing method according to claim 10, wherein said second defining step comprises the steps of:

requiring the node to send the managing information of the node in response to user indication;

displaying the managing information sent from the node;

updating the managing information in response to the user input; and

transmitting the updated information to the node.

14. A network managing system according to claim 10, wherein said third defining step comprises the steps of:

displaying the current service information in response to user indication;

registering or updating the service information in response to the user input; and

transmitting the update service information to associated nodes.