Method for logical deployment, undeployment and monitoring of a target IP network

• US 8,111,632 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fundacio Centre Technologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya
• Original Assignee: Fundacio Centre Technologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya
• Inventors: Galan Marquez, Fermin, Munoz Gonzalez, Raul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sol, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/445,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

The method is applied to configure, reconfigure and monitor globally a plurality of network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) connected to an IP Network (10) through multiple interfaces (A₁, . . . , A_N), with several Network Elements Controllers (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, . . . , NEC_Q) connected to the same IP Network (10) through respective interfaces (B₁, . . . , B_Q). The IP Network (10) also provides a plurality of preconfigured IP functional interfaces (C_ik) from each network element (NE_i) to the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k). Each network element (NE_i) has an IP networking layer (9) and runs/executes several network-related processes (P₁, . . . , P_L) managed and monitored by this method. The method also provides configuration and monitoring of IP interfaces (D_ij) among network elements. The existing IP functional interfaces (C_ik) are used to perform such managing and monitoring. To get these aims, the method performs high-level actions instead of atomic “get/set” operations. Neither the method neither requires explicit agents-manager paradigm nor depends on a particular communication protocol for network management.

Claims

1. Method for logical deployment of a target IP network comprising a plurality of network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) capable of running network-related processes and supported on a background IP network which comprises said network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) and at least one network elements controller (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, . . . , NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IP functional interfaces (C_ik) between the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and each network element (NE_i), the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving at the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) at least one process information fragment written in a text-based information structured language for each network element (NE_i), said at least one process information fragment defining one network-related process and being part of a target network configuration structure;

creating, by said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k), a command script for each network element (NE_i) based on the target network configuration structure and to be executed at the corresponding network element (NE_i);

generating, from said at least one process information fragment, at least one configuration template for at least one network-related process and for each network element (NE_i), to be used at the corresponding network element (NE_i);

adding at least a command for setting an IP interface (D_ij), based on the target network configuration structure, between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) to each of the two command scripts corresponding to said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

adding to the command script for each network element (NE_i), after adding the commands for setting the IP interface (D_ij), at least a command for starting the at least one network-related process using the corresponding configuration template;

sending each configuration template from said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) to the corresponding network element (NE_i) through the respective functional interfaces (C_ik) and storing said at least one configuration template at said corresponding network element (NE_i);

executing at the network element (NE_i) the command script for said network element (NE_i) in a remote mode, from the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and through the respective functional interface (C_ik).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of adding commands for setting an IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) further comprises:

allocating an IP address at a first end of said interface (D_ij) at one network element (NE_i);

allocating an IP address at a second end of said interface (D_ij) at the other network element (NE_j).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) is a VLAN switched Ethernet based interface and the step of adding commands to said command script for setting an IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) further comprises the steps of:

establishing a VLAN identifier at a first end of said interface (D_ij) at one network element (NE_i);

establishing a VLAN identifier at a second end of said interface (D_ij) at the other network element (NE_j).

4. Method according to either claim 1, wherein said interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) is implemented by means of an IP-based tunnel and the step of adding commands to said command script for setting an IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) further comprises the step of establishing a configuration of the two ends of said IP-based tunnel, said two ends corresponding to the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j).

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said IP interface (Dij) between two network elements (NEi, NEj) is implemented by means of virtual circuit technology.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of executing the command script in a remote mode is performed in a one-by-one mode, for a remote execution of each command in sequence from said command script.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of executing the command script in a remote mode is performed in a batch mode for a remote execution of a plurality of commands simultaneously from said command script.

10. Method according to claim 6, wherein, if the IP interface (D_ij) between said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) is a VLAN switched Ethernet based interface and an VLAN identifier has been previously established at each end of said interface (D_ij), the step of adding commands to said command script for unsetting the IP interface (D_ij) further comprises the steps of:

removing the VLAN identifier established at a first end of said interface (D_ij) at one network element (NE_i);

removing the VLAN identifier established at a second end of said interface (D_ij) at the other network element (NE_j).

11. Method according to claim 6, wherein, if the IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) is implemented by means of an IP-based tunnel and a configuration of each end of said interface (D_ij) has been previously established, the step of adding commands to said command script for unsetting the IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) further comprises the step of removing the configuration of the two ends of the IP tunnel, said two ends corresponding to the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j).

8. Method for logical undeployment of a target IP network comprising a plurality of network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) capable of running network-related processes and supported on a background IP network which comprises said network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) and at least one network elements controller (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, . . . , NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IP functional interfaces (C_ik) between the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and each network element (NE_i), and the target IP network having at least one network-related process been previously started for said at least one network element (NE_i);

the method comprising the steps of;

retrieving at the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) at least one process information fragment written in a text-based information structured language for each network element (NE_i), said at least one process information fragment defining said at least one network-related process and being part of a target network configuration structure;

creating, by said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k), a command script for each network element (NE_i) based on the target network configuration structure and to be executed at the corresponding network element (NE_i);

adding to the command script generated at the previous step at least a command for stopping said at least one network-related process, using the corresponding process information fragment;

adding after the commands for stopping said network-related process, and if at least one IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) of the target IP network has been previously set and an IP address has been allocated at each two ends of said interface (D_ij), at least a command for unsetting said IP interface (D_ij) to each of the two command scripts corresponding to said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

executing at the network element (NE_i) the command script for said network element (NE_i) in a remote mode, from the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and through the respective functional interface (C_ik).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the step of adding commands to said command script for unsetting the IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) further comprises:

removing the IP address allocated at a first end of said interface (D_ij) at one network element (NE_i);

removing the IP address allocated at a second end of said interface (D_ij) at the other network element (NE_j).

12. Method for logical monitoring of a target IP network comprising a plurality of network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) capable of running network-related processes and supported on a background IP network which comprises said network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) and at least one network elements controller (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, . . . , NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IP functional interfaces (C_ik) between the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and each network element (NE_i), and the target IP network having at least one network-related process been previously started for said at least one network element (NE_i);

the method comprising the steps of;

retrieving at the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) at least one process information fragment written in a text-based information structured language for each network element (NE_i), said at least one process information fragment defining said at least one network-related process and being part of a target network configuration structure;

creating, by said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k), a command script for each network element (NE_i)) based on the target network configuration structure and to be executed at the corresponding network element (NE_i);

adding to the command script generated at the previous step at least a command for checking the status of said at least one network-related process, using the corresponding process information fragment;

adding, if at least one IP interface (D_ij) between two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) of the target IP network has been previously set, at least a command for pinging the IP interface (D_ij) to each of the two command scripts corresponding to said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

executing at the network element (NE_i) the command script for said network element (NE_i) in a remote mode, from the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and through the respective functional interface (C_ik).

13. Method for logical deployment of a target IP network comprising at least two network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) supported on a background IP network comprising said at least two network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) and at least one network elements controller (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IP functional interfaces (C_ik, C_jk) between the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j), the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving at the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) at least one IP networking information fragment written in a text-based information structured language for said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j), said at least one IP networking information fragment defining a IP networking layer for communication between said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

creating, by said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k), a command script for said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

adding at least a command for setting an IP interface (D_ij), being a first end of said IP interface (D_ij) at one network element (NE_i) and a second end of said IP interface (D_ij) at another network element (NE_j), to each command script corresponding to said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

executing at the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) the command script for said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) in a remote mode, from the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and through the corresponding functional interfaces (C_ik, C_jk) respectively.

14. Method for logical undeployment of a target IP network comprising at least two network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) supported on a background IP network comprising said at least two network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) and at least one network elements controller (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IP functional interfaces (C_ik, C_jk) between the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j), and the target IP network providing at least one IP interface (Dij) previously set between said two network elements (NEi, NEj), having an IP address allocated at each end of said interface (Dij), said two ends corresponding to the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

the method comprising the steps of;

retrieving at the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) at least one IP networking information fragment written in a text-based information structured language for said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j), said at least one IP networking information fragment defining a IP networking layer for communication between said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

creating, by said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k), a command script for said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

adding to each command script corresponding to said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) at least a command for unsetting the IP interface (D_ij) between said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

executing at the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) the command script for said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) in a remote mode, from the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and through the corresponding functional interfaces (C_ik, C_jk) respectively.

15. Method for logical monitoring of a target IP network comprising at least two network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) supported on a background IP network comprising said at least two network elements (NE₁, . . . , NE_i, . . . , NE_j, . . . , NE_N) and at least one network elements controller (NEC₁, . . . , NEC_k, NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IP functional interfaces (C_ik, C_jk) between the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j), and the target IP network providing at least one IP interface (Dij) previously set between said two network elements (NEi, NEj), having an IP address allocated at each end of said interface (Dij), said two ends corresponding to the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

the method comprising the steps of;

retrieving at the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) at least one IP networking information fragment written in a text-based information structured language for said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j), said at least one IP networking information fragment defining a IP networking layer for communication between said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

creating, by said at least one network elements controller (NEC_k), a command script for said at least two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

adding to each command script corresponding to said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) at least a command for pinging the IP interface (D_ij) between said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j);

executing at the two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) the command script for said two network elements (NE_i, NE_j) in a remote mode, from the at least one network elements controller (NEC_k) and through the corresponding functional interfaces (C_ik, C_jk) respectively.