Network management system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a network management system using a network management device that manages the operating state of a wide-area communication network, in which the network management device has a redundant configuration, and one of the devices becomes inoperable due to, for example, a disaster. In that case, the other device allows the communication network to continue to be managed.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 12 is, for example, a processing configuration diagram of a synchronization control method at the time of computer duplication shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-89072. In the figure, 13 is a master-side device and 14 is a slave-side device, which correspond to a computer such as a workstation or a personal computer.

【0003】

15 is the event response unit, 16 is the event reception unit, 17 is the slave state retention unit, 18 is the update event processing unit, 19 is the difference file access unit, 20 is the self-update processing unit, 21 is the difference file unit, and 22 is the database. Section, 23 is a slave update request section, 24 is a slave update reception section, 25 is a self-update processing section, and 26 is a database section.

【0004】

Next, the operation will be described. The master-side device 13 exchanges data with other devices online and performs the processing. On the other hand, the slave-side device 14 stands by in preparation for a master failure, and when it detects a master failure, it becomes the master and continues online data processing with other devices.

【0005】

The master-side device 13 receives an event from the operator or another device in the event receiving unit 16, and in the case of a database update event, requests the update event processing unit 18. The update event processing unit 18 requests the self-update processing unit 20 to update the own database, and when the state of the slave state holding unit 17 is "operating", the update event processing unit 18 requests the slave update request unit 23 to update the slave database. Ask. The slave update request unit 23 requests the slave side device 14 for processing.

【0006】

In the slave-side device 14, the slave update receiving unit 24 receives this and requests the self-update processing unit 25. The self-update processing unit 25 updates the self-database and returns a normal completion to the slave update receiving unit 24. The slave update receiving unit 24 returns a normal completion to the master side device 13. The received master-side device 13 returns a response to the event request source via the slave update request unit 23, the update event processing unit 18, and the event response unit 15.

【0007】

If the database cannot be updated due to a failure of the slave side device 14, the master side device 13 writes the content of the update event to the difference file unit 21 through the difference file access unit 19. Then, when the slave side device 14 is restored, the contents of the difference file unit 21 are written to the slave side database unit 26. By the above method, the database can be synchronized between the duplicated devices.

【0008】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, since the conventional synchronization control method shown above synchronizes the database by a database update event from another device, a process of issuing a database update event to the device to be communicated with is inserted. There must be.

【0009】

Further, there is a problem that the database cannot be updated when the communication with other devices is interrupted, and when the master / slave is switched, the database is inconsistent.

【0010】

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the management function is stopped regardless of an event from another device or a communication state with another device, and without human intervention. The purpose is to obtain a network management device that can synchronize the dual database at regular intervals by its own processing.

【0011】

In addition, a means for switching the operation system according to an instruction from the user using this device, a means for notifying the communication network of the switching result, and a means for switching the system due to an operation stop due to a failure of the active network management device or the like. And, the database acquisition means of the network management device that will be newly used at that time, and the switchback means by device recovery when it is necessary to switch back the operation system of the network management device for operational reasons after the automatic system switching occurs. The purpose is to provide.

【0012】

[Means for solving problems]

(1) The network management system according to the present invention is connected to a communication network, has a database for network management, and manages a network, and is connected to the communication network and has a dual system. In a network management system including a standby network management device that is configured and has a network management database for backup, the active network management device stores network management information in the network management database and periodically stores this information. The standby network management device transmits the received network management information to the standby network management device, and stores the received network management information in the backup network management database.

【0013】

(2) In addition, in (1) above, a communication line connecting the current network management device and the standby network management device is provided separately from the communication network, and network management information is transmitted through this communication line. is there.

【0014】

(3) Further, in the above (1), the network management information is transmitted via the communication network.

【0015】

(4) Further, in any one of (1) to (3) above, when the active network management device receives a switching command for switching between active and standby, the switching command is transmitted to the standby network management device. The standby network management device starts operation as a working network management device according to the switching command, and sends a switching notification to the communication network. When the switching notification is received, the working network management device receives the switching notification from the active network to the standby network. The operation is switched to the management device.

【0016】

(5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, the standby network management device periodically sends an inquiry command as to whether or not the working network management device is operating normally, and the working network management device If there is no response from the above, it is judged that there is an abnormality, and the standby network management device is switched from the standby network management device to the operation of the current network management device.

【0017】

(6) In any one of (1) to (5) above, if the standby network management device is switched and operated as the active network management device due to a failure of the active network management device, there is a failure or the like. When the failure of the network management device is recovered, the network management device with this failure sends a switchback request to the standby network management device that is currently in operation, and the standby network management device that is currently in operation is released. While responding to the switchback request, the network management information is transmitted from the backup network management database to the network management device that had the above-mentioned failure, etc., and stored in the network management database. The operation of the network management device is switched, and the network management device having the above-mentioned failure is operated as the current network management device when the above response is received.

【0018】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1. To duplicate network management, the same processing program is installed, and one of them monitors the status of the communication network by active operation, tests / controls line blockage / line trace, etc., and subscribers / It manages equipment and traffic data (billing, statistical data, etc.), and the other is in standby operation.

【0019】

Figure 1 shows the device configuration for updating the database for network management at regular intervals between the duplicated network management devices. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of subscriber data and equipment data. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a database information transmission / reception sequence.

【0020】

In FIG. 1, 1a and 1b are the main bodies of the network management device, and these are usually installed at separate locations. 2 is a communication line for connecting network management devices 1a and 1b to transfer events, etc., and LAN, leased line, or telephone line is mainly used for this.

【0021】

3a and 3b are database transmitters, 4a and 4b are database receivers, and 5a and 5b are database disks containing communication network subscriber / equipment information. It defines the state and connection form. 6a and 6b are the main operation parts.

【0022】

7a and 7b are timers, and when the value of this timer reaches the specified value, the database update process is started. 8a and 8b are communication processing units that control communication with the communication network, 9a and 9b are relay lines connecting the network management devices 1a and 1b and the communication network, and 10a to 10f are switching devices for constructing the communication network. A plurality of terminal devices (not shown) are connected to each of the switching devices 10a to 10f.

【0023】

The subscriber data shown in Fig. 2 is maintained by the network management device when a new contract or cancellation of the contract is made, and is transmitted from the network management device to the switching device to synchronize the data. Therefore, the network management device stores a master of subscriber data. During data communication between terminals, the exchange device refers to subscriber data, checks for fraud at call connection / release such as connection request / release request, and determines the output destination when data is transmitted to the terminal.

【0024】

In addition, the equipment data shown in Fig. 2 is subjected to data maintenance by the network management device when the switching device is added / changed in the communication network, and is transmitted to the switching device to synchronize the data. The switching device refers to the equipment data, selects the optimum relay path during data communication, and acquires and exchanges information such as implementation when creating monitoring results when monitoring / control is executed from the network management device. It is used to refer to definition information for checking the card mounting of the device.

【0025】

For terminal equipment, necessary items (address, number of logical channels, etc.) are registered as subscriber data, and terminal classification is also performed in the subscriber data. The switching device also has a subscriber / equipment database for its own device.

【0026】

The subscriber data in FIG. 2 defines the subscriber ID, connection switching device No., presence / absence of PVC, partner address No. at the time of PVC connection, and the like. Here, the subscriber has a terminal device and uses a communication network.

【0027】

In addition, PVC (Permanent Virtual Circuit) is a communication method in which a communication partner is fixedly determined in advance and communication can be performed without performing a call connection / release operation during communication. Specify whether to do it. When communicating with PVC, specify the destination address number in order to determine the other party in advance.

【0028】

In the equipment data shown in Fig. 2, the card mounting definition defines the card of the switching device. In addition, the equipment data defines the switching device number, equipment type, line speed, and the like.

【0029】

Next, the operation will be described. It is assumed that the network management device 1a is currently in active operation and the network management device 1b is in standby operation. The operation shown below is performed even when the network management device 1b is in the active state and the network management device 1a is in the standby state.

【0030】

(1) The network management device 1a activates the timer 7a at startup. In addition, information on the timer cycle for database update processing is set. (2) When the timer 7a reaches the set time, an interrupt is issued to the main operation unit 6a. (3) After receiving an interrupt from the timer 7a, the main operation unit 6a clears the timer 7a to zero and starts the database update process.

【0031】

(4) The main operation unit 6a instructs the database transmission unit 3a to transmit the database. (5) Upon receiving the instruction, the database transmission unit 3a transmits the information stored in the database disk 5a to the network management device 1b through the communication line 2. (6) Since the amount of subscriber / equipment information of the communication network contained in the database disk 5a is so large that the transmission cannot be completed by one communication, the database transmission unit 3a transmits the database information for each file and has a fixed length. It is divided into and transmitted.

【0032】

Figure 3 shows the database information transmission / reception sequence between the network management devices 1a and 1b. (7) In FIG. 3, the network management device 1a transmits the first transmission data 31 to the network management device 1b with a file ID and a sequence number indicating that the data is the first data.

【0033】

(8) The received network management device 1b temporarily stores the received data in the database receiving unit 4b, while transmitting a notification 32 requesting the next data from the database receiving unit 4b to the network management device 1a through the communication line 2. .. (9) Upon receiving the next data request notification 32, the network management device 1a transmits the data 33 with the file ID and the sequence number advanced by one to the network management device 1b. (10) The received network management device 1b stores the received data, and repeats the process of transmitting the next data request notification 34 to the network management device 1a.

【0034】

(11) Then, if the network management device 1a transmits the final data 35 for one file and the network management device 1b receives it, the database receiving unit 4b of the network management device 1b includes the stored database information 1 Write all the data in one file to database disk 5b. (12) After the writing is completed, the database receiving unit 4b creates the database update completion notification 36 and transmits it to the network management device 1a through the communication line 2.

【0035】

(13) When the database transmission unit 3a receives the completion notification, the network management device 1a transmits a new file to the network management device 1b by the same means. (14) Do this for all subscriber / equipment information files in the database disk.

【0036】

(15) If an error occurs during processing, the previously transmitted database information is retransmitted if the next data request notification does not come in the network management device 1a. (16) If the database information does not come from the network management device 1b, the next data request notification is retransmitted. (17) In either case, if the situation does not change after resending, the database update process is terminated.

【0037】

(18) In this way, when the next timer cycle comes and the network management device 1a receives an interrupt from the timer 7a, the network management device 1a updates the database for the network management device 1b again.

【0038】

According to this embodiment, since the database is synchronized by the processing inside the network management device, the network management device is duplicated without affecting the management work for the communication network and without human intervention. Database can be synchronized in. Therefore, an effect such as labor saving of database synchronization work can be obtained.

【0039】

Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 1, a method of separately providing a communication line 2 for implementing database synchronization in a redundant network management device without human intervention and without affecting the communication network will be described. However, as shown in FIG. 4, instead of providing the communication line 2, communication lines 11a and 11b connecting the network management devices 1a and 1b and the communication network are provided and used as a line for database information communication. ..

【0040】

Here, the network management device operates itself as a station in the communication for management work like the switching device, and when it is duplicated, both network management devices have the same recognition of the station. .. When treated as a station, processing can be performed without being aware of which of the two network management devices is the active system when viewed from the processing on the switching device side. Here, the station is treated as a station in the network management device as well as the switching device so that the communication between the network management device and the switching device at the time of control / monitoring can be performed without distinction from the communication between the switching devices. It has the concept of.

【0041】

However, when communicating database information, communication is impossible because the two network management devices cannot be distinguished on the switching device side in the communication handled by the station. Therefore, the network management devices 1a and 1b are used as terminals connected to the switching devices 10a and 10b, respectively, to communicate database information.

【0042】

To explain the operation, (1) The network management devices 1a and 1b define their own addresses as subscriber data and register them in the exchange devices 10a and 10b. Figure 5 shows an example of address definition using this subscriber data.

【0043】

(2) Furthermore, PVC is defined for the addresses defined by the network management devices 1a and 1b, and a communication path is established between them. As shown in Fig. 5, the definition example of PVC has PVC, so specify the network management device of the other party as the other party's address No. when connecting to PVC, and specify it by sending this specified data to the exchange device. It is trying to communicate with the communication partner without call connection / release operation. The connection switching device No. 1001 represents the switching device 10a, and 1002 represents the switching device 10b.

【0044】

(3) When updating the database information, in the network management device 1a, the database transmission unit 3a started by receiving an instruction from the main operation unit 6a sends the database information to the communication line 11a through the communication processing unit 8a. (4) The database information reaches the network management device 1b via the switching device 10a, the relay line 12, the switching device 10b, and the communication line 11b according to the established communication path.

【0045】

(5) The main operation unit 6b of the network management device 1b passes the received database information to the database reception unit 4b via the communication processing unit 8b. (6) The subsequent next data request notification is passed to the network management device 1a via the communication lines 11b and 11a using the similarly established communication path. (7) Subsequent processing similar to that shown in the first embodiment is performed by communication using the communication lines 11a and 11b.

【0046】

As a modification of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the switching device 10a may be shared by the network management devices 1a and 1b. Fig. 4 shows that when the network management devices 1a and 1b are installed at a distance, the nearby switching devices 10a and 10b are used, respectively. In Fig. 6, the network management devices 1a and 1b are used. This is a case where the exchange device 10a can be shared at a relatively short distance.

【0047】

According to this embodiment, it is not necessary to separately establish a communication line between the network management devices, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained only by establishing a terminal line between the network management device and the switching device. In addition, the effect of reducing the cost in terms of line equipment can be expected.

【0048】

Embodiment 3. In Embodiments 1 and 2, a means for database synchronization in a redundant network management device, which does not involve human intervention and does not affect the management work for the communication network, has been described. After introducing this means, the user manually performs the system switching operation of the network management device.

【0049】

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of switching notification when switching the network management device currently in operation from the network management device 1a to the network management device 1b. In FIG. 7, the network management device 1a that receives the switching instruction from the user (maintenance / operator of the network management device) creates a switching notification in the main operation unit 6a and sends the switching notification to the network management device 1b through the communication line 2. Send. This switching command is, for example, a command as shown in FIG.

【0050】

(1) The main operation unit 6b of the network management device 1b that received the switching notification creates and transmits a response to the switching notification to the network management device 1a, and then switches its own state from the standby state to the active state. Start the timer indicated by 1. (2) Then, create and send a network management device switching notification to all the switching devices that make up the communication network (switching devices indicated by 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f in Fig. 7). ..

【0051】

By this means, the switching device in the communication network can recognize that the system of the network management device has been switched. On the other hand, the network management device 1a that has transmitted the switching notification switches its own state from the active state to the standby state after receiving the response from the network management device 1b.

【0052】

This system switching can also be performed from the network management device 1b to the network management device 1a.

【0053】

According to the third embodiment, the user simply issues a switching instruction as necessary for operation, including the synchronization of the database at any time in the first and second embodiments. Since the state network management device can be switched, it is possible to obtain an effect that the operation system can be easily and safely switched, especially when inspection work or maintenance of the network management device is required.

【0054】

Embodiment 4. In Embodiment 3, the method of switching the operation of the network management device according to the switching instruction of the user has been described, but in the present embodiment, the network management device operating in the active state operates for some reason. The method of switching the operation when it becomes impossible is shown.

【0055】

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the flow of switching signals when the network management device currently in operation is switched from the network management device 1a to the network management device 1b when an abnormality occurs. In addition, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a signal flow for acquiring a subscriber / equipment database owned by a switching device when an abnormality occurs.

【0056】

(1) In FIG. 9, the standby network management device 1b periodically inquires about the operating status of the network management device 1a that is operating in the active state through the communication line 2. This inquiry is made by a timer (not shown) provided separately from the timer 7b shown in FIG. 1, for example, by setting the operation time every second.

【0057】

(2) Normally, a response is returned from the network management device 1a, but when it becomes impossible to operate in the current state due to a failure in the network management device 1a, a response to the inquiry is returned. It will not come.

【0058】

(3) The main operation unit 6b of the network management device 1b switches its operation state from the standby state to the active state when the response reception cannot be detected for a certain period of time and a certain number of times including retransmission.

【0059】

(4) After that, as in the case of manual switching, the network management device 1b notifies all the switching devices in the communication network that the system switching has occurred in the network management device. As a response to this notification, FIG. As shown in, if you specify in the notification to include the subscriber / equipment database owned by the switching device 10, the database is updated by the network management device 1b after receiving the response, and the same database information as before the failure occurred. The network management device 1b is started as an active system.

【0060】

According to this embodiment, when the network management device is switched due to a failure, for example, the network management device goes down immediately after the maintenance of subscriber / equipment information, and depending on the timing, the database of the network management device after switching is before maintenance. Even if there is a risk of data inconsistency with the switching device, the network management device that will be in the current state should prevent troubles due to the database inconsistency by incorporating the database of the switching device. The effect of being able to do is obtained.

【0061】

Embodiment 5. In Embodiment 4, the system switching of the network management device in the event of a failure has been described, but normally the network management device in which a failure has occurred operates in a standby state even if it is restored. However, for operational reasons, it may be necessary to return to the state before the failure occurred. This embodiment shows means for returning to the state before the occurrence of the failure, and there is also a means for using manual system switching to return to the state before the occurrence of the failure, but here, the system is automatically switched.

【0062】

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of switching notification when the network management device currently in operation is switched from the network management device 1b to the network management device 1a. As shown in the figure, if the two network management devices are provided with a master-slave relationship in advance, the switchback process can be performed only by restoring the main network management device.

【0063】

In FIG. 11, 1a is a network management device designated as a main system, and 1b is a network management device designated as a slave system. (1) Normally, the network management device 1a operates in the active state and the network management device 1b operates in the standby state. (2) If the network management device 1a fails and becomes inoperable, the network management device 1b switches to the current state and continues the management work.

【0064】

(3) In this state, when the network management device 1a is restored, the network management device 1a issues a switchback request to the network management device 1b through the communication line 2 by the main operation unit 6a. (4) The network management device 1b that receives the switchback request sends a response to the network management device 1a, and then switches from the active state to the standby state. (5) On the other hand, after receiving the response, the network management device 1a is started in the active state after updating the database, and the switchback is completed.

【0065】

According to this embodiment, the switchback is performed only by restoring the main network management device without manually performing the switchback, so that it is possible to obtain the effect of saving labor for the user.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a network management system for performing database synchronization with the duplicated network management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure which shows the data structure of the subscriber data and the equipment data by Embodiment 1 of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a figure which showed the data sequence of the database synchronization processing by Embodiment 1 of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a network management system for performing database synchronization using a terminal line connecting to a communication network according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a figure which shows the data example of the address definition by Embodiment 2 of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a modified example of a network management system for performing database synchronization using a terminal line connecting to a communication network according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 7]

It is a figure which showed the flow of the manual network management apparatus switching notification by Embodiment 3 of this invention.

[Fig. 8]

It is a figure which shows the data structure of the switching command by Embodiment 3 of this invention.

[Fig. 9]

It is a figure which showed the flow of the operation state inquiry of the redundant network management apparatus by Embodiment 4 of this invention.

[Fig. 10]

It is a figure which showed the flow of the switching notification and the response of the network management apparatus and the exchange apparatus by Embodiment 4 of this invention.

[Fig. 11]

It is a figure which showed the flow of the cutback processing between the duplicated net management apparatus by Embodiment 5 of this invention.

[Fig. 12]

It is a block diagram of the network management system which showed the flow of the conventional database update process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b network management device, 2 communication lines, 3a, 3b database transmitter, 4a, 4b database receiver, 5a, 5b database disk, 6a, 6b main operation unit, 7a, 7b timer, 8a, 8b communication processing unit, 9a, 9b relay line, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f switch, 11a, 11b communication line, 12 relay line, 30 communication network.