+

WO1998004066A1 - Gestion d'empilages repartis - Google Patents

Gestion d'empilages repartis Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998004066A1
WO1998004066A1 PCT/GB1997/001999 GB9701999W WO9804066A1 WO 1998004066 A1 WO1998004066 A1 WO 1998004066A1 GB 9701999 W GB9701999 W GB 9701999W WO 9804066 A1 WO9804066 A1 WO 9804066A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
communications
management
network
devices
stack
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1997/001999
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Peter Wilson
Peter Holiday
Richard Quine
Paul Garner
Graeme Mckerrell
Original Assignee
3Com Ireland
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 3Com Ireland filed Critical 3Com Ireland
Priority to EP97932947A priority Critical patent/EP0914734A1/fr
Priority to GB9900425A priority patent/GB2330741B/en
Priority to JP50671898A priority patent/JP2001510644A/ja
Publication of WO1998004066A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998004066A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the management of stacked communication devices, for instance in a local area network (LAN).
  • LAN local area network
  • computer networks such as LANs comprise a plurality of users which are enabled to communicate with each other via the network.
  • To enable such communication mere are provided a number of different types of interconnection device to which the users may be connected in order to form the network.
  • a communications device has a plurality of ports to each of which a user can be connected and the communications device provides links between the ports enabling the users to communicate with each other.
  • bridges and repeaters There are different types of known communication devices, for instances bridges and repeaters.
  • a bridge an assessment is made when an incoming communication is received on a port to determine the intended addressee of the communication, and the communication is sent out only the port or ports which are appropriate for the communication in question.
  • a repeater all communications received on any port are transmitted on all other ports so that all of the users on the network receive all of the communications issued by the other users and each user decides for itself whether to receive and/or to respond to the communication.
  • communications devices used in local area networks, for instance switches and routers, which act to connect users on the network in different ways and other devices connected in the network such as network analysers.
  • the details of all ese different devices are not important
  • management functions in the communications devices.
  • For the purposes of managing the network it is known to collect statistics relating to the communications which pass through the communications devices and mis is typically done by local collection of mese statistics and periodic sending of the collected statistics to a management device on interrogation. Also, it is possible that the communications devices may be remotely configured by the management device.
  • each communications device typically has a plurality of ports to which users may be connected and therefore a single such communications device can support a network up to that number of users. If it is desired to extend the capacity of the network beyond this number of users it is known to provide a stack of two or more communications devices each supporting a number of users of the network.
  • the plurality of communications devices are connected together so that users connected to one communications device can communicate with users connected to other devices. For the purposes of management in such a configuration, it is useful to be able to consider the stack of devices as a single entity for management purposes. This is advantageous in that the management device can simply send a single interrogation for statistics to the stack and receive back statistics relating to the whole stack.
  • a stack may be formed comprising a single master device and up to a predetermined number of slave devices.
  • the master device has a processor for communication with the management device and there are provided connections between the devices forming the stack to enable the processor within the master device to collect and store statistics relating to the operation of all the devices in the stack in order to be able to comply with interrogations from the management device.
  • This approach is disadvantageous for a number of reasons.
  • the communications which are required to occur between the master device and the slave devices require a substantial number of lines in the connection cable so that sufficient data from the slave devices can reach the master device for assessment by the processor.
  • the processor within the master device must be sufficiently large to be able to cope with the amount of data which may potentially be produced by the maximum number of slave units which may be connected to it. As the majority of networks would not be configured using the maximum number of slave devices with each master device this results in the provision of an over sized processor, at unnecessary cost.
  • a master device must either include enough processing power to cope with the maximum number of connections of slave units of different types, which is expensive, or it must be the case that only communication devices of the same type may be stacked together.
  • One development of the above arrangement has been to put a small micro-controller within each box in the stack, that micro-controller having basic management functions. There would still be a master device which would function to collect all the information for the stack overall for communication with the management device and for full management of the stack it is still the case that a Ml processor must be provided in the master device.
  • This further arrangement still suffers from many of the disadvantages mentioned above, in particular the fact that there is only one point of contact in the stack for the management device.
  • the present invention provides a method for the distributed management of a stack of communications devices of the general type described above.
  • each communications device is provided with sufficient processing ability to manage and collect data relating to communications occurring on its ports.
  • Each communications device is also provided with means to commumcate its collected data in a generic form, and preferably more than one includes means for receiving management communications and distributing these to all the devices in the stack.
  • the devices within the stack are interconnected by a simple communications link.
  • each communications device in the stack is provided with sufficient processing ability to be able to deal with its own ports. This means that when a network is set up, there is only provided the necessary processing power for managing the stack, rather than redundant processing power being provided to account for future expansion. Also, as each of the devices in the stack is identical from a management point of view the assembly of a stack by a user is considerably simplified as any number of devices may simply be attached together, without any consideration being given to the proper provision of a master unit with only a limited number of slave units. Also in the preferred arrangement of the present invention the management device may communicate with any one of a number of communications devices in the stack for interrogating the stack as a whole. This means that there is resilience in the management device connection and management does not become impossible if one device in the stack malfunctions.
  • the management of a stack of communications devices therefore provides advantages for the management of the network as a whole, as well as providing advantages in terms of cost and ease of use for a network user.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates in schematic form a plurality of communications devices 10 interconnected in a stack via the communications link 20.
  • Each communications device 10 comprises a plurality of ports 102 to each of which may be connected a user of the network.
  • Each communications device 10 may be any one of the known types of communications devices, for instance repeater, bridge, switch, router or any other type of device, eg dedicated network analyser, and provide interconnection between its ports 102 in a known fashion.
  • MAC media access control
  • Each device 10 also comprises a management device 120.
  • Management 120 comprises a processor 122, storage means 124 and communications means 126.
  • the processor means 122 is specific to the type of communications device 10 in which it is placed. That is, it provides sufficient processing power and function for the collection of the statistics and the management of the particular type of communications device (repeater, bridge, switch) to which it is attached.
  • the statistics collected by processor 122 are stored in storage means 124.
  • Each communications means 126 is capable of receiving communications from a remote management device via one of ports 102 and also of communicating with other communications device 126 and other devices 10 via communications link 20.
  • communications means 126 distributes the communication to the other devices 10 via communications link 20 and also responds to it itself.
  • management device 120 On receiving a management request from another box 10 via communications link 20 management device 120 considers the request itself and responds via communications link 20.
  • the communication of different types of communications devices 10 is facilitated because each unit 10 comprises sufficient processing power for the particular type of device which it is and also communications between devices 10 via communications link 20 are in a generic form so that it is not necessary for, for instance, the processor a repeater to be able to handle data specific to a bridge. It is simply the case that each communications means 126 must be sufficient to collate all the responses to a management request provided by all the boxes 10 in order to reply to the management unit.
  • each different type of communications device collects some different types of data.
  • the previous master/slave arrangement required the processor of the master unit to be able to cope with requests for all types of data for all types of devices.
  • any management request is simply copied to all the units, each of which responds to the appropriate parts of the request.
  • the communication means 26 in each device simply has to be able to handle all the replies, not understand them, and forward them to the management device.
  • each device 10 need only include sufficient processing power to be able to deal with its own ports and sufficient non-volatile memory for its own statistics.
  • each box should have the ability to provide generic coordination in order to send a full response from the whole stack back in response to a management request.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
  • Computer And Data Communications (AREA)

Abstract

On décrit un dispositif de communication utile dans un réseau et comprenant une pluralité d'unités possédant chacune une pluralité de points d'accès, ainsi qu'une liaison d'intercommunication reliant les unités ensemble et les connectant au réseau. Chaque unité comprend des moyens de traitement destinés à gérer et recueillir des données se rapportant à des télécommunications passant par ses points d'accès, des moyens de production de messages sous forme générique et se rapportant aux données recueillies, ainsi que des moyens de transfert de ces messages à la liaison d'intercommunication.
PCT/GB1997/001999 1996-07-23 1997-07-23 Gestion d'empilages repartis WO1998004066A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97932947A EP0914734A1 (fr) 1996-07-23 1997-07-23 Gestion d'empilages repartis
GB9900425A GB2330741B (en) 1996-07-23 1997-07-23 Distributed stack management
JP50671898A JP2001510644A (ja) 1996-07-23 1997-07-23 分散スタック管理

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9615423.2 1996-07-23
GBGB9615423.2A GB9615423D0 (en) 1996-07-23 1996-07-23 Distributed stack management

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998004066A1 true WO1998004066A1 (fr) 1998-01-29

Family

ID=10797346

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1997/001999 WO1998004066A1 (fr) 1996-07-23 1997-07-23 Gestion d'empilages repartis

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0914734A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2001510644A (fr)
GB (1) GB9615423D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1998004066A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2333429A (en) * 1997-11-28 1999-07-21 3Com Technologies Ltd Stacked communication devices
US6801953B2 (en) 1997-11-28 2004-10-05 3Com Corporation Trunking in stacked communication devices

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5226120A (en) * 1990-05-21 1993-07-06 Synoptics Communications, Inc. Apparatus and method of monitoring the status of a local area network

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5226120A (en) * 1990-05-21 1993-07-06 Synoptics Communications, Inc. Apparatus and method of monitoring the status of a local area network

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
VASSILA A ET AL: "INTRODUCING ACTIVE MANAGED OBJECTS FOR EFFECTIVE AND AUTONOMOUS DISTRIBUTED MANAGEMENT", BRINGING TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE - ISS & N 1995, THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTELLIGENCE IN BROADBAND SERVICE AND NETWORKS, HERAKLION, CRETE, OCT. 16 - 19, 1995. PROCEEDINGS, no. CONF. 3, 16 October 1995 (1995-10-16), CLARKE A;CAMPOLARGO M; KARATZAS N (EDS ), pages 415 - 429, XP000593492 *
YECHIAM YEMINI: "THE OSI NETWORK MANAGEMENT MODEL", IEEE COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE, vol. 31, no. 5, 1 May 1993 (1993-05-01), pages 20 - 29, XP000367615 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2333429A (en) * 1997-11-28 1999-07-21 3Com Technologies Ltd Stacked communication devices
US6425015B1 (en) 1997-11-28 2002-07-23 3 Com Technologies Stacked communication devices and method for port mirroring using modified protocol
GB2333429B (en) * 1997-11-28 2002-11-13 3Com Technologies Ltd Stacked communication devices
US6801953B2 (en) 1997-11-28 2004-10-05 3Com Corporation Trunking in stacked communication devices

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2001510644A (ja) 2001-07-31
EP0914734A1 (fr) 1999-05-12
GB9615423D0 (en) 1996-09-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5420857A (en) Connection establishment in a flat distributed packet switch architecture
US5295133A (en) System administration in a flat distributed packet switch architecture
US5991828A (en) System for automatically connecting portable device to network using network environment information including domain name of naming device and community name of network management protocol
AU675362B2 (en) Determination of network topology
US6292472B1 (en) Reduced polling in an SNMPv1-managed network
EP1146429A1 (fr) Commutateur modulaire de fond de panier d'ordinateur avec allocation dynamique de bus
JP4202026B2 (ja) ストレージシステムおよびストレージ装置
CA2092966A1 (fr) Distribution de connexions de communication entre points d'acces multiples a un service dans un reseau de communication
EP0186320A1 (fr) Réseau local de communication
US6311208B1 (en) Server address management system
US7558565B2 (en) Methods and apparatus for wireless network load generator clustering
EP0914734A1 (fr) Gestion d'empilages repartis
CN1316789C (zh) 电信网络中的改进以及与电信网络相关的改进
KR100663579B1 (ko) 초고속 정보통신망에서 비동기전송방식(ａｔｍ) 성능데이터 실시간 수집 장치 및 그 방법
EP1114546B1 (fr) Systeme de transmission adapte pour des paquets de donnees ip
US6836802B1 (en) Network management system uses proxy agent for communicating control information and event notifications between network management apparatus and agents not directly connected to a network
JPH0125464B2 (fr)
JPH1155256A (ja) マルチポイント接続における再接続処理方法
JP4602423B2 (ja) ストレージ装置およびストレージシステム
JP2743890B2 (ja) ネットワーク管理方法
KR100771915B1 (ko) 디지털 보호 계전기 및 통신 이중화 방법
JPH08154093A (ja) 無線通信システム
JP3836301B2 (ja) 異種ネットワーク接続装置および異種ネットワーク接続方法
US6542505B1 (en) ATM switching apparatus with server function
JP2730094B2 (ja) 電子メールシステムにおけるメールボックス制御方式

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GB JP US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1997932947

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: GB

Ref document number: 9900425

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 1998 506718

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1997932947

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 09214994

Country of ref document: US

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1997932947

Country of ref document: EP

点击 这是indexloc提供的php浏览器服务，不要输入任何密码和下载