JP2004180182A - Lan switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a LAN switch capable of returning to a high-speed connection mode in the case of shifting down to a low-speed connection mode. <P>SOLUTION: When a transmission speed with a network device connected to each port changes to a low speed, negotiation processing of the corresponding port is started. Therefore, there is a possibility of resetting to a high transmission speed to consequently enable higher-speed data transmission. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a LAN switch that includes a plurality of ports compliant with the IEEE 802.3 standard and that manages a connection mode of a device connected to each port.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a LAN switch (also referred to as a “switching hub”) that includes a plurality of ports compliant with the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages the connection mode of devices connected to each port includes a network connected to each port. The network efficiency is improved by storing a MAC (Media Access Control) address (= “physical address”) of the terminal in an address table.
[0003]
In addition, there has been proposed such a LAN switch capable of fixing a transmission speed / mode with a network terminal having no auto-negotiation function (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-349802
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the IEEE 802.3 committee has defined auto negotiation as means for automatically setting the communication speed with a connection partner in 10 Mbps Ethernet. This is because when the Ethernet connection device is connected by a twisted pair cable, or when the power of one of the connected devices is turned on (including reset) in the connected state, transmission from each device is performed. This function automatically selects the optimal and common capability using the link pulse to be used.
[0006]
FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of the connection modes defined in the standard in descending order of priority. The higher the priority, the faster the connection mode. Note that the first “1000”, “100”, and “10” indicate the transmission speed (unit: Mbps), the next “BASE” indicates that the transmission is the base mode transmission, and the last “T”, “T”. “T2”, “T4”, and “TX” each represent a basic technical level.
[0007]
However, as described above, since auto negotiation is performed only at the time of link initialization, if the connection mode automatically selected is shifted down to a slow connection mode due to external noise or the like, However, it is not possible to return to the high-speed connection mode that should be.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a LAN switch that can return to a high-speed connection mode when downshifting to a low-speed connection mode.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a LAN switch that includes a plurality of ports compliant with the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages a connection mode of devices connected to each port. A connection unit having an auto-negotiation function for adjusting a mode, an address table for storing a physical address of a device to which each of the connection units is connected, a set transmission speed and a transmission mode in association with each other, and the address It is provided with display means for displaying the transmission speed stored in the table.
[0010]
Further, in a LAN switch that has a plurality of ports conforming to the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages the connection mode of the devices connected to each port, the transmission speed and the transmission mode of the devices connected to the ports are controlled. A connection unit having an auto negotiation function for adjusting, a physical address of a device to which each of the connection units is connected, and an address table for storing the set transmission speed and transmission mode in association with each other; Display means for displaying the stored transmission speed, and control means for again executing the auto-negotiation function of the connection means of the corresponding port when the transmission speed stored in the address table is low. Things.
[0011]
Further, in a LAN switch that has a plurality of ports conforming to the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages the connection mode of the devices connected to each port, the transmission speed and the transmission mode of the devices connected to the ports are controlled. A connection unit having an auto negotiation function for adjusting, a physical address of a device to which each of the connection units is connected, and an address table for storing the set transmission speed and transmission mode in association with each other; Display means for displaying the stored transmission speed, and when the transmission speed stored in the address table is low, the auto-negotiation function of the connection means of the corresponding port is executed again, and the transmission speed becomes If the speed becomes faster, update the contents stored in the address table. Control means.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a LAN switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
In the figure, a main body BX is provided with a plurality of connectors CN1 to CNm constituting a port. The shape of these connectors CN1 to CNm, the arrangement of signal pins, and the like are defined by the IEEE 802 standard.
[0015]
The connectors CN1 to CNm are connected to connection units CU1 to CUm that perform signal processing of a physical layer (described later) and a MAC layer (described later) with a network device to be connected.
[0016]
In addition, these connection units CU1 to CUm are appropriately interconnected by the switching control unit SC, whereby the two network devices connected to the connectors CN1 to CNm are interconnected to enable communication. .
[0017]
The switching control unit SC is connected to a display unit DP for displaying the status of each port, and a buzzer BZ for outputting an alarm sound or the like for calling a user's attention.
[0018]
Each network device is connected to this LAN switch via a signal line. At the end of the signal line, jacks JK1 to JKm having a shape and a pin arrangement determined by the IEEE 802 standard are provided. By inserting the jacks JK1 to JKm into the connectors CN1 to CNm, network devices can be connected. It can be connected to a LAN switch.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the connection units CU (CU1 to CUm).
[0020]
In the figure, a pulse transformer PT having one end connected to a connector CN (CN1 to CNm) is for inputting / outputting a signal, and the other end is connected to a physical layer processing circuit PH.
[0021]
The physical layer processing unit PH performs signal processing of the physical layer defined by the IEEE 802 standard, and has the above-described auto negotiation function. Further, an auto-negotiation function is executed by a control signal SS applied from the switching control unit SC. This physical layer processing unit PH is also connected to a MAC layer processing unit MH which is a processing means of an upper layer.
[0022]
The MAC layer processing unit MH performs the signal processing of the MAC layer defined by the IEEE 802 standard, and the frame buffer FB for storing the MAC frame and the transmission determined by the physical layer processing unit PH by the auto negotiation function. An address table AT for storing the speed and the transmission mode in association with the MAC address of the connected network device is provided. The upper side of the MAC layer processing unit MH is connected to the switching control unit SC.
[0023]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a front panel of the LAN switch.
[0024]
In the figure, a plurality of connectors CN1 to CN8 (when m = 8) are arranged below the front panel PN, and the lamps LA1, LB1, LC1 to LA8, LB8 of the display unit 8 are arranged above the connectors CN1 to CN8. , LC8 are provided. Note that these lamps LA1 to LA8, LB1 to LB8, LC1 to LC8 can be constituted by light emitting diodes.
[0025]
The lamps LA1 to LA8 illuminate and display that a link has been established with the network devices connected to the ports corresponding to the connectors CN1 to CN1, respectively.
[0026]
The lamps LB1 to LB8 indicate whether the transmission speed of the ports corresponding to the connectors CN1 to CN1 is 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps, respectively. In this case, when the lamps LB1 to LB8 are lit, it indicates that the transmission speed of the port is 100 Mbps, and when the lamps LB1 to LB8 are off, the transmission speed of the port is 10 Mbps. Is displayed.
[0027]
The lamps LC1 to LC8 warn that the transmission speed of the port corresponding to each of the connectors CN1 to CN1 has dropped from 100 Mbps to 10 Mbps.
[0028]
A buzzer BZ is also provided on the front panel PN. The buzzer BZ outputs an alarm sound when the transmission speed of any of the ports is reduced, and notifies the user of the alarm sound.
[0029]
Therefore, the user can determine the network operating status of the network device connected to each port by observing the lighting status of the lamps LA1 to LA8.
[0030]
In addition, the user can determine the transmission speed of each port by observing the lighting status of the lamps LB1 to LB8.
[0031]
Further, the user can determine whether the transmission speed of each port has been reduced by observing the lighting status of the lamps LC1 to LC8.
[0032]
The switching control unit SC includes an address management table as shown in FIG. 4A, a speed table as shown in FIG. 4C, and a port assignment table as shown in FIG. It is remembered.
[0033]
The address management table stores address information for each port. As shown in FIG. 3B, each address information includes a connection port number, a MAC address of a connected network device, and transmission. It consists of speed and transmission mode information.
[0034]
The speed information includes a MAC address of the network device, and transmission speed and transmission mode information, as shown in FIG.
[0035]
Further, the port assignment table includes a connection port number and a MAC address of a connected network device, as shown in FIG.
[0036]
In the above configuration, when a network device is connected to one of the ports, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the physical layer processing unit PH of the connection unit CU of the connected port performs a predetermined automatic negotiation process. After that, the transmission speed and the transmission mode to be used are determined with the connected network device (process 101).
[0037]
Then, the MAC layer processing circuit MH of the port stores the transmission speed and the transmission mode information determined at that time and the MAC address of the connected network device in the address table.
[0038]
On the other hand, the switching control unit SC updates the address information of the address management table of the port, the speed information of the speed table, and the port allocation information of the port allocation table (process 102).
[0039]
Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the switching control unit SC checks whether there is a port whose transmission speed or transmission mode information has been changed (NO loop in decision 201), and the transmission speed or transmission mode information is If it is changed and the result of the judgment 201 is YES, it is checked whether or not the transmission speed or the transmission mode is increased for the port (decision 202).
[0040]
When the result of the determination 202 is YES, the corresponding information elements in the address management table and the speed information table are updated (process 203), and the process returns to the determination 201.
[0041]
When the result of the determination 202 is NO, the automatic negotiation process of the physical layer processing unit PH is started for the port (process 204), and the port is operated so that a higher transmission speed can be reset. When the process 204 ends, the process returns to the judgment 201.
[0042]
In this manner, in the present embodiment, when the transmission speed with the network device connected to each port changes to a low speed, the negotiation process of the port is started, so that a high speed There is a possibility that the transmission rate is reset, and as a result, higher-speed data transmission becomes possible.
[0043]
In addition, the setting status of the transmission speed of each port is illuminated and displayed by a lamp, and when the transmission speed is reduced, an alarm sound is generated from the buzzer BZ. It is possible to appropriately notify the operating status of the system, which is convenient for operation and the like.
[0044]
In the above description, the switching function of the LAN switch is well-known, and thus the description is omitted.
[0045]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the transmission speed determined by the auto negotiation function is 100 or 10 Mbps has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to a case where the transmission speed is applied to 1000, 100 and 10 Mbps. Can be applied.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the transmission speed with the network device connected to each port changes to a low speed, the negotiation process of the port is activated, There is a possibility that the transmission rate may be reset to a high transmission rate, and as a result, an effect that higher-speed data transmission becomes possible is obtained.
[0047]
In addition, the setting status of the transmission speed of each port is illuminated with a lamp, and when the transmission speed decreases, an alarm sound is generated from a buzzer. The operation status can be appropriately notified, and the effect that it is convenient for operation and the like is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a LAN switch according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a connection unit CU (CU1 to CUm).
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a front panel.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an address management table, a speed table, and a port assignment table.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed when a network device is connected to any of the ports.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed when a port whose transmission speed or transmission mode information is changed occurs.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a transmission speed and a transmission mode priority determined by an auto negotiation function.
[Explanation of symbols]
CN, CN1 to CNm Connectors CU, CU1 to CUm Connection unit SC Switching control unit DP Display unit BZ Buzzer PT Pulse transformer PH Physical layer processing unit MH MAC layer processing unit FB Frame buffer AT Address tables LA1 to LA8, LB1 to LB8, LC1 ~ LC8 lamp

Claims (3)

In a LAN switch that includes a plurality of ports conforming to the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages a connection mode of a device connected to each port,
A plurality of connection means having an auto-negotiation function to adjust the transmission speed and transmission mode of the device connected to the port,
An address table for storing the physical address of the device to which each of the connection means is connected and the set transmission speed and transmission mode in association with each other;
A LAN switch comprising display means for displaying the transmission speed stored in the address table. In a LAN switch that includes a plurality of ports conforming to the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages a connection mode of a device connected to each port,
A plurality of connection means having an auto-negotiation function to adjust the transmission speed and transmission mode of the device connected to the port,
An address table for storing the physical address of the device to which each of the connection means is connected and the set transmission speed and transmission mode in association with each other;
Display means for displaying the transmission speed stored in the address table;
When the transmission speed stored in the address table is low, the LAN switch includes a control unit for executing the auto-negotiation function of the connection unit of the corresponding port again. In a LAN switch that includes a plurality of ports conforming to the IEEE 802.3 standard and manages a connection mode of a device connected to each port,
A plurality of connection means having an auto-negotiation function to adjust the transmission speed and transmission mode of the device connected above,
An address table for storing the physical address of the device to which each of the connection means is connected and the set transmission speed and transmission mode in association with each other;
Display means for displaying the transmission speed stored in the address table;
When the transmission speed stored in the address table is low, the auto-negotiation function of the connection means of the corresponding port is executed again. When the transmission speed becomes high, the transmission speed is stored in the address table. A LAN switch comprising control means for updating the contents of the LAN switch.

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