JPH04271637A - Repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the management of the network system efficient by sending/ receiving various management data to/from a network management station. CONSTITUTION:A reception data multiplexer and transmission port instructing circuit 13 is provided with a virtual port X, to which a reply data to a management terminal equipment is sent from a network management controller 15. A reply data inputted to the virtual port X is sent to a repeater main controller 14 similarly to the case with a normal reception data from the network inputted via input output ports 11, 12 and after the data is subject to relay processing in the controller 14 and the result is outputted to the input output ports 11, 12. Furthermore, a management data from the management terminal equipment sent to the repeater is fetched by the network management controller 15, in which the data is collected and managed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a relay device for connecting networks.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, relay devices have only connected a plurality of network segments and relayed data and collisions.

For example, in the conventional two-port relay device shown in FIG. 2, data from network segment A is relayed to network segment B, and data from network segment B is relayed to network segment A, and a collision occurs. If so, the jam pattern data is transmitted and the collision is relayed. Additionally, if collisions occur continuously or continue for a certain period of time, a function is provided to stop data relay from that segment.

[0004] Inside the relay device, as shown in FIG. 2, input/output port blocks 1 and 2 are provided, and these input/output port blocks 1 and 2 each have a transceiver (T/R). via network segment A,
Sends and receives data to and from B, as well as decoding/decoding data.
It performs processing such as encoding, segment separation, and collision counting.

[0005] The reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction section 3 selects the reception data from each input/output port block 1 and 2 and sends it to the repeater main controller 4. Then, it outputs a transmission enable signal to an input/output port different from the input/output port that received the data.

[0006] The repeater main controller 4 performs relay processing such as retiming of received data and reproducing a preamble, outputs transmitted data, and performs control for collision relay.

[0007] Recently, as the scale of network systems has increased, management of the entire network system has become required. However, the conventional relay device shown in FIG. 2 only has a relay function for transferring data between networks.

[0008] For this reason, even if information such as the status of each port, which is necessary for network management, can be stocked inside the relay device, this information cannot be transmitted to the network management station. Further, there were other problems such as the inability to send management commands, setting data, etc. from the management station to the repeater.

[0009]

[0006] Conventionally, since only a data transfer function between networks was provided, there was a drawback that management data could not be transmitted and received between a network management station and a relay device.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay device suitable for realizing efficient network system management by being capable of transmitting and receiving various management data with a network management station. purpose.

[0011]

[Means and effects for solving the problems] This invention has the following features:
A relay device that connects networks has multiple input/output ports that input and output transfer data to and from multiple networks, and input data that is input to these input/output ports and virtual ports, and outputs to the network. A port selection means for outputting data to an input/output port corresponding to the transfer destination network, and a relaying process for performing relay control on the input data taken in by the port selection means and supplying the input data as output data to the port selection means. and determines whether the input data from the input/output port is addressed to the device itself, and if the data is addressed to the device itself, it is collected and managed as network management data from the management terminal, and the management terminal It is characterized by comprising a management data control means for inputting output data addressed to the virtual port of the port selection means, and transmitting and receiving network management data to and from the management terminal.

In this relay device, a virtual port is provided in the port selection means, and response data to the management terminal is sent from the management data control means to this virtual port. The response data input to the virtual port is sent to the relay processing means in the same way as received data from the network input through the input/output port, where it is processed for relay processing and then sent to the destination network. Output to the corresponding input/output port. Furthermore, management data sent from the management terminal to the relay device is taken into the management data control means and collected and managed. Therefore, it is possible to transmit and receive data to and from the management terminal through relay processing similar to that for data from the input/output ports, and the relay device can be managed from the management terminal.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the relay device in FIG. 2, this relay device connects network segments (LAN) A and B.
This is a CSMA/CD type 2-port repeater that transfers data between Main controller 14, network management controller 15, LAN
It includes a controller 16 and an internal bus 23.

The first input/output port (A) 11 controls data transmission/reception with the network segment A, data decoding/encoding, and segment separation.

The second input/output port (B) 12 controls data transmission/reception with network segment B, data decoding/encoding, and segment separation.

The reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit 13 has input/output ports (A, B) 11, 1
2 and the data input to the virtual input port (X), and send it to the repeater main controller 14 and the LAN controller 16.
supply to.

Further, the reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit 13 has input/output ports (A, B) 11
, 12, and repeater main controller 1.
Determine the destination network for the transmission data from 4.

The repeater main controller 14 performs relay processing such as retiming of received data and preamble reproduction, outputs transmitted data, and performs control for collision relay.

[0020] The network management controller 15 manages statistical information such as the status of the input/output ports 11 and 12, transmits the information to the network management terminal through the LAN controller 16, and also performs management according to management commands received from the network management terminal. Performs various controls for network control.

The LAN controller 16 receives the packet addressed to this relay device, sends the data to the network management controller 15, and also sends the data from the network management controller 15 to the reception data multiplexer and the virtual port of the transmission port instruction section 13 ( Output to X).

The receive data multiplexer and transmit port instruction section 13 is composed of an OR gate 17, a receive port encoder 18, a receive data multiplexer 19, a receive clock multiplexer 20, an OR gate 21, and a receive port encoder 22.

The OR gate 11 has input/output ports 11,1
OR the collision signal COL from 2 and LA
Output to N controller 16. This means that when a collision is detected on either input/output port 11 or 12, the LAN
This is to interrupt the transmission data (TXD) output of the controller 16.

Collision signals COL from the input/output ports 11 and 12 are also supplied to the repeater main controller 14, respectively. This is the transmission data (TXD) from the repeater main controller 14 to the input/output port 11 when a collision is detected at the input/output port 11.
) This is to interrupt the output and interrupt the transmission data (TXD) output from the repeater main controller 14 to the input/output port 12 when a collision is detected at the input/output port 12.

The OR gate 17 has input/output ports 11, 1
The carrier sense CRS from 2 and the transmission enable signal TXE from the LAN controller 16 are input, and they are ORed and the repeater main controller 14 and L
It is supplied to the carrier sense input CRS of the AN controller 16.

The reception port encoder 18 generates a signal indicating which port among the input/output ports (A, B) 11, 12 and the virtual port (X) is the reception port detected by the carrier sense signal CRS. Output. The output signal of this receive port encoder 18 is connected to the port detection input P of the repeater main controller 14, the selection control input of the receive data multiplexer 19 and the receive clock multiplexer 20, and the receive port encoder 2.
2 inputs.

The reception data multiplexer 19 has input/output ports (A, B) 11, 12 and a virtual port (X).
Among them, input data from the reception port indicated by the reception port encoder 18 is selected, and it is converted into reception data R.
Repeater main controller 14 and LA as XD
N controller 16.

The reception clock multiplexer 20 has input/output ports (A, B) 11, 12 and a virtual port (X
), the clock input from the reception port indicated by the reception port encoder 18 is selected, and this is used as the reception clock RXC to the repeater main controller 14.
and is supplied to the LAN controller 16.

The demultiplexer 22 inputs a signal indicating the receiving port from the receiving port encoder 18, and sends a transmission enable signal T to input/output ports other than the receiving port.
Output XE. Next, the operation of the relay device shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

First, the network management controller 15
via the internal bus 13, the input/output ports 11, 12,
Receive data multiplexer and transmit port instruction circuit 1
3. Execute setting and control of the repeater main controller 14.

Under these circumstances, the process of relaying data from network segment A to network segment B and the data from network segment B to network segment A, as well as the process of relaying data from network segment A to network segment A, and the process of relaying data from network segment A to network segment A, (connected to segment B) and this relay device.

[0032] In the network management controller 15,
Management commands from the network management terminal and signals indicating the status of the input/output ports 11 and 12 are collected and managed, and relay packets are monitored.

Inside the receive data multiplexer and transmit data instruction circuit 13, each input/output port 11, 12
The receiving port is determined by receiving the carrier sense signal CRS from the encoder 18. Then, the input data and input clock from the reception port are selected by the reception data multiplexer 19 and reception clock multiplexer 20, and sent to the repeater main controller 1 as reception data RXD and reception clock RXC.
4 and the LAN controller 16.

Further, the carrier sense signal CRS from the input/output ports 11 and 12 and the transmission enable signal TXE from the LAN controller 16 are ORed by an OR gate 7.
Removed repeater main controller 14 and LAN
The signal is supplied to the controller 16. Further, the demultiplexer 22 sends a transmission enable signal TXE to input/output ports other than the reception port.

In this way, the carrier sense signal CRS, reception data RXD, and reception clock RXC output by the reception multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit 13 are input to the LAN controller 16 as well as to the repeater main controller 14. Therefore, the LAN controller 16 can receive packets relayed by this relay device, and the network management controller 15 can receive data and commands addressed to itself from the network management terminal and monitor relayed packets. can.

Further, as described above, inputs of the OR gate 17, the reception port encoder 18, the reception data multiplexer 19, and the reception clock multiplexer 20 in the reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit 13 include the input/output ports 11 and 12. In addition to the input from the virtual port X, an input from the virtual port X is provided for transmitting management data.

As a result, the reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit 13 is connected to the LAN controller 1.
6 is sent to the repeater main controller 14 as received data from the virtual port X, and
The demultiplexer 22 outputs transmission enable TXE to ports other than the reception port (X), that is, to both the input and output ports 11 and 12. As a result, the data output by the relay device is sent to the input/output ports 11 and 12, and the same data can be transferred to network segments A and B. The reason why the output data from the relay device is transmitted to both the input/output ports 11 and 12 in this way is as follows.

Generally, unlike a bridge device, a relay device does not have a data storage function, so it cannot receive input data while transmitting data. Therefore, if data is output to only one of network segments A and B, the other segment becomes vacant and data is sent from that segment to the relay device. This data cannot be received by the relay device. In order to prevent such a situation, in this embodiment, output data from the relay device is transmitted to both input/output ports 11 and 12.

[0039] Also, in this way, the input/output ports 11 and 12
By sending data to both, it becomes possible to send data to the network management terminal, regardless of which network segment the network management terminal is connected to.

The LAN controller 16 also outputs collision signals from the input/output ports 11 and 12 to the OR gate 2.
By the signal ORed with 1, network segment A,
A collision occurring at B can be detected. If a collision occurs in network segment A or B while the LAN controller 16 is transmitting data, the repeater main controller 14 interrupts the transmission and relays the collision in the conventional manner.

As described above, in the relay device of this embodiment, a virtual port X is prepared in the reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit 13, and the response data to the management terminal is transmitted to the virtual port X through the network. It is sent from the management controller 15. The response data input to the virtual port input/output port 11 after
12 is output.

Furthermore, the management data sent from the management terminal to the relay device is sent to the network management controller 15.
The information is taken in, collected and processed. Therefore, it becomes possible to transmit and receive data to and from the management terminal through relay processing similar to that for data from the input/output ports 11 and 12, and the relay device can be managed from the management terminal.

[0043]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
It becomes possible to send and receive various management data to and from the network management station, making it possible to realize efficient management of the network system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional relay device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 12... Input/output port, 13... Reception data multiplexer and transmission port instruction circuit, 14... Repeater main controller, 15... Network management controller, 16... LAN controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A relay device that connects networks, which includes a plurality of input/output ports for inputting and outputting transfer data to and from a plurality of networks, and input data input to these input/output ports and virtual ports; port selection means for outputting output data to the network to an input/output port corresponding to the destination network; and a port selection means for performing relay control on the input data taken in by the port selection means, and transmitting the output data to the port selection means. A relay processing means supplies the input data as the input/output port, and determines whether the input data from the input/output port is addressed to the device itself, and if the data is addressed to the device itself, it collects and manages it as network management data from the management terminal. and management data control means for inputting output data addressed to the management terminal to the virtual port of the port selection means, and transmits and receives network management data to and from the management terminal.