Method of network equipment setting and computing device thereof

Abstract

In a method of network equipment setting, a computing device is configured to perform the steps of: obtaining an existing network topology structure of an existing network and an existing device model and an existing configuration file of each existing network device; obtaining a target network topology of a target network and a target device model of each target network device; determining whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology; determining whether the existing device models corresponding to the nodes in the existing network are respectively the same as the target device models corresponding to the nodes in the target network when it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology; and when it is determined that the existing device models corresponding to the nodes in the existing network are respectively the same as the target device models corresponding to the nodes in the target network, for each node, transmitting the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node to the target network device corresponding to the node.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a setting method and a computing device thereof, and more particularly to a network device setting method and a computing device thereof. Prior Technology

[0002] In industrial applications, there is often a need to set up multiple network systems with the same network topology, such as setting up a network system for multiple production lines that produce the same product, or setting up a network system for multiple trains of the same model.

[0003] Previously, setting up such a network system generally required the following steps: First, the operator needed to download the configuration file for each network device in Network System 1; then, before building Network System 2, the operator had to upload these configuration files one by one to the network devices in the correct locations according to their relative positions within the network topology. For example, the configuration file of the network device located at node A in Network System 1 was uploaded to the network device also located at node A in Network System 2; finally, the operator built the configured network device into Network System 2.

[0004] However, modern network system topologies are becoming increasingly complex, with a growing number and variety of network devices. If the aforementioned traditional device configuration methods are still used, the operations become extremely cumbersome, time-consuming, and prone to errors. For example, configuration files might be uploaded to network devices in the wrong relative positions within the new network system, or the copied configuration files might not be placed in the correct positions within the new network topology, leading to errors in the network topology. Existing methods for configuring multiple network systems with the same topology require significant manual intervention, posing a considerable challenge to the operators' attention to detail.

[0005] Therefore, optimizing the process when setting up multiple network systems with the same network topology to reduce manpower, time, and potential human error has become one of the issues that related technical fields want to address. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a network device setting method and its computing device, which can overcome at least one disadvantage of the prior art.

[0007] Therefore, the network device configuration method provided by the present invention is executed using a computing device and includes the following steps:

[0008] (A) Obtain an existing network topology of an existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices.

[0009] (B) Obtain a target network topology and a target device model for each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to a target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices.

[0010] (C) Based on the existing reference device and the target reference device, determine whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology.

[0011] (D) When it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, determine whether the existing equipment models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target equipment models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology.

[0012] (E) When it is determined that the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

[0013] Therefore, the present invention provides a computing device for setting up network devices, comprising a processing unit.

[0014] The processing unit is used to obtain an existing network topology of an existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. It also obtains a target network topology of a target network and a target device model of each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to a target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. Based on the existing reference device and the target reference device... The system determines whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. When the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, it determines whether the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology. When the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

[0015] The advantages of this invention are as follows: By obtaining the existing network topology and the target network topology, and automatically comparing their consistency, and when the existing device model corresponding to each node matches the corresponding target device model, the invention automatically configures the configuration files of the target network devices corresponding to each node in the target network topology. This achieves fully automated operation, saving manpower and time costs. Furthermore, since it eliminates the need for manual comparison of the relative positions of network devices, and configuration is only performed after confirming the consistency of the existing and target network topologies, the correctness of the target network topology is ensured, avoiding the conventional problem of network topology errors caused by human negligence. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0016] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the computing device for setting up a network device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating, by way of example, how a processing unit of this embodiment executes a network device configuration procedure; Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating, exemplarily, how the processing unit obtains an existing network topology of an existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device; and Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating, for example, how the processing unit obtains a target network topology of a target network and a target device model of each target network device in the target network. Implementation

[0017] Before the invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar elements are represented by the same numbers in the following description.

[0018] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of the computing device 1 for network device configuration according to the present invention includes a storage unit 11 and a processing unit 12 signal-connected to the storage unit 11. The computing device 1 can be implemented as, for example, a laptop, desktop computer, tablet computer, server, or smartphone, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the computing device 1 can be used as an existing reference device connected to an existing network, or as a target reference device connected to a target network.

[0019] The storage unit 11 can be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, any type of fixed or removable random access memory (RAM), hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), or similar elements or combinations thereof.

[0020] The processing unit 12 can be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microprocessor, or other similar components or combinations thereof. Detailed operation of the processing unit 12 will be described below.

[0021] The following will describe in detail, with reference to FIG2, how the processing unit 12 of this embodiment executes a network device configuration procedure. The network device configuration procedure includes the following steps S1 to S5.

[0022] In step S1, the processing unit 12 obtains an existing network topology of the existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to the existing reference device. Each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. More specifically, referring to FIG3, the sub-steps performed by the processing unit 12 in this step are described in detail.

[0023] In sub-step S11, for each existing network device in the existing network, the processing unit 12 obtains an IP address (Internet Protocol Address), a MAC address (Media Access Control Address), and the model of the existing network device.

[0024] For example, the processing unit 12 may obtain the IP address and MAC address of each existing network device in the following three ways: (i) using a ping tool to search for the IP address of each existing network device in the existing network, and finding the MAC address of each existing network device by comparing the IP address of each existing network device with an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table stored in the storage unit 11; (ii) using a NetBIOS (Network Basic Input / Output System) tool to search for the IP address of each existing network device in the existing network, and finding the MAC address of each existing network device by comparing the IP address of each existing network device with an ARP table stored in the storage unit 11; (iii) receiving a GARP (Gratuitous Receiver Protocol) sent by each existing network device. The processing unit 12 can obtain the IP address and MAC address of each existing network device by using GARP packets, since the content of the GARP packet contains the IP address and MAC address of the corresponding existing network device. In addition, those skilled in the art can also obtain the IP address, MAC address, and existing device model of each existing network device according to the custom protocol intended to achieve this step.

[0025] In sub-step S12, for each existing network device, the processing unit 12 obtains a port-to-MAC address mapping data for that existing network device. The port-to-MAC address mapping data indicates a port number for each port of the existing network device and a destination MAC address for each destination network device connected to each port.

[0026] For example, the MAC address mapping information of each existing network device's port can be obtained using a protocol such as Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), or a protocol defined by those skilled in the art for the purpose of this step.

[0027] In sub-step S13, the processing unit 12 obtains the existing network topology based on the IP address of each existing network device, the MAC address of each existing network device, and the MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each existing network device.

[0028] In sub-step S14, the processing unit 12 obtains the existing configuration file for each existing network device. In this embodiment, the processing unit 12 uses a network transmission protocol related to file transmission to obtain the existing configuration file for each existing network device.

[0029] For example, each existing configuration file may contain settings such as the IP address, QoS, RSTP, and 802.1x / RADIUS of the corresponding existing network device. The processing unit 12 may obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device using, for example, SNMP, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Secret File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), Secure Copy (SCP), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), or a protocol defined by those skilled in the art for the purpose of this step.

[0030] In step S2, the processing unit 12 obtains a target network topology of the target network and a target device model for each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to the target reference device. Each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. More specifically, referring to FIG4, the sub-steps performed by the processing unit 12 in this step are explained in detail.

[0031] In sub-step S21, for each target network device in the target network, the processing unit 12 obtains the IP address, MAC address, and target device model of the target network device. Since this step can be implemented in the manner exemplified in sub-step S11, it will not be described in detail here.

[0032] In sub-step S22, for each target network device, the processing unit 12 obtains the port-to-MAC address mapping data of the target network device. The port-to-MAC address mapping data of each target network device indicates the port number of each port of the target network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each port. This step can also be implemented in the manner exemplified in sub-step S12, and therefore will not be described in detail here.

[0033] In sub-step S23, the processing unit 12 obtains the target network topology based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each target network device.

[0034] In step S3, the processing unit 12 determines whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology based on the existing reference device and the target reference device. When it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, the process proceeds to step S4; when it is determined that the existing network topology is inconsistent with the target network topology, the process ends.

[0035] It should be noted that since the network topology comparison is calculated based on the positions of the existing reference device and the target reference device within the network, when connecting the existing reference device to the existing network and the target reference device to the target network, they should be connected to relatively identical positions in the two networks. Otherwise, even if the connection methods of all existing network devices in the existing network are consistent with the connection methods of all target network devices in the target network, the existing network topology and the target network topology may still be determined to be inconsistent. For example, suppose the existing network has a total of , and The three existing network devices are connected as follows: The target network contains a total of , and The three target network devices are connected as follows: If this existing reference device is compared with... Connect the target reference device to... Connect them, and you will get relatively , relatively and relatively The existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. However, if the existing reference device is compared with... Connect the target reference device to... If connected, it will gain relatively , relatively ,and and If there is no corresponding device, the existing network topology and the target network topology will be determined to be inconsistent.

[0036] In step S4, the processing unit 12 determines whether the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology. When it is determined that the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, the process proceeds to step S5; when it is determined that the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are not the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, the process ends.

[0037] In step S5, for each node, the processing unit 12 transmits the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

[0038] For example, configuring a target network with 24 such network devices would take at least 24 minutes if the operator manually uploaded the configuration file, but by executing the network device configuration program, the time can be reduced to within 12 minutes.

[0039] In summary, by obtaining the existing network topology and the target network topology, and automatically comparing their consistency, and when the existing device model for each node matches the target device model, the configuration files for the target network devices corresponding to each node in the target network topology are automatically configured. This achieves fully automated operation, saving manpower and time costs. Furthermore, since manual comparison of the relative positions of network devices is unnecessary, and configuration is only performed after confirming the consistency of the existing and target network topologies, the correctness of the target network topology is ensured, avoiding the conventional problem of network topology errors caused by human error. Therefore, the objectives of this invention are indeed achieved.

[0040] However, the above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

[0041] 1: Arithmetic unit 11: Storage Unit 12: Processing Unit S1~S5: Steps S11~S14: Sub-steps S21~S23: Sub-steps

Claims

1. A network device configuration method, executed using a computing device, comprising the following steps: (A) obtaining an existing network topology of an existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device, wherein the existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices; (B) obtaining a target network topology of a target network and a target device model of each target network device in the target network, wherein the target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to a target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices; (C) determining, based on the existing reference device and the target reference device, whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology; (D) when the existing network topology is consistent with the target reference device, determining whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. When the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, it is determined whether the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology; (E) when it is determined that the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node; and (F) when it is determined that the existing network topology is inconsistent with the target network topology, or when it is determined that the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are not the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, the process ends.

2. The network device configuration method as described in claim 1, wherein, Step (A) includes the following sub-steps: (A-1) For each existing network device in the existing network, obtain an IP address, a MAC address, and the existing device model of the existing network device; (A-2) For each existing network device, obtain port-to-MAC address mapping data of the existing network device, the port-to-MAC address mapping data indicating a port number of each port of the existing network device and a destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each port; (A-3) Based on the IP address of each existing network device, the MAC address of each existing network device, and the port-to-MAC address mapping data of each existing network device, obtain the existing network topology of the existing network; and (A-4) Obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

3. The network device configuration method as described in claim 1, wherein, Step (B) includes the following sub-steps: (B-1) For each target network device in the target network, obtain an IP address, a MAC address, and the target device model of the target network device; (B-2) For each target network device, obtain a port-to-MAC address mapping data of the target network device, the port-to-MAC address mapping data indicating a port number of each port of the target network device and a destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each port; and (B-3) Based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the port-to-MAC address mapping data of each target network device, obtain the target network topology of the target network.

4. The network device configuration method as described in claim 2, wherein, In sub-step (A-4), the computing device uses the network transmission protocol related to file transmission to obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

5. A computing device for configuring network devices, comprising: a storage unit; and a processing unit connected to the storage unit, configured to obtain an existing network topology of an existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device, wherein the existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices; and to obtain a target network topology of a target network and a target device model of each target network device in the target network, wherein the target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to a target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. Based on the existing reference device and the target reference device, it is determined whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. When it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, it is determined whether the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology. When it is determined that the existing device models of the existing network devices corresponding to the nodes in the existing network topology are the same as the target device models of the target network devices corresponding to the nodes in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

6. The computing device for setting up network equipment as described in claim 5, wherein: For each existing network device in the existing network, the processing unit obtains an IP address, a MAC address, and the existing device model of the existing network device; for each existing network device, the processing unit obtains a port-to-MAC address mapping data of the existing network device, the port-to-MAC address mapping data indicating a port number of each port of the existing network device and a destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each port; the processing unit obtains the existing network topology of the existing network based on the IP address, the MAC address, and the port-to-MAC address mapping data of each existing network device; and the processing unit obtains the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

7. The computing device for configuring network equipment as described in claim 5, wherein: For each target network device in the target network, the processing unit obtains an IP address, a MAC address, and the target device model of the target network device; for each target network device, the processing unit obtains a port-to-MAC address mapping data of the target network device, the port-to-MAC address mapping data indicating a port number of each port of the target network device and a destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each port; and the processing unit obtains the target network topology based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the port-to-MAC address mapping data of each target network device.

8. The computing device for setting up network equipment as described in claim 5, wherein, The processing unit uses network transmission protocols related to file transmission to obtain the existing configuration file for each existing network device.

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