A network device upgrading method, device and related device

Abstract

This application relates to the field of network communication technology, and in particular to a network device upgrade method, apparatus, and related equipment. The method includes: acquiring network topology information and network device information, and grouping network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group; for each upgrade group, based on the performance indicators and network locations of the network devices included in the upgrade group, electing a master member device from among the network devices included in the upgrade group, wherein the other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device are slave member devices, the master member device downloads an upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through a local network; for each upgrade group, based on a preset upgrade strategy, controlling each network device included in the upgrade group to initiate an upgrade operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of network communication technology, and in particular to a method, apparatus and related equipment for upgrading network devices. Background Technology

[0002] With the acceleration of digitalization and the continuous expansion of network scale, the number of network devices in various network environments has grown rapidly. Whether it's enterprise campus networks, data center networks, or wide area backbone networks, a large number of different types of network devices, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, are deployed. To maintain the high performance, high security, and functional integrity of network devices, regular upgrades have become a key task in network operations and maintenance.

[0003] However, with the current large number of network devices, traditional upgrade methods have exposed many problems that urgently need to be solved when dealing with large-scale device upgrades, which seriously affect the normal operation and upgrade efficiency of the network. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an innovative network device upgrade and optimization solution. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a method, apparatus, and related equipment for upgrading network devices.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for upgrading a network device, the method comprising: Obtain network topology and network device information, and group network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group; For each upgrade group, a master member device is elected from the network devices included in the upgrade group based on the performance indicators and network locations of each network device in the upgrade group. The other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network. For each upgrade group, based on a preset upgrade strategy, control the network devices included in the upgrade group to start the upgrade operation.

[0006] Optionally, the upgrade strategy includes: a global synchronous upgrade strategy, an independent asynchronous upgrade strategy, and an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0007] Optionally, the independent asynchronous upgrade strategy includes: if a slave device in an upgrade group obtains an upgrade version file, it sends an upgrade request to the network management server; the network management server determines, based on the network topology and the download progress of upgrade version files of other slave devices in the upgrade group, whether the upgrade of the slave device will affect the download of upgrade version files of other slave devices, and instructs the slave device to perform the upgrade operation.

[0008] Optionally, the upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic includes: real-time monitoring of network traffic across the entire network or in a specific region; when network traffic is detected to be continuously below a first threshold for a predetermined time, it is determined that a low traffic period has begun, and the upgrade operation of the network devices ready in the entire network or in the specific region is triggered. If network traffic exceeds the second threshold during network device upgrades, the upgrade process will be paused.

[0009] Optionally, the method further includes: Based on historical network traffic data, the bandwidth utilization of each link is statistically analyzed, and links whose utilization consistently exceeds a preset threshold are identified as network bottleneck links. The upgrade strategy for the network devices connected by the network bottleneck link is set to an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0010] Optionally, the method further includes: Based on the historical stability and importance of each network device in the upgrade group, a pioneer member device is selected from the network devices in the upgrade group. Among them, the network devices in the upgrade group other than the master member device and the pioneer member device are slave member devices, and the master member device and the pioneer member device are different network devices. The upgrade strategy also includes: a pioneer-guided upgrade strategy.

[0011] Optionally, the pioneer-guided upgrade strategy includes: controlling the pioneer member device to complete the upgrade, performing function, configuration and performance tests on the upgraded pioneer member device, and sending an upgrade start command to other member devices in the upgrade group after confirming that the tests have passed.

[0012] Optionally, the method further includes: Real-time collection of download progress and upgrade status of upgrade files for each network device, and visualization and anomaly alerts; When a network fault is detected, the target network device associated with the network fault is determined; Pause the upgrade process of the target network device and record the breakpoint information; After confirming that the network fault has been recovered, the upgrade operation of the target network device continues based on the breakpoint information.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides a network equipment upgrade apparatus, the apparatus comprising: The acquisition unit allows users to obtain network topology and network device information, and to group network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group. An election unit is used to elect a master member device from the network devices included in each upgrade group based on the performance indicators and network locations of each network device in the upgrade group. The other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network. The upgrade unit is used to control each network device in each upgrade group to start the upgrade operation based on a preset upgrade strategy.

[0014] Optionally, the upgrade strategy includes: a global synchronous upgrade strategy, an independent asynchronous upgrade strategy, and an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0015] Optionally, the independent asynchronous upgrade strategy includes: if a slave device in an upgrade group obtains an upgrade version file, it sends an upgrade request to the network management server; the network management server determines, based on the network topology and the download progress of upgrade version files of other slave devices in the upgrade group, whether the upgrade of the slave device will affect the download of upgrade version files of other slave devices, and instructs the slave device to perform the upgrade operation.

[0016] Optionally, the upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic includes: real-time monitoring of network traffic across the entire network or in a specific region; when network traffic is detected to be continuously below a first threshold for a predetermined time, it is determined that a low traffic period has begun, and the upgrade operation of the network devices ready in the entire network or in the specific region is triggered. If network traffic exceeds the second threshold during network device upgrades, the upgrade process will be paused.

[0017] Optionally, the device further includes: The setting unit is used to calculate the bandwidth utilization of each link based on historical network traffic data, identify links whose utilization consistently exceeds a preset threshold as network bottleneck links, and set the upgrade strategy of the network devices connected to the network bottleneck links as an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0018] Optionally, the election unit is further configured to: Based on the historical stability and importance of each network device in the upgrade group, a pioneer member device is selected from the network devices in the upgrade group. Among them, the network devices in the upgrade group other than the master member device and the pioneer member device are slave member devices, and the master member device and the pioneer member device are different network devices. The upgrade strategy also includes: a pioneer-guided upgrade strategy.

[0019] Optionally, the pioneer-guided upgrade strategy includes: controlling the pioneer member device to complete the upgrade, performing function, configuration and performance tests on the upgraded pioneer member device, and sending an upgrade start command to other member devices in the upgrade group after confirming that the tests have passed.

[0020] Optionally, the device further includes: The data acquisition unit is used to collect the download progress and upgrade status of upgrade version files of each network device in real time, and to display the data visually and issue alarms for any anomalies. The determining unit, when a network fault is detected, is used to determine the target network device associated with the network fault; The upgrade unit is also used to pause the upgrade process of the target network device and record breakpoint information; The upgrade unit is further configured to, after determining that the network fault has been recovered, continue to perform the upgrade operation of the target network device based on the breakpoint information.

[0021] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a network device upgrade apparatus, which includes: Memory, used to store program instructions; A processor is configured to invoke program instructions stored in the memory and execute the steps of the method as described in any one of the first aspects above, according to the obtained program instructions.

[0022] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps of the method as described in any of the first aspects above.

[0023] In summary, the network device upgrade method provided in this application obtains network topology information and network device information, and divides network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group. For each upgrade group, based on the performance indicators and network locations of each network device included in the upgrade group, a master member device is elected from the network devices included in the upgrade group. The other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network. For each upgrade group, based on a preset upgrade strategy, the upgrade operation is initiated by each network device included in the upgrade group.

[0024] The network device upgrade method provided in this application optimizes the version acquisition path by grouping network devices by model. The primary member device downloads the version and then copies it to the secondary member devices via the local network. The high bandwidth and stability of the local network significantly improve the version transmission speed. For example, in a campus network, downloading versions for switches of the same model using this solution reduces the time from several hours in the traditional method to tens of minutes. This improves download efficiency and consequently, network device upgrade efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings of the embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 1 A detailed flowchart illustrating a network device upgrade method provided in this application embodiment; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device upgrade apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware architecture of a network device upgrade apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in this application and claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to any and all possible combinations comprising one or more of the associated listed items.

[0028] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used to describe various information in embodiments of this application, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" may also be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to a determination."

[0029] In existing large-scale network equipment upgrade methods, the common approach is for each device to independently download the upgrade version from a version server. In this model, each network device directly connects to the version server, initiates a download request, obtains the corresponding upgrade software version, and then performs the upgrade operation independently.

[0030] The existing network equipment upgrade methods have the following technical drawbacks: The server is under immense pressure: numerous devices simultaneously send download requests to the server, causing it to face a massive influx of concurrent requests, which can easily lead to slow response times or even crashes.

[0031] Severe network congestion: When a large number of devices simultaneously request to download the version, it will generate a huge amount of data traffic on the network, severely consuming network bandwidth resources and interfering with normal business operations.

[0032] The upgrade process is lengthy: Each device is upgraded independently, and the upgrade time for the entire network will be significantly extended as the number of devices increases, which may lead to long-term service interruptions.

[0033] Lack of emergency response capabilities: When faced with unexpected situations such as sudden network failures or equipment hardware failures during the upgrade process, there is a lack of effective countermeasures, which increases the risks and uncertainties of the upgrade.

[0034] For example, see Figure 1 The diagram shown is a detailed flowchart of a network device upgrade method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method includes the following steps: Step 100: Obtain network topology information and network device information, and group network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group.

[0035] In this embodiment, professional network topology discovery tools and a network device management center can be used to obtain network device information. Using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), the network device management center can collect detailed information about network devices, including their name, model, IP address, and connection port. Furthermore, LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) can be used to obtain network topology information. LLDP is a link layer protocol that runs on network devices. Network devices periodically send LLDP messages to neighboring devices, carrying information such as the device's own identifier, port identifier, link layer address, and capabilities. The receiving device can construct the network topology based on the received LLDP messages.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the network topology can be analyzed, and based on the analysis results, devices can be locally grouped according to their models. For example, in a large data center network, there are multiple models of switches. All switches of the same model are grouped into one logical group because they share consistency in hardware architecture and software requirements, facilitating unified management and upgrades. This grouping allows for more targeted upgrade strategies based on the characteristics of each device model, reducing the complexity caused by differences in device models.

[0037] Step 110: For each upgrade group, based on the performance indicators and network location of each network device included in the upgrade group, elect a master member device from among the network devices included in the upgrade group.

[0038] In this embodiment of the application, the network devices other than the master member device in the upgrade group are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network.

[0039] In other words, for each logical group (upgrade group), a specific algorithm can be used to elect a master member device for that logical group. It should be noted that an upgrade group can elect one or more master member devices, and the number of master member devices is related to the total number of network devices included in the upgrade group. For example, if an upgrade group includes a large number of network devices, the number of master member devices elected by the upgrade group can be two. In this case, the upgrade group can be divided into two smaller groups, each of which includes one master member device and at least one other member device.

[0040] Specifically, the election of the primary member device takes into account factors such as network device performance metrics and network location. Regarding network device performance metrics, the main considerations are CPU processing power, memory capacity, and storage read / write speed. In terms of network location, network devices located closer to the core network area and undertaking critical data forwarding tasks have higher priority. For example, assuming there are 10 network devices of the same model, each device's CPU processing power, memory capacity, and storage read / write speed are first quantitatively scored (out of 10 points), and weighted at 0.4, 0.3, and 0.2 respectively, with a weight of 0.1 for network location. If a network device scores 8 points for CPU processing power, 7 points for memory capacity, 6 points for storage read / write speed, and 9 points for network location, its overall score is 8 × 0.4 + 7 × 0.3 + 6 × 0.2 + 9 × 0.1 = 7.4 points. By comparing the overall scores of all network devices, the device with the highest score is selected as the primary member device.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the application, the above-mentioned network device upgrade method may further include the following steps: Based on the historical stability and importance of each network device in the upgrade group, a pioneer member device is elected from the network devices in the upgrade group. Among them, the other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device and the pioneer member device are slave member devices. The master member device and the pioneer member device can be different network devices or the same network device. In this embodiment of the application, no specific limitation is made.

[0042] In other words, pioneer member devices are selected based on factors such as historical stability records and importance. These pioneer member devices are those that undergo network upgrades before large-scale upgrades to comprehensively test the upgrade's effectiveness and verify its feasibility and stability. In practice, the number of failures a device experiences over a period of time is used as a metric; fewer failures are advantageous. Importance is determined by the device's function within the network, prioritizing critical node devices and those responsible for important services. Additionally, some devices can be randomly selected as pioneer members to comprehensively test the upgrade's effectiveness. For example, a device with only one failure in the past year, located at a critical network node and connecting multiple subnets, is highly likely to be selected as a pioneer member. Sub-member devices are those other than the primary and pioneer members within the group.

[0043] Step 120: For each upgrade group, based on the preset upgrade strategy, control each network device included in the upgrade group to start the upgrade operation.

[0044] In this embodiment of the application, the upgrade strategy includes: a global synchronous upgrade strategy, an independent asynchronous upgrade strategy, and an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0045] The so-called global synchronous upgrade strategy refers to a system where, once all network devices have completed downloading the upgrade file, the network management center triggers all network devices to simultaneously initiate the upgrade process via a unified command. Taking SNMP-based command transmission as an example, the network management center sends a specific SNMP command to all network devices. Upon receiving the command, the network devices execute a pre-defined upgrade procedure. For instance, the upgrade process for a certain router might include first backing up the current configuration file, then verifying the downloaded upgrade file, followed by installing the upgrade file, restarting the network devices after installation, and performing functional testing. Detailed logs are recorded during the upgrade process, including the version verification results, configuration updates, and key functional test metrics. After the upgrade is complete, the logs are uploaded to the management center for review. The interaction between network devices and the network management center follows the SNMP protocol; network devices receive upgrade commands from the network management center and simultaneously report status information during the upgrade process to the management center.

[0046] In this embodiment of the application, the independent asynchronous upgrade strategy includes: if a slave device in an upgrade group obtains an upgrade version file, it sends an upgrade request to the network management server; the network management server makes a judgment based on the network topology and the download progress of the upgrade version files of other slave devices in the upgrade group, and if the upgrade of the slave device will not affect the download of the upgrade version files of other slave devices, it instructs the slave device to perform the upgrade operation.

[0047] In practical applications, after a network device completes the download of its upgrade file, it sends an upgrade request to the network management center. The network management center, based on the network topology and the download progress of upgrade files from other network devices, uses resource consumption analysis algorithms to determine whether the upgrade of this network device will affect the download of upgrade files from devices in the same or lower layers. For example, in a hierarchical network, after upper-layer device A completes the download of its upgrade file and sends an upgrade request, the network management center analyzes and finds that device A's upgrade process will consume a large amount of network bandwidth, while lower-layer devices B and C are currently downloading their upgrade files with limited remaining download time. Therefore, the network management center will determine that device A's upgrade will affect the download of upgrade files from lower-layer devices and require device A to wait. If the network management center determines that it will not affect the download, it approves the request, and the network device immediately starts the upgrade. For hierarchical networks, if the upgrade of an upper-layer device does not consume too much bandwidth and affect the download of lower-layer devices, it can be upgraded first, thus making full use of network resources and improving upgrade efficiency. When network devices interact with the network management center, they use a specific request-response mechanism. The network device sends an upgrade request to the network management center, including its own location, version download completion time, etc., and the network management center replies with approval or a waiting instruction.

[0048] In this embodiment of the application, the upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic includes: real-time monitoring of network traffic across the entire network or in a specific region; when network traffic is continuously lower than a first threshold for a predetermined time, it is determined that a low traffic period has begun, and the upgrade operation of the network devices ready in the entire network or in the specific region is triggered; during the network device upgrade process, if network traffic is detected to be higher than a second threshold, the upgrade operation of the network devices is suspended.

[0049] In practical applications, network traffic changes can be monitored in real time. For example, dedicated traffic monitoring devices can be deployed at the network egress point, or the traffic monitoring function built into network management software can be used to acquire network traffic data. Analysis of this data identifies periods of low network traffic. Traffic thresholds and low-traffic time windows can be set, such as a traffic threshold of 50 Mbps and a low-traffic time window of 30 consecutive minutes. When network traffic remains below 50 Mbps for 30 consecutive minutes, it is considered a low-traffic period. At this time, the network management center automatically triggers device upgrades. Before triggering the upgrade, the version download status of each device is reconfirmed to ensure that all devices to be upgraded have completed the version download. Simultaneously, upgrade tasks are prioritized, with critical devices or those with a significant impact on network performance being upgraded first. For example, in an enterprise network, the switches connected to the core router and critical business servers are considered critical devices, and their upgrades are prioritized during low-traffic periods. During the upgrade process, network traffic is continuously monitored. If network traffic shows an abnormal increase that may affect normal business operations, the upgrade operation is paused until network traffic returns to a suitable level before resuming the upgrade. For example, if network traffic suddenly spikes to 80Mbps during an upgrade, exceeding the preset 50Mbps threshold, the upgrade is paused and resumed only after network traffic drops below 50Mbps to avoid impacting normal business operations. The network management center interacts with devices according to a specific control protocol. Based on traffic monitoring results, the network management center sends upgrade trigger commands, pause commands, etc., to the devices, which then execute the corresponding operations.

[0050] In this embodiment of the application, if an upgrade group elects a pioneer member device, the upgrade strategy further includes a pioneer-guided upgrade strategy. In this case, the pioneer-guided upgrade strategy does not conflict with the global synchronous upgrade strategy, the independent asynchronous upgrade strategy, or the upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0051] Specifically, the pioneer-guided upgrade strategy includes: controlling the pioneer member device to complete the upgrade, performing function, configuration and performance tests on the upgraded pioneer member device, and sending an upgrade start command to other member devices in the upgrade group after confirming that the tests have passed.

[0052] In practical applications, after a pioneer member device in an upgrade group completes its upgrade, it sends an upgrade result report to the network management center. The network management center comprehensively checks the upgrade status using preset detection items. For example, for an upgraded switch, the first step is to perform basic device function tests, including ping tests to ensure network connectivity and communication with other critical network devices; port service checks to verify that services on each port are enabled correctly; configuration parameter verification to compare parameters before and after the upgrade and ensure accuracy; and performance monitoring to check if performance metrics such as forwarding rate and packet loss rate meet requirements. Only after the pioneer device's upgrade is deemed successful does the network management center send an upgrade start signal to other member devices in the upgrade group, and the other devices upgrade according to the process. The interaction between the pioneer member devices and the network management center follows a specific communication protocol. The pioneer member devices send an upgrade result report to the network management center containing upgrade process logs, test results, and other information. The network management center then performs checks and judgments based on the report content and sends corresponding instructions to other member devices.

[0053] In this embodiment of the application, the above-mentioned network device upgrade method may further include the following steps: Based on historical network traffic data, the bandwidth utilization of each link is statistically analyzed, and links whose utilization consistently exceeds a preset threshold are identified as network bottleneck links; the upgrade strategy for the network devices connected to the network bottleneck links is set to an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0054] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the application, the above-mentioned network device upgrade method may further include the following steps: The system collects the download progress and upgrade status of upgrade files for each network device in real time, and displays the data visually and provides anomaly alerts. When a network fault is detected, the system identifies the target network device associated with the fault. The upgrade process of the target network device is paused, and the breakpoint information is recorded. After the network fault is confirmed to be resolved, the upgrade operation of the target network device is resumed based on the breakpoint information.

[0055] For example, the network management center can collect data such as device version download progress and upgrade status in real time through monitoring channels established with various network devices. Taking SNMP polling as an example, the network management center sends SNMP requests to network devices at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 seconds) to obtain information such as the amount of data downloaded, estimated remaining time, and upgrade stage identifier. Simultaneously, network devices can also proactively report changes in their upgrade status, such as starting download, download completed, or starting upgrade, by sending notification messages to the network management center to ensure the center is promptly aware of the latest status of the network devices. Network devices and the network management center interact via the SNMP protocol; network devices respond to requests from the management center, returning corresponding status data, and proactively report notification messages when their status changes.

[0056] Furthermore, the network management center can use a graphical interface to intuitively present the entire network upgrade progress. It also provides a detailed list of network devices; clicking on a network device name in the list expands to view the specific progress and log information for each device. For abnormal situations, such as network device download timeouts or upgrade failures, the system promptly notifies maintenance personnel via SMS, email, or instant messaging tools. For example, when a network device's download times out, the system automatically sends an SMS notification to the maintenance personnel's mobile phone, informing them of the network device name and the specific circumstances of the timeout, allowing for timely handling. The network management center and the front-end display interface interact through a specific interface; the network management center transmits device status data to the front-end interface, which then provides a visual display of the data.

[0057] Furthermore, faults can include network failures. Therefore, network devices can have built-in network monitoring modules to monitor network connectivity in real time. Upon detecting a network interruption, the upgrade operation is immediately paused, and a countdown timer (the preset time can be adjusted according to the network environment, e.g., 5-10 minutes) is started to attempt reconnection. For example, in a campus network, if a network device experiences a sudden network interruption during an upgrade, the device immediately pauses the upgrade and starts a 5-minute countdown timer. Within the countdown, the device continuously attempts to reconnect to the network. If the network recovers within the countdown, the upgrade automatically resumes from the point of interruption; if it does not recover within the timeout, the current upgrade progress is recorded to local storage, and a fault notification is sent to the network management center. The network management center marks the device and notifies maintenance personnel to investigate the network fault. For example, information such as completed upgrade steps and downloaded file fragments is recorded to local storage for easy continuation of the upgrade after network recovery. The device and the network management center interact through a specific fault notification protocol. After detecting a network fault, the device sends a fault notification to the network management center containing information such as the fault type (network interruption), the time of the fault, and the current upgrade progress. The network management center then takes appropriate action based on the notification.

[0058] In practical applications, faults can also include hardware failures. The device's hardware detection module monitors hardware status in real time, such as CPU temperature, memory usage, and hard drive read / write status. When a hardware fault is detected, such as a CPU temperature exceeding a safety threshold or bad sectors on the hard drive causing read / write errors, the upgrade is immediately stopped, and detailed fault information, including fault type and device location, is sent to the network management center. The network management center removes the network device from the upgrade queue and notifies maintenance personnel for repair. After the fault is resolved, the network device is re-added to the upgrade queue through the network management center to continue the upgrade from where it left off. For example, after maintenance personnel replace the hard drive with bad sectors, the network device reconnects to the network management center. The network management center, based on the upgrade progress information stored on the network device, schedules the upgrade to resume from the last interrupted step. The network device and the network management center interact through a hardware fault reporting protocol. After detecting a hardware fault, the network device sends detailed fault information to the network management center, which then adjusts the device status and arranges fault handling accordingly.

[0059] In this embodiment, by grouping network devices by model, the primary member device downloads the version and then copies it to the secondary member devices via the local network, thus optimizing the version acquisition path. The high bandwidth and stability of the local network significantly improve the version transmission speed. For example, in a campus network, when switches of the same model use this solution to download versions, the time is reduced from several hours in the traditional method to tens of minutes. This improves download efficiency, thereby improving the efficiency of network device upgrades.

[0060] Each network device model has only one or a few primary member devices requesting downloads from the server, significantly reducing the number of concurrent requests to the server. Taking a large data center network as an example, a traditional upgrade of 5,000 devices might result in 5,000 concurrent requests to the server. However, using the solution provided in this application, assuming there are 50 different device models and one primary member device for each model, the number of concurrent requests can be reduced to 1% of the original amount. This not only alleviates server pressure and extends its lifespan but also reduces invalid traffic and eases network congestion.

[0061] Furthermore, simultaneous upgrades of all network devices facilitate centralized management; independent upgrades of individual network devices fully utilize resources; and pioneer-guided upgrades ensure stability and prevent network-wide upgrade stagnation. This improves the overall network upgrade efficiency. Pioneer member devices are upgraded first and pass testing, providing a reliable reference for the upgrade of other devices, reducing the waste of time and resources caused by upgrade failures, and lowering the risk of upgrade failure.

[0062] Based on the same inventive concept as the above-described embodiments, see, for example, the following: Figure 2The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a network device upgrade apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application. The apparatus includes: Unit 20 allows users to obtain network topology information and network device information, and to group network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group. Election unit 21 is used to elect a master member device from the network devices included in the upgrade group for each upgrade group based on the performance indicators and network locations of the network devices included in the upgrade group. The network devices other than the master member device in the upgrade group are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network. The upgrade unit 22 is used to control each network device in each upgrade group to start the upgrade operation based on a preset upgrade strategy.

[0063] Optionally, the upgrade strategy includes: a global synchronous upgrade strategy, an independent asynchronous upgrade strategy, and an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0064] Optionally, the independent asynchronous upgrade strategy includes: if a slave device in an upgrade group obtains an upgrade version file, it sends an upgrade request to the network management server; the network management server determines, based on the network topology and the download progress of upgrade version files of other slave devices in the upgrade group, whether the upgrade of the slave device will affect the download of upgrade version files of other slave devices, and instructs the slave device to perform the upgrade operation.

[0065] Optionally, the upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic includes: real-time monitoring of network traffic across the entire network or in a specific region; when network traffic is detected to be continuously below a first threshold for a predetermined time, it is determined that a low traffic period has begun, and the upgrade operation of the network devices ready in the entire network or in the specific region is triggered. If network traffic exceeds the second threshold during network device upgrades, the upgrade process will be paused.

[0066] Optionally, the device further includes: The setting unit is used to calculate the bandwidth utilization of each link based on historical network traffic data, identify links whose utilization consistently exceeds a preset threshold as network bottleneck links, and set the upgrade strategy of the network devices connected to the network bottleneck links as an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

[0067] Optionally, the election unit 21 is further configured to: Based on the historical stability and importance of each network device in the upgrade group, a pioneer member device is selected from the network devices in the upgrade group. Among them, the network devices in the upgrade group other than the master member device and the pioneer member device are slave member devices, and the master member device and the pioneer member device are different network devices. The upgrade strategy also includes: a pioneer-guided upgrade strategy.

[0068] Optionally, the pioneer-guided upgrade strategy includes: controlling the pioneer member device to complete the upgrade, performing function, configuration and performance tests on the upgraded pioneer member device, and sending an upgrade start command to other member devices in the upgrade group after confirming that the tests have passed.

[0069] Optionally, the device further includes: The data acquisition unit is used to collect the download progress and upgrade status of upgrade version files of each network device in real time, and to display the data visually and issue alarms for any anomalies. The determining unit, when a network fault is detected, is used to determine the target network device associated with the network fault; The upgrade unit 22 is further configured to pause the upgrade process of the target network device and record breakpoint information; The upgrade unit 22 is further configured to, after determining that the network fault has been recovered, continue to perform the upgrade operation of the target network device based on the breakpoint information.

[0070] These units can be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Alternatively, when one of these units is implemented using processing element scheduler code, the processing element can be a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or other processor capable of calling program code. Furthermore, these units can be integrated together to form a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0071] Furthermore, regarding the network device upgrade apparatus provided in this application embodiment, from a hardware perspective, the hardware architecture schematic diagram of the network device upgrade apparatus can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 3As shown, the network device upgrade device may include: a memory 30 and a processor 31. The memory 30 is used to store program instructions; the processor 31 calls the program instructions stored in the memory 30 and executes the above method embodiment according to the obtained program instructions. The specific implementation method and technical effect are similar, and will not be described again here.

[0072] Optionally, this application also provides a network device upgrade device, including at least one processing element (or chip) for performing the above method embodiments.

[0073] Optionally, this application also provides a program product, such as a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing the computer to perform the above-described method embodiments.

[0074] Here, a machine-readable storage medium can be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that can contain or store information, such as executable instructions, data, etc. For example, a machine-readable storage medium can be: RAM (Random Access Memory), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, flash memory, storage drives (such as hard disk drives), solid-state drives, any type of storage disk (such as optical discs, DVDs, etc.), or similar storage media, or combinations thereof.

[0075] The systems, devices, modules, or units described in the above embodiments can be implemented by computer chips or entities, or by products with certain functions. A typical implementation device is a computer, which can take the form of a personal computer, laptop computer, cellular phone, camera phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, media player, navigation device, email sending and receiving device, game console, tablet computer, wearable device, or any combination of these devices.

[0076] For ease of description, the above devices are described separately by function as various units. Of course, in implementing this application, the functions of each unit can be implemented in one or more software and / or hardware.

[0077] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, embodiments of this application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0078] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart... Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0079] Furthermore, these computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0080] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0081] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading network equipment, characterized in that, The method includes: Obtain network topology and network device information, and group network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group; For each upgrade group, a master member device is elected from the network devices included in the upgrade group based on the performance indicators and network locations of each network device in the upgrade group. The other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network. For each upgrade group, based on a preset upgrade strategy, control the network devices included in the upgrade group to start the upgrade operation.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The upgrade strategies include: a global synchronous upgrade strategy, an independent asynchronous upgrade strategy, and an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The independent asynchronous upgrade strategy includes: if a slave device in an upgrade group obtains an upgrade version file, it sends an upgrade request to the network management server; the network management server makes a judgment based on the network topology and the download progress of the upgrade version files of other slave devices in the upgrade group, and if the upgrade of the slave device will not affect the download of the upgrade version files of other slave devices, it instructs the slave device to perform the upgrade operation.

4. The method as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic includes: real-time monitoring of network traffic across the entire network or in a specific region; when network traffic is detected to be continuously below a first threshold for a predetermined time, it is determined that a low traffic period has begun, and the upgrade operation of the network devices that are ready in the entire network or in the specific region is triggered. If network traffic exceeds the second threshold during network device upgrades, the upgrade process will be paused.

5. The method as described in any one of claims 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on historical network traffic data, the bandwidth utilization of each link is statistically analyzed, and links whose utilization consistently exceeds a preset threshold are identified as network bottleneck links. The upgrade strategy for the network devices connected by the network bottleneck link is set to an upgrade strategy based on dynamic changes in network traffic.

6. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the historical stability and importance of each network device in the upgrade group, a pioneer member device is selected from the network devices in the upgrade group. Among them, the network devices in the upgrade group other than the master member device and the pioneer member device are slave member devices, and the master member device and the pioneer member device are different network devices. The upgrade strategy also includes: a pioneer-guided upgrade strategy.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The pioneer-guided upgrade strategy includes: controlling the pioneer member devices to complete the upgrade, performing function, configuration and performance tests on the upgraded pioneer member devices, and sending upgrade start commands to other member devices in the upgrade group after confirming that the tests have passed.

8. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Real-time collection of download progress and upgrade status of upgrade files for each network device, and visualization and anomaly alerts; When a network fault is detected, the target network device associated with the network fault is determined; Pause the upgrade process of the target network device and record the breakpoint information; After confirming that the network fault has been recovered, the upgrade operation of the target network device continues based on the breakpoint information.

9. A network equipment upgrade device, characterized in that, The device includes: The acquisition unit allows users to obtain network topology and network device information, and to group network devices of the same model into the same upgrade group. An election unit is used to elect a master member device from the network devices included in each upgrade group based on the performance indicators and network locations of the network devices included in the upgrade group. The other network devices in the upgrade group besides the master member device are slave member devices. The master member device downloads the upgrade version file from a remote version server, and the slave member devices obtain the upgrade version file from the master member device through the local network. The upgrade unit is used to control each network device in each upgrade group to start the upgrade operation based on a preset upgrade strategy.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The device further includes: The data acquisition unit is used to collect the download progress and upgrade status of upgrade version files of each network device in real time, and to display the data visually and issue alarms for any anomalies. The determining unit, when a network fault is detected, is used to determine the target network device associated with the network fault; The upgrade unit is also used to pause the upgrade process of the target network device and record breakpoint information; The upgrade unit is further configured to, after determining that the network fault has been recovered, continue to perform the upgrade operation of the target network device based on the breakpoint information.

11. A network equipment upgrade device, characterized in that, The network equipment upgrade device includes: Memory, used to store program instructions; A processor is configured to invoke program instructions stored in the memory and execute the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1-8 according to the obtained program instructions.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions for causing the computer to perform the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1-8.

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