Method, device and equipment for topology discovery of optical switch in optoelectronic fusion network

Abstract

The application provides a kind of optical switch topology discovery method, device and electronic equipment in optoelectronic fusion network, it is related to communication technical field, wherein, method includes, first, the first topology information of optoelectronic fusion network is constructed, and the active port of optical switch in optoelectronic fusion network is acquired, then, physical layer disturbance is exerted to the active port of optical switch, triggers the link state change event and neighbor loss event of the port of electric switch, and based on the link state change, neighbor loss event and first topology information of the port of electric switch, the physical connection relationship of the active port of optical switch and electric switch port is determined;Finally, according to the physical connection relationship of the active port of optical switch and electric switch port, the first topology information is updated, and the topology information of optoelectronic fusion network is obtained.The application can automatically and accurately find the position of optical switch in optoelectronic fusion network topology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a method, apparatus and device for topology discovery of optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network. Background Technology

[0002] In a converged optoelectronic network, electrical switches handle protocols and services, while optical switches provide high-speed physical direct connections. Automatic topology discovery is fundamental to operations and maintenance.

[0003] Because optical switches only transmit optical signals and do not parse link discovery protocol frames, electrical switches may mistakenly believe they are directly connected, creating phantom links, while the optical switches remain completely invisible in the topology. This makes optical layer faults undetectable and unlocationable.

[0004] Existing solutions rely on manual addition of optical devices and drawing of connections, which is labor-intensive, error-prone, and the documentation becomes outdated after physical changes, failing to meet the real-time and accurate topology requirements of automated operation and maintenance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a method, apparatus, and device for topology discovery of optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network. The method can automatically and accurately discover the location of optical switches in the topology of the optoelectronic converged network.

[0006] In a first aspect, a topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network is provided, comprising: constructing first topology information of the optoelectronic converged network, the first topology information including the topology information of electrical switches; acquiring active ports of optical switches in the optoelectronic converged network; applying physical layer perturbations to the active ports of the optical switches to trigger link state change events and neighbor loss events of the ports of the electrical switches, and determining the physical connection relationship between the active ports of the optical switches and the ports of the electrical switches based on the link state change events, neighbor loss events, and the first topology information; updating the first topology information according to the physical connection relationship between the active ports of the optical switches and the ports of the electrical switches to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic converged network.

[0007] In this way, by detecting the active ports of optical switches, optical switches and their connections can be automatically discovered without manual intervention, avoiding the tedious work of manual configuration and human error. Through physical layer perturbation and event correlation analysis, the true physical path is revealed, making the optical switch nodes visible in the topology. Finally, a complete topology including electrical and optical switches is constructed, providing accurate, real-time, and complete topology information.

[0008] In one possible implementation, applying physical layer perturbation to the active ports of the optical switch includes: sequentially traversing each active port in the active port list and performing a probe operation on the active port; capturing the link state event of the port of the electrical switch and the neighbor loss event triggered by the probe operation.

[0009] In this way, by traversing all active ports, the connection relationship between each optical switch port and electrical switch port is verified and discovered one by one, forming a complete topology view. Furthermore, by perturbing only one port at a time, captured link state changes and neighbor loss events can be uniquely attributed to that port, avoiding confusion caused by simultaneous perturbing of multiple ports and thus accurately inferring physical connection relationships. In addition, a single port recovers immediately after a brief perturbing before processing the next one, resulting in a dispersed and minor impact on network traffic, far superior to the concentrated packet loss or service interruption that might occur from simultaneously perturbing multiple ports.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the detection operation on the active port includes: shutting down the active port; or introducing an optical attenuation greater than a preset threshold on the active port, causing the connected electrical switch to detect signal loss or excessive bit error rate; or instructing the LED indicator of the active port to flash according to a predefined pattern, identifying the optical signal flashing or port indicator flashing at the port of the electrical switch connected to the active port.

[0011] In this way, directly cutting off the optical path clearly changes the link status, ensuring that down events at the switch port and neighbor loss events will inevitably occur, eliminating the possibility of misjudgment. Introducing optical attenuation greater than a preset threshold has less impact on services, eliminating the need for a complete laser shutdown and restart, avoiding clock data recovery and link training processes, and resulting in faster recovery. The command LED indicator flashes according to a predefined pattern without interrupting services, making it suitable for older or low-cost equipment that does not support port shutdown or optical attenuation adjustment but provides controllable LEDs.

[0012] In one possible implementation, applying a physical layer disturbance to the active port of the optical switch to trigger a link state change event and a neighbor loss event on the port of the electrical switch, and determining the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch based on the link state change, the neighbor loss event, and the first topology information, includes: Send a command to the optical switch to set the physical state of the active port to off; Capture link status events of ports of at least two electrical switches connected to the active port from the electrical switch side, as well as neighbor relationship loss events between ports of the electrical switches; Using the shutdown of the active port as the cause, and the captured link state events of the power switch port and the neighbor relationship loss events as the results, a correlation analysis is performed to infer the connection relationship between the active port and the power switch based on the first topology information.

[0013] In this way, based on the initial topology information, correlation analysis can accurately locate the optical switch port actually traversed by the false link, thereby deleting erroneous records and supplementing the correct optoelectronic connection relationships. The entire process is automatically executed by the controller without manual intervention, solving the efficiency and error problems of manual topology maintenance. Furthermore, the shutdown action is proactive and controllable, and the resulting electrical switch port down event and neighbor loss event are highly synchronized in time and are only related to the currently shut-down optical port. This one-to-one strong causal relationship ensures accurate determination of the inference results.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the neighbor loss event refers to an event in which the port of the switch is unable to receive the link layer discovery protocol message from the peer neighbor due to link interruption, resulting in the original neighbor relationship timeout and disappearance.

[0015] In this way, the link interruption caused by physical disturbance is explicitly associated with the failure of neighbor relationships at the protocol layer, thus providing clear and actionable event evidence for accurately inferring the true optoelectronic connection relationship.

[0016] One possible implementation also includes: After updating the first topology information, a command is sent to the optical switch to restore the state of the active port.

[0017] In this way, restoring the port state ensures that the probing process is brief, controllable, and has no lasting impact on the network.

[0018] In one possible implementation, updating the first topology information to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic fusion network includes: Delete the false links that directly connect electrical switches in the first topology information; Add the optical switch node and establish a link between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the corresponding electrical switch.

[0019] In this way, the generated false links between switches are directly deleted, eliminating false connections in the topology view and preventing maintenance personnel from being misled.

[0020] Secondly, a topology discovery device for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network is provided. The first processing module is used to construct the first topology information of the optoelectronic converged network, the first topology information including the topology information of the electrical switch; The second processing module is used to obtain the active ports of optical switches in the optoelectronic converged network. The third processing module is used to apply physical layer disturbances to the active port of the optical switch, trigger link state change events and neighbor loss events of the port of the electrical switch, and determine the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch based on the link state change, neighbor loss events and the first topology information of the port of the electrical switch. The fourth processing module is used to update the first topology information based on the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch, so as to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic converged network.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the third processing module is used to sequentially traverse each active port in the list of active ports and perform a probe operation on the active port; Capture the link status events of the switch ports and the neighbor loss events triggered by the probe operation.

[0022] In one possible implementation, a third processing module is used to close the active port; Alternatively, an optical attenuation greater than a preset threshold may be introduced on the active port, causing the connected electrical switch to detect signal loss or excessive bit error rate. Alternatively, the LED indicator of the active port can be instructed to flash according to a predefined pattern, and the flashing of the optical signal or the flashing of the port indicator light at the port of the electrical switch connected to the active port can be identified.

[0023] In one possible implementation, a third processing module is used to send an instruction to the optical switch to set the physical state of the active port to off; Capture link status events of ports of at least two electrical switches connected to the active port from the electrical switch side, as well as neighbor relationship loss events between ports of the electrical switches; Using the shutdown of the active port as the cause, and the captured link state events of the power switch port and the neighbor relationship loss events as the results, a correlation analysis is performed to infer the connection relationship between the active port and the power switch based on the first topology information.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the neighbor loss event refers to an event in which the port of the switch is unable to receive the link layer discovery protocol message from the peer neighbor due to link interruption, resulting in the original neighbor relationship timeout and disappearance.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the fourth processing module is used to send an instruction to the optical switch to restore the state of the active port after updating the first topology information.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the fourth processing module is used to delete spurious links that directly connect electrical switches in the first topology information; Add the optical switch node and establish a link between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the corresponding electrical switch.

[0027] Thirdly, an electronic device is provided, comprising: one or more processors; one or more memories; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the one or more memories, and the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the configured device to perform the method as described in the first aspect.

[0028] Fourthly, a computer storage medium is provided, the computer storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0029] Fifthly, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0030] The beneficial effects of the second to fifth aspects can be referred to the introduction of the beneficial effects of the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of the optoelectronic fusion network provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a topology discovery device 310 for an optical switch in an optoelectronic converged network that can be used to implement the method of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments of the present invention, "multiple" refers to two or more objects, and "various kinds" refers to two or more types. Terms such as "first," "second," etc., are only used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or number of objects.

[0033] First, the relevant technical terms involved in the technical solution provided by this invention will be introduced.

[0034] An optical switch (also known as an all-optical switch) is a network device that operates at the physical layer (L1). Its core function is to directly forward or switch optical signals within the optical domain without requiring photoelectric conversion.

[0035] Opto-Electronic Hybrid (OEHH) is a network design architecture that integrates optical communication technology and electrical switching technology. Unlike traditional networks where "optical only transmits and electrical only switches," OEHH allows the two to work deeply at the physical layer, protocol layer, and even chip layer, each leveraging its strengths: optical switches handle high-bandwidth, low-loss, long-distance data transmission, while electrical switches handle flexible, precise, and buffered data switching and processing.

[0036] In this architecture, electrical switches are typically used to handle complex L2 / L3 layer protocols, providing rich service features and flexible access. Simultaneously, optical switches are used to build ultra-low latency, ultra-high bandwidth physical layer direct connection channels at the core layer.

[0037] Automatic network topology discovery is fundamental for network monitoring, fault location, and automated operation and maintenance. However, in optoelectronic converged architectures, the optical and electrical layers coexist and are coupled with each other. Traditional discovery protocols based on the data link layer (L2) cannot be directly applied to optical layer devices, which poses a significant challenge to network visualization and automated management.

[0038] This is because LLDP works by electrical switches sending and receiving LLDP frames on their ports to identify directly connected neighboring devices. However, this mechanism fails in converged optoelectronic networks because optical switches are purely physical layer devices. They only convert optical signals directly within the optical domain without any optoelectronic conversion, and therefore cannot parse the content of LLDP frames. When two electrical switches are connected through an optical switch, LLDP frames pass directly through the optical switch, causing the two electrical switches to mistakenly identify each other as direct neighbors. This creates a "phantom link" that does not conform to the physical topology, while the optical switch, as a key node, is completely "invisible" in the topology view.

[0039] Therefore, solutions relying solely on LLDP suffer from the following problems: because optical switches cannot be discovered by LLDP, the generated topology map will lack critical physical layer nodes and links. The missing optical switching layer causes the topology view to severely deviate from the actual physical structure, creating the false impression of "direct connection of electrical switches." Consequently, the optical switching layer is completely ignored for fault diagnosis and performance analysis. This means that faults occurring at the optical layer are not reflected in the topology, making them undetectable and untraceable for maintenance personnel. Therefore, topology discovery solutions relying solely on LLDP are unacceptable in optoelectronic converged networks.

[0040] To address the aforementioned LLDP failure issue, a manually maintained static topology was adopted to compensate for the shortcomings of automatic discovery. Specifically, network administrators manually added optical switches in the Network Management System (NMS) based on the physical cabling design. Simultaneously, they manually drew the connection relationships between the optical and electrical switches. This method treats the physical layer topology as fixed information independent of the LLDP dynamic discovery results, overlaying it with the dynamically obtained logical topology. Its significant drawback is its complete reliance on manually maintained documentation; if the physical cabling changes without updating the documentation, the topology view will become out of sync with reality.

[0041] In summary, while the manual configuration methods described above can partially compensate for the shortcomings of LLDP, the workload of manually adding devices and drawing connection relationships is enormous, heavily reliant on manually maintained cabling documents. Once physical connections change, if the documents are not updated synchronously, the topology information in the NMS will become out of touch with reality, completely losing its reference value. Configuration errors caused by human error are almost unavoidable. Modern network operations and maintenance are developing towards automation and intelligence. Advanced functions such as automated traffic scheduling, fault self-healing, and resource orchestration all rely on an accurate, real-time, and complete network topology foundation. Existing manual solutions cannot provide such a topology foundation, severely hindering the realization of automation capabilities in optoelectronic converged networks. Therefore, manually configuring and overlaying static topology is only a stopgap measure and cannot fundamentally solve the problems of visualization and automated management of optoelectronic converged networks.

[0042] To address the problem of existing technologies failing to identify optical switches, resulting in incomplete and distorted topology views, this invention provides a method and system capable of automatically and accurately identifying the location of optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network topology. It breaks down the barrier between the physical optical layer and the logical link layer, enabling optical layer information to be understood by upper-layer network systems. It automatically and seamlessly embeds previously "invisible" optical switch nodes and their connections into the network topology view, presenting network administrators with a complete, accurate, and real-time optoelectronic integrated topology view. Through these methods, this invention solves the problem of incomplete topology, significantly improves operational efficiency, and lays the foundation for advanced network automation functions such as traffic scheduling and fault self-healing.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a network architecture diagram of the optoelectronic fusion network shown in an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 1 As shown, this invention proposes a topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network. The core idea is to actively detect state changes of physical layer ports and then correlate physical layer events with link layer information for analysis. This method is uniformly executed by a central network controller, i.e., a network management system.

[0044] Specifically, the embodiments of the present invention operate in a typical optoelectronic converged network environment. This network mainly includes a network controller, which... Figure 1 It's not shown in the diagram, but it can manage all electrical and optical switches in the network. The optoelectronic converged network also includes electrical switches, such as the Spine electrical switch in the core layer and the Leaf1 to Leaf4 switches in the access layer; these devices all support the LLDP protocol. The optoelectronic converged network also includes optical switches, such as optical switches based on MEMS technology. The central network controller's management interface can open or close any port of the optical switches.

[0045] like Figure 1 In the diagram, the core layer consists of Spine electrical switches and MEMS optical switches; the access layer consists of four electrical switches: Leaf1, Leaf2, Leaf3, and Leaf4. The lines in the diagram represent fiber optic links. Leaf1's a1 port is connected to the MEMS optical switch, but inside the MEMS, the optical path is switched to Leaf3's b1 port, so the optical path between these two ports is continuous. Additionally, the names v-a1, v-a2, v-b1, and v-b2 labeled in the diagram are logical identifiers assigned to each port of the optical switches by the controller for convenient topology description.

[0046] In summary, the embodiments of the present invention actively control the optical switch ports through the controller, combine the neighbor information of LLDP, and then perform cross-layer analysis to finally present the optical switch and its connection relationship completely.

[0047] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, it includes the following steps: In step 210, the initial logical topology is constructed.

[0048] First, the controller queries neighbor information from all electrical switches in the network using the standard LLDP protocol. Specifically, it can send query commands to all electrical switches in the network using the standard LLDP protocol to collect neighbor information reported by each switch port.

[0049] However, as mentioned earlier, since optical switches are purely physical layer devices, they do not perform any parsing or termination of LLDP frames, but directly transmit these frames within the optical domain. Therefore, when two electrical switches are indirectly connected through a MEMS optical switch, LLDP frames will penetrate the MEMS, causing the two electrical switches to perceive each other as directly connected neighbors.

[0050] Based on this misled neighbor report, the controller constructs an initial logical topology that does not contain any optical switches. In this erroneous topology view, the MEMS optical switches are completely invisible, replaced by several phantom links directly connected to the electrical switches; this initial logical topology is the first topology information.

[0051] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, in the actual physical connection, port a1 of Leaf1 is connected to an input port of the MEMS optical switch via optical fiber. After optical path switching inside the MEMS, its output port is connected to port b1 of Leaf3. However, from the LLDP information reported by Leaf1 and Leaf3, the controller only finds that Leaf1(a1) claims Leaf3(b1) as its neighbor, while Leaf3(b1) claims Leaf1(a1) as its neighbor. Therefore, the controller incorrectly records a direct link in the topology database: Leaf1(a1) <--> Leaf3(b1).

[0052] This record completely ignores the intermediate MEMS optical switch nodes and their port information, resulting in a severely distorted topology view. Simultaneously, other similar links connected via MEMS, such as Leaf2 to Leaf4, will also show the same erroneous record.

[0053] In step 220, active physical layer probing is initiated.

[0054] After completing the initial LLDP logical topology acquisition, the controller enters the second stage of active physical layer probing.

[0055] First, the controller can wait for a period of time to ensure that the network topology is in a relatively stable state, for example, all links have been established, optical path switching within optical switches has been completed, and there are no ongoing reconfiguration operations. This avoids collecting inaccurate or inconsistent port information during periods of topology instability.

[0056] Once the network is stable, the controller initiates the optical switch discovery program to proactively establish management connections with known or potential optical switches in the network and obtain their physical layer port information.

[0057] The specific steps are as follows: The controller connects to each MEMS optical switch via a pre-configured management interface, such as SNMP, NETCONF, or directly via SSH / CLI.

[0058] After successful authentication, the controller sends a query command to the optical switch, requesting the following information: a list of all physical ports, including port index, port name, or logical identifier; the current status of each port, such as whether it is on / off and whether the optical power is normal; and optionally, the port type and supported wavelength range. The optical switch returns a response, which the controller parses and stores in its local topology database.

[0059] For example, for a MEMS optical switch, the controller might obtain a port list: [v-a1, v-a2, v-b1, v-b2, ...], and record the current open state of each port. These logical identifiers are the appended... Figure 1 The port names used to describe the topology are then used by the controller to introduce the optical switch devices and their active ports into the first topology information.

[0060] In step 230, port probing and cross-layer event association are performed cyclically.

[0061] The controller sequentially iterates through each active port of the MEMS optical switch, performing the following sub-steps for each port: Step 231: Select and close the target port.

[0062] The controller selects a target port to be probed from the list of active ports.

[0063] For example, suppose the optical port physically connected to Leaf1(a1) is named MEMS-Port-1. The controller sends an explicit instruction to the MEMS optical switch to set the physical state of that port to shutdown / disable, thereby cutting off the optical path on that port. This means that all optical signal transmission originating from or passing through that port will be interrupted. This operation only affects the selected single port; the connection status of other ports remains unchanged, thus ensuring the isolation and security of the probing process.

[0064] Step 232: Monitor and capture link layer events.

[0065] The moment MEMS-Port-1 is shut down, the optical path it carries is cut off. This physical layer change is quickly transmitted to the connected electrical switch port, triggering a link layer state change event.

[0066] The controller can capture these events in real time in two ways: by subscribing to alarms sent by the switch, such as SNMPTrap and Syslog, which actively report when port status changes; and by periodically querying the switch's port status, such as via SNMPGet or NETCONF. The controller also receives the following information: Leaf1 reports that the link status of its port a1 has changed to down; Leaf3 reports that the link status of its port b1 has also changed to down. Furthermore, Leaf3 (b1), a neighbor previously discovered via LLDP on Leaf1 (a1), disappears due to the link interruption. These three events are highly synchronized in time and are all directly related to the shutdown action of MEMS-Port-1.

[0067] Step 233: Perform correlation analysis and inference.

[0068] In this embodiment, the controller can maintain a correlation analysis engine, which is responsible for causal matching between physical layer operations and link layer events. For the aforementioned probing process, the correlation analysis engine performs the following inference: Known fact: The controller actively shut down MEMS-Port-1.

[0069] Observed results: The logical link Leaf1(a1)<-->Leaf3(b1) was interrupted, both ends went down at the same time, and the LLDP neighbor was lost.

[0070] Logical deduction: Since the interruption was directly caused by the shutdown of MEMS-Port-1, and Leaf1(a1) and Leaf3(b1) are the only affected electrical ports, it can be determined that the actual physical path of the logical link Leaf1(a1) <--> Leaf3(b1) passes through the MEMS optical switch. The physical connection counterpart of Leaf1(a1) is precisely MEMS-Port-1. Correspondingly, the physical connection counterpart of Leaf3(b1) is the other port inside the MEMS that is currently connected to the optical path of MEMS-Port-1, such as MEMS-Port-2.

[0071] After completing the inference, the controller updates the topology database as follows: It deletes the previously incorrectly recorded phantom link: Leaf1(a1) <--> Leaf3(b1). It adds the correct physical topology: Leaf1(a1) ---> MEMS-Port-1, MEMS-Port-1 ---> MEMS-Port-2, MEMS-Port-2 ---> Leaf3(b1) Step 234: Restore the port state and continue the loop.

[0072] To avoid affecting normal network operation, the controller will restore MEMS-Port-1 to the ON state after completing the above analysis and recording. After the optical path is restored, the link status of Leaf1(a1) and Leaf3(b1) will automatically return to UP, and the LLDP neighbor relationship will be re-established.

[0073] Then, the controller selects the next active port of the MEMS optical switch and repeats sub-steps 231 to 234. The entire topology discovery process ends when all active ports have been probed.

[0074] In this embodiment, the controller can traverse ports in index order or prioritize probes based on the priority of LLDP phantom links. Since the shutdown time of each port is extremely short, the impact on upper-layer services is negligible. For scenarios with extremely high availability requirements, probes can be performed during maintenance windows or low-traffic periods.

[0075] This method is applicable not only to MEMS optical switches but also to any all-optical or optoelectronic hybrid device with controllable port status. Through the aforementioned cyclic probing and cross-layer event correlation, this invention can automatically and accurately embed optical switch nodes and their connections into the network topology, ultimately presenting a complete, realistic, and real-time optoelectronic integrated topology view.

[0076] In step 240, the topology database is reconstructed.

[0077] The controller will perform update operations on the topology database to ensure that the database migrates from an erroneous state to a correct state in one go, avoiding inconsistencies caused by intermediate states.

[0078] First, the controller locates the erroneous record in the topology database, namely the direct logical link between Leaf1(a1) and Leaf3(b1). Then, it performs a deletion operation to remove this non-existent "phantom link".

[0079] Next, the controller writes new information representing the actual physical topology to the database. If the node record for the MEMS optical switch does not yet exist in the topology database, the controller creates a new node, labels it as an optical switch, and assigns a unique device identifier, such as device name, IP address, or management ID. If it already exists, the existing node is reused. The controller assigns a logical identifier to MEMS-Port-1 that is easy to display in the topology view, such as v-a1. This identifier will be used for subsequent link connections and visualization.

[0080] The controller creates a new link record in the database, connecting Leaf1(a1) and MEMS(v-a1). This link indicates that there is a physical fiber directly connecting the electrical switch port and the optical switch port.

[0081] Based on the correlation analysis, the controller can synchronously infer the optical port connected to Leaf3(b1), such as MEMS-Port-2. The controller also assigns it a logical identifier v-b1 and creates another virtual link MEMS(v-b1) <--> Leaf3(b1).

[0082] If the topology display needs to show the internal connections of the optical switch, the controller can also record an internal link MEMS(v-a1) <--> MEMS(v-b1) in the database, representing the current optical path connectivity within the optical switch. This is very helpful for understanding the end-to-end optical layer path.

[0083] After the above addition operations, the optical switch nodes and their upstream and downstream connections that were originally missing in the topology database were completely added in, forming a real physical topology view.

[0084] Finally, after completing the database update, the controller immediately restores the port status of MEMS-Port-1. The controller sends a "no shutdown" or "enable" command to the MEMS optical switch via the management interface, reopening the optical path of that port. Once the port is restored, the optical path previously interrupted by probing is immediately re-established, and the link status of Leaf1(a1) and Leaf3(b1) automatically recovers from down to up. LLDP neighbor relationships are also automatically re-established. Service traffic that previously passed through this optical path will automatically recover in a very short time, without manual intervention.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, controllable optical power attenuation is used instead of complete port shutdown to trigger a signal loss event on the other end's electrical switch.

[0086] For advanced optical switches that support adjustable optical power or devices equipped with adjustable optical attenuators, the controller does not need to perform a hard port shutdown. Instead, the controller instructs the optical switch via the management interface to briefly introduce a large optical attenuation (e.g., 20–30 dB) on the target port. This attenuation is sufficient for the optical module of the remote electrical switch to detect a signal strength below a threshold, thus determining a signal loss or a severely excessive bit error rate, ultimately triggering the electrical port to go down.

[0087] This avoids the complete shutdown and restart of the optical module's laser, eliminating the need for clock data recovery and link training. Attenuation application and removal can be completed in microseconds to milliseconds, faster than a port hard reboot. This reduces electrical switching operations on optical modules and switches, extending hardware lifespan. This application's embodiments are applicable to optical switches or links equipped with adjustable optical attenuators, where the controller can finely control the attenuation amount through a management interface.

[0088] Furthermore, embodiments of this application also provide detection based on port identifier flashing. Physical connection relationships are matched by manually or visually observing controllable LED indicators on the optical switch ports.

[0089] Specifically, if each physical port of an optical switch is equipped with a software-controllable LED indicator, the controller can instruct the LED of a target port to operate according to a predefined flashing pattern, such as flashing rapidly three times, remaining on for one second, and then turning off. Simultaneously, data center on-site maintenance personnel or inspection cameras observe electrical switch ports that may be connected to that optical port. Specifically, they observe whether there is an optical signal flashing at the fiber optic connector of the electrical switch port, or whether the link indicator light on the electrical switch port itself is flashing synchronously. By matching the flashing patterns, it is possible to determine which fiber is connected to which optical switch port, thereby establishing the physical connection.

[0090] This method requires manual intervention or the deployment of a visual recognition system and cannot be fully automated by the controller. Manual observation is time-consuming and difficult to perform on a large scale or at high frequency. Factors such as lighting in the server room and cable obstruction may affect the observation results. However, it can be used as an auxiliary verification method for spot checks to verify the accuracy of automatic discovery. It can be used on specific devices where port shutdown or power attenuation is not possible. After initial deployment or network cutover, manual verification is required to confirm whether the physical cabling is consistent with the controller topology.

[0091] In summary, the method and system provided by this invention, capable of automatically and accurately discovering the location of optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network topology, can break down the information barrier between the physical optical layer (L1) and the logical link layer (L2), dynamically and seamlessly embedding optical switch nodes and their connections into the network topology view. This allows network administrators to construct a complete, realistic, and real-time optoelectronic integrated topology. Furthermore, it solves the problem of incomplete topology in existing technologies, significantly improves operational efficiency, and lays the foundation for advanced network automation.

[0092] The following is a topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network proposed in an embodiment of the present invention, including the following steps: 310: First topology information for constructing an optoelectronic converged network, the first topology information including the topology information of the electrical switch.

[0093] 320: Obtain the active port of the optical switch in the optoelectronic converged network.

[0094] 330: Apply physical layer disturbance to the active port of the optical switch to trigger link state change event and neighbor loss event of the port of the electrical switch, and determine the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch based on the link state change, neighbor loss event and the first topology information of the port of the electrical switch.

[0095] 340: Based on the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch, the first topology information is updated to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic converged network.

[0096] In this way, by detecting the active ports of optical switches, optical switches and their connections can be automatically discovered without manual intervention, avoiding the tedious work of manual configuration and human error. Through physical layer perturbation and event correlation analysis, the true physical path is revealed, making the optical switch nodes visible in the topology. Finally, a complete topology including electrical and optical switches is constructed, providing accurate, real-time, and complete topology information.

[0097] In one possible embodiment, step 330 includes: sequentially traversing each active port in the active port list, performing a probe operation on the active port; and capturing the link status event of the switch port and the neighbor loss event triggered by the probe operation.

[0098] In this way, by traversing all active ports, the connection relationship between each optical switch port and electrical switch port is verified and discovered one by one, forming a complete topology view. Furthermore, by perturbing only one port at a time, captured link state changes and neighbor loss events can be uniquely attributed to that port, avoiding confusion caused by simultaneous perturbing of multiple ports and thus accurately inferring physical connection relationships. In addition, a single port recovers immediately after a brief perturbing before processing the next one, resulting in a dispersed and minor impact on network traffic, far superior to the concentrated packet loss or service interruption that might occur from simultaneously perturbing multiple ports.

[0099] In one possible embodiment, step 330 includes: shutting down the active port; or, introducing light attenuation greater than a preset threshold on the active port, causing the connected electrical switch to detect signal loss or excessive bit error rate; or, instructing the LED indicator of the active port to flash according to a predefined pattern, identifying the flashing of the light signal or the flashing of the port indicator at the port of the electrical switch connected to the active port.

[0100] In this way, directly cutting off the optical path clearly changes the link status, ensuring that down events at the switch port and neighbor loss events will inevitably occur, eliminating the possibility of misjudgment. Introducing optical attenuation greater than a preset threshold has less impact on services, eliminating the need for a complete laser shutdown and restart, avoiding clock data recovery and link training processes, and resulting in faster recovery. The command LED indicator flashes according to a predefined pattern without interrupting services, making it suitable for older or low-cost equipment that does not support port shutdown or optical attenuation adjustment but provides controllable LEDs.

[0101] In one possible embodiment, step 330 includes sending a command to the optical switch to set the physical state of the active port to off.

[0102] Capture link status events of ports of at least two electrical switches connected to the active port from the electrical switch side, as well as neighbor relationship loss events between ports of the electrical switches.

[0103] Using the shutdown of the active port as the cause, and the captured link state events of the power switch port and the neighbor relationship loss events as the results, a correlation analysis is performed to infer the connection relationship between the active port and the power switch based on the first topology information.

[0104] In this way, based on the initial topology information, correlation analysis can accurately locate the optical switch port actually traversed by the false link, thereby deleting erroneous records and supplementing the correct optoelectronic connection relationships. The entire process is automatically executed by the controller without manual intervention, solving the efficiency and error problems of manual topology maintenance. Furthermore, the shutdown action is proactive and controllable, and the resulting electrical switch port down event and neighbor loss event are highly synchronized in time and are only related to the currently shut-down optical port. This one-to-one strong causal relationship ensures accurate determination of the inference results.

[0105] In one possible embodiment, the neighbor loss event refers to an event in which the port of the power switch is unable to receive the link layer discovery protocol message of the peer neighbor due to link interruption, resulting in the original neighbor relationship timeout and disappearance.

[0106] In this way, the link interruption caused by physical disturbance is explicitly associated with the failure of neighbor relationships at the protocol layer, thus providing clear and actionable event evidence for accurately inferring the true optoelectronic connection relationship.

[0107] In one possible embodiment, step 350 is further included: after updating the first topology information, sending an instruction to the optical switch to restore the state of the active port.

[0108] In this way, restoring the port state ensures that the probing process is brief, controllable, and has no lasting impact on the network.

[0109] In one possible embodiment, step 340 includes: Delete the false links that directly connect the switches in the first topology information.

[0110] Add the optical switch node and establish a link between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the corresponding electrical switch.

[0111] In this way, the generated false links between switches are directly deleted, eliminating false connections in the topology view and preventing maintenance personnel from being misled.

[0112] Next, based on the methods in the above embodiments, a topology discovery device for an optical switch in an optoelectronic converged network provided by the present invention will be introduced.

[0113] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a topology discovery device 310 for an optical switch in an optoelectronic converged network, which can be used to implement the method of the present invention. (See attached diagram) Figure 3 As shown, the topology discovery device 310 of the optical switch in the optoelectronic converged network includes multiple processing modules.

[0114] The first processing module is used to construct the first topology information of the optoelectronic converged network, which includes the topology information of the electrical switch.

[0115] The second processing module is used to obtain the active ports of the optical switches in the optoelectronic converged network.

[0116] The third processing module is used to apply physical layer disturbances to the active port of the optical switch, triggering link state change events and neighbor loss events of the port of the electrical switch, and determining the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch based on the link state change, neighbor loss events and the first topology information of the port of the electrical switch.

[0117] The fourth processing module is used to update the first topology information according to the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch, so as to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic converged network.

[0118] In one possible embodiment, the third processing module is used to sequentially traverse each active port in the active port list and perform a probe operation on the active port.

[0119] Capture the link status events of the switch ports and the neighbor loss events triggered by the probe operation.

[0120] In one possible embodiment, the third processing module is used to shut down the active port.

[0121] Alternatively, an optical attenuation greater than a preset threshold may be introduced on the active port, causing the connected electrical switch to detect signal loss or excessive bit error rate.

[0122] Alternatively, the LED indicator of the active port can be instructed to flash according to a predefined pattern, and the flashing of the optical signal or the flashing of the port indicator light at the port of the electrical switch connected to the active port can be identified.

[0123] In one possible embodiment, the third processing module is used to send an instruction to the optical switch to set the physical state of the active port to off.

[0124] Capture link status events of ports of at least two electrical switches connected to the active port from the electrical switch side, as well as neighbor relationship loss events between ports of the electrical switches.

[0125] Using the shutdown of the active port as the cause, and the captured link state events of the power switch port and the neighbor relationship loss events as the results, a correlation analysis is performed to infer the connection relationship between the active port and the power switch based on the first topology information.

[0126] In one possible embodiment, the neighbor loss event refers to an event in which the port of the power switch is unable to receive the link layer discovery protocol message of the peer neighbor due to link interruption, resulting in the original neighbor relationship timeout and disappearance.

[0127] In one possible embodiment, the fourth processing module is used to send an instruction to the optical switch to restore the state of the active port after updating the first topology information.

[0128] In one possible embodiment, the fourth processing module is used to delete spurious links that directly connect electrical switches in the first topology information; Add the optical switch node and establish a link between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the corresponding electrical switch.

[0129] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, the present invention can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of the present invention.

[0130] It should be noted that, Figure 3The division of modules / units is illustrative and represents only one logical functional division; in actual implementation, other division methods are possible. For example, two or more functions can be integrated into a single data acquisition module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0131] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network as described above. That is, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include, but is not limited to: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store the computer program; the processor is used to execute the topology discovery method for optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network as described in any embodiment of the present invention by calling the computer program.

[0132] In one alternative embodiment, an electronic device is provided, such as Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 The illustrated electronic device 4000 includes a processor 4001 and a memory 4003. The processor 4001 and the memory 4003 are connected, for example, via a bus 4002. Optionally, the electronic device 4000 may further include a transceiver 4004, which can be used for data interaction between the electronic device and other electronic devices, such as sending and / or receiving data. It should be noted that in practical applications, the transceiver 4004 is not limited to one type, and the structure of the electronic device 4000 does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention.

[0133] Processor 4001 may be a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a general-purpose processor, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this invention. Processor 4001 may also be a combination that implements computational functions, such as including one or more microprocessor combinations, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, etc.

[0134] Bus 4002 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components. Bus 4002 may be a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus or an EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) bus, etc. Bus 4002 can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 4 The bus 4002 is represented by only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0135] The memory 4003 may be ROM (Read Only Memory) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, RAM (Random Access Memory) or other types of dynamic storage devices capable of storing information and instructions, or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but not limited thereto.

[0136] The memory 4003 stores application code (computer program) for executing the present invention, and its execution is controlled by the processor 4001. The processor 4001 executes the application code stored in the memory 4003 to implement the content shown in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0137] Among them, electronic devices can also be terminal devices, which can be any device that can install applications, including at least one of smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, smart speakers, smartwatches, smart TVs, and smart in-vehicle devices.

[0138] It should be noted that, Figure 4 The electronic device shown is merely an example and should not be construed as limiting the functionality and scope of use of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0139] An embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, performs topology discovery of an optical switch in any of the aforementioned optoelectronic converged networks.

[0140] Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), magnetic tape, a floppy disk, and an optical data storage device, etc.

[0141] In an exemplary embodiment, a computer program product or computer program is also provided, which includes computer instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium. A processor of an electronic device reads the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the computer instructions, causing the electronic device to perform topology discovery of an optical switch in a converged optoelectronic network as described above.

[0142] Computer program code for performing the operations of this invention can be written in one or more programming languages ​​or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, and C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as C or similar languages. The program code can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving remote computers, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer via any type of network—including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)—or can be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0143] It should be understood that the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in a different order than those indicated in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0144] The computer-readable storage medium provided in this invention can be, but is not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of a computer-readable storage medium may include, but are not limited to: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage device, magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. In this invention, a computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0145] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium carries one or more programs, which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform topology discovery of an optical switch in an optoelectronic converged network as described in the above embodiments.

[0146] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of disclosure in this invention is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the above-disclosed concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this invention.

[0147] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and represent a limitation on a specific order or sequence. Where appropriate, the order of use for similar objects can be interchanged so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in an order other than that shown or described.

[0148] Those skilled in the art will recognize that this invention can be implemented as a system, method, or computer program product. Therefore, this invention can be specifically implemented in the following forms: it can be entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or a combination of hardware and software, generally referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system." Furthermore, in some embodiments, this invention can also be implemented as a computer program product contained in one or more computer-readable media, which includes computer-readable program code.

[0149] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for topology discovery of an optical switch in an optoelectronic fusion network, characterized in that, include: The first topology information for constructing the optoelectronic converged network includes the topology information of the electrical switch. Obtain the active ports of optical switches in an optoelectronic converged network; Physical layer disturbances are applied to the active port of the optical switch to trigger link state change events and neighbor loss events of the port of the electrical switch. Based on the link state change events, neighbor loss events, and the first topology information of the port of the electrical switch, the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch is determined. Based on the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch, the first topology information is updated to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic converged network.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Applying physical layer perturbations to the active ports of the optical switch includes: Iterate through each active port in the list of active ports in order and perform a probe operation on each active port; Capture the link status events of the switch ports and the neighbor loss events triggered by the probe operation.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of performing a probe operation on the active port includes: Close the active port; Alternatively, an optical attenuation greater than a preset threshold may be introduced on the active port, causing the connected electrical switch to detect signal loss or excessive bit error rate. Alternatively, the LED indicator of the active port can be instructed to flash according to a predefined pattern, and the flashing of the optical signal or the flashing of the port indicator light at the port of the electrical switch connected to the active port can be identified.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The process of applying physical layer disturbances to the active port of the optical switch to trigger link state change events and neighbor loss events on the port of the electrical switch, and determining the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch based on the link state change events, neighbor loss events, and the first topology information, includes: Send a command to the optical switch to set the physical state of the active port to off; Capture link status events of ports of at least two electrical switches connected to the active port from the electrical switch side, as well as neighbor relationship loss events between ports of the electrical switches; Using the shutdown of the active port as the cause, and the captured link state events of the power switch port and the neighbor relationship loss events as the results, a correlation analysis is performed to infer the connection relationship between the active port and the power switch based on the first topology information.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The neighbor loss event refers to an event in which the port of the switch cannot receive the link layer discovery protocol message from the peer neighbor due to link interruption, resulting in the original neighbor relationship timeout and disappearance.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: After updating the first topology information, a command is sent to the optical switch to restore the state of the active port.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of updating the first topology information to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic fusion network includes: Delete the false links that directly connect electrical switches in the first topology information; Add the optical switch node and establish a link between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the corresponding electrical switch.

8. A topology discovery device for an optical switch in an optoelectronic converged network, characterized in that, The first processing module is used to construct the first topology information of the optoelectronic converged network, the first topology information including the topology information of the electrical switch; The second processing module is used to obtain the active ports of optical switches in the optoelectronic converged network. The third processing module is used to apply physical layer disturbances to the active port of the optical switch, trigger link state change events and neighbor loss events of the port of the electrical switch, and determine the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch based on the link state change, neighbor loss events and the first topology information of the port of the electrical switch. The fourth processing module is used to update the first topology information based on the physical connection relationship between the active port of the optical switch and the port of the electrical switch, so as to obtain the topology information of the optoelectronic converged network.

9. A network controller, characterized in that, The device includes a communication interface for management communication with electrical and optical switches in a network; a processor; and a memory storing computer program instructions that, when executed by the processor, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; One or more memory units; And one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the one or more memories, the one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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