Network device setting method and computing device thereof

Abstract

A network device setting method and an operation device thereof, the network device setting method using an operation device to perform the following steps: obtaining an existing network topology architecture of an existing network and an existing device model and an existing setting file of each existing network device; obtaining a target network topology architecture of a target network and a target device model of each target network device; determining whether the existing network topology architecture is consistent with the target network topology architecture; when determining that the existing network topology architecture is consistent with the target network topology architecture, determining whether the existing device model corresponding to each node in the existing network is respectively identical to the target device model corresponding to each node in the target network; and when determining that the existing device model corresponding to each node in the existing network is respectively identical to the target device model corresponding to each node in the target network, transmitting the existing setting file of the existing network device corresponding to each node to the target network device corresponding to each node.

Description

Technical Field

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

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

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

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

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

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a network device configuration method and its computing device, which can overcome at least one drawback of the prior art.

[0007] The present invention provides a network device configuration method, executed by a computing device, and includes the following steps: (A) obtaining an existing network topology of an existing network, an existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and an existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. (B) obtaining a target network topology of a target network and a target device model of each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to a target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. (C) determining whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology based on the existing reference device and the target reference device. (D) When it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, determine whether the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology. (E) When it is determined that the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology, for each node, transmit the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

[0008] In some embodiments, step (A) includes the following sub-steps: (A-1) for each existing network device in the existing network, obtaining the IP address, MAC address, and model of the existing network device; (A-2) for each existing network device, obtaining communication port to MAC address mapping data of the existing network device, the communication port to MAC address mapping data indicating the communication port number of each communication port of the existing network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port; (A-3) based on the IP address of each existing network device, the MAC address of each existing network device, and the communication port to MAC address mapping data of each existing network device, obtaining the existing network topology of the existing network; and (A-4) obtaining the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0009] In some embodiments, step (B) includes the following sub-steps: (B-1) for each target network device in the target network, obtaining the IP address, MAC address, and model of the target network device; (B-2) for each target network device, obtaining communication port to MAC address mapping data of the target network device, the communication port to MAC address mapping data indicating the communication port number of each communication port of the target network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port; and (B-3) based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the communication port to MAC address mapping data of each target network device, obtaining the target network topology of the target network.

[0010] In some embodiments, in sub-step (A-4), the computing device uses a network transmission protocol related to file transfer to obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0011] The present invention provides a computing device for setting up network devices, comprising a processing unit.

[0012] The processing unit is used to obtain the existing network topology of the existing network, the existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and the existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. It also obtains the target network topology of the target network and the target device model of each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to a target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. Based on the existing reference device and the target reference device, it determines the... The system determines whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. If it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, it determines whether the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology. If it is determined that the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

[0013] In some embodiments, for each existing network device in the existing network, the processing unit obtains the IP address, MAC address, and model of the existing network device; for each existing network device, the processing unit obtains communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of the existing network device, the communication port-to-MAC address mapping data indicating the communication port number of each communication port of the existing network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port; the processing unit obtains the existing network topology of the existing network based on the IP address, MAC address, and communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of each existing network device; and the processing unit obtains the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0014] In some embodiments, for each target network device in the target network, the processing unit obtains the IP address, MAC address, and model of the target network device; for each target network device, the processing unit obtains communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of the target network device, the communication port-to-MAC address mapping data indicating the communication port number of each communication port of the target network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port; and the processing unit obtains the target network topology based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of each target network device.

[0015] In some embodiments, the processing unit uses a network transmission protocol related to file transfer to obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By obtaining the existing network topology of the existing network and the target network topology of the target network, and automatically comparing whether the existing network topology and the target network topology are consistent, and when the existing device model corresponding to each node is the same as the corresponding target device model, the configuration file of the target network device corresponding to each node in the target network topology is automatically configured, thus achieving automated operation of the entire process and saving manpower and time costs. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to manually compare whether the relative positions between network devices are consistent, and the configuration is only performed after confirming that the existing network topology and the target network topology are consistent, the correctness of the target network topology is also ensured, avoiding the problem of network topology errors caused by human error. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the computing device for setting up a network device according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating, by way of example, how the processing unit of the embodiment executes the network device configuration procedure;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a flowchart that exemplarily illustrates how the processing unit obtains the existing network topology of the existing network, the existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a flowchart that exemplarily illustrates how the processing unit obtains the target network topology of the target network and the target device model of each target network device in the target network. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Before the invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar elements are represented by the same numbers in the following description.

[0023] See Figure 1 An embodiment of the computing device 1 for setting up network devices according to the present invention includes a storage unit 11 and a processing unit 12 signal-connected to the storage unit 11. The computing device 1 may be implemented as a notebook computer, desktop computer, tablet computer, server, or smartphone, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the computing device 1 can be used as an existing reference device connected to an existing network, or as a target reference device connected to a target network.

[0024] The storage unit 11 can be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, any type of fixed or removable random access memory (RAM), hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), or similar elements or combinations thereof.

[0025] The processing unit 12 may be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microprocessor, or other similar components or combinations thereof. Detailed operation of the processing unit 12 will be described below.

[0026] The following will be referred to Figure 2 The following describes in detail how the processing unit 12 of the embodiment executes the network device configuration procedure. The network device configuration procedure includes the following steps S1 to S5.

[0027] In step S1, the processing unit 12 obtains the existing network topology of the existing network, the existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and the existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to the existing reference device. Each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. More specifically, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3The sub-steps performed by the processing unit 12 in this step are described in detail.

[0028] In sub-step S11, for each existing network device in the existing network, the processing unit 12 obtains the IP address (Internet Protocol Address), MAC address (Media Access Control Address), and model number of the existing network device.

[0029] For example, the processing unit 12 may obtain the IP address and MAC address of each existing network device in the following three ways: (i) using the ping tool to search for the IP address of each existing network device in the existing network, and finding the MAC address of each existing network device by comparing the IP address of each existing network device according to the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table stored in the storage unit 11; (ii) using the NetBIOS (Network Basic Input / Output System) tool to search for the IP address of each existing network device in the existing network, and finding the MAC address of each existing network device by comparing the IP address of each existing network device according to the ARP table stored in the storage unit 11; (iii) receiving GARP (Gratuitous ARP) packets sent by each existing network device. Since the content of the GARP packets contains the IP address and MAC address of the corresponding existing network device, the processing unit 12 can obtain the IP address and MAC address of each existing network device in this way. In addition, those skilled in the art can obtain the IP address, MAC address and model of each existing network device based on the custom protocol for the functions to be achieved in this step.

[0030] In sub-step S12, for each existing network device, the processing unit 12 obtains the communication port to MAC address mapping data of the existing network device. The communication port to MAC address mapping data indicates the communication port number of each communication port of the existing network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port.

[0031] For example, the MAC address mapping data of each existing network device's communication port can be obtained using a Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP), a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), or a protocol defined by a person skilled in the art based on the function to be achieved in this step.

[0032] In sub-step S13, the processing unit 12 obtains the existing network topology based on the IP address of each existing network device, the MAC address of each existing network device, and the MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each existing network device.

[0033] In sub-step S14, the processing unit 12 obtains the existing configuration file of each existing network device. In this embodiment, the processing unit 12 uses a network transmission protocol related to file transfer to obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0034] For example, each existing configuration file may contain settings such as the IP address, QoS, RSTP, and 802.1x / RADIUS of the corresponding existing network device. The processing unit 12 may use, for example, SNMP, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Secret File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), Secure Copy (SCP), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), or a protocol defined by those skilled in the art for the purpose of this step to obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

[0035] In step S2, the processing unit 12 obtains the target network topology of the target network and the target device model of each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to the target reference device. Each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. More specifically, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 The sub-steps performed by the processing unit 12 in this step are described in detail.

[0036] In sub-step S21, for each target network device in the target network, the processing unit 12 obtains the IP address, MAC address, and target device model of the target network device. Since this step can be implemented as exemplified in sub-step S11, it will not be elaborated upon here.

[0037] In sub-step S22, for each target network device, the processing unit 12 obtains the communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of the target network device. The communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of each target network device indicates the communication port number of each communication port of the target network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port. This step can also be implemented in the manner exemplified in sub-step S12, and therefore will not be elaborated upon here.

[0038] In sub-step S23, the processing unit 12 obtains the target network topology based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each target network device.

[0039] In step S3, the processing unit 12 determines whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology based on the existing reference device and the target reference device. If the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, the process proceeds to step S4; if the existing network topology is inconsistent with the target network topology, the process ends.

[0040] It should be noted that since the network topology comparison is calculated based on the positions of the existing reference device and the target reference device within the network, when connecting the existing reference device to the existing network and the target reference device to the target network, they should be connected to relatively identical positions in the two networks. Otherwise, even if the connection methods of all existing network devices in the existing network are consistent with those of all target network devices in the target network, the existing network topology and the target network topology may still be determined to be inconsistent. For example, suppose there are three existing network devices in the existing network: Dev_A, Dev_B, and Dev_C, connected in the order Dev_A→Dev_B→Dev_C; and three target network devices in the target network: Dev_A', Dev_B', and Dev_C', connected in the order Dev_A'→Dev_B'→Dev_C'. If the existing reference device is connected to Dev_A and the target reference device is connected to Dev_A', then Dev_A is relative to Dev_A', Dev_B is relative to Dev_B', and Dev_C is relative to Dev_C', and the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. However, if the existing reference device is connected to Dev_A and the target reference device is connected to Dev_B', then Dev_A is relative to Dev_B', Dev_B is relative to Dev_C', and there are no corresponding devices for Dev_C and Dev_A'. Therefore, the existing network topology is determined to be inconsistent with the target network topology.

[0041] In step S4, the processing unit 12 determines whether the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology. When it is determined that the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology, the process proceeds to step S5; when it is determined that the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is not the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology, the process ends.

[0042] In step S5, for each node, the processing unit 12 transmits the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

[0043] For example, configuring a target network with 24 target network devices would take at least 24 minutes if the configuration was done manually by an operator uploading configuration files, but by executing the network device configuration program, the time could be reduced to within 12 minutes.

[0044] In summary, by obtaining the existing network topology of the existing network and the target network topology of the target network, and automatically comparing whether the existing network topology and the target network topology are consistent, and automatically configuring the configuration files of the target network devices corresponding to each node in the target network topology when the existing device model corresponding to each node is the same as the corresponding target device model, the entire process is automated, saving manpower and time costs. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to manually compare the relative positions of network devices, and the configuration is only performed after confirming that the existing network topology and the target network topology are consistent, the correctness of the target network topology is also ensured, avoiding the problem of network topology errors caused by human error. Therefore, the purpose of this invention is indeed achieved.

[0045] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a network device, executed using a computing device, characterized in that, The network device configuration method includes the following steps: (A) Obtain the existing network topology of the existing network, the existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network and the existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device in the existing network relative to an existing reference device. Each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. (B) Obtain the target network topology of the target network and the target device model of each target network device in the target network, wherein the target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device in the target network relative to the target reference device, and each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices; (C) Based on the existing reference device and the target reference device, determine whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology; (D) When it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, determine whether the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology; and (E) When it is determined that the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

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

3. The network device configuration method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step (B) includes the following sub-steps: (B-1) For each target network device in the target network, obtain the IP address, MAC address and model of the target network device; (B-2) For each target network device, obtain the communication port to MAC address mapping data of the target network device, wherein the communication port to MAC address mapping data indicates the communication port number of each communication port of the target network device and the destination MAC address of each target network device connected to each communication port; and (B-3) Based on the IP address of each target network device, the MAC address of each target network device, and the MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each target network device, the target network topology is obtained.

4. The network device configuration method according to claim 2, characterized in that: In sub-step (A-4), the computing device uses a network transmission protocol related to file transfer to obtain the existing configuration file of each existing network device.

5. A computing device for configuring network devices, characterized in that, The computing device includes: The processing unit is used to obtain the existing network topology of the existing network, the existing device model of each existing network device in the existing network, and the existing configuration file of each existing network device. The existing network topology indicates the connection relationship of each existing network device relative to an existing reference device, and each node in the existing network topology corresponds to one of all existing network devices. Obtain the target network topology and the target device model of each target network device in the target network. The target network topology indicates the connection relationship of each target network device relative to a target reference device. Each node in the target network topology corresponds to one of all target network devices. Based on the existing reference device and the target reference device, determine whether the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology. When it is determined that the existing network topology is consistent with the target network topology, it is determined whether the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology. When it is determined that the existing device model of the existing network device corresponding to the node in the existing network topology is the same as the target device model of the target network device corresponding to the node in the target network topology, for each node, the existing configuration file of the existing network device corresponding to the node is transmitted to the target network device corresponding to the node to configure the target network device corresponding to the node.

6. The computing device for setting up network devices according to claim 5, characterized in that: For each existing network device in the existing network, the processing unit obtains the IP address, MAC address, and model of the existing network device. For each existing network device, the processing unit obtains the communication port to MAC address mapping data of the existing network device, the communication port to MAC address mapping data indicating the communication port number of each communication port of the existing network device and the destination MAC address of each destination network device connected to each communication port; The processing unit obtains the existing network topology based on the IP address of each existing network device, the MAC address of each existing network device, and the MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each existing network device. and The processing unit obtains the existing configuration file for each existing network device.

7. The computing device for setting up network devices according to claim 5, characterized in that: For each target network device in the target network, the processing unit obtains the IP address, MAC address, and model number of the target network device; For each target network device, the processing unit obtains communication port-to-MAC address mapping data of the target network device, wherein the communication port-to-MAC address mapping data indicates the communication port number of each communication port of the target network device and the destination MAC address of each target network device connected to each communication port; and The processing unit obtains the target network topology based on the IP address, MAC address, and MAC address mapping data of the communication port of each target network device.

8. The computing device for setting up network devices according to claim 5, characterized in that: The processing unit uses network transmission protocols related to file transfer to obtain the existing configuration files of each existing network device.

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