Method for configuring network devices without IP reachability

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a network, wherein at least two network devices are connected to one another in the network via a data line and exchange data via this data line, wherein: each network device is permanently associated with an independent MAC address; a network management station controls the configuration and / or the operation of the network; a query is sent to the network devices from the network management station by multicast by means of a language-independent data format in order to query the configuration parameters of the network devices and / or configure the queried network devices by means of the language-independent data formats.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Procedure for configuring network devices without IP reachability

[0003] The invention relates to a method for operating a network, wherein at least two network devices in the network are connected to one another via a data line and exchange data via this data line, wherein each network device is permanently assigned an independent MAC address, wherein a network management station further controls the configuration and / or operation of the network, according to the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] Networks in which two or, usually, more than two network devices (also referred to as network infrastructure devices) are arranged in a ring or line topology and exchange data with each other are generally familiar. Data exchange occurs via data lines connecting the network devices. These data lines can be cables or wireless connections, such as radio links.

[0005] In practice, the problem arises that either a new network consisting of multiple network devices needs to be configured, or the entire configuration of an existing network or part of its configuration needs to be changed or updated (e.g., when replacing a network device). This is done via a network management station that is suitably connected to all network devices. The network management station can query the respective MAC address of the network devices via the data lines or receives this information from the network devices. This means that the network management station initially knows that network devices are present in the network, but that their configuration has either not yet been completed, is incomplete, or is even incorrect.

[0006] DE 10 2018 111 065 A1 already discloses a method for operating a network, wherein at least two network devices are connected to one another via a data line and exchange data via this data line, with each network device being permanently assigned a unique MAC address. Furthermore, a network management station controls the configuration and / or operation of the network, and the network management station sends a request via multicast using the SNMP protocol to the network devices in order to query the configuration parameters of the network devices and / or to configure the requested network devices via SNMP. This method has proven itself in practice.

[0007] US 2019 / 0 319 836 A1 describes a method for obtaining a configuration file with filter rules for process bus network switches for intelligent electronic devices (“IEDs”) from a substation specification according to the IEC 61850 standard, consisting of the following steps:

[0008] • A substation specification description file and substation specification description file are created from a substation topology file, a control function library file and a substation field library file.

[0009] Traffic demand flow files are calculated, comprising a GOOSE message profile subscription file and a sampled value message profile subscription file;

[0010] • Destination MAC addresses are generated;

[0011] • Simulating the process bus communication network using the substation traffic demand files and the process bus communication network topology, where the topology includes the process bus network switches, corresponding links and IED links;

[0012] • Calculating the shortest path between each publisher IED and each subscriber IED; and

[0013] • Calculate a switch multicast filter rule file for each switch output port that includes a multicast MAC address filter rule that enables the calculated shortest paths.

[0014] This document does not address communication between network devices or with the network management station using a language-independent data format. Furthermore, the method described therein generates target MAC addresses and simulates network operation. A language-independent data format is not mentioned.

[0015] The invention is based on the object of improving the known method for operating a network with regard to network commissioning and / or operation. In particular, all network devices in a network are to be detected. In this regard, network devices that have not yet been configured (i.e., new network devices before commissioning or after replacing a defective network device) or possibly incorrectly configured network devices are to be detected and addressed. Furthermore, user-friendliness in practice is to be improved.

[0016] This problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0017] According to the invention, it is provided that the network management station sends a request via multicast using a language-independent data exchange format to the network devices (to a predetermined network device or to predetermined network devices or to one or more groups of network devices) in order to query the configuration parameters of the network devices and / or to configure the requested network devices using the language-independent data exchange format. "Language-independent" in this context means that the data exchange format does not have to be based on a specific data modeling language or on a specific programming language.

[0018] According to the invention, the data exchange format is used to transfer data between a network management station and at least one network device and a web application. It is a text-based, human-readable format for representing simple data structures and associative arrays (called objects). It is (programming) language-independent, easy to understand, and serves the structured storage of data. Therefore, the initial configuration of a network device, as well as the subsequent replacement of a defective network device with a new network device and its configuration, can be carried out very quickly, easily, and in an easy-to-understand manner.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, JSON is used as a language-independent data format.

[0020] "JSON" (abbreviation for "JavaScript Object Notation") is a well-known, compact data format in an easily readable text form for data exchange between applications, which is independent of programming languages. Parsers and generators exist in all common languages. JSON uses a parser, which is a computer program (software) that breaks down and converts input into a format more suitable for further processing. JSON is therefore a simple data exchange format used to transfer configuration data between a network management station and at least one network device, usually a large number of network devices. It is a possible text-based, human-readable format for representing simple data structures. JSON is easy to understand and is used for structured data storage.It is also used to exchange data between different programming languages. JSON is a completely independent data format with no connection to JavaScript or any other programming language. It also has the advantage in applications that it not only transfers (configuration) data, but also allows this data to be displayed as needed or desired.

[0021] The requested network device is thus brought into the transmitted configuration using JSON. Furthermore, a requested network device can send its configuration parameters back to the network management station via unicast JSON.

[0022] The method exploits the knowledge that JSON, instead of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), can also monitor and control network devices (such as computers, printers, routers, servers, switches, and the like) from a central network management station. For this purpose, the required JSON parsers are installed on the network devices. This data exchange format then regulates communication between the monitored network devices and the network management station. This communication includes, in particular, the initial configuration (reconfiguration) of a network device and / or the acquisition of data from this network device, as well as the exchange of information with the network management station. JSON is now established and can be used for the exchange of data, especially configuration data, between the network management station and the respective network device.The commands "get-request" are used to request a management data record ("discovery" or "read"), and "set-request" are used for the configuration to change one or more data records of a network device. If the network management station queries a network device, this is done using the "request" command, with the network device responding to the query with the "response" command. Based on this, the invention further utilizes the knowledge that not only is the request for management data records using the "get request" command multicast, but that the response from the queried device is also sent unicast using the "get response" command. Multicast in the network is a message in which data packets are transmitted from one point (the network management station) not to all, but only to predetermined network devices.The invention advantageously utilizes the knowledge that the multicast packet does not reach all network devices in the network, so that only certain network devices are addressed, in particular those that are to be newly configured or reconfigured.

[0023] In a further development of the invention, both the request from the network management station and the return of the requested network device are carried out at Layer 3. This has the advantage that even a network device that has not yet been configured can be queried based on its known MAC address, since it has not yet been assigned an IP address.

[0024] In a further development of the invention, the actual configuration parameters of the requested network device are returned even if the configuration parameters sent from the network management station to the network device do not match the actual configuration parameters of the requested network device. This is done taking into account the MAC address of the requested network device, so that the network management station queries several, preferably all, network devices in the network, and the queried network devices still respond, thus transmitting their configuration data to the network management station.The network management station thus queries a respective network device using the JSON data exchange format via multicast, whereupon the requested network device responds via unicast and transmits its configuration parameters back to the network management station, also using JSON.

[0025] In a further development of the invention, if the actual configuration parameters of the network device do not match the target configuration parameters required for the intended operation of this network device, the target configuration parameters are transmitted to this network device via a further request from the network management station, which are then adopted by the requested network device. This allows a network device to be reconfigured correctly if it has no or incorrect configuration parameters stored in its memory, especially during initial commissioning. The same applies to the replacement of a defective network device, which can be configured quickly and easily in this way.This enables the network management station to transmit the target configuration parameters required for the intended operation of this network device to this network device so that it can save them and thus begin operation.

[0026] In a further development of the invention, the correct adoption of the target configuration parameters of the requested network device is sent back to the network management station. This provides the network management station with the information that the modified or new configuration of the requested network device has been successfully implemented. In a further development of the invention, the method is carried out for unconfigured and / or incorrectly configured network devices. The invention thus offers a simple and quick method for commissioning a network for the first time or for replacing and configuring network devices in an already operational network.

[0027] In a further development of the invention, the configuration parameters of the requested network device are returned independently of the IP address set for this network device at that time. Thus, using the method according to the invention, the network management station can permanently or temporarily assign an IP address to the respective requested network device, which is then reported back to the network management station as set or confirmed by returning it as a unicast via JSON.

[0028] In a further development of the invention, the network device is addressed using a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) within the JSON packet. If this identifier (i.e., the transmitted UUID and the UUID stored in the network device) do not match, the configuration parameters are discarded, i.e., not adopted.

[0029] The method according to the invention is illustrated by three figures.

[0030] Figure 1 shows how the network management station requests data, particularly configuration data, from a network device (agent1). The process is initiated by the network management station (JSON Requester) and carried out in cooperation with a network device (agent1: JSON Responder) in the manner described above. The process can be carried out not only for a single network device, but also for multiple network devices. To illustrate this, at least one additional network device (agent2: JSON Responder) is shown in Figure 1. Thus, a large number of network devices (agentN, where N is greater than 2) can be addressed, with all network devices responding to the query and reporting back data via JSON.

[0031] Figure 2 essentially shows the same procedure as shown in Figure 1, with the difference that a UUID is sent along with the JSON request to a selected network device (in this example, agent1), but not to other network devices (in this example, agent2, and possibly other network devices). This means that only the selected network device responds to the JSON request, whereas the other network devices, although also queried, ignore this request (see 2.1: Ignore message) and do not return a response.

[0032] Figure 3 shows that the method according to the invention is carried out when a network device is replaced, when an existing configuration is changed, or the like. Here, too, the method is initiated by the network management station (JSON Requester IP) and carried out in cooperation with a network device (agent1: JSON Command Responder) in the manner described above. Just like the method during initial configuration, it is not limited to a single network device, but can be carried out on multiple network devices, in particular all network devices in a network. By way of example, two network devices (agent1 and agent2) are again shown in Figure 3. In practice, however, there will generally be more than two network devices (agent1, agent2, agentN, where N is greater than 2) in a network.

[0033] Even if reference is made to the language-independent data exchange format JSON in connection with the general description of the invention and the description of an embodiment, other comparable formats can also be used alternatively.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS Procedure for configuring network devices without IP reachability 1. A method for operating a network, wherein at least two network devices in the network are connected to one another via a data line and exchange data via this data line, wherein each network device is permanently assigned an independent MAC address, wherein a network management station further controls the configuration and / or operation of the network, characterized in that the network management station sends a request via multicast using a language-independent data format to the network devices in order to query the configuration parameters of the network devices and / or to configure the requested network devices using the language-independent data format.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that JSON is used as the language-independent data format.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the respective queried network device sends its configuration parameters back to the network management station via unicast using the language-independent data format, preferably using JSON.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that both the request of the network management station and the return of the requested network device are carried out at Layer 3 level.

5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actual configuration parameters of the requested network device are returned even if the configuration parameters sent by the network management station to the network device do not match the actual configuration parameters of the requested network device.

6. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that if the actual configuration parameters of the network device do not match the target configuration parameters required for the intended operation of this network device, the target configuration parameters are transmitted to this network device by means of a further request from the network management station, which are then adopted by the requested network device.

7. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the correct adoption of the target configuration parameters of the requested network device is sent back by the latter to the network management station.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is carried out for unconfigured and / or incorrectly configured network devices.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration parameters of the requested network device are returned independently of the IP address of this network device set at that time.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network device is addressed by means of a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) within the JSON packet.

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