Network Relay Apparatus Automatic Configuration via Adjacent Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network operation systems face challenges in managing and setting configuration data for network relay apparatuses, especially in isolated networks or during changes in network capacity, due to the complexity of manually setting up and maintaining physical connection relationships and positional information across multiple apparatuses, leading to increased costs and errors.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a network management apparatus and network relay apparatuses that utilize a topology management table and adjacent apparatus management table to detect and communicate with each other, update configuration definitions, and automatically set configurations, ensuring accurate and efficient management of network connections and settings, even in isolated networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual setting methods (CLI/GUI) are used for network relay apparatuses, then flexibility in operation is maintained, but the complexity of managing physical connection relationships and positional information increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The network relay apparatus automatically detects its own positional information and physical connection relationships by exchanging identification information with adjacent apparatuses. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual configuration of connection relationships, reducing management complexity while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where network relay apparatuses continuously exchange identification information and detect changes in their network environment. This feedback loop enables automatic updates of positional information and connection relationships, reducing the complexity of manual management while preserving operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If router identifiers are used for all network relay apparatuses, then network management becomes standardized, but the time and effort required for setting and replacing routers increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each network relay apparatus automatically generates and manages its own identification information without requiring manual assignment of router identifiers. This self-service approach maintains standardized management through automatic detection and exchange of identification information, while eliminating the time-consuming process of manual identifier assignment during setup and replacement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of identification information and physical connection relationships automatically upon apparatus installation or replacement. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent manual configuration of router identifiers, reducing the time and effort required for setting and replacing network relay apparatuses while maintaining standardized management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration data is set manually for each network relay apparatus, then customization is possible, but errors in settings and connections are difficult to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where network relay apparatuses automatically exchange and verify configuration data including positional information and physical connection relationships. This feedback loop enables automatic detection of setting errors and inconsistencies, maintaining configuration customization capability while significantly improving error detection ability through continuous verification against detected network topology.
4Device complexity
If network relay apparatuses are installed at limited locations with fixed router identifiers, then network topology is simplified, but the ability to provide spare routers for immediate replacement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Network relay apparatuses automatically detect and adapt to their physical connection relationships and positional information without relying on pre-assigned fixed locations or identifiers. This self-service capability enables spare routers to be deployed at any location in the network, as they automatically determine their correct positional information through identification exchange with adjacent apparatuses, maintaining simplified topology while improving spare router versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A network management apparatus is previously registered with a physical connection relationship and positional information of a plurality of network relay apparatuses which form part of a network, as well as a configuration definition corresponding to the positional information, such that the network management apparatus can initially detect network relay apparatuses connected to the network management apparatus, and distribute a configuration definition, which takes into account a connection relationship, to the network relay apparatuses connected thereto to set the configuration definition in the network relay apparatuses in order. In this way, even if wiring is freely made, the configuration definition which should be set in each network relay apparatus can be appropriately distributed to and set in one adjacent network relay apparatus to another. Upon occurrence of a fault, the network can be appropriately recovered by a previously set recovering scheme.