JP2004030062A - Network management device, network management method, and network management program - Google Patents

Abstract

A setting process of a newly added network device is simplified.
A search packet is transmitted to one or more network devices connected to a network (S701). A response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet is received (S702). Only the received response packet that includes the IP address that is to be set at the time of factory shipment is displayed in a list (S704). The network setting is executed for the displayed network device (S705 to S707).
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a technique for controlling a network device connected to a network, and more particularly to a management apparatus, a management method, and a management program for managing and setting a new network device added to a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A local area network (LAN) interconnecting computers can be built over a building floor or entire building, a group of buildings (premises), an area, or a larger area. Such networks are further interconnected and can be connected to global networks. Each such interconnected LAN may have a variety of hardware interconnect technologies and any number of network protocols.
[0003]
A simple LAN separated from others can be managed by individual users. That is, the user can replace a device, install software, or diagnose a problem.
[0004]
On the other hand, large and complex LANs and large interconnected LAN groups require "management.""Management" means management by both a human network administrator and the software used by that administrator. In the present application, "management" means management by software for managing the entire system, and "user" means a person who uses network management software. This user is typically the system administrator. By using the network management software, a user can obtain management data on the network and change the management data.
[0005]
Large-scale network systems are usually dynamic systems that require constant addition and removal of devices, software updates, and problem detection. In general, there are various systems that are owned by various people or supplied by various vendors.
[0006]
As a method for managing devices on a network constituting such a large-scale network system, many attempts have been made by many standard organizations. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has provided a universal reference framework called the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. The OSI model of the network management protocol is called a common management information protocol (CMIP). CMIP is a common European network management protocol.
[0007]
In the United States, as a more common network management protocol, there is a variant of a protocol related to CMIP called Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SNMP is defined in RFC1157 of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is an Internet standardization organization. Its implementation is described in "Introduction to TCP / IP Network Management: Aiming for Practical Management" (MT Rose, authored by Takeshi Nishida, translated by Toppan Co., Ltd., first edition August 20, 1992) I have.
[0008]
According to the SNMP network management technique, the network management system includes at least one network management station (NMS), several managed nodes each including an agent, and a management station and an agent for exchanging management information. Contains the network management protocol used. The user can obtain data on the network and change the data by communicating with the agent software on the managed node using the network management software on the NMS. Here, the agent is software that runs as a background process for each target device.
[0009]
When a user requests management data from a device on the network, the management software sends the object identification information in a management packet or frame to the target agent. The agent interprets the object identification information, retrieves data corresponding to the object identification information, puts the data in a packet, and sends it back to the user. Occasionally, a corresponding process is called to retrieve the data.
[0010]
In such a LAN, each network device is identified and operated / managed by a network address (hereinafter, address) unique to each network protocol. However, when connecting a network device to the network for the first time (factory default, etc.) or when resetting the network device, the network address may not be set or a valid address may not be set. There are many. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to set an appropriate address for the network device from the network management software or the like.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Now, in such a system, consider a case in which the network management software is used to set the address of a network device that is newly added to an environment in which many network devices (eg, printers) are already operating.
[0012]
When an address is set from a network management software to a network device via a network such as a LAN, some network protocol for communication is required. However, since a standard address such as an IP address cannot be used for a device in a factory shipping state as described above, a standard protocol such as SNMP cannot be used.
[0013]
As one of the methods for solving the problem, a method of implementing a unique protocol that uses a MAC address as an identifier to identify a device can be considered. Here, the MAC address is a physical address unique to the network device. IEEE802.3 is 6 bytes long, and the first 3 bytes are managed / allocated by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) as a vendor code. The remaining three bytes are managed independently by each vendor (to avoid duplication). As a result, there is no network device having the same physical address all over the world, and different addresses are all assigned. According to the IEEE 802.3 standard, frames are transmitted and received based on this address.
[0014]
As a technique related to the present invention, there is network management software for acquiring a MAC address from a device connected to a network and displaying a list of devices corresponding to the obtained MAC address. FIG. A shows a display example of the list. As described above, the network management software provides a user interface for selecting a network device to be managed from the displayed network devices.
[0015]
In this related technique, if the network device is in operation, the MAC address of the network device is acquired regardless of whether the device is an existing one or a newly added one. As a result, an existing network device and a new network device are mixed and displayed without any distinction.
[0016]
Therefore, in order to select and set a new network device, it is necessary to know the MAC address of the new network device in advance.
[0017]
However, since the MAC address is an address unique to the network device, it is difficult to describe the MAC address in a manual or the like, and usually the network device is often written on a sticker or the like. Alternatively, the MAC address may be written on the board of the device. In such a case, the MAC address cannot be confirmed unless the board is once removed from the network device.
[0018]
As described above, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user of the network management software or the network device to distinguish and select an existing network device and a new network device from the list, which involves complicated work.
[0019]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a MAC address of a device on a network, filter a network device having a specific network setting when displaying a list of devices from which the MAC address is obtained, and list the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network device control apparatus and a method in which the display reduces the trouble of searching for a new network device to be newly added and simplifies the setting of the network device.
[0020]
Further, another object of the present invention is to improve the convenience when setting a plurality of network devices.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention,
Transmitting means for transmitting a search packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving means for receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device having received the search packet;
Determining means for determining whether predetermined information is included in the received response packet,
Display means for displaying information about the network device that transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information,
Setting means for executing network settings for the displayed network device;
A network management device is provided.
[0022]
According to this configuration, for example, it is arranged that a network device to be set transmits a response packet including specific information, and a network device to be set is selected based on the specific information. Environment will be provided. Therefore, the user will be able to relatively easily select a new device or the like to be set.
[0023]
Also,
The display means may highlight information on the network device that has transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information.
[0024]
For example, only the new network device may be displayed, or the new network device may be displayed so as to be visually distinguishable from the others. In this way, the user will be able to select the setting target relatively easily.
[0025]
Also,
Further comprising a selecting means for selecting a network device to be a target of network setting from the displayed network devices,
The setting means may execute a network setting for the selected network device.
[0026]
By providing the setting means in this way, in addition to grasping the new network device, it will be possible to execute necessary settings for the new network device.
[0027]
Also,
When a plurality of network devices are selected by the selecting unit, the setting unit may sequentially execute network setting for the selected plurality of network devices.
[0028]
By providing an environment in which a plurality of network devices can be selected at the same time, the number of selection processes can be reduced, and the inconvenience in setting a plurality of network devices can be improved.
[0029]
Also,
The displayed information on the network device may be identification information on the network device.
[0030]
Also,
The displayed identification information about the network device may include at least one of the physical address and the IP address.
[0031]
Also,
The response packet may include a physical address of the network device. That is, since the physical address is unique information, it will help identify the network device.
[0032]
Also,
The setting means,
A setting packet for network setting addressed to the physical address may be transmitted to the network device. By doing so, it becomes possible to transmit a setting packet with the physical address as a destination.
[0033]
Also,
It would be even more preferable that the predetermined information be information promised to be set at the time of factory shipment. The reason for this is that if information for specifying a new network device is unified in the industry in this way, it is not necessary to consider differences between network device manufacturers and the like, and user convenience is improved.
[0034]
Also,
The predetermined information may be a predetermined IP address. For example, if a local IP address such as 192.168.0.215 is used as a de facto standard for distinguishing a new network device, user convenience is further improved.
[0035]
Also,
Transmitting means for transmitting a search packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving means for receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device having received the search packet;
Filtering means for filtering a network device that has transmitted the response packet, based on whether the received response packet contains predetermined information.
Display means for displaying a list of information on the filtered network device;
Selecting means for selecting, from the displayed list of network devices, one or more network devices for which network setting is to be performed;
Setting means for executing network settings for the selected network device;
A network management device is provided.
[0036]
In this way, by filtering the network devices based on the predetermined information, the user will be able to relatively easily acquire only the necessary information. Further, it is expected that the setting work of a new network device is facilitated.
[0037]
According to another aspect of the invention,
A network device managed by the network management device,
Receiving means for receiving the search packet;
When the search packet is received, creating means for creating a response packet in which the physical address is written together with the predetermined information,
Transmitting means for transmitting the created response packet to the network management device;
There is provided a network device comprising:
[0038]
That is, in the present invention, it is important that the managing side and the managed side agree on predetermined information. As described above, by transmitting the response packet using the mutually agreed information, the setting of the new network device will be facilitated.
[0039]
For example, the predetermined information may be information promised to be set at the time of factory shipment. As described above, at the time of shipment from the factory, by utilizing the fact that predetermined information can be unified to a new network device, filtering of the network device can be performed based on the predetermined information, and user management can be improved. The challenges will be reduced.
[0040]
According to another aspect of the present invention,
Sending a discovery packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet;
Determining whether the received response packet contains predetermined information,
Displaying information about the network device that transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information;
Performing network settings on the displayed network device;
A network management method is provided, comprising:
[0041]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention,
Sending a discovery packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet;
Filtering the network device that has transmitted the response packet based on whether the received response packet contains predetermined information,
Listing information about the filtered network device;
Selecting one or more network devices to be network-configured from the displayed list of network devices;
Performing network settings for the selected network device;
A network management method is provided, comprising:
[0042]
Also,
A response method of a network device managed by the network management method,
Receiving the search packet;
When the search packet is received, a step of creating a response packet that has written its own physical address along with the predetermined information,
Transmitting the created response packet to the network management method;
A method of responding to a network device is provided.
[0043]
According to another aspect of the present invention,
A network management program for causing a computer to execute the plurality of steps is provided. The network management program may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable medium, or may be provided via a communication medium.
[0044]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Of course, the following embodiments are provided for the purpose of facilitating implementation by those skilled in the art of the present invention, and only a part of the scope of the present invention defined by the claims is set forth. It is only an embodiment of the section. Therefore, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that even embodiments not directly described in the present specification are included in the technical scope of the present invention as long as the technical ideas are common.
[0045]
Although a plurality of embodiments will be described for the sake of convenience, those skilled in the art can easily understand that these inventions can be realized not only individually as inventions but also by appropriately combining a plurality of embodiments. I can do it.
[0046]
[First Embodiment]
1. Hardware configuration example
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary network system including a network device configured by connecting a network board 101 to a printer 102 having an open architecture. The network board 101 is connected to a local area network (LAN) 200 via a LAN interface such as a 10Base-2 interface having a coaxial connector or a 10Base-T interface having an RJ-45.
[0047]
A personal computer (PC) 103 is also connected to the LAN 100 and can communicate with the NB 101 under the control of a network operating system. In the PC 103, a network control program for managing a network operates, and the network is controlled by the network control program. The request packet, response packet, and setting packet in FIG. 1 will be described later.
[0048]
Normally, the LAN 100 is a LAN that provides services to user groups and the like existing on one or more floors in a certain building. For example, when a user of the network exists in another building or another prefecture, a wide area network (WAN) may be configured. A WAN is basically an aggregate of a plurality of LANs connected by high-speed digital lines.
[0049]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the PC 103 on which the network management software can operate. In FIG. 2, a PC 103 is a PC on which network management software operates. The PC 103 includes a CPU 201 that executes a network management program stored in a ROM 202 or a hard disk (HD) 211 and controls each device connected to a system bus 204 as a whole. The network management program may be installed on the HD 111 via a communication medium such as the flexible disk drive (FD) 112 or the LAN 100. A RAM 203 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls an instruction input from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 210. A disk controller (DKC) 207 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 211 and a flexible disk controller (FD) 212 that store a boot program, various applications, edit files, user files, a network management program, and the like. A network interface card (NIC) 208 exchanges data bidirectionally with an agent or a network device via the LAN 100.
[0050]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the NB 101. Reference numeral 301 denotes a connection IF for connecting to a peripheral device such as a printer. A communication control circuit 302 controls communication processing corresponding to a communication protocol on the LAN side and communication processing with a printer. Reference numeral 303 denotes a ROM that stores programs necessary for communication processing, MAC addresses, and the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes a communication interface for connecting to the LAN 100. In particular, the communication control circuit 302 includes a receiving unit that receives a search packet from the network management device, and, when the search packet is received, the communication control circuit 302 transmits the search information together with the predetermined information (for example, an IP address at the time of shipment from a factory). It functions as creation means for creating a response packet in which an address (such as a MAC address) is written, and as transmission means for sending the created response packet to the network management device.
[0051]
2. Software configuration example
Next, the configuration of the network management device and software according to the present invention will be described. The network management device according to the present embodiment is realized on a PC 103 as shown in FIGS.
[0052]
The hard disk (HD) 211 stores the network management software of the present embodiment. In the following description, the CPU 201 is the execution entity on hardware unless otherwise specified. On the other hand, the subject of control on software is network management software stored in the hard disk (HD) 211. In the present embodiment, the OS is assumed to be, for example, Windows (registered trademark) (manufactured by Microsoft), but is not limited to this.
[0053]
FIG. 4 is an exemplary module configuration diagram of the network management program according to the present embodiment. The network management program according to the present embodiment is stored in the hard disk 211 and is executed by the CPU 201. At that time, the CPU 201 uses the RAM 203 as a work area.
[0054]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a device list module, which is a module for displaying a list of devices connected to the network. Reference numeral 402 denotes a general control module, which integrally controls other modules based on an instruction from a device list. Reference numeral 403 denotes a module that is called a configurator and performs a process related to a device network setting. In particular, when a factory-installed network device is connected to a LAN for the first time, the setting of the network device is performed using a communication protocol described later.
[0055]
A search module 404 is a module for searching for a device connected to the network. Devices searched by the search module 404 are displayed as a list in the device list 401.
[0056]
An ICMP module 405 controls the ICMP protocol. ICMP is a protocol for TCP / IP control specified in RFC792 of IETF, and is standardly implemented in terminals / devices implementing TCP / IP. Reference numerals 406 and 407 denote UI (user interface) modules for displaying a device detail window described later. The UI module is prepared for each model for which detailed information is to be displayed. Reference numerals 408 and 409 are called control modules, and are modules for performing control according to the target model for acquiring detailed information. As with the UI module, a control module exists for each target model for displaying detailed information. The control A module 408 and the control B module 409 use the MIB module 410 to acquire MIB data from the device to be managed, convert the data as necessary, and respectively correspond to the corresponding UI A module 406 or UI B module 407. Pass the data to.
[0057]
The MIB module 410 is a module that performs conversion between an object identifier and an object key. Here, the object key is a 32-bit integer corresponding one-to-one with the object identifier. Although the object identifier is a variable-length identifier, it is cumbersome to implement network management software. Therefore, in the network management program according to the present embodiment, a fixed-length identifier corresponding to the object identifier one-to-one is internally stored. Shall be used. Modules higher than the MIB module 410 handle MIB information using this object key. Reference numeral 411 denotes an SNMP module, which transmits and receives SNMP packets.
[0058]
A common transport module 412 absorbs a difference from a lower protocol for transporting SNMP data. In practice, depending on the protocol selected by the user during operation, either the IPX handler 413 or the UDP handler 414 plays a role in transferring data. The UDP handler 414 uses WinSock 415 as an implementation. Regarding WinSock, for example, Windows (registered trademark) Socket API vl. 1 is described in the specification. This document can be obtained from a plurality of places, and is packaged with, for example, Visual C ++ (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) which is a compiler manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.
[0059]
3. Configurator overview
The configurator 403 will be described in detail. Hereinafter, the protocol implemented by the configurator 403 will be referred to as a “configurator protocol”, and a network packet handled by the configurator protocol will be referred to as a “configurator packet”.
[0060]
There are two types of configurator packets, a “request packet” transmitted from the network management device to the network device (eg, NB 101) and a “response packet” returned from the network device to the network management device.
[0061]
As a precondition for using the configurator, it is assumed that the NB 101 is in a state in which a configurator packet can be received when the power is turned on.
[0062]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a packet header when a configurator packet is implemented on the TCP / IP protocol. For details of the individual items of the TCP / IP packet header and the IP address system, see “Bit Separate Volume Network Construction by TCP / IP Vol. 1—Principle and Protocol Architecture” (Douglas Commander = Jun Murai / Hiroyuki Kusumoto = (Translated by Kyoritsu Shuppan Co., Ltd., 1991, 2nd edition). The left side of FIG. 7 is a “request packet” and the right side is a “response packet”.
[0063]
The destination physical address of the DLC is “ff.ff.ff.ff.ff.ff” (broadcast), and any active network card connected to the network can receive this frame. “83B6” (hexadecimal) is used as the port number of the configurator protocol, and the destination IP address (Dest IP) of the request packet is “255.255.255.255” (local broadcast). That is, if a request packet is transmitted from the network management device, a network device that has the configurator protocol installed and is connected to the same subnet as the network management program can receive the request packet.
[0064]
4. Overview of data part of configurator packet
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the data portion of the configurator packet. The data section includes, for example, the following information.
[0065]
(601) Version (2 bytes)
This version is 0x0300 (version 3.00)
(602) Request Code
Code indicating the function requested by this packet
0: Set (setting)
1: Get (reference)
2: NVRAM-Reset (reset with NVRAM value)
3: Factory-Reset (factory reset)
4: Discovery
(603) Result Code (2 bytes)
Code indicating the requested result
0x0000: Success
0x0001: Media type error
0x0002: No specified protocol stack
0x0003: Version error
0xFFFF: Details unknown error
(604) Media type (2 bytes)
Indicates a communication medium.
[0066]
0: EtherNet
(605) Protocol Info
Flag corresponding to each protocol information. When the Request Code is 0 (setting), only information on the protocol whose corresponding byte is 1 is set.
[0067]
(606) NetWare Info
A field for setting and referring to information related to NetWare (a registered trademark of Novell).
[0068]
FrameType (2 bytes)
Frame type used in NetWare
0: Disable (NetWare cannot be used)
1: 802.3
2: 802.2
4: EtherNet II
8: 802.2 SNAP
(607) TcpIp Info
This field is used to set and reference information related to TcpIp.
[0069]
FrameType (2 bytes)
Frame type used in Tcpip
0: Disable (TcpIp cannot be used)
4: EtherNet II
IP Mode (2 bytes)
action mode
At the time of reference, the following values are ORed.
[0070]
0: IP fixed (starts from NVRAM value)
1: BOOTP valid
2: RARP valid
4: DHCP valid
IP address (4 bytes)
IP address of network address
Gateway address (4 bytes)
Network board gateway
Subnet mask (4 bytes)
Network board subnet mask
Broadcast address (4 bytes)
Network board broadcast address
(608) AppleTalk Info
This field is used to set and refer to information about AppleTalk (a registered trademark of Apple Computer).
[0071]
FrameType (2 bytes)
Frame type used in AppleTalk
0: Disable (AppleTalk cannot be used)
2: Phase2
(609) MAC address
The MAC address of the board.
[0072]
Each item is set to a predetermined value at the time of factory shipment called a factory initial value. If RequestCode is other than 4 (Discovery) and the value of this field does not match the MAC address of the network board, the received packet is ignored. In particular, each request / response packet will be described below as “Get request packet”, “Get response packet”, and the like according to the value of Request Code.
[0073]
Hereinafter, an operation procedure of the network management program when the network management program is started on the PC 103 and the network settings of the printer 102 and the network board 101 are performed in the present embodiment will be described. As a precondition before performing the following processing, it is assumed that the network management program has already been started. The printer 102 is equipped with modules below the configurator protocol 403 in FIG.
[0074]
5. motion
The management process of the network device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and the sequence diagram of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of the network management program according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating transmission and reception of a configurator packet between the network management apparatus 103 and the NB 101 according to the present embodiment.
[0075]
Step S701: The Configurator 403 started from the UI module 406 transmits a Discovery request packet in order to perform network setting of the network board 101. Since the Discovery request packet is a broadcast packet whose destination IP address is set to 255.255.255.255 as described above, it reaches all network devices connected to the same subnet.
[0076]
Step S702: The configurator 403 receives a Discovery response packet transmitted from each network device (which implements the configurator protocol) that has received the Discovery request packet. At this time, the data part of each received Discovery response packet is stored in the RAM 203.
[0077]
Step S703: It is determined whether a predetermined waiting time has expired, and the configurator 403 executes step S702 until the predetermined waiting time has expired. During that time, the UI module 406 displays a dialog box shown in FIG. When the waiting time has expired, the UI module 406 closes the dialog box (FIG. 9) and executes step S704.
[0078]
Step S704: The data part of each received Discovery response packet is read from the RAM 303, and the contents are referred to. For example, the configurator 403 extracts a newly added network device by filtering a network device whose IP address remains at a factory default value. Further, the device list display module 201 creates a list including the extracted MAC address of the network board and the current network settings. The created list is passed to the UI module 406, and the list is displayed.
[0079]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the list display dialog box according to the present embodiment. Network devices having the factory default IP address of “192.168.0.215” are listed as selection targets for the new addition setting process.
[0080]
Step S705: Wait for the user to select an arbitrary network board or a button such as "redetect" or "cancel" from the list in the dialog box of FIG.
[0081]
Step S706: Determine what kind of input has been made. If the user selects any of the network boards displayed in the list and presses the “next” button, the process proceeds to step S707.
[0082]
Step S707: The network setting for the network board 101 selected by the user is input, and the configurator 403 creates and transmits a Set request packet based on the input value.
[0083]
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary dialog for setting network information. The value input by the user is set in the “Protocol Info” field of the data portion of the Set request packet as described above. Further, since the Set request packet is placed in a frame addressed to the MAC address obtained by the Discovery response packet, it is ignored except for the network board corresponding to the MAC address. Therefore, only the network board 101 receives the Set request packet. The network device (the printer 102 in this case) that has received the Set request packet sets various setting values included in the data portion of the Set request packet according to the configurator protocol by the configurator of the network device. When the setting is completed by the network device based on the Set request packet, a Set response packet is returned (S801). Thus, the network setting of the printer 102 is completed.
[0084]
On the other hand, if the cancel button is pressed in step S706, the list display is deleted and the process is terminated, and if the re-detection button is pressed, the process returns to step S701 and the search packet (Discovery request packet) is returned. ) Repeat from broadcast.
[0085]
The Reset request / response shown in FIG. 8 is exchanged to initialize settings (S802, S803). Therefore, neither the Set request / response packet nor the Reset request / response packet is exchanged in the procedure of FIG. 7 for collecting information about devices on the network and setting a network for a specific device.
[0086]
As described above, according to the network device management apparatus and method according to the present embodiment, when acquiring the MAC address of a device on the network and displaying the list of devices for which the MAC address has been obtained, identification is performed. By filtering and displaying a list of network devices that have the same network setting information, the user himself / herself does not have to search for a network device to be newly added from among a large number of network devices, thereby simplifying network device settings. Can be.
[0087]
In the above embodiment, the factory shipment values have been described as being the same for all network devices. However, it is needless to say that all are not the same. For example, when there are a plurality of factory shipment values, by storing the factory shipment values for each network device, it is possible to handle network devices having different factory initial values.
[0088]
Further, in the above embodiment, the filtering is performed based on the IP address. However, the filtering is not limited to this as long as a newly added network device can be identified.
[0089]
Further, in the above embodiment, only a list obtained by filtering based on the IP address is displayed in the list. However, a switching menu for switching so that all network devices having the Discovery response packet are listed is added. You may.
[0090]
Also, in the above embodiment, only the newly added network device is displayed in a list, but other display formats may be adopted as long as they can be displayed so as to be distinguished from existing network devices. For example, only newly added network devices may be highlighted, such as indicated by red letters, or newly added devices may be sorted and highlighted so as to be positioned at the top. Here, the highlighting means a display process in which a newly added network device can be visually recognized by distinguishing it from other network devices.
[0091]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an exemplary dialog box for highlighting only a newly added network device when an existing network device and a newly added network device are mixedly displayed. If the highlight is displayed using a color different from the highlight color by the normal selection operation, the difference from the normal selection operation will be clear.
[Second embodiment]
In the dialog box shown in FIG. 10 according to the first embodiment, one network device is selected and network information is set.
[0092]
However, in the above configuration, when a plurality of newly added network devices are set, the processing may be complicated.
[0093]
Therefore, the present embodiment aims to improve user operability by enabling a plurality of network devices to be selected as setting targets at one time.
[0094]
FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart of the network management process according to the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a signal sequence diagram corresponding to this flowchart. Note that the steps already described will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0095]
Step S1301: In step S704, a selection dialog box shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. Therefore, a plurality of network devices are selected.
[0096]
Step S1302: It is determined whether the selection of the network device has been completed. For example, when one or more network devices are selected from the list displayed in the selection dialog box by clicking or drawing the pointing device, it is determined that the selection has been completed.
[0097]
Step S1303: When the “next” button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S1303. When the “redetect” button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S701. When the “cancel” button is pressed, the process ends.
[0098]
Step S1304: Display a setting dialog box (FIG. 16) for setting a plurality of selected network devices. In the example of FIG. 16, two network devices are selected. Therefore, by inputting the head address of the IP address to be set in the setting dialog box, it becomes possible to set consecutive IP addresses. In other words, the user only has to specify the head IP address, and thereafter, the IP address can be incremented and set in order, thereby simplifying the setting operation.
[0099]
Step S1304: The configurator 403 creates and transmits a Set request packet for each of the selected plurality of network devices based on the network setting information (eg, IP address) set in the setting dialog box.
[0100]
In this example, "192.168.6.1" is set as the IP address for the network device 1 for which "0000850D42BD" is set as the MAC address. For the network device 2 for which “0000850 EAC98” is set as the MAC address, “192.168.16.2” is set as the IP address.
[0101]
Step S1305: A Set request packet is transmitted to all the selected network devices, and it is determined whether a Set response packet has been received as a response. That is, it is determined whether all the settings have been completed. If the setting has not been completed, the process returns to step S1304.
[0102]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the network setting is performed for a plurality of network devices, the network setting can be performed by a simple operation.
[0103]
In the above embodiment, only one IP address is specified. However, an IP address may be manually set for each selected network device. In this case, the operation of selecting the network device may be performed only once, so that the operation may be simplified.
[Other embodiments]
The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.) but also to a device composed of one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.). You may.
[0104]
A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved by executing the reading.
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0105]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.
[0106]
The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented when the computer executes the readout program code, and the OS or the like running on the computer performs part of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. Alternatively, all the operations are performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.
[0107]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. A CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.
[0108]
The invention of the present application is also applicable to a case where the program is delivered to a requester via a communication line such as a personal computer communication from a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. It goes without saying that it can be applied.
[0109]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when a MAC address of a device on a network is acquired and a list of devices having the MAC address is displayed, a network device having a specific network setting is filtered and displayed in a list. This reduces the trouble of the user himself / herself searching for a new network device to be added from the list of many network devices, and simplifies the setting of the network device.
[0110]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when setting a plurality of network devices.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary network system including a network device in which a network board 101 is connected to a printer 102 having an open architecture.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC 103 on which network management software can operate.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an NB.
FIG. 4 is an exemplary module configuration diagram of a network management program according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a packet header when a configurator packet is implemented on a TCP / IP protocol;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a data portion of a configurator packet;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a network management program according to the embodiment;
FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating transmission and reception of a configurator packet between the network management apparatus 103 and the NB 101 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a dialog box displayed during the search for a network device.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list display dialog box according to the embodiment;
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary dialog for setting network information.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary dialog box for highlighting only a newly added network device when an existing network device and a newly added network device are mixedly displayed.
FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart of a network management process according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a signal sequence diagram according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a network device selection dialog box according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary settings dialog box for setting a plurality of selected network devices.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a dialog box for displaying a list of network devices according to the related art;

Claims (30)

Transmitting means for transmitting a search packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving means for receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device having received the search packet;
Determining means for determining whether predetermined information is included in the received response packet,
Display means for displaying information about the network device that transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information,
Setting means for executing network settings for the displayed network device;
A network management device, comprising: The network management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit highlights information on a network device that has transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information. Further comprising a selecting means for selecting a network device to be a target of network setting from the displayed network devices,
The network management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit performs a network setting for the selected network device. 4. The network management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when a plurality of network devices are selected by the selection unit, the setting unit sequentially executes network settings for the selected plurality of network devices. 5. The network management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displayed information on the network device is identification information on a network device. The network management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the displayed identification information on the network device includes at least one of the physical address and the IP address. 7. The network management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the response packet includes a physical address of the network device. The setting means,
The network management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a setting packet for network setting having the physical address as a destination is transmitted to the network device. 9. The network management device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is information promised to be set at the time of shipment from a factory. 10. The network management device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is a predetermined IP address. Transmitting means for transmitting a search packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving means for receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device having received the search packet;
Filtering means for filtering a network device that has transmitted the response packet, based on whether the received response packet contains predetermined information.
Display means for displaying a list of information on the filtered network device;
Selecting means for selecting, from the displayed list of network devices, one or more network devices for which network setting is to be performed;
Setting means for executing network settings for the selected network device;
A network management device, comprising: A network device managed by the network management device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
Receiving means for receiving the search packet;
When the search packet is received, creating means for creating a response packet in which the physical address is written together with the predetermined information,
Transmitting means for transmitting the created response packet to the network management device;
A network device, comprising: The network device according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined information is information promised to be set at the time of shipment from a factory. Sending a discovery packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet;
Determining whether the received response packet contains predetermined information,
Displaying information about the network device that transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information;
Performing network settings on the displayed network device;
A network management method, comprising: 15. The network management method according to claim 14, wherein the displaying includes highlighting information on a network device that has transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information. The method further comprises the step of selecting a network device to be subjected to network setting from the displayed network devices,
16. The network management method according to claim 14, wherein in the setting step, a network setting is performed on the selected network device. 17. The network management method according to claim 16, wherein, when a plurality of network devices are selected in the selecting step, the setting step sequentially performs network setting for the selected plurality of network devices. 18. The network management method according to claim 14, wherein the displayed information on the network device is identification information on a network device. 19. The network management method according to claim 18, wherein the displayed identification information on the network device includes at least one of the physical address and the IP address. 20. The network management method according to claim 14, wherein the response packet includes a physical address of the network device. 21. The network management method according to claim 20, wherein in the setting step, a setting packet for network setting having the physical address as a destination is transmitted to the network device. 22. The network management method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined information is information promised to be set at the time of shipment from a factory. 23. The network management method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined information is a predetermined IP address. Sending a discovery packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet;
Filtering the network device that has transmitted the response packet based on whether the received response packet contains predetermined information,
Listing information about the filtered network device;
Selecting one or more network devices to be network-configured from the displayed list of network devices;
Performing network settings for the selected network device;
A network management method, comprising: A response method of a network device managed by the network management method according to any one of claims 14 to 24, comprising:
Receiving the search packet;
When the search packet is received, a step of creating a response packet that has written its own physical address along with the predetermined information,
Transmitting the created response packet to the network management method;
A response method for a network device, comprising: 26. The network device response method according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined information is information promised to be set at the time of shipment from a factory. Sending a discovery packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet;
Determining whether the received response packet contains predetermined information,
Displaying information about the network device that transmitted the response packet determined to include the predetermined information;
Performing network settings on the displayed network device;
Network management program to make a computer execute Sending a discovery packet to one or more network devices connected to the network;
Receiving a response packet transmitted by the network device that has received the search packet;
Filtering the network device that has transmitted the response packet based on whether the received response packet contains predetermined information,
Listing information about the filtered network device;
Selecting one or more network devices to be network-configured from the displayed list of network devices;
Performing network settings for the selected network device;
Network management program to make a computer execute A response program for a network device managed by the network management device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
Receiving the search packet;
When the search packet is received, a step of creating a response packet that has written its own physical address along with the predetermined information,
Transmitting the created response packet to the network management method;
Response program for causing a network device to execute A computer-readable recording medium recording the network management program according to claim 27 or claim 28 or the response program according to claim 29.

Images