Network management system having a network including virtual networks

Abstract

A network management system for managing a computer network in which media switching type infrastructures and media sharing type infrastructures are combined coexistently includes a database destined for network management in which correspondences established among information concerning physical interconnections of individual equipment on the network, information concerning logical network configuration such as that of virtual network, and information concerning the users who make use of the network are stored, identifying means for identification of the individual equipment on the network and physical addresses intrinsic to network ports, respectively, and retrieval means for searching information of the physical addresses of the network ports with queries for the logical addresses.

1 . A network management system for managing a plurality of virtual networks, comprising: 
 a network management database in which correspondences are established among information concerning physical interconnections of individual equipment on a physical network layer, information concerning logical network configuration of a plurality of mutually different schemes of a virtual network layer and information concerning a directory layer regarding users who make use of the network; and    a component searching machines or equipment for which setup status therefore is to be altered in response to a user's request to alter any of objects on said physical network layer, objects on said virtual network layer and objects on said directory layer to generate a setup sequence of equipment setup information so as to execute said setup sequence, updating said network management database.    
   
   
       2 . A network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein when said objects on said directory layer are altered through said user's request, objects on said virtual network layer corresponding to said objects on said directory layer are altered to objects on a virtual network layer having a different scheme among said plurality of mutually different schemes.  
   
   
       3 . A network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein when said objects on said physical layers are altered through said user's request, objects on said virtual network layer corresponding to said objects on said directory layer are altered to objects on a virtual network layer having a different scheme among said plurality of mutually different schemes.  
   
   
       4 . A network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein said equipment setup information is a Management Information Value.  
   
   
       5 . A network management system according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a command for altering said equipment setup information is issued to said machines or equipment for which said setup status therefore is to be altered, and wherein alteration of said equipment setup information is made in response to said command.    
   
   
       6 . A network management method for managing a plurality of virtual networks, comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a network management database in which correspondences are established among information concerning physical interconnections of individual equipment on a physical network layer, information concerning logical network configuration of a plurality of mutually different schemes of a virtual network layer and information concerning a directory layer regarding users who make use of the network; and    searching machines or equipment for which setup status therefore is to be altered in response to a user's request to alter any of objects on said physical network layer, objects on said virtual network layer and objects on said directory layer to generate a setup sequence of equipment setup information so as to execute said setup sequence, updating said network management database.    
   
   
       7 . A network management method according to  claim 6 , wherein when said objects on said directory layer are altered through said user's request, objects on said virtual network layer corresponding to said objects on said directory layer are altered to objects on a virtual network layer having a different scheme among said plurality of mutually different schemes.  
   
   
       8 . A network management method according to  claim 6 , wherein when said objects on said physical layers are altered through said user's request, objects on said virtual network layer corresponding to said objects on said directory layer are altered to objects on a virtual network layer having a different scheme among said plurality of mutually different schemes.  
   
   
       9 . A network management method according to  claim 6 , wherein said equipment setup information is a Management Information Value.  
   
   
       10 . A network management method according to  claim 6 , 
 wherein a command for altering said equipment setup information is issued to said machines or equipment for which said setup status therefore is to be altered, and wherein alteration of said equipment setup information is made in response to said command.    
   
   
       11 . A network management program for managing a plurality of virtual networks implemented by a computer on a memory thereof, comprising computer codes for: 
 preparing a network management database in which correspondences are established among information concerning physical interconnections of individual equipment on a physical network layer, information concerning logical network configuration of a plurality of mutually different schemes of a virtual network layer and information concerning a directory layer regarding users who make use of the network; and    searching machines or equipment for which setup status therefore is to be altered in response to a user's request to alter any of objects on said physical network layer, objects on said virtual network layer and objects on said directory layer to generate a setup sequence of equipment setup information so as to execute said setup sequence, updating said network management database.    
   
   
       12 . A network management method according to  claim 11 , wherein when said objects on said directory layer are altered through said user's request, objects on said virtual network layer corresponding to said objects on said directory layer are altered to objects on a virtual network layer having a different scheme among said plurality of mutually different schemes.  
   
   
       13 . A network management method according to  claim 11 , wherein when said objects on physical layer are altered through said user's request, objects on said virtual netwok layer corresponding to said objects on said directory layer are altered to objects on a virtual network layer having a different scheme among said plurality of mutually different schemes.  
   
   
       14 . A network management method according to  claim 11 , wherein said equipment setup information is a Management Information Value.  
   
   
       15 . A network management method according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein a command for altering said equipment setup information is issued to said machines or equipment for which said setup status therefore is to be altered, and wherein alteration of said equipment setup information is made in response to said command.