Abstract:
A method of setting network configuration, and the device and system implemented in a virtual LAN are disclosed. By utilizing the present invention, a network device, such as switch, which supports VLAN, can set and adjust the VLAN configuration information record dynamically according to the media access control (MAC) addresses of other network devices connected to the ports of the network device, and by detecting the plug and play signal on each port of the network device, in order to maintain and manage the VLAN conveniently.

Description:
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a method of setting network configuration, and device and system thereof, and more particularly, to a method of setting network configuration applied on VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network), and the device and system thereof, thereby dynamically setting and adjusting the internal configuration of VLAN.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION  
         [0002]    With the rapid growth of computer network, the planning and setting of computer network become more and more crucial, wherein VLAN is a LAN having the advantages of smart planning and flexible setting. VLAN is to logically connect network devices that may not be physically connected, thereby enabling the communication behaviors among the network devices to be acted as if the network devices are physically connected, so that the protocol and configuration setting of VLAN are quite different from those of conventional LANs.  
           [0003]    The so-called VLAN configuration setting means setting the configuration of each member inside a VLAN. Currently, there are five widely- adopted approaches as listed below: 1. VLAN based on connection ports (Port-based VLAN); 2. VALN based on MAC (Media Access Control Address) addresses (MAC-based VLAN); 3. VLAN based on IP (Internet Protocol) subnets; 4. VLAN based on network layer protocols; 5. VLAN based on principles. The port-based VLAN and the MAC-based VLAN will be roughly explained hereinafter.  
           [0004]    1. Port-based VLAN: A basic unit of VLAN member is a connection port of a network device such as a hub, a bridge and a switch, etc. Management software is used for planning what connection ports have to be included in each of the VLANs, and what members should be included in the connection ports.  
           [0005]    Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1. is a schematic diagram showing conventional port-based VLANs, wherein VLAN  50 , VLAN  52  and VLAN  54  are connected via a network device  10  (such as a switch), a network device  12  and a network device  14 . The members of VLAN  50  comprise network devices  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  respectively connected to a second port  20 , a third port  22 , a fourth port  24  and a fifth port  26 , wherein those ports are located on the network device  10 . The members of VLAN  52  comprise network devices  72  and  74  respectively connected to an eleventh port  36  and a twelfth port  38 , wherein those ports are located on the network device  10 ; and network devices  88  and  90  respectively connected to a ninth port  108  and an eleventh port  110 , wherein those ports are located on the network device  14 . The members of VLAN  54  comprise network devices  68  and  70  respectively connected to an eighth port  32  and a ninth port  34 , wherein those ports are located on the network device  10 ; network devices  76 ,  78 ,  80  and  82  respectively connected to a second port  92 , a fourth port  94 , a sixth port  96  and an eighth port  98 , wherein those ports are located on the network device  12 ; network devices  84  and  86  respectively connected to a fourth port  104  and a sixth port  106 , wherein those ports are located on the network device  14 . Moreover, a sixth port  28  of the network device  10  is connected to a twelfth port  100  of the network device  12 , and, a seventh port  30  of the network device  10  is connected to a first port  102  of the network device  14 .  
           [0006]    Although it is not difficult to practice the port-based VLAN, yet there are serious defects in network security and management. For example, if the network device  60  originally configured to the second port  20  of the network device  10  is switched to the twelfth port  38 , and the network device  74  originally configured to the twelfth port  38  is switched to the second port  20 , then it is apparently known that the network device  60  originally associated with the VLAN  50  now belongs to the VLAN  52 , and likewise, the network device  74  originally associated with the VLAN  52  now belongs to the VLAN  50 . Accordingly, the VLANs with which the network devices  60  and  74  are associated are totally different from the original settings, thus causing serious loopholes occurring in network security and management.  
           [0007]    2. MAC-based VLAN: A basic unit of VLAN member is a unique MAC address (generally is a 48-bit address) owned by each of the network devices. Similarly, management software is used for planning what MAC addresses have to be included in each of the VLANs (i.e. what network devices should be included).  
           [0008]    Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing conventional MAC-based VLANs, wherein a network device  200  (such as a switch) and a control device  202  are used for linking and controlling a VLAN  210  and a VLAN  212 . Besides, the network device  200  has a storing device  204  used for storing the related information concerning VLANs  210  and  212  (such as VLAN configuration information). On the other hand, the storing device  204  and the control device  202  can also be built inside the network device  200 , or in another network device  206 .  
           [0009]    Such as shown in FIG. 2, the VLAN  210  comprises twenty network devices connected to a second port  216  of the network device  200 . Each of the twenty network devices has a different MAC address, such as the one from MAC21 to MAC40. The VLAN  212  comprises twenty network devices connected to a first port  214  of the network device  200  each of which has a different MAC address, such as from MAC1 to MAC20; and twenty network devices connected to a third port  218  of the network device  200  each of which has a different MAC address, such as from MAC41 to MAC60, wherein the VLAN  212  has forty network devices in total.  
           [0010]    Since the information related to the layout and linking status concerning each of the network devices is stored in the network device  200 , those sixty network devices can communicate to each other in accordance with various protocols. However, let&#39;s say the twenty network devices connected to the third port  218  of the network device  200  are switched to being connected to the fifth port  220  of the network device  200  or to a port of any other network device, or are directly pulled out of the third port  218  of the network device  200 . Since the corresponding VLAN configuration information record inside the network device  200  is not updated dynamically, the connections among certain network devices would be interrupted, so that breakdown occurs on the logic structure of VLAN  212 , thus lowering the reliability of VLAN  212  and making the maintenance and management of VLAN more difficult.  
         SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION  
         [0011]    Just as described above, when a network device in a VLAN is plugged into a port or pulled out from a port, or a port is replaced, since the VLAN configuration information record stored in a switch fails to be updated accordingly, part of the connecting paths within the VLAN is interrupted, thus making the maintenance and management of VLAN more difficult.  
           [0012]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of setting network configuration, and the device and system thereof, which can be particularly applied on VLAN. The present invention utilizes the detection of MAC address of network device to dynamically setting and adjusting the VLAN configuration information record stored in a switch, so as to resolve the problems of the conventional technologies.  
           [0013]    In accordance with the aforementioned object of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of setting network configuration, and the device and system thereof, which can be utilized in a switch supporting VLAN. The switch has a plurality of ports, and stores a VLAN configuration information record comprising a plurality of MAC addresses. According to the present invention, the method of setting network configuration comprises: detecting and obtaining a MAC address of network device connected to a port of the switch; and comparing the MAC address of network device to that in the VLAN configuration information record, wherein, if the MAC address of network device is the same as one of the several MAC addresses listed in the VLAN configuration information record, then using the port associated with the network device on the switch to replace the port where the MAC address is located as indicated in the VLAN configuration information record; and if the MAC address of network device is not the same as any of the several MAC addresses listed in the VLAN configuration information record, then linking and inserting the MAC address and the information of the port associated with the network device into the VLAN configuration information record.  
           [0014]    Moreover, the present invention also provides a switch, the switch comprising: a storing device having a VLAN configuration information record; and a control device having the functions comprising: detecting a plug and pull signal of each port on the switch, and obtaining a MAC address designated to a network device connected to each port; comparing the MAC address to that listed in the VLAN configuration information record; and performing an updating step in accordance with the comparison result, wherein, if the comparison result shows that the MAC address does not exist in the VLAN configuration information record, then writing the MAC address and its corresponding port information into the VLAN configuration information record; and if the MAC address exists in the VLAN configuration information record, then writing the newly-detected MAC address and its corresponding port information into the VLAN configuration information record, so as to replace the old record in the VLAN configuration information record.  
           [0015]    The VLAN system provided by the present invention comprises: a network connecting device having a plurality of ports; at least one VLAN, wherein the VLAN comprising: a network device having a MAC address, the network device being coupled to one of the several ports of network connecting device; a storing device having at least one VLAN configuration information record; and a control device having the functions comprising: detecting a plug and pull signal of each port on the switch, and obtaining a MAC address designated to a network device connected to each port; comparing the MAC address to that listed in the VLAN configuration information record, so as to obtain a comparison result; and performing an updating step in accordance with the comparison result, wherein, if the comparison result shows that the MAC address does not exist in the VLAN configuration information record, then writing the MAC address and its corresponding port information into the VLAN configuration information record; and if the MAC address exists in the VLAN configuration information record, then writing the newly-detected MAC address and its corresponding port information into the VLAN configuration information record, so as to replace the old record in the VLAN configuration information record.  
           [0016]    In the VLAN of the present invention, the aforementioned storing device and control device can be built inside the network connecting device or any other network device, wherein the network connecting device or network device can be a switch, a bridge, a router, a hub or a network terminal device, etc.  
           [0017]    By means of the method of setting network configuration according to the present invention, the VLAN configuration information record stored in the switch can be dynamically adjusted and set, so as to maintain and manage the VLAN conveniently. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this application will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing conventional port-based VLANs;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing conventional MAC-based VLANs;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of MAC-based VLANs using a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of MAC-based VLANs using the other preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a switch enabled in accordance with the method of setting network configuration according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of MAC-based VLANs using a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Such as shown in FIG. 3, VLANs  500 ,  502 ,  504  and  506  are mutually connected via network connecting devices  301 , 303  and  305 , wherein a sixth port  359  of the network connecting device  301  is connected to a twelfth port  389  of the network connecting device  303 , and a seventh port  361  of the network connecting device  301  is connected to a first port  401  of the network connecting device  305 .  
         [0025]    VLAN  500  is composed of a network device  311  connected to a second port  351  and a network device  313  connected to a third port  353 , wherein both of the second port  351  and the third port  353  are located on the network connecting device  301 ; a network device  327  connected to a second port  381  and a network device  329  connected in a fourth port  383 , wherein both of the second port  381  and the fourth port  383  are located on the network connecting device  303 . VLAN  502  is composed of a network device  315  connected to a fourth port  355  and a network device  317  connected to a fifth port  357 , wherein both of the fourth port  355  and the fifth port  357  are located on the network connecting device  301 ; a network device  331  connected to an eighth port  385  and a network device  333  connected to a tenth port  387 , wherein both of the eighth port  385  and the tenth port  387  are located on the network connecting device  303 . VLAN  504  is composed of a network device  319  connected to an eighth port  363  and a network device  321  connected to a ninth port  365 , wherein both of the eighth port  363  and the ninth port  365  are located on the network connecting device  301 ; a network device  335  connected to a second port  403  and a network device  337  connected to a fourth port  405 , wherein both of the second port  403  and the fourth port  405  are located on the network connecting device  305 . VLAN  506  is composed of a network device  323  connected to an eleventh port  367  and a network device  325  connected to a twelfth port  369 , wherein both of the eleventh port  367  and the twelfth port  369  are located on the network connecting device  301 ; a network device  339  connected to an eighth port  407  and a network device  341  connected to a tenth port  409 , wherein both of the eighth port  407  and the tenth port  409  are located on the network connecting device  305 .  
         [0026]    When the port associated with the network device  319  in VLAN  504  is switched from the eighth port  363  of the network connecting device  301  to the eleventh port  508  of the network connecting device  303 , by applying the method of setting network configuration, and the device and system thereof according to the present invention, the network connecting device  303  can directly or indirectly obtain a MAC address of the network device  319  located on the eleventh port  508 . After the network connecting device  303  compares the MAC address to its VLAN configuration information record, it can be found that the MAC address of the network device  319  is originally located on the eighth port  363  of the network connecting device  301 , while the eighth port  363  of the network connecting device  301  is connected to the VLAN  504 . Accordingly, via the address automatic learning system, the network connecting device  303  can then base on the current status showing that the MAC address of the network device  319  is designated to the eleventh port  508  of the network connecting device  303 , so as to add the eleventh port  508  to the layout of VLAN  504  in the VLAN configuration information record. Thereafter, in the VLAN configuration information record, the eleventh port  508  is used to replace the eighth port  363  (to which the MAC address of the network device  319  is originally designated), thus updating the VLAN configuration information record.  
         [0027]    As to the layout of VLANs after replacement, please refer to FIG. 4, which is FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of MAC-based VLANs using the other preferred embodiment of the present invention. It can be known from FIG. 4 that the network device  319  is connected to the eleventh port  508  of the network connecting device  303 , and still belongs to the VLAN  504 . Similarly, the network connecting devices  301  and  305  also perform the same steps as described above, i.e. obtaining a MAC address of the network device  319  located on the eleventh port  508  of the network connecting device  303 ; comparing the MAC address of the network device  319  to its VLAN configuration information record; then adding the eleventh port  508  to the VLAN configuration information record, wherein the eleventh port  508  is used in network connecting device  303  for connecting the network device  319 ; then, in the VLAN configuration information record, replacing the eighth port  363  (the MAC address is originally designated to the eight port  363  of the network connecting device  301 ) with the eleventh port  508 , thus updating the VLAN configuration information record.  
         [0028]    Hence, when any network device in FIG. 4 desires to access the resource of the network device  319 , the eleventh port  508  of the network connecting device  303  is used as an accessing path.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a switch enabled in accordance with the method of setting network configuration according to the present invention. In MAC-based VLANs, a VLAN  660  and a VLAN  662  are linked to each other by means of a switch  650  of the present invention, and the switch  650  has a control device  652  and a storing device  654 , wherein the storing device  654  is used for storing the configuration information concerning the VLAN  660  and the VLAN  662 , and the control device  652  is used for controlling the internal and external operations of the switch  650 .  
         [0030]    On the other hand, the initial settings in the VLAN configuration information record are: the VLAN  660  comprising twenty network devices connected to a second port  666  on the switch  650 , each of the twenty network devices having a different MAC address, which is from MAC21 to MAC40; the VLAN  662  comprising twenty network devices connected to a first port  664  on the switch  650 , the MAC addresses of those twenty network devices being from MAC1 to MAC20; and the VLAN  662  further comprises twenty network devices connected to a third port  668  on the switch  650 , the MAC addresses of those twenty network devices being from MAC41 to MAC60, so that the VLAN  662  has forty network devices in total.  
         [0031]    In FIG. 5, the switch  650  can make a proper setting on the control device  652  by a user, thereby determining whether the plug and pull signal on each of the ports on the switch  650  should be detected. Thus, when the twenty network devices originally connected to the third port  668  on the switch  650  are switched to a fifth port  670  on the switch  650 , the control device  652  first detects the plug and pull signal on the third port  668 , and then detects the plug and pull signal on the third port  668 , and thereafter detects the plug and pull signal on the fifth port  670 , and obtains by direct detection MAC addresses (i.e. from MAC41 to MAC60) of all the network devices connected to the fifth port  670 , or obtains those MAC addresses indirectly from the signals sent while the network devices (i.e. the twenty network devices of MAC41 to MAC60) are replaced.  
         [0032]    After the control device  652  obtains the MAC addresses of all the network devices connected to the fifth port  670 , the control device  652  compares the twenty MAC addresses from MAC41 to MAC60 designated to the fifth port  670  to the VLAN configuration information record stored in the storing device  654 , and then performs the subsequent step in accordance with the comparison result. In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the twenty network devices originally connected to the third port  668  on the switch  650  are switched to the fifth port  670  on the switch  650 . Therefore, according to the MAC address of each of the network devices, it can be known by comparison that the twenty network devices currently connected to the fifth port  670  are originally connected to the third port  668 , and also can be known that the third port  668  belongs to the VLAN  662 , and the twenty port having the addresses from MAC41 to MAC60 originally belong to the VLAN  662 .  
         [0033]    Thereafter, the control device  652  can use the address automatic learning function to perform a comparing and updating step automatically on the VLAN configuration information record stored in the storing device  654 , according to the MAC address on each of the ports. Since the twenty ports having the addresses from MAC41 to MAC60 have been alternatively connected to the fifth port  670  from the third port  668 , the control device  652  first adds the fifth port  670  to the VLAN  662  listed the VLAN configuration information record, and then replaces the third port  668  to which MAC41 to MAC60 are originally designated with the fifth port  670  currently associated with those MACs, thereby updating the layout of the VLAN  662 . Therefore, when any network device in the VLAN  660  or the VLAN  662  desires to access the network device belonging to any one of the MAC addresses from MAC41 to MAC60 in the VLAN  662 , the switch  650  will base on the updated VLAN configuration information record (i.e. in the VLAN  662 , MAC41 and MAC60 are designated to the fifth port  670  on the switch  650 .) to access the network device whose MAC address is one of the MAC addresses from MAC41 to MAC60.  
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, it is merely described the condition that the twenty network devices originally connected to the third port  668  on the switch  650  are switched to the fifth port  670  on the switch  650 . With regard to the other conditions, such as that the twenty network devices originally connected the third port  668  on the switch  650  are switched to a port located on another network device, or that the twenty network devices are directly pulled out of the third port  668  on the switch  650 , the present invention also can perform the corresponding comparison treatment, thereby updating the VLAN configuration information record, so that the VLAN  660  and the VLAN  662  can maintain a certain degree of reliability.  
         [0035]    Hence, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide a method of setting network configuration setting, and the device and system thereof. While applied on a VLAN, the method of setting network configuration according to the present invention can be used to allow a network device supporting the VLAN function to set, adjust and update the VLAN configuration information record stored in the switch, by means of detecting the plug and pull signal on each of the ports and also in accordance with the MAC addresses of other network devices connected to the ports of the switch, thereby conveniently maintaining and managing the VLANs.  
         [0036]    As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.