Virtual Network and Management Method of Virtual Network

Abstract

There is a need to generate a virtual network across multiple physical networks without the need for users to understand information about the respective physical networks. A network system includes: multiple communication systems for communication with a user; multiple physical network management servers that manage multiple physical networks including multiple routers; and a virtual network management server that manages a virtual network connecting the communication systems with each other through the physical networks. The virtual network management server acquires physical network configuration information. The virtual network management server generates management information in order to manage the physical networks as one abstraction network. The virtual network management server configures the abstraction network by transmitting the generated management information to each of the physical network management servers and the routers.

1 . A network system comprising:
 a plurality of communication systems for communication with a user;   a plurality of physical network management servers that manage a plurality of physical networks including a plurality of routers; and   a virtual network management server that manages a virtual network as a logical network connecting the communication systems with each other through the physical networks, wherein the physical network management servers each include a first processor, first memory connected to the first processor, and a first network interface connected to the first processor;   wherein the virtual network management server includes a second processor, second memory connected to the second processor, and a second network interface connected to the second processor;   wherein each of the physical network management servers connects with the virtual network management server;   wherein the virtual network management server acquires physical network configuration information indicating a configuration of the physical network from each of the physical network management servers;   wherein the virtual network management server generates abstraction network management information based on the acquired physical network configuration information in order to manage the physical networks as one abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server transmits the generated abstraction network management information to each of the physical network management servers and each of the routers and configure the abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server receives a virtual network generation request containing input information about the communication system and the router and converts the input information into virtual network definition information for generating the virtual network;   wherein the virtual network management server selects the router for configuring the virtual network based on the abstraction network management information and the virtual network definition information;   wherein the virtual network management server generates virtual network setting information for configuring the virtual network; and   wherein the virtual network management server transmits the generated virtual network setting information to the selected router to configure the virtual network.   
     
     
         2 . The network system according to  claim 1 , wherein the physical network configuration information contains first position information indicating a placing position of the router in the physical network and first communication function information indicating a communication function available for the router;
 wherein the virtual network management server generates the abstraction network management information by generating abstract node identification information that uniquely identifies the router as an abstract node included in the abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server generates second position information about the abstract node in the abstraction network based on the physical network configuration information;   wherein the virtual network management server generates second communication function information indicating a communication function available for the abstract node in the abstraction network based on the physical network configuration information;   wherein the virtual network management server generates one network group including the abstract node corresponding to the router included in the same physical network and generates network group identification information for identifying the network group; and   wherein the virtual network management server generates the abstraction network management information by making correspondence among the abstract node identification information, the second position information, the second communication function information, and the network group identification information.   
     
     
         3 . The network system according to  claim 1 , wherein the input information contains user identification information about a user who requests generation of the virtual network, third position information indicating a placing position of the communication system in the physical network, and third communication function information indicating a communication function used for the virtual network;
 wherein the virtual network management server converts the input information into the virtual network definition information by generating virtual network identification information for identifying the generated virtual network based on the user identification information contained in the input information;   wherein the virtual network management server references the physical network configuration information and converts the third communication function information contained in the input information into fourth communication function information indicating a communication function available for the abstract node in the abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server references the physical network configuration information and converts the third position information contained in the input information into fourth position information indicating a placing position of the abstract node in the abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network definition information based on the virtual network identification information, the fourth communication function information, and the fourth position information;   wherein the virtual network management server selects the router based on the abstraction network management information and the virtual network definition information by referencing the abstraction network management information based on the fourth communication function information and selecting the network group capable of setting the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request;   wherein the virtual network management server references the abstraction network management information based on the fourth position information and selects the abstract node capable of configuring the virtual network from the selected network group;   wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network setting information by determining allocation of the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request based on the selected network group and the selected abstract node; and   wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network setting information based on the determined virtual network allocation and transmits the virtual network setting information to each of the physical network management servers and the routers.   
     
     
         4 . The network system according to  claim 3 , wherein the router includes a virtual function that provides one of a virtual computer and a virtual switch;
 wherein the physical network configuration information contains first virtual function information indicating the virtual function provided for the router;   wherein the input information contains second virtual function information indicating a virtual function requested in the virtual network;   wherein the virtual network management server converts the input information into the virtual network definition information and also converts the second virtual function information contained in the input information into third virtual function information indicating the virtual function provided for the abstract node in the abstraction network; and   wherein the virtual network management server selects the router based on the virtual network definition information, accordingly references abstraction network management information based on the third virtual function information, and selects the abstract node provided with the virtual function corresponding to the second virtual function information out of the selected abstract nodes included in the virtual network.   
     
     
         5 . The network system according to  claim 2 , wherein the router includes an edge router that connects the different physical networks with each other;
 wherein the abstraction network management information and the network setting information are transmitted to the edge router;   wherein the edge router receives the virtual network setting information and then acquires adjacent network group identification information, namely, information for identifying the network group including the abstract node corresponding to the other edge router, from the other edge router included in the adjacent network;   wherein the edge router transmits the acquired adjacent network group identification information to the virtual network management server; and   wherein the virtual network management server stores the adjacent network group information in the abstraction network management information.   
     
     
         6 . The network system according to  claim 5 , wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network setting information and then generates first address management information for managing a first address indicating an address of the abstract node in the abstraction network;
 wherein the virtual network management server transmits the first address management information to the edge router;   wherein the virtual network management server acquires second address management information for managing a second address indicating an address of the edge router in the physical network from each of the physical network management servers and the edge router;   wherein the virtual network management server generates routing information in the abstraction network based on the second address management information acquired and the first address management information; and   wherein the virtual network management server transmits the generated routing information to each of the physical network management servers and the edge routers.   
     
     
         7 . The network system according to  claim 6 , wherein the edge router receives a communication packet from the communication system and analyzes the received communication packet;
 wherein the edge router supplies the received communication packet with the first address based on the first address management information and the routing information; and   wherein the edge router performs a routing process in the abstraction network based on the first address.   
     
     
         8 . A virtual network management method for a network system including:
 a plurality of communication systems for communication with a user;   a plurality of physical network management servers that manage a plurality of physical networks including a plurality of routers; and   a virtual network management server that manages a virtual network as a logical network connecting the communication systems with each other through the physical networks, wherein the physical network management servers each include a first processor, first memory connected to the first processor, and a first network interface connected to the first processor;   wherein the virtual network management server includes a second processor, second memory connected to the second processor, and a second network interface connected to the second processor;   wherein each of the physical network management servers connects with the virtual network management server;   wherein the method includes:   a first step at which the virtual network management server acquires physical network configuration information indicating a configuration of the physical network from each of the physical network management servers;   a second step at which the virtual network management server generates abstraction network management information based on the acquired physical network configuration information in order to manage the physical networks as one abstraction network;   a third step at which virtual network management server transmits the generated abstraction network management information to each of the physical network management servers and each of the routers and configure the abstraction network;   a fourth step at which the virtual network management server receives a virtual network generation request containing input information about the communication system and the router and converts the input information into virtual network definition information for generating the virtual network;   a fifth step at which the virtual network management server selects the router for configuring the virtual network based on the abstraction network management information and the virtual network definition information;   a sixth step at which the virtual network management server generates virtual network setting information for configuring the virtual network;   a seventh step at which the virtual network management server transmits the generated virtual network setting information to the selected router to configure the virtual network; and   an eighth step of configuring the virtual network by transmitting virtual network setting information for configuring the virtual network to the selected router.   
     
     
         9 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 8 , wherein the physical network configuration information contains first position information indicating a placing position of the router in the physical network and first communication function information indicating a communication function available for the router; and
 wherein the second step includes the steps of:   generating abstract node identification information that uniquely identifies the router as an abstract node included in the abstraction network;   generating second position information about the abstract node in the abstraction network based on the physical network configuration information;   generating second communication function information indicating a communication function available for the abstract node in the abstraction network based on the physical network configuration information;   generating one network group including the abstract node corresponding to the router included in the same physical network and generates network group identification information for identifying the network group; and   generating the abstraction network management information by making correspondence among the abstract node identification information, the second position information, the second communication function information, and the network group identification information.   
     
     
         10 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 8 , wherein the input information contains user identification information about a user who requests generation of the virtual network, third position information indicating a placing position of the communication system in the physical network, and third communication function information indicating a communication function used for the virtual network;
 wherein the fourth step includes the steps of:   generating virtual network identification information for identifying the generated virtual network based on the user identification information contained in the input information;   referencing the physical network configuration information and converting the third communication function information contained in the input information into fourth communication function information indicating a communication function available for the abstract node in the abstraction network;   referencing the physical network configuration information and converting the third position information contained in the input information into fourth position information indicating a placing position of the abstract node in the abstraction network; and   generating the virtual network definition information based on the virtual network identification information, the fourth communication function information, and the fourth position information;   wherein the fifth step includes the steps of:   referencing the abstraction network management information based on the fourth communication function information and selecting the network group capable of setting the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request; and   referencing the abstraction network management information based on the fourth position information and selecting the abstract node capable of configuring the virtual network from the selected network group;   wherein the sixth step includes the steps of:   determining allocation of the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request based on the selected network group and the selected abstract node; and   generating the virtual network setting information based on the determined virtual network allocation; and   wherein the seventh step includes the step of:   transmitting the virtual network setting information to each of the physical network management servers and the routers.   
     
     
         11 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 10 , wherein the router includes a virtual function that provides one of a virtual computer and a virtual switch;
 wherein the physical network configuration information contains first virtual function information indicating the virtual function provided for the router;   wherein the input information contains second virtual function information indicating a virtual function requested in the virtual network;   wherein the fourth step further includes the step of converting the second virtual function information contained in the input information into third virtual function information indicating the virtual function provided for the abstract node in the abstraction network; and   wherein the fifth step further includes the step of referencing abstraction network management information based on the third virtual function information and selecting the abstract node provided with the virtual function corresponding to the second virtual function information out of the selected abstract nodes included in the virtual network.   
     
     
         12 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 9 , wherein the router includes an edge router that connects the different physical networks with each other;
 wherein the abstraction network management information and the network setting information are transmitted to the edge router; and   wherein the method further includes:   a ninth step of at which the edge router receives the virtual network setting information and then acquires adjacent network group identification information, namely, information for identifying the network group including the abstract node corresponding to the other edge router, from the other edge router included in the adjacent network;   a tenth step at which the edge router transmits the acquired adjacent network group identification information to the virtual network management server; and   an eleventh step at which the virtual network management server stores the adjacent network group information in the abstraction network management information.   
     
     
         13 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a twelfth step at which the virtual network management server generates the virtual network setting information and then generates first address management information for indicating an address of the abstract node in the abstraction network;   a thirteenth step at which the virtual network management server transmits the first address management information to the edge router;   a fourteenth step at which the virtual network management server acquires second address management information for indicating an address of the edge router in the physical network from each of the physical network management servers and the edge router;   a fifteenth step at which the virtual network management server generates routing information in the abstraction network based on the second address management information acquired and the first address management information; and   a sixteenth step at which the virtual network management server transmits the generated routing information to each of the physical network management servers and the edge routers.   
     
     
         14 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a seventeenth step at which the edge router receives a communication packet from the communication system and analyzes the received communication packet;   an eighteenth step at which the edge router supplies the received communication packet with the first address based on the first address management information and the routing information; and   a nineteenth step at which the edge router performs a routing process in the abstraction network based on the first address.   
     
     
         15 . The network system according to  claim 2 , wherein the input information contains user identification information about a user who requests generation of the virtual network, third position information indicating a placing position of the communication system in the physical network, and third communication function information indicating a communication function used for the virtual network;
 wherein the virtual network management server converts the input information into the virtual network definition information by generating virtual network identification information for identifying the generated virtual network based on the user identification information contained in the input information;   wherein the virtual network management server references the physical network configuration information and converts the third communication function information contained in the input information into fourth communication function information indicating a communication function available for the abstract node in the abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server references the physical network configuration information and converts the third position information contained in the input information into fourth position information indicating a placing position of the abstract node in the abstraction network;   wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network definition information based on the virtual network identification information, the fourth communication function information, and the fourth position information;   wherein the virtual network management server selects the router based on the abstraction network management information and the virtual network definition information by referencing the abstraction network management information based on the fourth communication function information and selecting the network group capable of setting the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request;   wherein the virtual network management server references the abstraction network management information based on the fourth position information and selects the abstract node capable of configuring the virtual network from the selected network group;   wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network setting information by determining allocation of the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request based on the selected network group and the selected abstract node; and   wherein the virtual network management server generates the virtual network setting information based on the determined virtual network allocation and transmits the virtual network setting information to each of the physical network management servers and the routers.   
     
     
         16 . The virtual network management method according to  claim 9 , wherein the input information contains user identification information about a user who requests generation of the virtual network, third position information indicating a placing position of the communication system in the physical network, and third communication function information indicating a communication function used for the virtual network;
 wherein the fourth step includes the steps of:   generating virtual network identification information for identifying the generated virtual network based on the user identification information contained in the input information;   referencing the physical network configuration information and converting the third communication function information contained in the input information into fourth communication function information indicating a communication function available for the abstract node in the abstraction network;   referencing the physical network configuration information and converting the third position information contained in the input information into fourth position information indicating a placing position of the abstract node in the abstraction network; and   generating the virtual network definition information based on the virtual network identification information, the fourth communication function information, and the fourth position information;   wherein the fifth step includes the steps of:   referencing the abstraction network management information based on the fourth communication function information and selecting the network group capable of setting the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request; and   referencing the abstraction network management information based on the fourth position information and selecting the abstract node capable of configuring the virtual network from the selected network group;   wherein the sixth step includes the steps of:   determining allocation of the virtual network corresponding to the received virtual network generation request based on the selected network group and the selected abstract node; and   generating the virtual network setting information based on the determined virtual network allocation; and   wherein the seventh step includes the step of:   transmitting the virtual network setting information to each of the physical network management servers and the routers.