Layer 2 loop detection system

1. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) manager that monitoring target is a layer 2 network having a plurality of layer 2 switches, comprising:

a unit recognizing a topology of the layer 2 network at normal time by collecting Management Information Base (MIB) information including information concerning ports of the plurality of layer 2 switches from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication;

a unit discriminating, based on the topology recognition processing, a blocking port for traffic blocking set under a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP);

a unit setting the discriminated blocking port as a monitoring point and periodically monitoring a state thereof; and

a unit performing detection of a layer 2 loop by re-collecting a part of the MIB information from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication and re-recognizing the topology of the layer 2 network, the detection of the layer 2 loop being triggered by a change of the state of the blocking port;

wherein at a time when a part of the MIB information is re-collected through the SNMP communication, if the MIB information cannot be collected from one of the plurality of layer 2 switches, a location of the layer 2 loop is detected by detecting that every port connected to the layer 2 switch is set as a designated port.

2. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the MIB information on the blocking port is periodically monitored as the state of the monitoring point and the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by transfer of traffic from the blocking port.

3. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the MIB information on the blocking port is periodically monitored as a state of the monitoring point and the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by a change of a port status of the blocking port.

4. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by reception of a topology change trap autonomously sent from the plurality of layer 2 switches.

5. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by reception of a new port trap autonomously sent from the plurality of layer 2 switches.

6. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of layer 2 switches each comprise a bridge, and the layer 2 network comprises an Ethernet network.

7. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the location of the layer 2 loop is identified by collecting the MIB information at the detected location of the layer 2 loop and detecting that traffic flows to a contradictory port.

8. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein occurrence of the layer 2 loop is prevented by changing, after contradictory adjacent ports are identified, the MIB information on a part or all of contradictory ports from “up” to “down” (up-down) through SNMP communication.

9. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein occurrence of a failure in the layer 2 switches or the link is estimated by collecting the MIB information at the detected location of the layer 2 loop and detecting that traffic does not flow to a contradictory port.

10. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) manager that monitoring target is a layer 2 network having a plurality of layer 2 switches, comprising:

a unit recognizing a topology of the layer 2 network at normal time by collecting Management Information Base (MIB) information including information concerning ports of the plurality of layer 2 switches from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication;

a unit discriminating a disable port under a port disable state, when a blocking port for traffic blocking set under a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) cannot be identified based on the topology recognition processing;

a unit setting the discriminated disable port as a monitoring point and periodically monitoring a state thereof; and

a unit detection of a performing layer 2 loop by re-collecting a part of the MIB information from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication and re-recognizing the topology of the layer 2 network, the detection of the layer 2 loop being triggered by a change of the state of the disable port;

wherein at a time when a part of the MIB information is re-collected through the SNMP communication, if the MIB information cannot be collected from one of the plurality of layer 2 switches, a location of the layer 2 loop is detected by detecting that every port connected to the layer 2 switch is set as a designated port.

11. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 10 ,

wherein the MIB information on the disable port is periodically monitored as a state of the monitoring point and the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by transfer of traffic from the disable port.

12. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 10 ,

wherein the MIB information on the disable port is periodically monitored as a state of the monitoring point and the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by a change of a port status of the disable port.

13. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) manager that monitoring target is a layer 2 network having a plurality of layer 2 switches, comprising:

a unit recognizing a topology of the layer 2 network at normal time by collecting Management Information Base (MIB) information including information concerning ports of the plurality of layer 2 switches from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication;

a unit discriminating, based on the topology recognition processing, a blocking port for traffic blocking and a disable port under a port disabled state each set under a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP);

a unit setting the discriminated blocking port and the discriminated disable port as a monitoring point and periodically monitoring a state thereof; and

a unit performing detection of a layer 2 loop by re-collecting a part of the MIB information from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication and re-recognizing the topology of the layer 2 network, the detection of the layer 2 loop being triggered by a change of the state of one of the blocking port and the disable port;

wherein at a time when a part of the MIB information is re-collected through the SNMP communication, if the MIB information cannot be collected from one of the plurality of layer 2 switches, a location of the layer 2 loop is detected by detecting that every port connected to the layer 2 switch is set as a designated port.

14. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein the MIB information on the blocking port and the disable port is periodically monitored as a state of the monitoring point and the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by transfer of traffic from one of the blocking port and the disable port.

15. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein the MIB information on one of the blocking port and the disable port comprises information described in a script language “ifOutOctets” and indicating a total number of bytes sent from a port of an SNMP communication target.

16. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein the MIB information on one of the blocking port and the disable port comprises information described in a script language “dot1dStpPortState” and indicating a value of a status of a port of an SNMP communication target.

17. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein the MIB information on the blocking port and the disable port is periodically monitored as a state of the monitoring point and the detection of the layer 2 loop is triggered by a change of a port status of one of the blocking port and the disable port.

18. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) manager that monitoring target is a layer 2 network having a plurality of layer 2 switches, comprising:

a unit recognizing a topology of the layer 2 network at normal time by collecting Management Information Base (MIB) information including information concerning ports of the plurality of layer 2 switches from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication;

a unit discriminating, based on the topology recognition processing, a blocking port for traffic blocking set under a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP);

a unit setting the discriminated blocking port as a monitoring point and periodically monitoring a state thereof and

a unit performing detection of a layer 2 loop by re-collecting a part of the MIB information from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication and re-recognizing the topology of the layer 2 network, the detection of the layer 2 loop being triggered by a change of the state of the blocking port;

wherein at a time when a part of the MIB information is re-collected through the SNMP communication, a location of the layer 2 loop is estimated by detecting a link that both ends are each set as a designated port.

19. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) manager that monitoring target is a layer 2 network having a plurality of layer 2 switches, comprising:

a unit recognizing a topology of the layer 2 network at normal time by collecting Management Information Base (MIB) information including information concerning ports of the plurality of layer 2 switches from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication;

a unit discriminating a disable port under a port disable state, when a blocking port for traffic blocking set under a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) cannot be identified based on the topology recognition processing;

a unit setting the discriminated disable port as a monitoring point and periodically monitoring a state thereof; and

a unit detection of a performing layer 2 loop by re-collecting a part of the MIB information from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication and re-recognizing the topology of the layer 2 network, the detection of the layer 2 loop being triggered by a change of the state of the disable port;

wherein at a time when a part of the MIB information is re-collected through the SNMP communication, a location of the layer 2 loop is estimated by detecting a link that both ends are each set as a designated port.

20. A layer 2 loop detection apparatus using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) manager that monitoring target is a layer 2 network having a plurality of layer 2 switches, comprising:

a unit recognizing a topology of the layer 2 network at normal time by collecting Management Information Base (MIB) information including information concerning ports of the plurality of layer 2 switches from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication;

a unit discriminating, based on the topology recognition processing, a blocking port for traffic blocking and a disable port under a port disabled state each set under a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP);

a unit setting the discriminated blocking port and the discriminated disable port as a monitoring point and periodically monitoring a state thereof; and

a unit performing detection of a layer 2 loop by re-collecting a part of the MIB information from the plurality of layer 2 switches through SNMP communication and re-recognizing the topology of the layer 2 network, the detection of the layer 2 loop being triggered by a change of the state of one of the blocking port and the disable port;

wherein at a time when a part of the MIB information is re-collected through the SNMP communication, a location of the layer 2 loop is estimated by detecting a link that both ends are each set as a designated port.