Apparatus and method for managing a network, and program thereof

A network management method for managing a network having a plurality of interconnecting devices forming one or more communication path by one or more of said interconnecting devices connected in series, each interconnecting device interconnects communication between two transmission media and has a disconnect function for disconnecting communication to at least one of said transmission media in a case where communication from the other one of said transmission media has been disconnected, one or more of said plurality of interconnecting devices having a disconnection release function for releasing operation of said disconnect function, the method comprising:

• storing interconnecting device information for identifying which of said interconnecting devices has said disconnection release function;
• determining, when said communication path has been disconnected, which of said one or more interconnecting devices in said disconnected communication path has said disconnection release function by said interconnecting device information;
• sequentially controlling each of said interconnecting devices in said communication path having said disconnection release function to acquire communication statuses of said interconnecting devices in said communication path, and diagnosing a probable location of trouble in said interconnecting devices or said transmission media in said communication path;
• and
• notifying that said interconnecting devices or said transmission media have trouble based upon the probable location of trouble diagnosed for said interconnecting devices or said transmission media.

A program for managing a network including a plurality of interconnecting devices forming one or more communication path with one or more of said interconnecting devices connected in series, each interconnecting device interconnects communication between two transmission media and has a disconnect function for disconnecting communication to at least one of said transmission media when communication from the other one of said transmission media has been disconnected, at least one of said plurality of interconnecting devices has a disconnection release function for releasing operation of said disconnect function, said program comprising:

• a memory module operable for storing of interconnecting device information for identifying which of said interconnecting devices has said disconnection release function;
• a processing module operable for determining, when said communication path has been disconnected, which of said one or more interconnecting devices has said disconnection release function;
• a diagnosis module operable for sequentially controlling each of said interconnecting devices in said communication path having said disconnection release function to acquire communication statuses of said interconnecting devices, and for diagnosing a probable location of trouble in said interconnecting devices or said transmission media;
• and
• a notifying module operable for notifying that said interconnecting devices or said transmission media have trouble based upon the probable location of trouble diagnosed for said interconnecting devices or said transmission media by said diagnosis module.

A computer-readable medium storing a program for managing a network including a plurality of interconnecting devices forming one or more communication path with one or more of said interconnecting devices connected in series, each interconnecting device interconnects communication between two transmission media and has a disconnect function for disconnecting communication to at least one of said transmission media when communication from the other one of said transmission media has been disconnected, at least one of said plurality of interconnecting devices has a disconnection release function for releasing operation of said disconnect function, said program comprising:

• a memory module operable for storing of interconnecting device information for identifying which of said interconnecting devices has said disconnection release function;
• a processing module operable for determining, when said communication path has been disconnected, which of said one or more interconnecting devices has said disconnection release function;
• a diagnosis module operable for sequentially controlling each of said interconnecting devices in said communication path having said disconnection release function to acquire communication statuses of said interconnecting devices, and for diagnosing a probable location of trouble in said interconnecting devices or said transmission media;
• and
• a notifying module operable for notifying that said interconnecting devices or said transmission media have trouble based upon the probable location of trouble diagnosed for said interconnecting devices or said transmission media by said diagnosis module.