Patent Application
20060280195
The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing dedicated or shared network interface functionality via a single MAC.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Some information handling systems, such as some network servers, include a shared network interface card (NIC), in which a high bandwidth sideband interface to a LAN-on-motherboard (LOM) is used to connect a service processor or baseboard management controller (BMC) within the server to communicate management traffic across a network. Typically, management traffic travels through a dedicated NIC or via a relatively slow I2C-based sideband interface on the system LOM. A shared NIC may allow customers to use one less cable and network switch port. A high speed shared NIC allows for high bandwidth management traffic such as virtual medial and virtual KVM console redirection, for example.
Therefore, a need has arisen for systems and methods for providing user-selected dedicated or shared network interface functionality that reduce or eliminate problems associated with previous attempts to provide such functionality.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an information handling system operable to provide optional dedicated or shared network interface functionality is provided. The information handling system includes a network interface system including a motherboard and a remote management card. The motherboard includes a LAN on motherboard (LOM), a first processor, and a first network port operable to receive a first coupling device for communicatively coupling the first processor to one or more network nodes via the LOM. The remote management card includes a second network port and a second processor including a MAC device, the second network port operable to receive a second coupling device for communicatively coupling the second processor to one or more network nodes. The network interface system may be configured by a user for either a dedicated network interface mode or a shared network interface mode. In the dedicated network interface mode, the MAC device of the second processor is communicatively coupled to the second network port such that the second processor may communicate with a network management node via the second network port. In the shared network interface mode, the MAC device of the second processor is communicatively coupled to the first network port via the LOM of the motherboard such that the second processor may communicate with the network management node via the first network port.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for providing optional dedicated or shared network interface functionality is provided. A user interface is provided for selecting between a dedicated network interface mode and a shared network interface mode for a network interface system associated with an information handling system, the network interface system including a motherboard and a remote management card. The motherboard includes a LAN on motherboard (LOM), a first processor, and a first network port operable to receive a first coupling device for communicatively coupling the first processor to one or more network nodes via the LOM. The remote management card includes a second network port and a second processor including a MAC device, the second network port operable to receive a second coupling device for communicatively coupling the second processor to one or more network nodes. A selection of the dedicated network interface mode or the shared network interface mode for the network interface system is received from a user. Based on the selection received from the user, the network interface system is configured for either the dedicated network interface mode or the shared network interface mode. Configuring the network interface system for the dedicated network interface mode includes communicatively coupling the MAC device of the second processor to the second network port such that the second processor may communicate with a network management node via the second network port. Configuring the network interface system for the shared network interface mode includes communicatively coupling the MAC device of the second processor to the first network port via the LOM of the motherboard such that the second processor may communicate with the network management node via the first network port.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for providing optional dedicated or shared network interface functionality is provided. The computer-executable instructions include instructions for providing a user interface for selecting between a dedicated network interface mode and a shared network interface mode for a network interface system associated with an information handling system, the network interface system including a motherboard and a remote management card. The motherboard includes a LAN on motherboard (LOM), a first processor, and a first network port operable to receive a first coupling device for communicatively coupling the first processor to one or more network nodes via the LOM. The remote management card includes a second network port and a second processor including a MAC device, the second network port operable to receive a second coupling device for communicatively coupling the second processor to one or more network nodes. The computer-executable instructions also include instructions for receiving from a user via the user interface a selection of the dedicated network interface mode or the shared network interface mode for the network interface system, and instructions for configuring the network interface system for either the dedicated network interface mode or the shared network interface mode based on the selection received from the user. Configuring the network interface system for the dedicated network interface mode includes communicatively coupling the MAC device of the second processor to the second network port such that the second processor may communicate with a network management node via the second network port. Configuring the network interface system for the shared network interface mode includes communicatively coupling the MAC device of the second processor to the first network port via the LOM of the motherboard such that the second processor may communicate with the network management node via the first network port.
One technical advantage of the present disclosure is that systems and methods are disclosed for providing a user the ability to select between a dedicated network interface mode or a shared network interface mode for communicating traffic (e.g. management traffic) across a network. Users may select either the dedicated or shared network interface mode, depending on various preferences of the user and advantages/disadvantages of each mode. For example, some users may select the dedicated mode to isolate management traffic from their main network, such as for security purposes, while other users may select the shared mode, such as to save the costs and cabling associated with extra network switch ports. In some embodiments, a server may be reconfigured for dedicated or shared network interface functionality any number of times, as desired by the relevant user(s).
Another technical advantage of the present disclosure is that a single physical MAC chip may be used to provide both dedicated and shared network interface functionality for a remote management card. Thus, the need for an additional MAC chip (which may be relatively expensive) may be eliminated, thus saving costs and circuit board real estate.
Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings.
A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to
For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
As discussed in greater detail below, each server 12 may be configured by a user for either a dedicated or shared network interface mode for communication between a remote management card of that server 12 and an external communications network. In some embodiments, such optional dedicated or shared network interface mode may be provided for communication of out-of-band traffic (such as management traffic, for example) between a remote access card of that server 12 and a management client operable to manage various functionality of the relevant server 12. In such embodiments, each server 12 may include a motherboard having a LAN-on-motherboard (LOM) allowing the motherboard processor to communicate with an external network. In the dedicated network interface mode, the remote access card communicates out-of-band traffic with the management client via a first port associated with the remote access card, and the motherboard communicates in-band traffic with an external network via a second port associated with the motherboard. In the shared network interface mode, the remote access card communicates out-of-band traffic with the management client via the LOM and the second port of the motherboard, and the motherboard communicates in-band traffic with an external network via the second port. Thus, a single port may be used for communicating both in-band and out-of-band traffic to the remote access card and the motherboard processor, respectively. Thus, a single physical coupling device (e.g., cable) may be used to connect server 12 to the network. In addition, only one network port (e.g., switch or router port) needs to be managed to provide both in-band and out-of-band traffic to server 12, thus saving management resources.
As shown in
Each server 12 may include a network interface system 21 including a motherboard 22 and a remote management card (RMC), or remote access card, 24.
Each motherboard 22 may include a processor 26, a LAN-on-motherboard (LOM) 28, a motherboard network port 30, and any other suitable devices. Each RMC 24 may include a processor 32 and a RMC network port 34. The components of motherboard 22 and RMC 24 are discussed in greater detail below with reference to
As shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The dedicated network interface mode may provide various advantages as compared to the shared network interface mode. For example, because the out-of-band traffic and in-band traffic is communicated to and from server 12 by separate physical channels (e.g. separate cables 40) in the dedicated mode, the dedicated mode may provide more control over the traffic being communicated to and from the server 12. Thus, the communication of management traffic between RMC 24 and management client 14 may be more secure in the dedicated mode as compared to the shared mode.
Unlike Server A, Server B, which is configured in the shared network interface mode, may communicate both in-band traffic and out-of-band traffic through motherboard network port 30, and thus through a single cable 40c connecting server B with switching device 18. RMC processor 32 is communicatively coupled to LOM 28, and LOM 28 is able to differentiate and route in-coming traffic to motherboard processor 26 or RMC processor 32, as appropriate. In particular, LOM 28 may be able to differentiate traffic received along a PCI bus or PCI express bus on the host side, as well as traffic received along a gigabit or other network interface on the network side, and internally re-route out-of-band management traffic out of a sideband interface to RMC 24. Thus, in-band traffic may be communicated from one or more network devices, to switching device 18, to cable 40c via port 20c, to motherboard network port 30, to LOM 28, and then forwarded by LOM 28 to motherboard processor 26, and vice versa. Out-of-band traffic may be communicated from management client 14 (and/or one or more network devices), to switching device 18, to cable 40c via port 20c, to motherboard network port 30, to LOM 28, and then forwarded by LOM 28 to RMC processor 32 via interface 42, and vice versa. Thus, both motherboard processor 26 and RMC processor 32 may communicate with external devices via LOM 28 and via a single cable 40c.
The shared network interface mode may provide various advantages as compared to the dedicated network interface mode. For example, because only one switching device port 20 is required by a server 12 in the shared mode (as opposed to two ports 20 in the dedicated mode), the administration or management costs associated with managing physical ports 20 at switching device 18 may be reduced. In addition, only a single physical cable 40 may be need to connect server 12 in the shared mode to switching device 18. Both of these factors correspond to reduced network complexity, which may be desired by many users.
A user of a particular server 12 may select to configure network interface system 21 to operate in either the dedicated network interface mode or the shared network interface mode. Thus, the user may select either the dedicated or shared network interface mode, depending on various preferences of the user and advantages/disadvantages of each mode, such as those discussed above. In some embodiments, network interface system 21 may be reconfigured for either mode at any (or specific) time during the operation of the server 12. The server 12 may or may not need to be rebooted to implement such reconfigurations. In some embodiments, network interface system 21 may be reconfigured once by a user. In other embodiments, network interface system 21 may be reconfigured any number of times as desired by a user or users.
In the particular embodiment shown in
RMC 24 includes a processor 32, a MAC chip 60 embedded in processor 32, a PHY chip 62, a multiplexer (MUX) 64, a MII connector 66, and RMC network port 34. In this embodiment, processor 32 is a service processor. However, processor 32 may include any type of processor, such as a baseboard management controller (BMC), for example. In this embodiment, MAC chip 60 is an embedded or integrated Ethernet MAC, and RMC network port 34 includes an RJ45 connector for Ethernet functionality. However, as discussed above regarding motherboard network port 30, RMC network port 34 may include any other suitable devices, such other present and future networking standards and interfaces, such as fiber optic connection devices, for example. PHY chip 62 is communicatively coupled to RMC network port 34 and is generally operable to translate between MII communications and communication protocols used over cables 40 (e.g. twisted pair signaling protocols), and vice versa. MII connector 66 is coupled to MII connector 50 of motherboard 22 via a cable or other coupling device 68.
MUX 64 is communicatively coupled to MAC chip 60, PHY chip 62 and MII connector 66 by MII connections such that MUX may be switched between (a) a first state, corresponding with the dedicated network interface mode, which allows communication between MAC chip 60 and PHY chip 62, but not between MAC chip 60 and MII connector 66; and (b) a second state, corresponding with the shared network interface mode, which allows communication between MAC chip 60 and MII connector 66, but not between MAC chip 60 and PHY chip 62. Thus, when MUX 64 is configured in the first state for the dedicated network interface mode, data (e.g. management traffic) may be communicated between service processor 32 and switching device 18 via MUX 64, PHY chip 62, RMC network port 34, and cable 40b.
Alternatively, when MUX 64 is configured in the second state for the shared network interface mode, data (e.g. management traffic) may be communicated between service processor 32 and switching device 18 via MUX 64, MII connector 66, cable 68, MII connector 50, LOM 28, motherboard network port 30, and cable 40a. In particular, in the shared mode, LOM 28 may differentiate management traffic from in-band traffic received along the gigabit or other network interface via motherboard network port 30, and (a) route in-band traffic to motherboard processor 26 and (b) route out-of-band management traffic to RMC 24 via sideband UMP interface 52.
Thus, both dedicated and shared network interface functionality for a remote management card 24 may be provided using a single physical MAC chip 60, rather than separate MAC chips for such dedicated and shared network interface functionality. Thus, the need for an additional MAC chip (which may be relatively expensive) may be eliminated, thus saving costs and circuit board real estate. Also, as discussed above, since a user of server 12 may select to configure of server 12 to operate in either the dedicated network interface mode or the shared network interface mode, the user of server 12 is given the choice of how to route the management traffic for server 12 according to the user's preferences.
If the user selects the dedicated network interface mode at step 104, BIOS program 54 may send a command to service processor 32 at step 106 to configure RMC 24 for the dedicated network interface mode. In response, at step 108, service processor 32 may perform various functions, such as loading one or more appropriate device drivers or executing particular code, to configure RMC 24 for the dedicated network interface mode. For example, service processor 32 may send a command, indicated as “MUX_SELECT” command in
If the user selects the shared network interface mode at step 104, BIOS program 54 may send a command to service processor 32 at step 112 to configure RMC 24 for the shared network interface mode. In response, service processor 32 may perform various functions, such as loading one or more appropriate device drivers or executing particular code, to configure RMC 24 for the shared network interface mode. For example, at step 114, service processor 32 may send a command, indicated as “MUX_SELECT” command in
At step 118, service processor 32 may communicate with LOM 28 to configure LOM 28 for the shared network interface mode, including sending the MAC address of MAC chip 60 to LOM 28, which MAC address may be communicated to switching device 18 such that switching device 18 may route traffic intended for RMC 24 to motherboard network port 30. After the configuration for the dedicated mode, at step 120, both in-band and out-of-band traffic may be communicated to and from server 12 via motherboard network port 30. In particular, LOM 28 may differentiate in-band from out-of-band traffic received from switching device 18 via motherboard network port 30 and route the in-band traffic to motherboard processor 26 and the out-of band traffic (e.g. management traffic from management client 14) though sideband interface 52 to service processor 32.
Although the disclosed embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope.
