Method for interrogating and proliferating a rack name in a rack of servers
First Claim
1. A computer server rack, comprising:
- a plurality of modular server chassis configured to hold a plurality of computer servers, each chassis comprising a chassis controller having a processor and a memory, and an internal communications bus coupling each of the chassis controllers;
wherein the chassis controllers transmit and receive a server rack name on the internal communications bus; and
wherein the name of the rack is stored in the memory in each chassis controller.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for propagating a rack name within a computer server rack. The rack comprises a plurality of server and/or power supply chassis, each with its own chassis controller. The name of the rack is stored in memory in each chassis controller. Rack names are propagated by requesting a rack name or receiving a command to set the rack name at each controller. The rack name is assigned to the rack via manual input through an external port in any of the servers. If a controller receives a rack name from this external port, this rack name is used. If the name comes from another controller and there is no existing name, the new name is accepted. If the new name differs from an existing rack name, the controller issues a naming conflict message and raises a conflict flag.
25 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A computer server rack, comprising:
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a plurality of modular server chassis configured to hold a plurality of computer servers, each chassis comprising a chassis controller having a processor and a memory, and an internal communications bus coupling each of the chassis controllers;
wherein the chassis controllers transmit and receive a server rack name on the internal communications bus; and
wherein the name of the rack is stored in the memory in each chassis controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A chassis controller deployable in a server rack comprising:
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a processor;
a system memory;
a flash memory;
an internal bus port through which the controller may communicate with other controllers;
a device bus port through which the controller may communicate with other devices in the same chassis;
wherein the name of the rack in which the chassis is disposed is stored in flash memory. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of propagating a rack name within a server rack, comprising:
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receiving a request to set the rack name at one of a plurality of chassis controllers; and
determining if the rack name was received from a transmitting chassis controllers along an internal bus or from an external port;
wherein if the rack name was received from an external port, setting the rack name within the chassis controller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of propagating a rack name within a server rack, comprising:
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issuing a request for a rack name from a first to a second of a plurality of chassis controllers; and
receiving a response from the second chassis controller at the first chassis controller; and
determining whether the first chassis controller has an existing rack name;
wherein if no existing rack name exists and the response includes a new rack name, setting the rack name within the first chassis controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of propagating a rack name within an electronics rack, comprising:
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receiving a request to set the rack name at one of a plurality of peer controllers; and
determining if the rack name was received from a transmitting peer controllers along an internal bus or from an external port;
wherein if the rack name was received from an external port, setting the rack name within the peer controller. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of propagating a rack name within an electronics rack, comprising:
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issuing a request for a rack name from a first to a second of a plurality of peer controllers; and
receiving a response from the second peer controller at the first peer controller; and
determining whether the first peer controller has an existing rack name;
wherein if no existing rack name exists and the response includes a new rack name, setting the rack name within the first peer controller. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An electronics rack, comprising:
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a plurality of modular devices, each device including a peer controller comprising a processor and a memory; and
an internal communications bus coupling each of the peer controllers;
wherein the peer controllers transmit and receive a server rack name on the internal communications bus. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification