Server systems

• US 20050120116A1
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raritan Americas Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Raritan Americas Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Moore, Paul, Bates, Phil, Young, Sean, Young, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system for the control of multiple remote resources. A plurality of user stations, each comprising a keyboard, video screen and a mouse, communicate with a server management unit. The server management unit is comprised of a server chassis, matrix switch and a switch server. Remote resources are each connected to a port of a multiplexer or to a server interface. A user station connects to a remote resource by making a request to the server management unit. The switch server identifies the multiplexer or server interface port to which the resource is connected from a database. A request is made to a remote interface server connected to the multiplexer and server interfaces and the remote interface server connects the appropriate ports of the server management unit and the multiplexer or server interface.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A data processing system comprising:

at least one user station;

a plurality of resources;

at least one remote interface server; and

a multiplexer for connecting said remote interface server between said user station and a selected resource.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said user station is capable of sending and receiving data in a first form.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said resources are capable of sending and receiving data in a second form.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said remote interface server converts data between said first and said second forms.

20. A system according to claim 16, including a management unit operable to respond to requests from said user station to establish a connection from said user station to a selected one of said resources via said remote interface server and said multiplexer.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said management unit communicates by a network protocol.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein more than one remote interface server is connected to network protocol connections, said network protocol connections being connected to said multiplexer.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said remote interface servers communicate using a network protocol.

24. A system according to claim 16, wherein said multiplexer comprises a non-blocking switch arrangement.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein said non-blocking switch arrangement is a matrix switch.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said matrix switch is controlled by a switch server in accordance with data stored in a database.

27. A system according to claim 16, wherein said resources are servers.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said servers are headless servers.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein said remote interface server is loaded with software for use with said headless servers.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein said software comprises terminal emulation programs.

31. A system according to claim 29, wherein said software comprises a web browser.

32. A data processing system comprising:

one or more user interfaces, each capable of sending and receiving data in a first form;

a plurality of remote devices capable of sending and receiving data in a second form;

at least one interface server for converting data from said first form to said second form; and

a multiplexer for connecting said interface server between said user interface and said remote devices.

33. A system according to claim 32, including a management unit operable to respond to requests from said user interface to establish a connection from said user interface to a selected one of said devices via said remote interface server and said multiplexer.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein said management unit communicates by a network protocol.

35. A system according to claim 33, wherein more than one interface server is connected to network protocol connections, said network protocol connections being connected to said multiplexer.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein said interface servers communicate using a network protocol.

37. A system according to claim 32, wherein said multiplexer comprises a non-blocking switch arrangement.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein said non-blocking switch arrangement is a matrix switch.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein said matrix switch is controlled by a switch server in accordance with data stored in a database.

40. A system according to claim 32, wherein said remote devices are servers.

41. A system according to 40, wherein said servers are headless servers.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein said interface server is loaded with software for use with said headless servers.

43. A system according to claim 42, wherein said software comprises terminal emulation programs.

44. A system according to claim 42, wherein said software comprises a web browser.

45. A method for operating a data processing system, said system comprising one or more user stations capable of sending and receiving data in a first form and a plurality of resources capable of sending and receiving data in a second form, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a request from a first user station requesting establishment of communication with a first resource;

establishing a first connection between said first user station and a remote interface server; and

establishing a second connection between said remote interface server and said first resource

wherein said remote interface server receives data from said user station and said first resource; and

wherein said remote interface server is configured to convert data between said first form and said second form.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said remote interface server is selected from a plurality of remote interface servers.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein said first connection is via a matrix switch.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein said second connection is via a multiplexed network containing said resources and said plurality of remote interface servers.