Generating topology information identifying devices in a network topology

• US 20050185599A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clayton, Michele C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers

Abstract

Provided is a method, system, and article of manufacture for generating topology information including information on local interfaces in a device and remote interfaces in at least one remote device that connect to the local interfaces identified in the topology information. For each connected remote interface, a determination is made of a device type of the one remote device including the remote interface. For each local interface connecting to one remote interface in one remote device of a specified device type, communication initiated with the remote interface to access remote topology information from the remote device indicating devices attached directly and indirectly to the remote device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating topology information including information on local interfaces in a device and remote interfaces in at least one remote device that connect to the local interfaces identified in the topology information;

for each connected remote interface, determining a device type of the one remote device including the remote interface; and

for each local interface connecting to one remote interface in one remote device of a specified device type, initiating communication with the remote interface to access remote topology information from the remote device indicating devices attached directly and indirectly to the remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

merging the topology information with the remote topology information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified device type comprises an expander.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the remote device a request for the remote topology information from the device;

determining at the remote device whether the remote topology information is completed; and

transmitting the remote topology information to the device in response to determining that the remote topology information is completed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the remote topology information is completed if the remote topology information indicates information on devices to which the remote device is directly and indirectly connected.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the remote topology information is completed in response to completing:

determining the device type of at least one additional device to which the remote device connects;

receiving additional topology information from the at least one additional device to which the remote device connects that is of the specified device type; and

merging the received additional topology information with the remote topology information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the topology information and remote topology information include information on downstream devices.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein one downstream device comprises an end device or an expander providing a direct or indirect connection to further end devices that may be connected to through the downstream expander.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the topology information includes an entry for devices to which the device including the completed topology information connects directly or indirectly, wherein each entry indicates a first address and first interface of a first device, a second address and second interface of a second device connected directly to the first device, and a device type of the second device, wherein the device including the topology information connects directly or indirectly to all first and second devices identified in the topology information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices comprise SAS devices and wherein the interfaces comprise SAS PHYs, and wherein each device in the topology has a unique SAS address.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the topology information includes an entry for devices to which the device including the completed topology information connects directly or indirectly, wherein each entry indicates a first address and first interface of a first device, a second address and second interface of a second device connected directly to the first device, and a device type of the second device, wherein the device including the topology information connects directly or indirectly to all first and second devices identified in the topology information

11. A system in communication with at least one remote device, wherein each remote device includes at least one remote interface and remote topology information, comprising:

at least one local interface;

circuitry capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising;

(i) generating topology information including information on local interfaces and remote interfaces in at least one remote device that connect to the local interfaces identified in the topology information;

(ii) for each connected remote interface, determining a device type of the one remote device including the remote interface; and

(iii) for each local interface connecting to one remote interface in one remote device of a specified device type, initiating communication with the remote interface to access remote topology information from the remote device indicating devices attached directly and indirectly to the remote device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

merging the topology information with the remote topology information.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the specified device type comprises an expander.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the topology information and remote topology information include information on downstream devices, wherein one downstream device comprises an end device or an expander providing a direct or indirect connection to further end devices that may be connected to through the downstream expander.

16. A system in communication with at least one remote device and one upstream device, wherein each remote device includes at least one remote interface and remote topology information, comprising:

at least one local interface;

circuitry capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising;

(i) receiving a request for remote topology information from the upstream device, wherein the remote topology information includes information on the at least one local interface and remote devices in communication with the at least one local interface;

(ii) determining whether the remote topology information is completed; and

(iii) transmitting the remote topology information to the upstream device in response to determining that the remote topology information is completed.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote topology information is completed if the remote topology information indicates information on downstream devices to which the remote device is directly and indirectly connected.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote topology information is completed in response to the circuitry completing:

determining the device type of at least one additional connected remote device;

receiving additional topology information from the at least one additional connected remote device that is of the specified device type; and

merging the received additional topology information with the remote topology information.

19. A system in communication with at least one remote device, wherein each remote device includes at least one remote interface and remote topology information, comprising:

at least one local interface;

a motherboard;

circuitry integrated with the motherboard capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising;

(i) generating topology information including information on the at least one local interface and remote interfaces in at least one remote device that connect to the local interfaces identified in the topology information;

(ii) for each connected remote interface, determining a device type of the one remote device including the remote interface; and

(iii) for each local interface connecting to one remote interface in one remote device of a specified device type, initiating communication with the remote interface to access remote topology information from the remote device indicating devices attached directly and indirectly to the remote device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

merging the topology information with the remote topology information.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the specified device type comprises an expander.

22. An article of manufacture in communication with at least one remote device, each remote device having at least one interface, wherein the article of manufacture is capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

generating topology information including information on local interfaces and remote interfaces in at least one remote device that connect to the local interfaces identified in the topology information;

for each connected remote interface, determining a device type of the one remote device including the remote interface; and

for each local interface connecting to one remote interface in one remote device of a specified device type, initiating communication with the remote interface to access remote topology information from the remote device indicating devices attached directly and indirectly to the remote device.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise:

merging the topology information with the remote topology information.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the specified device type comprises an expander.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the topology information and remote topology information include information on downstream devices, wherein one downstream device comprises an end device or an expander providing a direct or indirect connection to further end devices that may be connected to through the downstream expander.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 22,wherein the topology information includes an entry for devices to which the device including the completed topology information connects directly or indirectly, wherein each entry indicates a first address and first interface of a first device, a second address and second interface of a second device connected directly to the first device, and a device type of the second device, wherein the device including the topology information connects directly or indirectly to all first and second devices identified in the topology information.

27. An article of manufacture in communication with at least one remote device and an upstream device, wherein each remote device includes at least one remote interface and remote topology information, wherein the article of manufacture is capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

receiving a request for remote topology information from the upstream device, wherein the remote topology information includes information on the at least one local interface and remote devices in communication with the at least one local interface;

determining whether the remote topology information is completed; and

transmitting the remote topology information to the device in response to determining that the remote topology information is completed.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the remote topology information is completed if the remote topology information indicates information on devices to which the remote device is directly and indirectly connected.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 27 wherein the remote topology information is completed in response to completing:

determining the device type of at least one connected additional device;

receiving additional topology information from the at least one additional connected device that is of the specified device type; and

merging the received additional topology information with the remote topology information.