Multi-mode port in a network device

• US 20060129702A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Koertel, Andreas H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing a multi-mode port in a network device, includes: setting a first mode on the port, wherein the network device can perform serial communication on the port; and setting a second mode on the port, wherein the network device can perform network communication on the port. In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for enabling a multi-mode port in a network device, includes an adapter configured for attachment to and detachment from a connector of a port in the network device; wherein the network device can perform serial communication on the port in a first mode; and wherein the network device can perform network communication on the port in a second mode.

Claims

1. A method for providing a multi-mode port in a network device, the method comprising:

setting a first mode on the port, wherein the network device can perform serial communication on the port; and

setting a second mode on the port, wherein the network device can perform network communication on the port.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the first mode comprises:

attaching an adapter to a connector of a port in the network device;

attaching a serial connector to the adapter, where the serial connector is attached to a link that is attached to a computer; and

using the computer to perform serial communication with the network device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the second mode comprises:

detaching the adapter from the connector of the port in the network device and attaching a network connector to the connector of the port in the network device, where the network connector is attached to a link to a network; and

performing, by the network device, network communication with another device on the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the first mode further comprising:

sending a ground reference signal to a network communication module in the network device, in order to disable the network communication module; and

sending the ground reference signal to a serial communication module in the network device, in order to permit serial communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the first mode further comprises:

permitting a transmit signal (TXD) and receive signal (RXD) to be transmitted on the port.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device comprises a switch.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device comprises a router.

8. An apparatus for providing a multi-mode port in a network device, the method comprising:

means for setting a first mode on the port, wherein the network device can perform serial communication on the port; and

means for setting a second mode on the port, wherein the network device can perform network communication on the port.

9. An apparatus for enabling a multi-mode port in a network device, the apparatus comprising:

an adapter configured for attachment to and detachment from a connector of a port in the network device;

wherein the network device can perform serial communication on the port in a first mode; and

wherein the network device can perform network communication on the port in a second mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first mode is set when the adapter is connected to the connector of the port and wherein the second mode is set when the adapter is disconnected from the connector.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first mode permits a computer to perform serial communication with the network device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second mode permits the network device to perform network communication with another device on a network.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adapter sends a ground reference signal to a network communication module in the network device, in order to disable the network communication module, and sends the ground reference signal to a serial communication module in the network device, in order to permit serial communication.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the adapter sends a transmit signal (TXD) to and receives signal (RXD) from the port.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the network device comprises a switch.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the network device comprises a router.