OUT-OF-BAND CONTROL OF COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL IN AN IN-LINE DEVICE

• US 20070189172A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hibbert, Geoffrey T., Vedanabhatla, Kiranmai
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for a network diagnostic component that is placed in-line between two nodes in a network to control the protocol with which two nodes communicate. The network diagnostic component receives a network data stream from a first node for communication with a second node. The network data stream is received by a receive component or module. The network data stream includes a portion that conforms with at least a first network protocol. The diagnostic component then determines that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node. This determination is performed by a determine component or module. The diagnostic component modifies the network data stream so that the network data stream is in a form that is no longer recognized by the second node as being in accordance with the first network protocol. The modification is performed by a modification component or module.

Claims

1. A method for a network diagnostic component that is placed in-line between first and second nodes in a network to control a protocol with which the first and second nodes communicate with each other, the method comprising:

an act of receiving a network data stream from the first node for communication with the second node, a portion of the network data stream conforming with at least a first network protocol;

an act of determining that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node; and

an act of modifying the network data stream so that the network data stream is in a form that is no longer recognized by the second node as being in accordance with the first network protocol.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network data stream includes at least one or more data portions corresponding to the first network protocol and one or more D.C. idle portions, the act of modifying the network data stream comprising:

an act of changing the one or more data portions corresponding to the first network protocol into D.C. idle portions; and

an act of passing any data portions that do not correspond to the first network protocol unchanged to the second node.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network data stream includes at least one or more data portions corresponding to the first network protocol, the act of modifying the network data stream comprising:

an act of blocking the one or more data portions corresponding to the first network protocol such that the one or more data portions are not passed to the second node.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of determining that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node comprises:

an act of receiving data that indicates that portions of the network data stream corresponding to the first network protocol should not be passed; and

an act of identifying the portions of the network data stream that correspond to the first network protocol based on the received data.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first network protocol includes one of communication rules, speed negotiation rules, or a combination of the two.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first network protocol is one of the SAS protocol or the SATA protocol.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network data stream comprises one or more data bursts of a defined period and one or more DC-idle periods whose length identify the type of the one or more data bursts.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the one or more data bursts are of the SAS protocol or the SATA protocol.

9. A network diagnostic device placed in-line between first and second nodes in a network comprising:

a first component configured to receive a network data stream from the first node for communication with the second node, a portion of the network data stream conforming with at least a first network protocol;

a second component configured to determine that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node; and

a third component configured to modify the network data stream so that it is in a form that is no longer recognized as being in accordance with the first network protocol.

10. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first component is a FIFO buffer configured to receive and store the network data stream.

11. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the second component comprises:

a register configured to receive data that indicates that portions of the network data stream corresponding to the first network protocol should not be passed; and

a control mechanism configured to identify the portions of the network data stream that correspond to the first network protocol based on the data received by the register.

12. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the third component comprises a state machine configured to modify the network data stream.

13. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first and second nodes are SAS/SATA nodes.

14. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the network diagnostic device is a SAS/SATA network component.

15. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first network protocol is one of SAS protocol or SATA protocol.

16. The network diagnostic device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the network diagnostic device is one of a bit error rate tester, a protocol analyzer, a generator, a jammer, and a monitor.

17. A diagnostic network comprising:

a first node;

a second node;

a network diagnostic component placed in-line between the first and second nodes comprising;

a receive module configured to receive a network data stream from the first node for communication with the second node, a portion of the network data stream conforming with at least a first network protocol;

a determine module configured to determine that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node; and

a modify module configured to modify the network data stream so that it is in a form that is no longer recognized as being in accordance with the first network protocol.

18. The diagnostic network in accordance with claim 17, wherein the first network protocol in one of the SAS protocol or the SATA protocol.

19. The diagnostic network in accordance with claim 17, wherein the network data stream comprises one or more SAS or SATA data bursts of a defined period and one or more DC-idle periods whose length identify the type of the one or more data bursts as being of the SAS or SATA protocol.

20. The diagnostic network in accordance with claim 17, wherein the first and second nodes are SAS/SATA nodes and the network diagnostic device is a SAS/SATA network component.