Remote access control management module

• US 20070220301A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Brundridge, Michael, Vancil, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/362,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220301A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2033 switching over of hardware resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component

Abstract

A method of operating a remote access control unit which comprises first and second units each having an Ethernet port for remotely controlling modules of a server system, comprises the steps of powering up the server system; initializing the first unit into master mode thereby establishing a remote access through the first Ethernet port; assigning and storing a remote access address for the first unit; controlling modules of the server system by the first unit via a communication bus; initializing the redundant second unit into slave mode and disabling a coupling of the modules and the second unit; establishing a communication path between the first and second unit; and monitoring operability of the first unit; wherein upon failure of the first unit, the first unit is decoupled from the modules, the second unit is switched to master mode, thereby establishing a remote access through the second Ethernet port using the previously stored address and coupling the second unit with the modules for control operations.

Claims

1. A method of operating a remote access control unit comprising a first unit having a first Ethernet port and a redundant second unit having a second Ethernet port for remotely controlling modules of a server system, the method comprising the steps of:

powering up the server system;

initializing the first unit into master mode thereby establishing a remote access through said first Ethernet port;

assigning and storing a remote access address for said first unit;

controlling modules of the server system by the first unit via a communication bus;

initializing said redundant second unit into slave mode and disabling a coupling of said modules and said second unit;

establishing a communication path between said first and second unit;

monitoring operability of the first unit;

wherein upon failure of the first unit, the first unit is decoupled from said modules, the second unit is switched to master mode, thereby establishing a remote access through the second Ethernet port using the previously stored address and coupling said second unit with said modules for control operations.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring is performed by the steps of:

generating a heartbeat signal in said first unit;

monitoring said heartbeat signal in said second unit, wherein a failure signal is generated if said heartbeat signal is not present for a predetermined time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon failure of the first unit, the first unit is reset by means of the second unit.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a unit switched into master mode is establishing a control coupling with said modules via an I²C bus and a communication coupling via its Ethernet port.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a unit switched into slave mode is disabling a control coupling with said modules.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the control coupling controls at least one of the following:

a I²C bus, a direct control bus, an Ethernet coupling and a serial bus.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initial settings for the first and second unit are stored in EEPROM within the chassis.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the assigned remote access address is stored in said EEPROM.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the assigned remote access address is communicated to said second unit via said established communication path.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning an remote access address is using a DHCP protocol or a static IP address.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein an DHCP address is confirmed by the second unit after failure of the first unit.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the Ethernet port of the slave unit is used to monitor functions of the slave unit.

13. A method of operating a remote access control unit comprising a first unit having a first Ethernet port and a redundant second unit having a second Ethernet port for remotely controlling modules of a server system, the method comprising the steps of:

powering up the server system;

initializing the both units and setting one unit into master mode thereby establishing a remote access through said first Ethernet port and setting the other unit into slave mode;

assigning and storing a remote access address for the master mode unit;

controlling modules of the server system by the first unit via a communication bus;

establishing a communication path between said master mode and slave mode unit;

monitoring operability of the master mode unit;

wherein upon failure of the master mode unit, the slave mode unit is switched to master mode, thereby establishing a remote access through the second Ethernet port using the previously stored address.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein upon failure the master mode unit is decoupled from the modules and the salve mode unit is coupled with said modules.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of monitoring is performed by the steps of:

generating a heartbeat signal in said master mode unit;

monitoring said heartbeat signal in said salve mode unit, wherein a failure signal is generated if said heartbeat signal is not present for a predetermined time.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein upon failure of the master mode unit, the master mode unit is reset by means of the slave mode unit.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein a unit switched into master mode is establishing a control coupling with said modules via an I²C bus and a communication coupling via its Ethernet port.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein a unit switched into slave mode is disabling a control coupling with said modules.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the control coupling controls at least one of the following:

a I²C bus, a direct control bus, an Ethernet coupling and a serial bus.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the initial settings for the master mode and slave mode units are stored in EEPROM within the chassis.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the assigned remote access address is stored in said EEPROM.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein the assigned remote access address is communicated to said slave mode unit via said established communication path.