Methods and Arrangements for Activating IP Configurations

• US 20070244994A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brey, Thomas, Merkin, Aaron, Ellison, Brandon, Bolan, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic for activating in an end node of an IP network an IP configuration suitable for IP communications between the end node and another end node upon the detection of a direct IP connection of the end node to another end node. In some embodiments, the other end node may have a direct IP connect only to the end node. In some embodiments, the suitable IP configuration may involve a static IP address which has been published. In some embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection with another node may be accomplished by detecting a crossed-over Ethernet connection. In alternate embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection to another node may be accomplished by use of a spanning tree algorithm. In some embodiments, an operating system device driver may activate the suitable IP configuration. In other embodiments, an embedded system may activate the suitable IP configuration. In still other embodiments, the suitable IP configurations may be activated under the control of BIOS. While specific embodiments will be described below with reference to particular circuit or logic configurations, those of skill in the art will realize that embodiments of the present invention may advantageously be implemented with other substantially equivalent configurations.

Claims

1. A method of activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations, the method comprising:

maintaining a first IP configuration for an end node of an IP network;

maintaining a second IP configuration for the end node for IP communications directly between end nodes;

detecting a direct IP connection between the end node and another end node; and

activating the second IP configuration based upon the detection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the second IP configuration comprises maintaining a static IP address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the other end node has a direct IP connection only to the end node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that an IP connection between the end node and the other end node is crossed over.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises utilizing a spanning tree algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

receiving an interrupt; and

examining a register on an Ethernet controller.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises executing instructions in a basic input/output system (BIOS).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the detecting comprises detecting by a device driver of an operating system; and

the activating comprises activating by the device driver.

9. An apparatus to activate an Internet Protocol (IP) configuration, the apparatus comprising:

an IP connection detector to detect a direct IP connection between a first end node and a second end node; and

an IP configuration manager to;

maintain a first IP configuration for IP communications between the first end node and the second end node in a first IP network and a second IP configuration for the connection of the first end node to another IP network; and

activate the first IP configuration based upon the detection.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the IP connection detector comprises an Ethernet controller; and

the IP connection detector is configured to generate an interrupt when the IP connection examiner detects a direct IP connection between the first end node and the second end node.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the Ethernet controller comprises a register to store a value to indicate a direct IP connection between the first end node and the second end node.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the IP configuration manager comprises an embedded system.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the IP configuration manager comprises a basic input/output system (BIOS).

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the IP connection manager comprises a device driver of an operating system.

15. A machine-accessible medium containing instructions to activate an Internet Protocol (IP) configuration which when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations, comprising:

maintaining a first IP configuration for an end node of an IP network;

maintaining a second IP configuration for the end node for IP communications directly between end nodes;

detecting a direct IP connection between the end node and another end node; and

activating the second IP configuration based upon the detection.

16. The machine-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein maintaining the second IP configuration comprises maintaining a static IP address.

17. The machine-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that a direct IP connection between the end node and the other end node is crossed over.

18. The machine-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein the detecting comprises utilizing a spanning tree algorithm.

19. The machine-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein the detecting comprises:

receiving an interrupt; and

examining a register on an Ethernet controller.

20. The machine-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein:

the detecting comprises detecting by a device driver of an operating system; and

the activating comprises activating by the device driver.