Rack interface pod with intelligent platform control

• US 20080040522A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertiv IT Systems, Inc. (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Matthews, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,427,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/12 using hardware independent of the central processor, e.g. channel or peripheral processor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Rack Interface Pods can be augmented with non-KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) functionality that can enable greater analysis of the state of the computer to which the RIP is attached. A RIP can be augmented to include a non-KVM input connection (e.g., an Intelligent Platform/Chassis control protocol input) that is used to communicate between the server and the RIP. The RIP can then multiplex the received information with the KVM signals for transmission to a PEM or to an ARI port. Video and computer environment-style data can be multiplexed across a communications medium exiting the RIP such that they can be received by a remote computer.

Claims

1. A video processor, comprising:

a housing, the housing including;

at least one video connector for receiving video signals from a computer;

a first information connector for receiving informational signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of the computer; and

a communications controller for transmitting via a communications port first signals representing at least a portion of the video signals received from the computer across the at least one video connector and second signals representing at least a portion of the informational signals received from the computer across the first information connector.

2. The video processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the informational signals comprise IPMI-based messages.

3. The video processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one video connector comprises an analog video connector.

4. The video processor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one peripheral connector for transmitting to the computer signals from a peripheral device remote from the computer.

5. The video processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first information connector comprises a connector for receiving a cable.

6. The video processor as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second wired information connector for receiving signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of a second computer.

7. The video processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first information connector comprises a connector for connecting to a wireless interface.

8. The video processor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the wireless interface further receives signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of a second computer.

9. A video processing system, comprising:

(a) plural video processors, each video processor including a housing, with each respective housing including;

(a1) at least one video connector for receiving video signals from a corresponding computer,

(a2) a first information connector for receiving informational signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of the corresponding computer, and

(a3) a communications controller for transmitting across a communications port first signals representing at least a portion of the video signals received from the corresponding computer across the at least one video connector and second signals representing at least a portion of the informational signals received from the corresponding computer across the first information connector; and

(b) an intelligent network peripheral connected to the communications ports of the plural video processors, the intelligent network peripheral including;

(b1) a switch for selectively switching signals representing video signals of one of the corresponding computers to a computer monitor connected to the intelligent network peripheral, and

(b2) a display controller for causing at least a portion of the second signals representing at least a portion of the informational signals received from the corresponding computer across the first information connector to be displayed on the computer monitor.

10. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the informational signals comprise IPMI-based messages.

11. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one video connector comprises an analog video connector.

12. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising at least one peripheral connector for transmitting to one of the corresponding computers signals from a peripheral device remote from the one of the corresponding computers.

13. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first information connector comprises a connector for receiving a cable.

14. The video processing system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a second wired information connector for receiving signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of a second computer connected to one of the plural video processors.

15. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first information connector comprises a connector for connecting to a wireless interface.

16. The video processing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the wireless connection further receives informational signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of a second computer connected to one of the plural video processors.

17. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the computer monitor comprises a monitor connected via a KVM interface connector.

18. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the intelligent network peripheral comprises a network connection for sending video signals to the computer monitor which is remote from the intelligent network peripheral.

19. The video processing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the intelligent network peripheral is connected to the communications ports of the plural video processors through a router.

20. A video processing system, comprising:

(a) a first video processor including a first housing, the first housing including at least one video connector for receiving video signals from a corresponding first computer,

(b) a second video processor including a second housing different than the first housing, the second housing including;

(b1) at least one video connector for receiving video signals from a corresponding second computer,

(b2) at least one information connector for receiving informational signals representing status or configuration information from a processor other than a main processor of each of the corresponding first and second computers, and

(a3) a communications controller for transmitting across a communications port first signals representing at least a portion of the video signals received from the corresponding second computer across the at least one video connector of the second housing and second signals representing at least a portion of the informational signals received from the corresponding first and second computers across the at least one information connector; and

(c) an intelligent network peripheral connected to the communications ports of the plural video processors, the intelligent network peripheral including;

(c1) a switch for selectively switching signals representing video signals of one of the corresponding computers to a computer monitor connected to the intelligent network peripheral, and

(c2) a display controller for causing at least a portion of the second signals representing at least a portion of the informational signals received from the corresponding first and second computers across the at least one information connector to be displayed on the computer monitor.