Remote Adapter Configuration

• US 20110258641A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cors, Josep, Armstrong, William J., Lynch, Jeffrey J., Engebretsen, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/327
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

Systems and methods to remotely configure adapters are described. A particular method may include generating a management frame at a controlling bridge. The management frame may include instructions to configure an operating parameter of the adapter. The management frame may be communicated to a bridge element of a plurality of interconnected bridge elements in communication with the controlling bridge. The bridge element may be coupled to the adapter, and the operating parameter of the adapter may be configured.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of server computers;

a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers;

an adapter coupled to a bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements; and

a controlling bridge coupled to the bridge element and configured to program an operating parameter of the adapter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling bridge is further configured to send to the bridge element a management frame comprising an instruction executable to configure the operating parameter of the adapter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bridge element forwards the management frame to the adapter.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bridge element communicates the instruction to the adapter.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bridge element communicates the instruction to the adapter during linkup.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the management frame includes an ether type associated with a configuration protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling bridge is further configured to generate a management frame comprising an instruction executable to configure the operating parameter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling bridge is further configured to access a base function device driver of a peripheral interconnect manager to acquire the operating parameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an entrusted interface between the controlling bridge and a peripheral interconnect manager.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling bridge receives a configuration request sent from the adapter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlling bridge is further configured to program the plurality of bridge elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes at least one of a converged network adapter and a multi-root input/output virtualization adapter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an integrated switch router configured to route a management frame and a transport module coupled to the bridge element and configured to provide a frame-based interface to the integrated switch router.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter is associated with a virtual local area network.

15. A method of configuring an operating parameter of an adapter, the method comprising:

generating a management frame at a controlling bridge, wherein the management frame includes an instruction to configure an operating parameter of an adapter;

communicating the management frame to a bridge element of a plurality of interconnected bridge elements in communication with the controlling bridge, wherein the bridge element is coupled to the adapter; and

configuring the operating parameter of the adapter.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forwarding the management frame from the bridge element to the adapter.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating the instruction from the bridge element to the adapter.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling the controlling bridge to access a base function driver device of a peripheral interconnect manager.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating the management frame at the controlling bridge.

20. A program product, comprising:

program code executable to generate a management frame at a controlling bridge, wherein the management frame includes an instruction to configure an operating parameter of an adapter, to communicate the management frame to a bridge element of a plurality of interconnected bridge elements in communication with the controlling bridge, wherein the bridge element is coupled to the adapter, and to configure the operating parameter of the adapter; and

a computer readable medium bearing the program code.