Diagnostic Port for Inter-Switch Link Testing in Electrical, Optical and Remote Loopback Modes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a processor;
a media interface module; and
a network port coupled to the processor and the media interface module;
wherein the media interface module is configured to;
receive a command to perform an electrical loopback test after entering a diagnostic mode;
receive incoming electrical signals for the electrical loopback test from the processor;
perform a loopback of the incoming electrical signals;
receive a second command to perform an optical loopback test after completing the electrical loopback test;
receive incoming optical signals for the optical loopback test from a second media interface module; and
perform a loopback of the incoming optical signals.
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Abstract
A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform single link diagnostics tests including an electrical loopback test, an optical loopback test, a link traffic test, and a link distance measurement test. To perform the diagnostic tests, two ports at each end of a link are identified and then statically configured by a user. The ports will be configured as D_Ports and as such will be isolated from the fabric with no data traffic flowing through them. The ports will then be used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a processor; a media interface module; and a network port coupled to the processor and the media interface module; wherein the media interface module is configured to; receive a command to perform an electrical loopback test after entering a diagnostic mode; receive incoming electrical signals for the electrical loopback test from the processor; perform a loopback of the incoming electrical signals; receive a second command to perform an optical loopback test after completing the electrical loopback test; receive incoming optical signals for the optical loopback test from a second media interface module; and perform a loopback of the incoming optical signals.
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2. The device of claim i, wherein the media interface module is further configured to:
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receive a third command to perform a second optical loopback test after completing the optical loopback test; and transmit an outgoing optical signal to the second media interface module for performing the second optical loopback test.
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3. The device of claim i, wherein the media interface module is further configured to:
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receive a third command to perform a link frame test after completing the optical loopback test; receive a plurality of test frames for the link frame test from the second media interface module; and retransmit the plurality of test frames to the second media interface module.
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4. The device of claim i, wherein the network port is configured to detect an on-and-off toggling of a second network port associated with the second media interface module to indicate the optical loopback test is complete.
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5. The device of claim i, wherein the network port is configured to perform an on-and-off toggling to indicate the electrical loopback test is complete.
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6. The device of claim i, wherein the device is a switch or a host bus adaptor.
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7. The device of claim i, wherein the network port and media interface module conform to Fibre Channel standards.
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8. The device of claim i, wherein the media interface module is further configured to:
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receive a ready frame indicating the second media interface module is ready to perform the optical loopback test; and return, in response to the diagnostic frame, a response frame indicating the media interface module is ready to perform the optical loopback test.
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9. A network comprising:
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a first device including a first processor coupled to a network port and a first media interface module; a second device including a second processor coupled to a second network port and a second media interface module; and a link connected to the first device media interface module and the second device media interface module; wherein the second media interface module is configured to; receive a command to perform an electrical loopback test after entering a diagnostic mode; receive incoming electrical signals for the electrical loopback test from the second processor; perform a loopback of the incoming electrical signals; receive a second command to perform an optical loopback test after completing the electrical loopback test; receive incoming optical signals for the optical loopback test from the first media interface module; and perform a loopback of the incoming optical signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a media interface module, a command to perform an electrical loopback test after entering a diagnostic mode; receiving, at the media interface module, incoming electrical signals for the electrical loopback test from the processor; performing, using the media interface module, a loopback of the incoming electrical signals; receiving, at the media interface module, a second command to perform an optical loopback test after completing the electrical loopback test; receiving, at the media interface module, incoming optical signals for the optical loopback test from a second media interface module; and performing, using the media interface module, a loopback of the incoming optical signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification