RACK LEVEL NETWORK SWITCH
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication network switch comprising:
- an elongated enclosure physically configured to be aligned along the height of an equipment rack;
at least three network ports aligned along a longitudinal axis of the enclosure such that each of the at least three network ports is substantially physically associated with at least one of a plurality of mounting spaces within the equipment rack; and
a controller coupled to the at least three network ports and configured to detect an identifier of a piece of equipment connected to an identified one of the at least three network ports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods of providing network connectivity to an equipment rack are provided. A network switch includes an enclosure to be aligned along the height of an equipment rack. The network switch provides a plurality of network ports distributed along the enclosure so the network ports are associated with mounting spaces in the rack, when installed. A controller provides communications between the plurality of network ports and may be configured to identify installed equipment in particular rack spaces, from network traffic on particular network ports and by association of the network ports with the rack spaces.
2 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A communication network switch comprising:
-
an elongated enclosure physically configured to be aligned along the height of an equipment rack; at least three network ports aligned along a longitudinal axis of the enclosure such that each of the at least three network ports is substantially physically associated with at least one of a plurality of mounting spaces within the equipment rack; and a controller coupled to the at least three network ports and configured to detect an identifier of a piece of equipment connected to an identified one of the at least three network ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21)
-
-
8. A communication network switch comprising:
-
at least three network ports; at least three power connections; a chassis physically configured to substantially align along a height of an equipment rack, wherein the at least three network ports are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the chassis; and a controller coupled to the at least three network ports, wherein the controller is configured to provide communications between the at least three network ports and to logically associate each of the at least three power connections with at least one of the at least three network ports. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 22)
-
-
12. (canceled)
-
15. A method of managing equipment mounted in a rack, the method comprising:
-
detecting network activity on a network port; identifying the equipment from the network activity; associating the equipment with the network port; and associating the equipment with at least one of a rack space and a power outlet based upon an affiliation of the at least one rack space or power outlet with the network port. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification