Port-centric graphic representations of network controllers

• US 6,229,538 B1
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Khan, Ahsan, Miller, Thomas R., McIntyre, Michael S., McCarthy, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US09/151,265
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 345/349, 345/969, 345/970, 345/348, 345/964, 345/966, 345/329, 345/335, 709/224, 709/223, 709/220, 709/226, 709/228
• US Class Current: 715/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/324 Display of status information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/966 Computer process, e.g. operation of computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/969 Network layout and operation interface

Abstract

A port-centric controller system for a computer including a plurality of network ports implemented with a plurality of network controllers and a driver system capable of operating each of the network ports in either a stand-alone mode or a team mode and that monitors the status of each of the network ports. The controller system further includes configuration logic that interfaces the driver system to display port-specific graphic representations of the configuration and status of each of the plurality of network ports. The graphic representations preferably distinguish between each of the plurality of network controllers and each of the plurality of network ports. The driver system monitors the link status of each of the network ports indicative of cable status, and the graphic representations include a corresponding cable fault icon indicative of a cable fault at a network port. The graphic representations may include separate icons for a powered off status, a hardware failure status, a cable fault status, a powered off when cable faulted status, a hardware failure when powered off status and an uninstalled controller. The graphic representations may further include an icon representing each network port in a team of network ports and an icon representing a non-active network port in the team. The graphic representations may further include team, controller, slot and bus information.

Claims

1. A port-centric controller system for a computer, comprising:

a plurality of network controllers, each including at least one network port, the plurality of network controllers implementing a plurality of network ports;

a driver system capable of operating each of the plurality of network ports in either one of a stand-alone mode and a team mode in which a team includes at least two of the plurality of network ports acting like a single virtual or logical device;

the driver system monitoring the status of each of the plurality of network ports; and

configuration logic that interfaces the driver system and that includes logic that is used to display port-specific graphic representations of the configuration and status of each of the plurality of network ports.

2. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations distinguishing between each of the plurality of network controllers and each of the plurality of network ports.

3. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the driver system monitoring the link status of each of the plurality of network ports indicative of cable status; and

the graphic representations including a cable fault icon indicative of a cable fault at a network port.

4. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including separate icons for a powered off status and a hardware failure status.

5. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including separate icons for a powered off status and a cable fault status.

6. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including separate icons for a hardware failure status and cable fault status.

7. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing a powered off when cable faulted status.

8. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing a hardware failure when powered off status.

9. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing detection of an uninstalled network controller.

10. The port-centric controller system of claim 1, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing each network port in a team of network ports.

11. The port-centric controller system of claim 10, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing a non-active network port in the team of network ports.

12. The port-centric controller system of claim 10, further comprising:

the graphic representations including team, controller, slot and bus information.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a main memory;

a bus system coupled to the processor and the main memory;

a plurality of network controllers, each coupled to the bus system and each including at least one network port, the plurality of network controllers implementing a plurality of network ports;

a driver system, executed by the processor from the main memory, that is capable of operating each of the plurality of network ports in either one of a stand-alone mode and a team mode in which a team includes at least two of the plurality of network ports acting like a single virtual or logical device;

the driver system monitoring the status of each of the plurality of network ports; and

a configuration application, executed by the processor from the main memory, that interfaces the driver system and that is used to display port-specific graphic representations of the configuration and status of each of the plurality of network ports.

14. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

the graphic representations distinguishing between each of the plurality of network controllers and each of the plurality of network ports.

15. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

the graphic representations including a cable fault icon indicative of a cable fault at a network port.

16. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

the graphic representations including separate icons for a powered off status, a hardware failure status and a cable fault status.

17. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing a powered off when cable faulted status.

18. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing each network port in a team of network ports.

19. The computer system of claim 18, further comprising:

the graphic representations including an icon representing a non-active network port in the team of network ports.

20. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

the graphic representations including team, controller, slot and bus information.