Dynamic virtual local area network connection process

• US 6,651,093 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Amberg, Richard, Wiedeman, Dennis M., Baker, Eugene, Potter, Dwayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US09/426,932
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 370/255, 370/252, 370/395.53, 370/401, 709/225, 709/221, 709/220, 709/222, 709/242, 714/30, 714/31
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

Method and apparatus for dynamically connecting a system under test (“SUT”) to and disconnecting an SUT from a private virtual local area network (“VLAN”) in a computer manufacturing environment are described. In a preferred embodiment, each time an SUT disposed in a burn rack boots up, a VLAN-capable switch (hereinafter “CAT”) connected thereto checks the media access control (“MAC”) address of the SUT against a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation table (“MAC-VLAN table”). If the SUT'"'"'s MAC address is not listed in the MAC-VLAN table, the CAT connects the SUT to a predefined default VLAN; i.e., the manufacturer'"'"'s main manufacturing network. If the SUT'"'"'s MAC address is included in the MAC-VLAN table, there is a private VLAN associated with the SUT and the CAT connects the SUT to the associated VLAN in a conventional fashion, at which point custom configuration can be performed as needed on the private VLAN. The MAC-VLAN correlation is performed as follows. When an SUT is moved from the assembly line to the burn rack, it is connected to the CAT and then booted from a configuration and diagnostics disk (hereinafter “step diskette”). The step diskette for each SUT on which custom configuration is to be performed includes two unique commands thereon; namely, a dv_connect command, which initiates connection of the SUT to an associated private VLAN to enable the custom configuration processes to be performed, and a dv_disconnect command, which initiates disconnection of the SUT from the private VLAN once the custom configuration has been completed.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically connecting a system under test (“

SUT”

) to and disconnecting said SUT from a virtual local area network (“

VLAN”

) using a VLAN-capable switch connected to the SUT, comprising;

said SUT executing a DVLAN command;

responsive to said execution of said DVLAN command, updating a switch file;

promoting said updated switch file to said VLAN-capable switch;

rebooting said SUT;

checking a MAC address of said SUT against said switch file to determine whether said updated switch file contains a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation entry for said SUT;

responsive to a determination that said updated switch file does contain a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation (“

MAC-VLAN”

) entry for said SUT, connecting said SUT to a VLAN indicated in said MAC-VLAN entry; and

responsive to a determination that said updated switch file does not contain a MAC-VLAN entry for said SUT, connecting said SUT to a default VLAN for said VLAN-capable switch.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if said DVLAN is a connect command, said updating comprises adding a MAC-VLAN entry to said switch file, said MAC-VLAN entry being indexed by a MAC address of said SUT and indicating a VLAN to which said SUT is to be connected.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if said DVLAN command is a disconnect command, said updating comprises deleting said MAC-VLAN entry from said switch file.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising said SUT timing out for a predetermined period of time subsequent to said executing and prior to said rebooting.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising said VLAN-capable switch periodically checking said switch file to determine whether said switch file has been updated.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said promoting occurs responsive to a determination by said VLAN-capable switch that said switch file has been updated.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch file is stored in a database connected to said VLAN-capable switch and wherein said promoting comprises promoting said update switch file from said DVLAN database to said VLAN-capable switch.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said DVLAN command is stored as a computer-executable instruction on a step diskette, the method further comprising, prior to said executing, booting said SUT from said step diskette.

9. A system for dynamically connecting a system under test (“

SUT”

) to and disconnecting said SUT from a virtual local area network (“

VLAN”

) using a VLAN-capable switch connected to the SUT, the system comprising;

means for causing said SUT to execute a DVLAN command;

means responsive to said execution of said DVLAN command for updating a switch file;

means for promoting said updated switch file to said VLAN-capable switch;

means for rebooting said SUT;

means for checking a MAC address of said SUT against said switch file to determine whether said updated switch file contains a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation entry for said SUT;

means responsive to a determination that said updated switch file does contain a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation (“

MAC-VLAN”

) entry for said SUT for connecting said SUT to a VLAN indicated in said MAC-VLAN entry; and

means responsive to a determination that said updated switch file does not contain a MAC-VLAN entry for said SUT for connecting said SUT to a default VLAN for said VLAN-capable switch.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein if said DVLAN is a connect command, said means for updating comprises means for adding a MAC-VLAN entry to said switch file, said MAC-VLAN entry being indexed by a MAC address of said SUT and indicating a VLAN to which said SUT is to be connected.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein if said DVLAN command is a disconnect command, said means for updating comprises means for deleting said MAC-VLAN entry from said switch file.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for causing said SUT to time out for a predetermined period of time subsequent to said executing and prior to said rebooting.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for causing said VLAN-capable switch periodically to check said switch file to determine whether said switch file has been updated.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said promoting occurs responsive to a determination by said VLAN-capable switch that said switch file has been updated.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said switch file is stored in a database connected to said VLAN-capable switch and wherein said promoting comprises promoting said update switch file from said DVLAN database to said VLAN-capable switch.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said DVLAN command is stored as a computer-executable instruction on a step diskette, the method further comprising, prior to said executing, booting said SUT from said step diskette.