System and method for enabling interchangeable dedicated management network interface card access via fabric controller

• US 8,321,616 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Lambert, Timothy M., Dube, Shawn Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiura, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US12/540,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-306, 710/100, 370/389, 370/392
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to providing dedicated network interface card access are provided. An information handling system may include a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, a non-dedicated network interface communicatively coupled to the processor, a dedicated network interface, and a baseboard management controller. The non-dedicated network interface may have a first sideband interface. The dedicated network interface may have a second sideband interface communicatively coupled to the first sideband interface. The baseboard management controller may be communicatively coupled to the second sideband interface.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

a non-dedicated network interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the non-dedicated network interface having a first sideband interface;

a dedicated network interface having a second sideband interface communicatively coupled to the first sideband interface the dedicated network interface further including;

a PHY configured to communicatively couple to a network;

a media access control filter interfaced between the PHY and the second sideband interface and configured to filter communications using address filtering such that management data received by the media access control filter is forwarded while non-management data received by the media access control filter is not forwarded; and

a baseboard management controller communicatively coupled to the second sideband interface.

2. An information handling system according to claim 1, the dedicated network interface further including a second PHY communicatively coupled to the media access control filter and configured to communicatively couple to the network.

3. An information handling system according to claim 1, the baseboard management controller including a media access controller communicatively coupled to the first sideband interface and the second sideband interface.

4. An information handling system according to claim 3, wherein the media access controller supports a first communication standard different from a second communication standard supported by the PHY.

5. An information handling system according to claim 4, wherein the first communication standard is 100 Mbps Ethernet and the second communication standard is Gigabit Ethernet.

6. An information handling system according to claim 3, wherein the baseboard management controller includes only one media access controller.

7. An information handling system according to claim 1, wherein the dedicated network interface controller includes or is an integral part of an access controller.

8. An information handling system according to claim 1, wherein:

the PHY supports a first communication standard, and

the dedicated network interface controller is interchangeable with a second dedicated interface controller including a PHY that supports a second communication standard.

9. An information handling system according to claim 1, wherein the non-dedicated network interface controller includes or is an integral part of one of a LAN on motherboard and a host bus adapter.

10. An information handling system according to claim 1, the dedicated network interface configured to communicate management traffic between the baseboard management controller and a network in an out-of-band channel isolated from an in-band channel whereby non-management traffic is communicated between the non-dedicated network interface card and the network.

11. An information handling system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first sideband interface and the second sideband interface includes a Network Controller Sideband Interface.

12. A network interface device, comprising:

a sideband interface configured to communicatively couple to a baseboard management controller;

a PHY configured to communicatively couple to a network; and

a media access control filter interfaced between the PHY and the sideband interface and configured to filter communications using address filtering such that management data received by the media access control filter is forwarded while non-management data received by the media access control filter is not forwarded.

13. A network interface device according to claim 12, the dedicated network interface further including a second PHY communicatively coupled to the media access control filter and configured to communicatively couple to the network.

14. A network interface device according to claim 12, wherein the PHY supports a first communication standard different from a second communication standard supported by the baseboard management controller.

15. A network interface device according to claim 14, wherein the first communication standard is Gigabit Ethernet and the second communication standard is 100 Mbps Ethernet.

16. A network interface device according to claim 12, wherein the dedicated network interface controller includes or is an integral part of an access controller.

17. A network interface according to claim 12, wherein the sideband interface includes a Network Controller Sideband Interface.

18. A network interface according to claim 12, wherein the sideband interface further configured to couple to a second sideband interface of a non-dedicated network interface.

19. A network interface according to claim 18, further configured to communicate management traffic between the baseboard management controller and a network in an out-of-band channel isolated from an in-band channel whereby non-management traffic is communicated between the non-dedicated network interface card and the network.