Abstract: Real time provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers includes monitoring system status and configuration, displaying monitoring results, accepting user commands, and providing hardware and software management and configuration commands to the system. In one embodiment, an event is generated when a pluggable module is inserted into the system. In response to the event, the availability of the pluggable module is displayed to a system operator, and the operator enters a command to provision a server that includes the pluggable module. The server provisioning command is processed, resulting in a hardware configuration command being issued to the system, and an event indicating a status associated with processing the command is returned. The recognition of the inserted module, the display to the operator, and the processing of the server provisioning command occur in real time.

Abstract: In one aspect, initial storage system control information is received, and in response a configuration of a storage interface is determined in accordance with the initial storage system control information. Then final storage system control information is accessed via the storage interface and the storage interface is reconfigured in accordance with the final storage system control information. In another aspect, one of a plurality of physical partitions of a physically partitionable symmetric multiprocessor executes a storage control process to control storage traffic, and another one of the physical partitions executes a program to process the storage traffic. The physical partitions are enabled to communicate the storage traffic at least in part via respective input/output controllers coupled to a switch fabric.

Abstract: Real time provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers includes monitoring system status and configuration, displaying monitoring results, accepting user commands, and providing hardware and software management and configuration commands to the system. In one embodiment, an event is generated when a pluggable module is inserted into the system. In response to the event, the availability of the pluggable module is displayed to a system operator, and the operator enters a command to provision a server that includes the pluggable module. The server provisioning command is processed, resulting in a hardware configuration command being issued to the system, and an event indicating a status associated with processing the command is returned. The recognition of the inserted module, the display to the operator, and the processing of the server provisioning command occur in real time.

Abstract: Pluggable modules communicate via a switch fabric dataplane accessible via a backplane. Various embodiments are comprised of varying numbers and arrangements of the pluggable modules in accordance with a system architecture that provides for provisioning virtual servers and clusters of servers from underlying hardware and software resources. The system architecture is a unifying solution for applications requiring a combination of computation and networking performance. Resources may be pooled, scaled, and reclaimed dynamically for new purposes as requirements change, using dynamic reconfiguration of virtual computing and communication hardware and software.

Abstract: Storage gateway provisioning, configuration, and management functions provide mechanisms to specify and manage parameters and operations associated with storage gateways. The parameters may include any combination of VLAN topology, zoning behavior, LUN masking, bandwidth, and priority. The parameters may also include path information describing initiator to target associations, enabling load-balancing aggregations and multipathing redundancy. Parameters may be specified at relatively low-levels, describing specific HW elements, or may be specified at relatively high-levels, describing desired bandwidth and redundancy requirements, with SW determining low-level HW assignments. Configuration and management functions enable dynamic modification of storage gateway parameters (such as bandwidth between selected initiator and target pairs). Management functions also enable dynamic switchover from a primary path to a secondary path with respect to a storage device.

Abstract: A system is taught in which a module having processing elements can access network and storage interfaces that are external to the module of the processing elements as though those interfaces were located internal to the module of the processing elements. The system may be operated as one or more provisioned servers, each of the provisioned servers including capabilities as identified by a corresponding set of specifications and attributes, according to various embodiments. Typically the specifications (or constraints) and attributes are specified with a Server Configuration File. An Enterprise Server system may be provisioned into any combination and number of servers according to needed processing and I/O capabilities. Each of these servers may include distinct compute, storage, and networking performance. Provisioned servers may be managed similar to conventional servers, including operations such as boot and shutting down.

Abstract: Real time provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers includes monitoring system status and configuration, displaying monitoring results, accepting user commands, and providing hardware and software management and configuration commands to the system. In one embodiment, an event is generated when a pluggable module is inserted into the system. In response to the event, the availability of the pluggable module is displayed to a system operator, and the operator enters a command to provision a server that includes the pluggable module. The server provisioning command is processed, resulting in a hardware configuration command being issued to the system, and an event indicating a status associated with processing the command is returned. The recognition of the inserted module, the display to the operator, and the processing of the server provisioning command occur in real time.

Abstract: An optimized spanning tree protocol (OSTP) minimizes latency and provides high throughput in a full-mesh portion of a network, and is compatible with external networks where a standard spanning tree protocol is used. The OSTP enables traffic traversing the full-mesh portion to take a shortest path from source to destination through use of full-mesh connectivity. In some embodiments, a cluster includes a plurality of servers connected in a full mesh, and the OSTP is used on internal ports of the servers. In some embodiments, the OSTP is configured on a per-VLAN basis. In some embodiments, the servers exchange special messages enabling determination of full-mesh connectivity. In further embodiments, sending of the special messages is suppressed on certain port types, such as external ports. In some embodiments, determination of the full-mesh connectivity disables use of a standard spanning tree protocol and/or enables use of OSTP on the full-mesh portion.

Abstract: Multi-chassis fabric-backplane enterprise servers include a plurality of chassis managed collectively to form one or more provisioned servers. A central client coordinates gathering of provisioning and management information from the chassis, and arranges for distribution of control information to the chassis. One of the chassis may perform as a host or proxy with respect to information and control communication between the client and the chassis. Server provisioning and management information and commands move throughout the chassis via an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol. Alternatively, the client may establish individual communication with a subset of the chassis, and directly communicate with chassis in the subset. Server provisioning and management information includes events generated when module status changes, such as when a module is inserted and becomes available, and when a module fails and is no longer available.

Abstract: Real time provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers includes monitoring system status and configuration, displaying monitoring results, accepting user commands, and providing hardware and software management and configuration commands to the system. In one embodiment, an event is generated when a pluggable module is inserted into the system. In response to the event, the availability of the pluggable module is displayed to a system operator, and the operator enters a command to provision a server that includes the pluggable module. The server provisioning command is processed, resulting in a hardware configuration command being issued to the system, and an event indicating a status associated with processing the command is returned. The recognition of the inserted module, the display to the operator, and the processing of the server provisioning command occur in real time.

Abstract: Virtual Network Interface Controllers (vNICs) provide for communication among modules of Enterprise Server (ES) embodiments via a switch fabric dataplane. Processes executing on compute complexes of the servers exchange data as packets or messages by interfaces made available through vNICs. The vNICs further provide for transparent communication with network and storage interfaces. vNIC provisioning capabilities include programmable bandwidth, priority scheme selection, and detailed priority control (such as round-robin weights). In some embodiments, vNICs are implemented in Virtual Input/Output Controllers (VIOCs). In another aspect, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) enable access to layer-2 and selected layer-3 network functions while exchanging the packets and messages. VLAN identification is provided in each vNIC, and VLAN processing is partially performed in VIOCs implementing vNICs.

Abstract: Storage gateway remote and local access to storage devices is provided in part via an initiator implementing bandwidth-controlled access to the devices. The initiator may be iSCSI-compatible, and may also optionally implement protection, security, and performance features. The protection and security features include any combination of VLANs, zoning, Logical Unit Number (LUN) masking, and encryption. The performance features include any combination of HW-accelerated Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), prioritized I/O operations, and service priority (such as strict priority and straight or weighted round-robin priorities). An initiator may be implemented in a Processor Memory Module (PMM) coupled to a switch fabric that is in turn coupled to a target implemented in a Fibre Channel Module (FCM).

Abstract: Storage gateway remote and local access to storage devices is provided in part via a target implementing bandwidth-controlled access to the devices. The target may be iSCSI-compatible, and may also optionally implement protection, security, and performance features. The protection and security features include any combination of VLANs, zoning, Logical Unit Number (LUN) masking, and encryption. The performance features include any combination of HW-accelerated Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), prioritized I/O operations, and service priority (such as strict priority and straight or weighted round-robin priorities). An initiator may be implemented in a Processor Memory Module (PMM) coupled to a switch fabric that is in turn coupled to a target implemented in a Fibre Channel Module (FCM).

Abstract: Pluggable modules communicate via a switch fabric dataplane accessible via a backplane. Various embodiments are comprised of varying numbers and arrangements of the pluggable modules in accordance with a system architecture that provides for provisioning virtual servers and clusters of servers from underlying hardware and software resources. The system architecture is a unifying solution for applications requiring a combination of computation and networking performance. Resources may be pooled, scaled, and reclaimed dynamically for new purposes as requirements change, using dynamic reconfiguration of virtual computing and communication hardware and software.

Abstract: A system is taught in which a module having processing elements can access network and storage interfaces that are external to the module of the processing elements as though those interfaces were located internal to the module of the processing elements. The system may be operated as one or more provisioned servers, each of the provisioned servers including capabilities as identified by a corresponding set of specifications and attributes, according to various embodiments. Typically the specifications (or constraints) and attributes are specified with a Server Configuration File. An Enterprise Server system may be provisioned into any combination and number of servers according to needed processing and I/O capabilities. Each of these servers may include distinct compute, storage, and networking performance. Provisioned servers may be managed similar to conventional servers, including operations such as boot and shutting down.

Abstract: A hybrid server and multi-layer switch system architecture, referred to hereinafter as the Enterprise Fabric (EF) architecture, forms the basis for a number of Enterprise Server (ES) chassis embodiments. Each ES embodiment generally includes one or more Processor Memory Modules (PMMs, each generally having one or more symmetric multiprocessor complexes), one or more Network Modules, and a System Control Module (SCM). The SCM includes a cellified switching-fabric core (SF) and a System Intelligence Module (SIM). Each PMM has one or more resident Virtual IO Controller (VIOC) adapters. Each VIOC is a specialized I/O controller that includes embedded layer-2 forwarding and filtering functions and tightly couples the PMM to the SF. Thus the layer-2 switch functionality within the ES chassis is distributed over all of the SCM, NM, and PMM modules.

Abstract: A Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) transport for fabric backplane enterprise servers provides for local and remote communication of storage system information between storage sub-system elements of an ES system and other elements of an ES system via a storage interface. The transport includes encapsulation of information for communication via a reliable transport implemented in part across a cellifying switch fabric. The transport may optionally include communication via Ethernet frames over any of a local network or the Internet. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and Direct Data Placement (DDP) protocols are used to communicate the information (commands, responses, and data) between SCSI initiator and target end-points. A Fibre Channel Module (FCM) may be operated as a SCSI target providing a storage interface to any of a Processor Memory Module (PMM), a System Control Module (SCM), and an OffLoad Module (OLM) operated as a SCSI initiator.

Abstract: A hybrid server and multi-layer switch system architecture, referred to hereinafter as the Enterprise Fabric (EF) architecture, forms the basis for a number of Enterprise Server (ES) chassis embodiments. Each ES embodiment generally includes one or more Processor Memory Modules (PMMs, each generally having one or more symmetric multiprocessor complexes), one or more Network Modules, and a System Control Module (SCM). The SCM includes a cellified switching-fabric core (SF) and a System Intelligence Module (SIM). Each PMM has one or more resident Virtual IO Controller (VIOC) adapters. Each VIOC is a specialized I/O controller that includes embedded layer-2 forwarding and filtering functions and tightly couples the PMM to the SF. Thus the layer-2 switch functionality within the ES chassis is distributed over all of the SCM, NM, and PMM modules.