Abstract: A work order is generated. The work order comprises a first work order step specifying that a port of a first network element is to be connected to a port of a second network element using a cable. The first and second network elements are configured to detect when connections are made at the specified ports of the first network element and the second network element. A management system is configured to update information it maintains to indicate that there is a connection between the specified port of the first network element and the specified port of the second network element if connections made at the specified ports of the first and second network elements are detected during a period in which the first work order step of the first work order is expected to be performed. A similar technique can be used for disconnecting a cable.

Abstract: A work order is generated. The work order comprises a first work order step specifying that a port of a first network element is to be connected to a port of a second network element using a cable. The first and second network elements are configured to detect when connections are made at the specified ports of the first network element and the second network element. A management system is configured to update information it maintains to indicate that there is a connection between the specified port of the first network element and the specified port of the second network element if connections made at the specified ports of the first and second network elements are detected during a period in which the first work order step of the first work order is expected to be performed. A similar technique can be used for disconnecting a cable.

Abstract: A work order is generated. The work order comprises a first work order step specifying that a port of a first network element is to be connected to a port of a second network element using a cable. The first and second network elements are configured to detect when connections are made at the specified ports of the first network element and the second network element. A management system is configured to update information it maintains to indicate that there is a connection between the specified port of the first network element and the specified port of the second network element if connections made at the specified ports of the first and second network elements are detected during a period in which the first work order step of the first work order is expected to be performed. A similar technique can be used for disconnecting a cable.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about wired components in a network. Capturing wired information includes one or more of: reading information from a storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media, or communicating a signal over an out-of-band conductor included in a cable in addition to the in-band conductors. The method also includes capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network, and integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information. The integrated wired information and wireless information is used to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method comprising obtaining, using a portable device, identifier information about one or more identifiers associated with one or more of a rack and equipment installed in the rack and displaying on the portable device a picture of the rack captured and displaying on the portable device an overlay that includes markings that define a perimeter of the rack and a plurality of equipment positions within the rack. The method further comprises receiving, by the portable device, an alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack and the equipment positions and receiving location information for the rack. The method further comprises storing the picture of the rack, the alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack, the identifier location, and the location information by a management application. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of reporting information about events occurring at a device. A connection between a first entity and a second entity associated with the device is established using a reliable packet-based communication protocol. If an event associated with the device that is unrelated to the connection occurs, event information is reliably sent from the second entity to the first entity using the reliable packet-based communication protocol. If a predetermined amount of time elapses since establishing the connection without an event associated with the device that is unrelated to the connection occurring, a first message is reliably sent from the second entity to the first entity using the reliable packet-based communication protocol, the first message indicating that no event associated with the device that is unrelated to the connection has occurred during the predetermined amount of time. The connection is closed after the first message has been sent.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about wired components in a network. Capturing wired information includes one or more of: reading information from a storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media, or communicating a signal over an out-of-band conductor included in a cable in addition to the in-band conductors. The method also includes capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network, and integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information. The integrated wired information and wireless information is used to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a system comprising a plurality of connector assemblies. Each of the connector assemblies is configured to read information stored on or in physical communication media that is connected to the ports of the respective connector assembly. The system further comprises an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the plurality of connector assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to automatically discover the connector assemblies and cause each of the connector assemblies to send to the aggregation point at least some of the information read from the physical communication media that is connected to the ports of the respective connector assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the information sent by the connector assemblies to the aggregation point. A reliable packet-based communication protocol is used by the aggregation point to monitor events occurring at at least one connector assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about wired components in a network. Capturing wired information includes one or more of: reading information from a storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media, or communicating a signal over an out-of-band conductor included in a cable in addition to the in-band conductors. The method also includes capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network, and integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information. The integrated wired information and wireless information is used to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of tracking a plurality of communication paths in a connector assembly having a plurality of first attachment points and a plurality of second attachment points. The plurality of first attachment points and the plurality of second attachment points are configured to attach physical communication media to the connector assembly. The method comprises reading, from a storage device associated with the connector assembly first, information indicative of a plurality of communication paths formed within the connector assembly between the first attachment points and the second attachment points. The method further comprises reading second information stored on or in physical communication media that is attached to the connector assembly and communicating the first and second information to an aggregation point that is communicatively coupled to the connector assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about wired components in a network. Capturing wired information includes one or more of: reading information from a storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media, or communicating a signal over an out-of-band conductor included in a cable in addition to the in-band conductors. The method also includes capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network, and integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information. The integrated wired information and wireless information is used to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: A work order is generated. The work order comprises a first work order step specifying that a port of a first network element is to be connected to a port of a second network element using a cable. The first and second network elements are configured to detect when connections are made at the specified ports of the first network element and the second network element. A management system is configured to update information it maintains to indicate that there is a connection between the specified port of the first network element and the specified port of the second network element if connections made at the specified ports of the first and second network elements are detected during a period in which the first work order step of the first work order is expected to be performed. A similar technique can be used for disconnecting a cable.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about layer one and layer two used by wired components in a network; capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network; integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information; and using the integrated wired information and wireless information to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of ports is configured to receive a respective connector attached to a respective segment of physical communication media. Each of the plurality of ports comprises a respective media interface configured to receive data from a respective storage device attached to the respective connector. The connector assembly is configured to determine if a first connector attached to a first port included in the plurality of ports is defective by determining if a signal level received on the respective media interface associated with the first port has stabilized after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the first connector was connected to the first port. If the signal level has not stabilized after the first predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the first connector was connected to the first port, the first connector is considered defective.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method comprising obtaining, using a portable device, identifier information about one or more identifiers associated with one or more of a rack and equipment installed in the rack and displaying on the portable device a picture of the rack captured and displaying on the portable device an overlay that includes markings that define a perimeter of the rack and a plurality of equipment positions within the rack. The method further comprises receiving, by the portable device, an alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack and the equipment positions and receiving location information for the rack. The method further comprises storing the picture of the rack, the alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack, the identifier location, and the location information by a management application. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about layer one and layer two used by wired components in a network; capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network; integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information; and using the integrated wired information and wireless information to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of ports is configured to receive a respective connector attached to a respective segment of physical communication media. Each of the plurality of ports comprises a respective media interface configured to receive data from a respective storage device attached to the respective connector. The connector assembly is configured to determine if a first connector attached to a first port included in the plurality of ports is defective by determining if a signal level received on the respective media interface associated with the first port has stabilized after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the first connector was connected to the first port. If the signal level has not stabilized after the first predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the first connector was connected to the first port, the first connector is considered defective.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a system comprising a plurality of connector assemblies. Each of the connector assemblies is configured to read information stored on or in physical communication media that is connected to the ports of the respective connector assembly. The system further comprises an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the plurality of connector assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to automatically discover the connector assemblies and cause each of the connector assemblies to send to the aggregation point at least some of the information read from the physical communication media that is connected to the ports of the respective connector assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the information sent by the connector assemblies to the aggregation point. A reliable packet-based communication protocol is used by the aggregation point to monitor events occurring at at least one connector assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method comprising obtaining, using a portable device, identifier information about one or more identifiers associated with one or more of a rack and equipment installed in the rack and displaying on the portable device a picture of the rack captured and displaying on the portable device an overlay that includes markings that define a perimeter of the rack and a plurality of equipment positions within the rack. The method further comprises receiving, by the portable device, an alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack and the equipment positions and receiving location information for the rack. The method further comprises storing the picture of the rack, the alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack, the identifier location, and the location information by a management application. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method comprising obtaining, using a portable device, identifier information about one or more identifiers associated with one or more of a rack and equipment installed in the rack and displaying on the portable device a picture of the rack captured and displaying on the portable device an overlay that includes markings that define a perimeter of the rack and a plurality of equipment positions within the rack. The method further comprises receiving, by the portable device, an alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack and the equipment positions and receiving location information for the rack. The method further comprises storing the picture of the rack, the alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack, the identifier location, and the location information by a management application. Other embodiments are disclosed.