Abstract: An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system includes a chassis having a first end and a second end that is located opposite the chassis from the first end. An Ethernet interface is located on the first end and is configured to directly mate with an Ethernet port on an Ethernet device. A Fibre Channel interface is located on the second end. An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is housed in the chassis and configured to receive Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface, convert the Ethernet protocol signals to Fibre Channel protocol signals, and send the Fibre Channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is also configured to receive Fibre channel protocol signals from the Fibre Channel IHS through the Fibre Channel interface, convert the Fibre channel protocol signals to Ethernet protocol signals, and send the Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface.

Abstract: A network switching system includes a storage device including a plurality of application-provided flow-based rules provided by a plurality of applications. A packet processor is coupled to the storage device and includes a flow-based handler that is operable to receive a packet, determine that the packet is associated with a flow session, and associate a plurality of the application-provided flow-based rules with the packet based the association of the packet with the flow session. The packet processor also includes a flow-based rule processing engine that is operable to determine a priority for the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules and apply at least one of the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules to the packet according to the priority. The system allows a plurality of SDN applications to operate in a network switching system independently and without knowledge of each other.

Abstract: A power sourcing equipment (PSE) device including a power over Ethernet (PoE) interface. A processor is coupled to the PoE interface. A memory is coupled to the processor and includes instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a number of functions. The processor may supply power at a first power level to a PD that is coupled to the PoE interface. The processor may then determine an actual power consumption of the PD. The processor may then send a first Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) packet to the PD over the PoE interface that includes first proposed power level information that is based on the actual power consumption of the PD. Then processor may then supply power to the PD at a second power level that is different from the first power level.

Abstract: An access point IHS group controller failure notification system includes access point IHSs connected to a network and members of an access point IHS group. A first access point IHS group controller for the access point IHS group is also coupled to the network. The first access point IHS group controller detects a failure issue associated with its imminent failure and, in response, creates an imminent failure message that includes an identifier for the first access point IHS group controller. The imminent failure message may also include timing information that indicates when the first access point IHS group controller will again be available, and/or a second identifier for a second access point IHS group controller that is available for controlling the access point IHS group. The first access point IHS group controller then sends the imminent failure message through the network to each of the plurality of access point IHSs.

Abstract: A power sourcing equipment (PSE) device including a power over Ethernet (PoE) interface. A processor is coupled to the PoE interface. A memory is coupled to the processor and includes instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a number of functions. The processor may supply power at a first power level to a PD that is coupled to the PoE interface. The processor may then determine an actual power consumption of the PD. The processor may then send a first Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) packet to the PD over the PoE interface that includes first proposed power level information that is based on the actual power consumption of the PD. Then processor may then supply power to the PD at a second power level that is different from the first power level.

Abstract: A centralized network management system includes a wireless controller system and a plurality of access points that are coupled together through a network. Each of the plurality of access points is configured to receive wireless traffic from user devices and determine whether flow session rules are available for the wireless traffic. If so, wireless traffic received by an access point that is part of a flow session is modified by that access point according to at least one flow session rule that was received from the wireless controller system and that is associated with the flow session to which that wireless traffic belongs. That modified wireless traffic is translated to modified wired traffic by the access point, and the access point then perform an action on the modified wired traffic according to the at least one flow session rule associated with the flow session.

Abstract: A network switch includes a plurality of internal ports, a plurality of external ports, an event handler, an action engine, and an event processor. The event handler detects an event and, in response, assembles a construct that includes event parameters. The action engine uses the construct to generate an event syntax. The event processor executes the event syntax to automatically configure the communication between the plurality of internal ports and the plurality of external ports. A first event may include the connection of a cable to a first external port and result in each of the plurality of internal ports communicating with the first external port. A second event may include the connection of a cable to a second external port and result in a first subset of internal ports communicating with the first external port and a second subset of internal ports communicating with the second external port.

Abstract: An access point IHS group controller failure notification system includes access point IHSs connected to a network and members of an access point IHS group. A first access point IHS group controller for the access point IHS group is also coupled to the network. The first access point IHS group controller detects a failure issue associated with its imminent failure and, in response, creates an imminent failure message that includes an identifier for the first access point IHS group controller. The imminent failure message may also include timing information that indicates when the first access point IHS group controller will again be available, and/or a second identifier for a second access point IHS group controller that is available for controlling the access point IHS group. The first access point IHS group controller then sends the imminent failure message through the network to each of the plurality of access point IHSs.

Abstract: An access point IHS group controller failover system includes a first access point IHS group controller that controls a first access point IHS group that includes plurality of access point IHSs. Following a failure of the first access point IHS group controller, the first access point IHS broadcasts a first access point IHS identifier to a first subset of the plurality of access point IHSs. The first access point IHS then registers the first subset of the plurality of access point IHSs as members of a second access point IHS group, and controls at least some functions of the second access point IHS group. When the first access point IHS detects activity from the first access point IHS group controller, it instructs the first subset of the plurality of access point IHSs in the second access point IHS group to reconnect to the first access point IHS group controller.

Abstract: A network switch includes a plurality of internal ports, a plurality of external ports, an event handler, an action engine, and an event processor. The event handler detects an event and, in response, assembles a construct that includes event parameters. The action engine uses the construct to generate an event syntax. The event processor executes the event syntax to automatically configure the communication between the plurality of internal ports and the plurality of external ports. A first event may include the connection of a cable to a first external port and result in each of the plurality of internal ports communicating with the first external port. A second event may include the connection of a cable to a second external port and result in a first subset of internal ports communicating with the first external port and a second subset of internal ports communicating with the second external port.

Abstract: A network switching system includes a storage device including a plurality of application-provided flow-based rules provided by a plurality of applications. A packet processor is coupled to the storage device and includes a flow-based handler that is operable to receive a packet, determine that the packet is associated with a flow session, and associate a plurality of the application-provided flow-based rules with the packet based the association of the packet with the flow session. The packet processor also includes a flow-based rule processing engine that is operable to determine a priority for the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules and apply at least one of the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules to the packet according to the priority. The system allows a plurality of SDN applications to operate in a network switching system independently and without knowledge of each other.

Abstract: A networked system includes a plurality of information handling systems (IHSs). A networking device couples the plurality of IHSs to a network. The networking device is operable to receive a packet associated with a first network application from a first IHS of the plurality of IHSs. The networking device then determines that a first virtual port is associated with the first network application in a database. The networking device then assign packets received from the first IHS and associated with the first network application to the first virtual port. The networking device then forwards packets received from the first IHS and associated with the first network application over the network using the first virtual port. The first virtual port provides access to a virtual network that is provided for the first network application and configured using network information associated with the first network application.

Abstract: An access controller is coupled to a plurality of physical access points. The access controller is operable to create a plurality of virtual access controllers that are each coupled to the plurality of physical access points. The access controller then creates a different virtual access point for each of the plurality of virtual access controllers, and associates the virtual access point of each virtual access controller with each of the plurality of physical access points coupled to that virtual access controller. The access controller then provides a plurality of different wireless sub-networks through each of the plurality of physical access points, with each virtual access controller providing one of the different wireless sub-networks using the virtual access point associated with each of the plurality of physical access points coupled to that virtual access controller.

Abstract: A power sourcing equipment (PSE) device including a power over Ethernet (PoE) interface. A processor is coupled to the PoE interface. A memory is coupled to the processor and includes instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a number of functions. The processor may supply power at a first power level to a PD that is coupled to the PoE interface. The processor may then determine an actual power consumption of the PD. The processor may then send a first Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) packet to the PD over the PoE interface that includes first proposed power level information that is based on the actual power consumption of the PD. Then processor may then supply power to the PD at a second power level that is different from the first power level.

Abstract: A power allocation system includes a manager provided on a network controller. An agent is provided on a line module coupled to the network controller. The agent is operable to detect a connection of a powered device to a port on the line module and communicate that to the manager. The manager then classifies the powered device and provides a first power to the powered device through the port from a global power budget according to the classification. At least one of the manager and agent then monitor the power consumption of the powered device subsequent to providing the first power, and a second power is provided to the powered device through the port from the global power budget according to the monitoring, wherein the second power is different from the first power.

Abstract: A network switching system includes a storage device including a plurality of application-provided flow-based rules provided by a plurality of applications. A packet processor is coupled to the storage device and includes a flow-based handler that is operable to receive a packet, determine that the packet is associated with a flow session, and associate a plurality of the application-provided flow-based rules with the packet based the association of the packet with the flow session. The packet processor also includes a flow-based rule processing engine that is operable to determine a priority for the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules and apply at least one of the plurality of application-provided flow-based rules to the packet according to the priority. The system allows a plurality of SDN applications to operate in a network switching system independently and without knowledge of each other.

Abstract: A flow-based network switching system includes a memory having a flow table and a packet processor coupled to the memory. The packet processor includes a user-programmable flow-based rule storage that includes a plurality of flow-based rules. A flow-based handler and session manager in the packet processor is operable to retrieve application layer metadata from a first packet received over a network, determine a first flow session associated with the first packet using the application layer metadata from the first packet and the flow table, and retrieve at least one of the plurality of flow-based rules from the programmable flow-based rule storage using the application layer metadata from the first packet. A flow-based rule processing engine in the packet processor is operable to apply the at least one flow-based rule to the first packet. Packets with applied flow-based rules are forwarded through the network.

Abstract: An access controller is coupled to a plurality of physical access points. The access controller is operable to create a plurality of virtual access controllers that are each coupled to the plurality of physical access points. The access controller then creates a different virtual access point for each of the plurality of virtual access controllers, and associates the virtual access point of each virtual access controller with each of the plurality of physical access points coupled to that virtual access controller. The access controller then provides a plurality of different wireless sub-networks through each of the plurality of physical access points, with each virtual access controller providing one of the different wireless sub-networks using the virtual access point associated with each of the plurality of physical access points coupled to that virtual access controller.

Abstract: A power sourcing equipment (PSE) device including a power over Ethernet (PoE) interface. A processor is coupled to the PoE interface. A memory is coupled to the processor and includes instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a number of functions. The processor may supply power at a first power level to a PD that is coupled to the PoE interface. The processor may then determine an actual power consumption of the PD. The processor may then send a first Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) packet to the PD over the PoE interface that includes first proposed power level information that is based on the actual power consumption of the PD. Then processor may then supply power to the PD at a second power level that is different from the first power level.

Abstract: A power allocation system includes a manager provided on a network controller. An agent is provided on a line module coupled to the network controller. The agent is operable to detect a connection of a powered device to a port on the line module and communicate that to the manager. The manager then classifies the powered device and provides a first power to the powered device through the port from a global power budget according to the classification. At least one of the manager and agent then monitor the power consumption of the powered device subsequent to providing the first power, and a second power is provided to the powered device through the port from the global power budget according to the monitoring, wherein the second power is different from the first power.