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 subnetworks through each of the plurality of physical access points, with each virtual access controller providing one of the different wireless subnetworks using the virtual access point associated with each of the plurality of physical access points coupled to that virtual access controller.

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 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 information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for expanding the port count in a single Fiber Channel domain by adding modular Fiber Channel switches. Such a system includes a system enclosure that contains a plurality of Fiber Channel modules configured to send and receive Fiber Channel packets, the Fiber Channel modules providing a plurality of Fiber Channel ports and a switch processor coupled to the plurality of Fiber Channel ports and to a plurality of Ethernet ports. The switch processor is configured to apply a stacking header to Fiber Channel packets for transmission from one of the plurality of Ethernet ports over a stacking link to another switch processor in another system enclosure.

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 information handling system is provided herein. The information handling system includes a controlling bridge having a plurality of bridge ports and at least one port extender coupled to one of the bridge ports of the controlling bridge to form an extended bridge. The port extender has a plurality of extension ports. The information handling system further includes an access point coupled to the port extender such that a wireless association between the access point and one or more stations appears as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access controller system. The access point has a wireless transceiver to communication with the one or more stations. Associated methods are provided herein for providing wireless network access to a local area network.

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: A network switching device includes a macroflow sub-plane that performs packet-based routing in the network switching device and a microflow routing sub-plane that performs flow-based routing in the network switching device. The microflow routing sub-plane receives a first data packet, determines that the first data packet is associated with a first flow page, wherein the first flow page comprises a plurality of flow entries, determines that the first flow page is not resident in a routing table of the microflow routing sub-plane, and requests the first flow page from a software defined network (SDN) controller.

Abstract: A system and method for handling context aware network includes a managing server including a control unit, a memory coupled to the control unit, one or more virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) tables stored in the memory, and one or more ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the managing server to a network. The managing server is configured to store VRF information in the one or more VRF tables, receive a request packet including a context from a first edge switch, determine the context included in the request packet, examine the one or more VRF tables to identify a VRF-ID associated with the context, and forward a VRF configuration flow control message to the first edge switch. The managing server is further configured to forward one or more additional VRF configuration flow control messages to one or more second edge switches.

Abstract: A network device includes a port coupled to a device, another port coupled to another device, and an access control list with an access control entry that causes the network device to permit log in frames to be forwarded from the first device to the second device. The network device receives a frame addressed to the second device and determines the frame type. If the frame type is a log in frame, then the frame is forwarded to the second device and another access control entry is added to the access control list. The second access control entry causes the network device to permit data frames to be forwarded from the first device to the second device. If not, then the frame is dropped based upon the first access control entry.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided herein. The information handling system includes a controlling bridge having a plurality of bridge ports and at least one port extender coupled to one of the bridge ports of the controlling bridge to form an extended bridge. The port extender has a plurality of extension ports. The information handling system further includes an access point coupled to the port extender such that a wireless association between the access point and one or more stations appears as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access controller system. The access point has a wireless transceiver to communication with the one or more stations. Associated methods are provided herein for providing wireless network access to a local area network.

Abstract: A network switching device includes a macroflow sub-plane that performs packet-based routing, a microflow routing module that performs flow-based routing, and a software defined network (SDN) agent. The microflow routing module includes a packet processing module and a virtual port, and is operable to determine that the packet processing module is to be utilized to process a flow, direct the flow to the packet processing module via the virtual port in response to determine that the packet processing module is to be utilized to process the flow, process the flow using the packet processing module, and direct the flow to a destination associated with the flow. The SDN agent sends a port status message to a SDN controller indicating that the microflow routing module includes the virtual port and that the virtual port is associated with the packet processing module.

Abstract: An electrical equipment chassis includes a frame open to a first side and an opposite second side and a power board located near a mid-plane of the chassis coupling power supply modules to first networking modules and a second networking module. A first region open to the first side can receive first power supply modules. A second region open to the first side is adjacent to the first region and can receive the first networking modules and the second networking module oriented with a first orientation. A third region open to the second side can receive fan trays with fans and third networking modules. The third networking modules are oriented orthogonal to the first orientation. The power board at least partially separates the first and third regions and only partially separates the second and third regions. The chassis permits air flow from the first side to the second side.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided herein. The information handling system includes a controlling bridge having a plurality of bridge ports and at least one port extender coupled to one of the bridge ports of the controlling bridge to form an extended bridge. The port extender has a plurality of extension ports. The information handling system further includes an access point coupled to the port extender such that a wireless association between the access point and one or more stations appears as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access controller system. The access point has a wireless transceiver to communication with the one or more stations. Associated methods are provided herein for providing wireless network access to a local area network.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for expanding the port count in a single Fibre Channel domain by adding modular Fibre Channel switches. Such a system includes a system enclosure that contains a plurality of Fibre Channel modules configured to send and receive Fibre Channel packets, the Fibre Channel modules providing a plurality of Fibre Channel ports and a switch processor coupled to the plurality of Fibre Channel ports and to a plurality of Ethernet ports. The switch processor is configured to apply a stacking header to Fibre Channel packets for transmission from one of the plurality of Ethernet ports over a stacking link to another switch processor in another system enclosure.

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 system and method for handling context aware network includes a managing server including a control unit, a memory coupled to the control unit, one or more virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) tables stored in the memory, and one or more ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the managing server to a network. The managing server is configured to store VRF information in the one or more VRF tables, receive a request packet including a context from a first edge switch, determine the context included in the request packet, examine the one or more VRF tables to identify a VRF-ID associated with the context, and forward a VRF configuration flow control message to the first edge switch. The managing server is further configured to forward one or more additional VRF configuration flow control messages to one or more second edge switches.

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 information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for expanding the port count in a single Fiber Channel domain by adding modular Fiber Channel switches. Such a system includes a system enclosure that contains a plurality of Fiber Channel modules configured to send and receive Fiber Channel packets, the Fiber Channel modules providing a plurality of Fiber Channel ports and a switch processor coupled to the plurality of Fiber Channel ports and to a plurality of Ethernet ports. The switch processor is configured to apply a stacking header to Fiber Channel packets for transmission from one of the plurality of Ethernet ports over a stacking link to another switch processor in another system enclosure.

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.