Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method to use discovery packets, such as in an LLDP message, for determining operational status of a rack system. A network device is connected to the port of a switch. Operational data may be sent or received via a discovery packet to the network device. The operational data may be determined by a management agent on the network device and sent to a management controller via the discovery packet. The operational data may be determined by the management controller and sent to the network device.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently allocating device resources is disclosed. A composer application is executed by a management controller. A fabric box includes fabric switches and a fabric controller. A network is coupled to the management controller and the fabric box. Host servers are each coupled to an upstream port of one of the fabric switches. Multiple device resources are coupled to downstream ports of the fabric switches. The fabric controller determines the path distances between each of the downstream ports and each of the upstream ports. The composer application selects a device based on the shortest path distance to a requested host server in response to an allocation command.

Abstract: Systems and method for automatically composing resources with redundant fabric switches to support dual path HA storage access operation in a data center are provided. A data management module can be used to determine one or more drives in the data center that are connected to fabric switches. The fabric switches have a same chassis ID. The data management module can then associate the one or more drives to a first computer system via one fabric switch of the fabric switches, and associate the one or more to a second computer system via the other one fabric switch of the two fabric switches. In response to receiving a request from a specific user, the data management module can compose suitable resources of the data center to match the request based at least upon the one or more drives, the two switches, the first computer system, and the second computer system.

Abstract: A system and method for insuring efficiency of a serial link between a host server and a switch is disclosed. A fabric switch has upstream ports associated with a serial link. A fabric controller is coupled to the switch. A host server includes a BIOS and a management controller. The host server has ports coupled to the serial link ports via cables to form lanes of the serial link. A memory is accessible by the controller and the management controller. The management controller reads an expected speed and width of the serial link from the memory. The BIOS determines an actual speed and width of the serial link. The management controller sends an error message if the actual speed and width do not match the expected speed and width.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for automatically composing resources in a data center using a management application. The management application can communicate with a data center management software to collect information of computer resource, storage resource, and network resource of the data center. Based at least upon the network resource information of the data center, the management application can generate a network topology of the data center. In response to receiving a request from a specific user, the management application can compose suitable resources of the data center to match the request.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of servers in a server rack and a plurality of baseboard management controllers (BMCs), each associated with a respective server from the plurality of servers. The system further includes a rack management controller (RMC). A first BMC of a first server determines component types of hardware components in the first server, determines a quantity of each of the component types in the first server, determines a first weight information of the first server based on the component types and the quantity of each of the component types, and sends to the RMC the first weight information. The RMC determines a weight of other components in the server rack, and calculates a loaded rack weight of the server rack based on the first weight information and the weight of other components.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for automatically configuring multiple chassis links in a multi-chassis system using a management controller. The management controller can request and receive switch port data from a plurality of server systems, and a plurality of switches of the multi-chassis system. Based upon received switch port data, the management controller can determine peer link ports for a first switch and a second switch of the plurality of switches; select suitable port groups from a plurality of ports of the first switch and the second switch based upon the received switch port data; and configure ports in each suitable port group as a MC-LAG member port for the corresponding suitable port group.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient allocation of remote storage devices to computing devices in a rack is disclosed. An end of the rack switch is provided with physical storage devices and a storage service. The switch includes ports that are coupled to network interface cards of computing servers. The storage service allows each of the computing servers to access the physical storage devices. The network interface card includes a controller that can be configured into virtual storage controllers to allow access to different storage volumes.

Abstract: Various examples of the present technology provide a cluster-architecture to support a scalable pooled-NVMe storage box that can be shared among a scalable number of nodes. The scalable pooled-NVMe storage box comprises NVMe drives, one or more switches and one or more switch ports. The number of NVMe drives in the scalable scalable-pooled-NVMe storage box can be scaled up or down based upon a number of nodes that need to share the scalable pooled-NVMe storage box.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient allocation of remote storage devices to computing devices in a rack is disclosed. An end of the rack switch is provided with physical storage devices and a storage service. The switch includes ports that are coupled to network interface cards of computing servers. The storage service allows each of the computing servers to access the physical storage devices. The network interface card includes a controller that can be configured into virtual storage controllers to allow access to different storage volumes.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method to automatically configure the fanout modes of ports of a switch in a network system. The network node coupled to the port of the network switch is discovered. A plurality of fanout modes for the port is determined. The port is configured with one of the plurality of fanout modes. The system may also use neighboring ports to determine the maximum speed of a network interface card of the network node.

Abstract: A system and method for insuring efficiency of a serial link between a host server and a switch is disclosed. A fabric switch has upstream ports associated with a serial link. A fabric controller is coupled to the switch. A host server includes a BIOS and a management controller. The host server has ports coupled to the serial link ports via cables to form lanes of the serial link. A memory is accessible by the controller and the management controller. The management controller reads an expected speed and width of the serial link from the memory. The BIOS determines an actual speed and width of the serial link. The management controller sends an error message if the actual speed and width do not match the expected speed and width.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently allocating device resources is disclosed. A composer application is executed by a management controller. A fabric box includes fabric switches and a fabric controller. A network is coupled to the management controller and the fabric box. Host servers are each coupled to an upstream port of one of the fabric switches. Multiple device resources are coupled to downstream ports of the fabric switches. The fabric controller determines the path distances between each of the downstream ports and each of the upstream ports. The composer application selects a device based on the shortest path distance to a requested host server in response to an allocation command.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to out-of-band management of a computing system. The present technology discloses enable a primary service controller to provide a centralized configuration of multiple secondary service controllers so that they can share a same configuration. It can utilize an authentication-free protocol to modify and manage credentials for a large number of service controllers.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to link state change detection and notification within a server with embedded or directly integrated network switch. In a server configuration in which there is no longer a distinct separation between a network switch and a network interface card (NIC), the server can no longer immediately detect a change in the link state of any of the switch's ports. This can lead to connection failure. A Link State Policy Table is thus implemented within the embedded or integrated switch, capable of changing the NIC link state according to one or more pre-defined or user-defined policy settings. The server is then notified of the change in the NIC link state, and can release an old IP address or request a new IP address accordingly.

Abstract: Various examples of the present technology provide a cluster-architecture to support a scalable pooled-NVMe storage box that can be shared among a scalable number of nodes. The scalable pooled-NVMe storage box comprises NVMe drives, one or more switches and one or more switch ports. The number of NVMe drives in the scalable scalable-pooled-NVMe storage box can be scaled up or down based upon a number of nodes that need to share the scalable pooled-NVMe storage box.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method to automatically configure the fanout modes of ports of a switch in a network system. The network node coupled to the port of the network switch is discovered. A plurality of fanout modes for the port is determined. The port is configured with one of the plurality of fanout modes. The system may also use neighboring ports to determine the maximum speed of a network interface card of the network node.

Abstract: A method and system to automatically configure a port on an Ethernet switch is disclosed. An Ethernet switch including a port connectable to a node is provided. A system node is coupled to the port of the Ethernet switch. The node sends a discovery packet to the Ethernet switch. The discovery packet includes role identity information of the node. The Ethernet switch determines whether the role identity information is matched with a role identification. The Ethernet switch configures the port from configuration data associated with the role identification.

Abstract: Various examples of the present technology provide a cluster-architecture to support a scalable pooled-NVMe storage box that can be shared among a scalable number of nodes. The scalable pooled-NVMe storage box comprises NVMe drives, one or more switches and one or more switch ports. The number of NVMe drives in the scalable scalable-pooled-NVMe storage box can be scaled up or down based upon a number of nodes that need to share the scalable pooled-NVMe storage box.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for automatically composing resources in a data center using a management application. The management application can communicate with a data center management software to collect information of computer resource, storage resource, and network resource of the data center. Based at least upon the network resource information of the data center, the management application can generate a network topology of the data center. In response to receiving a request from a specific user, the management application can compose suitable resources of the data center to match the request.