Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for managing an IT environment via a social network management operation. In various embodiments, the social network management operation enables an IT administrator to manage an IT environment using a social network analog. With the social network analog, IT administrators identify devices within the IT environment as friends. Additionally, in certain embodiments, events that occur in the devices which have been identified as friends by the IT administrators can be associated with an interest list. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the IT environment includes a plurality of spans of control, each of which is administered by different IT administrators.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for controlling power delivery in a power sourcing equipment. In embodiments, a power sourcing equipment that has a higher demand for power that it can provide supplies power according to priorities assigned to the attached devices. In embodiments, the power sourcing equipment may also receive identifying information from a device connected to the port and determines whether the device is a trusted device according to a security policy. If the device is not a trusted device, the power sourcing equipment may not provide any power to the device regardless of whether power is available.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide automatic provisioning of a port in an information handling system, such as a router, switch, bridge, etc., according to the cable type that is inserted into the port. In embodiments, if a user has inserted a break-out cable into a port that is not configured for break-out mode, the information handling system quickly and transparently changes the port configuration to a break-out mode. Conversely, when a user inserts a non-break-out cable that cannot be fanned out into a quad-mode port, the information handling system configures that port to native mode (i.e., non-break-out mode). In embodiments, the user may override auto-configuration. In embodiments, one or more port configurations may be stored and applied to a port by a user.

Abstract: A system and method for temperature management of information handling systems includes network switching device including a control unit, one or more ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the switch to a network, one or more tables stored in a memory coupled to the control unit, and a thermal sensor coupled to the control unit. The one or more tables include information associating each of the one or more ports with one or more threshold temperatures. The switch is configured to measure a temperature of the switch by the thermal sensor, compare the temperature with the one or more threshold temperatures, and adjust an operating state of the one of more ports based on the temperature and the one or more threshold temperatures. The network switching device may be a switch, a member of a stacked switch, a router, a bridge, a hub, and/or the like.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for managing an IT environment via a social network management operation. In various embodiments, the social network management operation enables an IT administrator to manage an IT environment using a social network analog. With the social network analog, IT administrators identify devices within the IT environment as friends. Additionally, in certain embodiments, events that occur in the devices which have been identified as friends by the IT administrators can be associated with an interest list. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the IT environment includes a plurality of spans of control, each of which is administered by different IT administrators.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for controlling power delivery in a power sourcing equipment. In embodiments, a power sourcing equipment that has a higher demand for power that it can provide supplies power according to priorities assigned to the attached devices. In embodiments, the power sourcing equipment may also receive identifying information from a device connected to the port and determines whether the device is a trusted device according to a security policy. If the device is not a trusted device, the power sourcing equipment may not provide any power to the device regardless of whether power is available.

Abstract: A self-configuring port system includes a first type interface device that is configured to couple to a network switch port that is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes. A plurality of second type interface devices each coupled to the first type interface device by at least one cable. Each of the plurality of second type interface devices includes an auto-negotiation engine that is configured to advertise each of the plurality of different modes. When coupled to a respective peer device and advertising each of the plurality of different modes, each of the auto-negotiation engines in the plurality of second type interface devices is configured to perform an auto-negotiation function with the respective peer device to select a first mode of the plurality of different modes for use in transmitting data between the network switch port and the respective peer device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for controlling power delivery to a port in a power sourcing equipment. The power sourcing equipment receives identity information from a device connected to the port and determines whether the device is a trusted device or a rogue device according to a security policy. If the device is a trusted device, the power sourcing equipment supplies data and electrical power to the port according to a priority policy. If the device is a rogue device, the power source equipment does not supply electrical power to the port.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for controlling power delivery to a port in a power sourcing equipment. The power sourcing equipment receives identity information from a device connected to the port and determines whether the device is a trusted device or a rogue device according to a security policy. If the device is a trusted device, the power sourcing equipment supplies data and electrical power to the port according to a priority policy. If the device is a rogue device, the power source equipment does not supply electrical power to the port.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide automatic provisioning of a port in an information handling system, such as a router, switch, bridge, etc., according to the cable type that is inserted into the port. In embodiments, if a user has inserted a break-out cable into a port that is not configured for break-out mode, the information handling system quickly and transparently changes the port configuration to a break-out mode. Conversely, when a user inserts a non-break-out cable that cannot be fanned out into a quad-mode port, the information handling system configures that port to native mode (i.e., non-break-out mode). In embodiments, the user may override auto-configuration. In embodiments, one or more port configurations may be stored and applied to a port by a user.

Abstract: A system and method for temperature management of information handling systems includes network switching device including a control unit, one or more ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the switch to a network, one or more tables stored in a memory coupled to the control unit, and a thermal sensor coupled to the control unit. The one or more tables include information associating each of the one or more ports with one or more threshold temperatures. The switch is configured to measure a temperature of the switch by the thermal sensor, compare the temperature with the one or more threshold temperatures, and adjust an operating state of the one of more ports based on the temperature and the one or more threshold temperatures. The network switching device may be a switch, a member of a stacked switch, a router, a bridge, a hub, and/or the like.

Abstract: A self-configuring port system includes a first type interface device that is configured to couple to a network switch port that is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes. A plurality of second type interface devices each coupled to the first type interface device by at least one cable. Each of the plurality of second type interface devices includes an auto-negotiation engine that is configured to advertise each of the plurality of different modes. When coupled to a respective peer device and advertising each of the plurality of different modes, each of the auto-negotiation engines in the plurality of second type interface devices is configured to perform an auto-negotiation function with the respective peer device to select a first mode of the plurality of different modes for use in transmitting data between the network switch port and the respective peer device.