Mechanism to provide physical location information to any network device

Multiple hardware modules configured to be mounted on a rail of a rack,

• the multiple hardware modules being mounted on the rail at an interval,
• each hardware module of the multiple hardware modules configured to mate with a corresponding network device,
• each hardware module of the multiple hardware modules comprising:
• a communication component capable of mating the hardware module to the corresponding network device associated with a respective hardware module when the corresponding network device is mounted on the rack to allow the corresponding network device to identify a physical location of the corresponding network device;
• a storage device connected to the communication component,
• the storage device storing information to be transmitted to the corresponding network device associated with the respective hardware module, via the communication component, when the corresponding network device is mounted on the rack;
• one or more processors to:
• receive a request from the corresponding network device for the information stored by the storage device,
• the request identifying network credentials,
• the request being received in association with the respective hardware module connecting to the corresponding network device and
• provide the information to the corresponding network device based on receiving the request from the corresponding network device;
• a mating component configured to mate the communication component and the corresponding network device;
• and
• a housing,
• wherein the respective hardware module is configured to be placed into one of one or more states including:
• a mating state wherein the mating component is extended from the housing for mating with the corresponding network device, and
• a non-mating state wherein the mating component is retracted within the housing, and
• wherein the respective hardware module is further configured to, when the corresponding network device is mounted on the rack, automatically switch to the mating state and automatically communicate the information to the corresponding network device.

An apparatus configured to be mounted on a rail of a rack, the apparatus comprising:

• multiple hardware modules mounted on the rail at an interval,
• each hardware module of the multiple hardware modules configured to mate with a corresponding network device,
• each hardware module of the multiple hardware modules including;
• a communication component for communicating with the corresponding network device associated with a respective hardware module when the corresponding network device is mounted on the rail of the rack,
• the communication component to allow the corresponding network device to identify a physical location of the corresponding network device;
• a storage device for storing information to be provided to the corresponding network device associated with the respective hardware module, via the communication component, when the corresponding network device is mounted on the rail of the rack;
• one or more processors to:
• receive a request from the corresponding network device for the information stored by the storage device,
• the request identifying network credentials,
• the request being received in association with the respective hardware module connecting to the corresponding network device and
• provide the information to the corresponding network device based on receiving the request from the corresponding network device;
• a mating component configured to mate the communication component and the corresponding network device;
• and
• a housing,
• wherein respective hardware module is configured to be placed into one of one or more states including:
• a mating state wherein the mating component is extended from the housing for mating with the corresponding network device, and
• a non-mating state wherein the mating component is retracted within the housing, and
• wherein the respective hardware module is further configured to, when the corresponding network device is mounted on the rack, automatically switch to the mating state and automatically communicate the information to the corresponding network device.