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US 8,798,456 B2Granted
Diagnostic port for inter-switch link testing in electrical, optical and remote loopback modes
AssigneeBrocade Communications Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid Aaron Skirmont, Saumitra Buragohain, Balakrishna Wusirika, Badrinath Kollu, Kyuh Kim
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Abstract
A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform single link diagnostics tests including an electrical loopback test, an optical loopback test, a link traffic test, and a link distance measurement test. To perform the diagnostic tests, two ports at each end of a link are identified and then statically configured by a user. The ports will be configured as D_Ports and as such will be isolated from the fabric with no data traffic flowing through them. The ports will then be used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests.
Claims19
A device comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a network port coupled to the processor, the network port connected to a media interface module;
- wherein the media interface module includes capabilities to loopback incoming optical signals;
- wherein the processor is adapted to configure the media interface to not loopback incoming optical signals;
- wherein the processor is adapted to provide a diagnostic frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback to the network port and to receive through the network port a diagnostic accept frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback;
- wherein the processor is adapted to provide frames to the network port for transmission, upon receiving the diagnostic accept frame;
- and
- wherein a series of signaling events occur over the link as part of diagnostic testing, the signaling including toggling the network port on and off.
6 more elements
A network comprising:
- a first device including a first processor and a first network port coupled to the first processor, the network port being connected to a first media interface;
- a second device including a second processor and a second network port coupled to the second processor, the network port being connected to a second media interface;
- and
- a link connected to the first device media interface and the second device media interface;
- wherein each media interface includes capabilities to loopback incoming optical signals;
- wherein each processor is adapted to configure the processor's respective media interface to loopback or not loopback incoming optical signals;
- wherein the second processor is adapted to provide a diagnostic frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback to the link after the first device and the second device media interfaces are configured to not loopback incoming optical signals;
- wherein the first processor is adapted to receive the diagnostic frame and in response return a diagnostic accept frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback and configure the first media interface to loopback incoming optical signals;
- and
- wherein the second processor is adapted to receive the diagnostic accept frame and in response input frames onto the link;
- and
- wherein a series of signaling events occur over the link as part of diagnostic testing, the signaling including toggling at least one of the first network port and the second network port on and off.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- configuring a first device media interface and second device media interface module to not loopback incoming optical signals;
- providing by the first device media interface module a diagnostic frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback to a link, the link connecting the first device media interface module to the second device media interface module, wherein the diagnostic frame is provided after the media interfaces are configured to not loopback incoming optical signals;
- receiving by the second device media interface the diagnostic frame and in response returning a diagnostic accept frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback and configuring the second device media interface to loopback incoming optical signals;
- and
- receiving by the first device media interface the diagnostic accept frame and in response inputting frames onto the link when the second media interface has been configured to loopback the incoming optical signals;
- wherein said diagnostic frame and diagnostic accept frame exchange occurs prior to inputting the frames onto the link;
- and
- wherein a series of signaling events occur over the link as part of diagnostic testing, the signaling including toggling at least one of two network ports connected to the link on and off.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- configuring a media interface not to loopback incoming optical signals;
- providing a diagnostic frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback to a network port, the network port being connected to the media interface;
- wherein the diagnostic frame is provided after the media interface is configured to not loopback incoming optical signals;
- transmitting the diagnostic frame;
- receiving a diagnostic accept frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback and in response providing frames for transmission at the network port;
- and
- receiving a series of signals as part of diagnostic testing, wherein at least some of the signals toggle the network port on and off.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- configuring a media interface not to loopback incoming optical signals;
- receiving a diagnostic frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback by a network port, the network port being connected to the media interface, and the diagnostic frame being received after the media interface is configured to not loopback incoming optical signals;
- returning, in response to the diagnostic frame, a diagnostic accept frame indicating diagnostic mode and optical loopback and configuring the media interface to loopback incoming optical signals;
- receiving frames at the network port after the media interface is configured to loopback incoming optical signals;
- and
- receiving a series of signals as part of diagnostic testing, wherein at least some of the signals toggle the network port on and off.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.