Double-buffer insertion count stored in a device attached to a physical layer medium

A method comprising:

• storing a first copy of an insertion count to a storage device of a connector during a first set of one or more storage operations, wherein the insertion count indicates a number of insertions of the connector into any port;
• storing a second copy of the insertion count to the storage device during a second set of one or more storage operations;
• and
• reading a second copy of a previous insertion count from the storage device.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a port having a media interface configured to couple with a storage device interface of a connector, the connector also including a storage device;
• a programmable processor configured to execute software;
• wherein an insertion count indicates a number of insertions of a connector into at least one port;
• wherein the software is configured to detect an insertion of the connector into the port;
• wherein the software is configured to determine an insertion count for the connector from information read from the storage device;
• wherein the software is further configured to increment the insertion count;
• wherein the software is further configured to update the information stored in the storage device in order to store the incremented insertion count to the storage device through a plurality of redundant storage operations;
• wherein the plurality of redundant storage operations includes a first storage operation to store a first copy of the incremented insertion count to the storage device and a second storage operation to store the second copy of the incremented insertion count to the storage device;
• and
• wherein the first storage operation completes before the first copy operation begins.

A method comprising:

• detecting an insertion of a connector into a port, the connector including a storage device;
• reading a first copy of an insertion count from the storage device;
• validating a first checksum of the first copy of the insertion count;
• reading a second copy of the insertion count from the storage device;
• validating a second checksum of the second copy of the insertion count;
• incrementing the first copy of the insertion count;
• storing a first copy of the incremented insertion count to the storage device;
• and
• storing a second copy of the incremented insertion count to the storage device.

A system comprising:

• a connector assembly comprising a port having a media interface configured to interface with a storage device interface of a connector, the connector attached to a segment of physical communication media, and the connector also including a storage device;
• and
• an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the connector assembly, wherein the aggregation point is configured to cause the connector assembly to send to the aggregation point at least some of the data read from the storage device attached to the connector connected to the port of the connector assembly;
• wherein the aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the data sent by the connector assembly to the aggregation point;
• and
• wherein the connector assembly is configured to store an insertion count to the storage device through a plurality of redundant storage operations, wherein the insertion count indicates a number of insertions of the connector into any port, wherein the plurality of redundant storage operations sequentially store a first copy of the insertion count and a second copy of the insertion count to the storage device.