Systems and methods for in-situ fabric link optimization in a modular information handling system chassis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9836309-B2
Application number	US-201414488651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2014
Priority date	Sep 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include, during boot of a modular information handling system disposed in a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems and a plurality of modular information handling resources, pausing execution of a basic input/output system. The method may also include communicating a first indicator, wherein the first indicator causes a chassis management controller of the chassis to perform link optimization operations of a communication link between the modular information handling system and a modular information handling resource. The method may further include, in response to communication by the chassis management controller of a second indicator, the second indicator indicating completion of link optimization operations by the chassis management controller, unpausing execution of the basic input/output system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium; and
computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to perform link optimization operations in a modular information handling system disposed in a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems and a plurality of modular information handling resources, the link optimization operations comprising:
determining if a modular information handling resource disposed in the chassis and communicatively coupled to a modular information handling system disposed in the chassis is identified in a whitelist;
if the modular information handling resource is identified in the whitelist, retrieving typical operating parameters stored in the whitelist and associated with the information handling resource;
if the modular information handling resource is not identified in the whitelist, retrieving target operating parameters stored in a computer readable medium integral to the modular information handling resource and associated with the information handling resource;
determining if actual operating parameters of a communication link between the modular information handling resource and the modular information handling system satisfy the typical operating parameters or the target operating parameters; and
performing a remedial action if actual operating parameters of a communication link between the modular information handling resource and the modular information handling system do not satisfy the typical operating parameters or the target operating parameters.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the typical operating parameters, the target operating parameters, and the actual operating parameters comprise at least one of a speed of the communication link and a link width of the communication link.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the remedial action comprises at least one of tuning the communication link such that the actual operating parameters satisfy the typical operating parameters or the target operating parameters and healing the communication link.

4. The article of claim 1 , the instructions for causing the processor to perform the link optimization operations during a boot of the modular information handling system.

5. A method comprising, performing link optimization operations in a modular information handling system disposed in a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems and a plurality of modular information handling resources, the link optimization operations comprising:
determining if a modular information handling resource disposed in the chassis and communicatively coupled to a modular information handling system disposed in the chassis is identified in a whitelist;
if the modular information handling resource is identified in the whitelist, retrieving typical operating parameters stored in the whitelist and associated with the information handling resource;
if the modular information handling resource is not identified in the whitelist, retrieving target operating parameters stored in a computer readable medium integral to the modular information handling resource and associated with the information handling resource;
determining if actual operating parameters of a communication link between the modular information handling resource and the modular information handling system satisfy the typical operating parameters or the target operating parameters; and
performing a remedial action if actual operating parameters of a communication link between the modular information handling resource and the modular information handling system do not satisfy the typical operating parameters or the target operating parameters.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the typical operating parameters, the target operating parameters, and the actual operating parameters comprise at least one of a speed of the communication link and a link width of the communication link.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the remedial action comprises at least one of tuning the communication link such that the actual operating parameters satisfy the typical operating parameters or the target operating parameters and healing the communication link.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising performing the link optimization operations during a boot of the modular information handling system.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Lambert Timothy M
• Kuruvila Binay A
• Dube Shawn Joel

Classifications

• G06F9/4411 Primary

  Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers · CPC title

• G06F13/4022

  using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence) · CPC title