Method for connecting gigabit interface converters with serial identification capability into an active two-wire serial bus

1. A method for connecting an interface to a serial bus comprising:

sensing at least one identification line for the interface;

identifying an interface type from the at least one identification line; and

switching the interface onto or off the serial bus depending on the interface type identified;

wherein the at least one identification line comprises three TTL-compatible signal lines, and wherein the three TTL-compatible signal lines specify at least eight gigabit interface converter (GBIC) types.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching the interface off the serial bus based on a criteria.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising identifying a change of interface type from the at least one identification line, wherein the criteria is the identification of a change of type.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the criteria is a power-up operation.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the criteria is a power failure.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising resetting the interface, wherein the interface is switched off the serial bus during reset.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the criteria is the removal of a GBIC.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a Fibre Channel Interface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one identification line specifies at least one serial type of interface and at least one non-serial type of interface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one non-serial type of interface comprises a TTL low signal line or TTL high signal line.

11. A configurable serial bus interface comprising:

at least one identification line input;

an input identification monitor;

a serial bus; and

an isolator circuit to isolate the serial bus interface from the serial bus when a serial interface is not identified;

wherein the interface comprises three inputs connected to three TTL-compatible identification lines, and wherein the three TTL-compatible identification lines specify at least eight gigabit interface converter (GBIC) configurations.

12. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the serial bus interface transmits via the serial bus when a serial interface configuration is identified.

13. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the isolator circuit isolates the serial bus interface from the serial bus during power up.

14. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the isolator circuit isolates the serial bus interface from the serial bus during power failure.

15. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the isolator circuit isolates the serial bus interface from the serial bus when the interface is reset.

16. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the interface comprises a Fibre Channel Interface.

17. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the isolator circuit isolates the serial bus interface from the serial bus when a GBIC is removed.

18. A serial bus interface controller comprising:

an input monitoring circuit;

a serial bus enable circuit; and

a reset circuit,

wherein the serial bus enable circuit isolates the serial bus interface from a serial bus when the input monitoring circuit detects a non-serial type of operation,

wherein the reset circuit isolates the serial bus interface from a serial bus during reset, and

wherein the an input monitoring circuit monitors three TTL-compatible signal lines, and wherein the three TTL-compatible signal lines specify at least eight gigabit interface converter (GBIC) types.

19. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the serial bus enable circuit isolates the serial bus interface from a serial bus when the input monitoring circuit detects a change in type of operation.

20. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the serial bus enable circuit isolates the serial bus interface from a serial bus during power up.

21. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the serial bus enable circuit isolates the serial bus interface from a serial bus during power failure.

22. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the interface comprises a Fibre Channel Interface.

23. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the serial bus enable circuit isolates the serial bus interface from a serial bus when a GBIC is removed.