System and method for configuring capabilities of printed circuit boards

1. A method for configuring a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) mounted in a cabinet, wherein each PCB has a corresponding set of capabilities, the method comprising:

providing an initial configuration describing a first set of capabilities corresponding to each PCB as currently configured;

modifying the initial configuration through a user interface to produce a new configuration describing a second set of capabilities corresponding to each PCB after configuring is complete;

saving the initial configuration as modified by the user interface to be the new configuration; and

configuring the plurality of PCBs according to the new configuration,

wherein modifying the initial configuration further comprises:

displaying on screen a representation of each PCB, arranged in a first arrangement, such that the first arrangement corresponds generally to a second arrangement of the plurality of PCBs;

selecting at least one PCB to be modified; and

modifying at least one capability in the first set of capabilities for the at least one selected PCB.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second arrangement is the arrangement of the plurality of PCBs in the cabinet.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of PCBs is electrically connected to an appearance in a distribution frame, and

wherein the second arrangement is the arrangement of the appearances in the distribution frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the PCBs contains a firmware module, and wherein configuring the plurality of new PCBs comprises upgrading the firmware module.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein saving the initial configuration further comprises validating the new configuration according to at least one rule.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the rule applies across capabilities on the same PCB.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the rule applies across capabilities on different PCBs.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the rule is an ordering rule.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying at least one capability further comprises choosing a value from a limited set of values.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) mounted in a cabinet, wherein each PCB has a corresponding set of capabilities; and

a configuration console comprising:

a memory to store one or more programs, where programs comprise executable instructions;

a processor in communication with the memory through a local interface for executing instructions from the one or more programs stored in memory;

a display in communication with the processor through the local interface, used by the one or more programs as an output device;

an input device in communication with the processor through the local interface, used by the one or more programs to obtain user input;

logic configured to provide an initial configuration describing a first set of capabilities corresponding to each PCB as currently configured;

logic configured to modify the initial configuration through a user interface to produce a new configuration describing a second set of capabilities corresponding to each PCB after configuring is complete;

logic configured to save the initial configuration as modified by the user interface to be the new configuration; and

logic configured to configure the plurality of PCBs according to the new configuration,

wherein the logic to configure to modify further comprises:

logic configured to display on screen a representation of each PCB, arranged in a first arrangement, such that the first arrangement of representations corresponds generally to a second arrangement of the plurality of PCBs;

logic configured to select at least one PCB to be modified; and

logic configured to modify at least one capability in the first set of capabilities for the at least one selected PCB.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second arrangement is the arrangement of the plurality of PCBs in the cabinet.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of PCBs is electrically connected to an appearance in a distribution frame, and

wherein the second arrangement is the arrangement of the appearances in the distribution frame.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the PCBs contains a firmware module, and wherein configuring the plurality of new PCBs comprises upgrading the firmware module.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the logic to save the initial configuration further comprises logic to validate the new configuration according to at least one rule.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rule applies across capabilities on the same PCB.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rule applies across capabilities on different PCBs.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rule is an ordering rule.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the logic to modify at least one capability further comprises logic to choose a value from a limited set of values.

19. A computer readable storage medium containing program code for controlling a method for configuring a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) mounted in a cabinet, wherein each PCB has a corresponding set of capabilities, comprising logic to perform the steps of:

providing an initial configuration describing a first set of capabilities corresponding to each PCB as currently configured;

modifying the initial configuration through a user interface to produce a new configuration describing a second set of capabilities corresponding to each PCB after configuring is complete;

saving the initial configuration as modified by the user interface to be the new configuration; and

configuring the plurality of PCBs according to the new configuration,

wherein modifying the initial configuration further comprises:

displaying on screen a representation of each PCB, arranged in a first arrangement, such that the first arrangement of representations corresponds generally to a second arrangement of the plurality of PCBs;

selecting at least one PCB to be modified; and

modifying at least one capability in the first set of capabilities for the at least one selected PCB.