IP Library Granted Patent US 9,551,746
Granted Patent B2
US 9,551,746 · App. 14/644,867 · Granted Jan 24, 2017

Backplane testing system

Inventors: Umesh Chandra (Santa Cruz, CA); Timothy Thinh Mai (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G01R31/31703G01R31/31712G01R31/31716G01R31/31813
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,551,746
App. No.
14/644,867
Granted
Jan 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A backplane testing system includes a test backplane coupled to a test device chassis and including a first connector system, a second connector system, and channels that connect the first connector system and the second connector system. A first test device in a first test device slot on the test device chassis engages the first connector system and provides a loop back circuit for the first connector system. A second test device in a second test device slot on the test device chassis engages the second connector system. The second test device sends a test signal through a channel on the test backplane such that the test signal is provided to the loop back circuit on the first test device and received back through the channel. The second test device analyzes the test signal that is received to determine a testing compliance of the channel on the test backplane.

Claims (36)

1. A backplane testing system, comprising:

a test device chassis that defines a plurality of test device slots;

a test backplane that is coupled to the test device chassis adjacent the plurality of test device slots, wherein the test backplane includes a first connector system, a second connector system, and a plurality of channels that connect the first connector system and the second connector system;

a first test device that is located in a first test device slot of the plurality of test device slots and that engages the first connector system on the test backplane, wherein the first test device provides a loop back circuit for the first connector system; and

a second test device that is located in a second test device slot of the plurality of test device slots and that engages the second connector system on the test backplane, wherein the second test device is configured to send a test signal through at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane such that the test signal is provided to the loop back circuit on the first test device and received back through the at least one of the plurality of channels the test backplane, and wherein the second test device is configured to analyze the test signal that is received to determine a testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

2. The backplane testing system of claim 1 , wherein the test backplane is a networking device backplane, the first connector system is a line module connector system, and the second connector system is a route processing module connector system.

3. The backplane testing system of claim 2 , wherein the first test device engages the line module connector system that is configured to connect two line modules to the test backplane.

4. The backplane testing system of claim 1 , wherein the first test device engages a transmitter connection and a receiver connection on the first connector system to connect the transmitter connection and the receiver connection to the loop back circuit.

5. The backplane testing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an analyzer system on the second test device that is configured to create the test signal that includes a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) test pattern, and analyze a received PRBS test pattern in the test signal that is received to determine the testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

6. The backplane testing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a testing system that is coupled to the second test device, wherein the testing system is configured to determine eye details of the test signal that is received.

7. The backplane testing system of claim 1 , wherein the testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane is a speed testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

8. A networking device backplane testing system, comprising:

a line module loop back test device that is configured to engage a line module connector system on a test backplane, wherein the line module loop back test device provides a loop back circuit for the line module connector system; and

a route processing module test device that is configured to engage a route processing module connector system on the test backplane, wherein the route processing module test device is configured to send a test signal through at least one of a plurality of channels on the test backplane such that the test signal is provided to the loop back circuit on the line module loop back test device and received back through the at least one of the plurality of channels the test backplane, and wherein the route processing module test device is configured to analyze the test signal that is received to determine a testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

9. The networking device backplane testing system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a test device chassis that is configured to couple to the test backplane, wherein the test device chassis defines at least one line module loop back test device slot that is configured to house the line module loop back test device when the line module loop back test device engages the line module connector system on the test backplane, and wherein the test device chassis defines at least one route processing module test device slot that is configured to house the route processing module test device when the route processing module test device engages the route processing module connector system on the test backplane.

10. The networking device backplane testing system of claim 8 , wherein the line module loop back test device engages the line module connector system that is configured to connect two line modules to the test backplane.

11. The networking device backplane testing system of claim 8 , wherein the line module loop back test device engages a transmitter connection and a receiver connection on the line module connector system to connect the transmitter connection and the receiver connection to the loop back circuit.

12. The networking device backplane testing system of claim 8 , further comprising:

an analyzer system on the route processing module test device that is configured to create the test signal that includes a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) test pattern, and analyze a received PRBS test pattern in the test signal that is received to determine the testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

13. The backplane testing system of claim 1 , wherein the testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane is a speed testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

14. A method for testing a backplane, comprising:

coupling a test backplane to a test device chassis adjacent a plurality of test device slots that are defined by the test device chassis, wherein the test backplane includes a first connector system, a second connector system, and a plurality of channels that connect the first connector system and the second connector system;

positioning a first test device a first test device slot of the plurality of test device slots such that the first test device engages the first connector system on the test backplane, wherein the first test device provides a loop back circuit for the first connector system;

positioning a second test device in a second test device slot of the plurality of test device slots such that the second test device engages the second connector system on the test backplane;

sending a test signal from the second test device through at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane such that the test signal is provided to the loop back circuit on the first test device and received back through the at least one of the plurality of channels the test backplane at the second test device; and

analyzing the test signal that is received to determine a testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the test backplane is a networking device backplane, the first connector system is a line module connector system, and the second connector system is a route processing module connector system.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first test device engages the line module connector system that is configured to connect two line modules to the test backplane.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first test device engages a transmitter connection and a receiver connection on the first connector system to connect the transmitter connection and the receiver connection to the loop back circuit.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein an analyzer system on the second test device creates the test signal that includes a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) test pattern, and analyzes a received PRBS test pattern in the test signal that is received to determine the testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining, by a testing system that is coupled to the second test device, eye details of the test signal that is received.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane is a speed testing compliance of the at least one of the plurality of channels on the test backplane.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035860 FRAME 0878 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0158 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035860 FRAME 0797 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040028/0551 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035858 FRAME 0612 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
Reel/Frame 040017/0067 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035860/0878 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035860/0797 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.; STATSOFT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035858/0612 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2015
From: MAI, TIMOTHY THINH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 035780/0574 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2015
From: CHANDRA, UMESH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 035142/0163 →
Continuity (1)
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