IP Library Granted Patent US 11,095,510
Granted Patent B2
US 11,095,510 · App. 16/742,498 · Granted Aug 17, 2021

Aggregated networking device maintenance system

Inventor: Karthi Kaliyamoorthy (Chengalpattu, IN)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04L41/0816G06F16/27H04L41/0681H04L45/245H04L47/41H04L47/82
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,095,510
App. No.
16/742,498
Granted
Aug 17, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aggregated networking device maintenance system includes a first aggregated networking device and a second aggregated networking device that are coupled together, and each coupled to a third networking device. The first aggregated networking device receives a maintenance instruction and, in response, transmits a first maintenance notification message to the second aggregated networking device, and a second maintenance notification message to the third networking device that prevents the third networking device from transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device. Maintenance operations on the first aggregated networking device may then be performed, and when the first aggregated networking device determines that the maintenance operations have completed, it transmits a first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device, and a second maintenance completed notification message to the third networking device that causes the third networking device to resume transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device.

Claims (74)

1. An aggregated networking device maintenance system, comprising:

a third networking device;

a second aggregated networking device that is coupled to the third networking device; and

a first aggregated networking device that is coupled to the second aggregated networking device and the third networking device, wherein the first aggregated networking device is configured to:

receive a maintenance instruction;

transmit, in response to receiving the maintenance instruction:

a first maintenance notification message to the second aggregated networking device; and

a second maintenance notification message to the third networking device that is configured to prevent the third networking device from transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device;

perform maintenance operations based on the maintenance instruction;

determine that the maintenance operations have completed; and

transmit, in response to determining that the maintenance operations have completed:

a first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device; and

a second maintenance completed notification message to the third networking device that is configured to cause the third networking device to resume transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first aggregated networking device is configured to:

receive, from the second aggregated networking device subsequent to sending the first maintenance notification message, second aggregated networking device configuration information; and

perform a maintenance check using first aggregated networking device configuration information and the second aggregated networking device configuration information.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first aggregated networking device is configured to:

determine that the maintenance check indicates that the first aggregated networking device has a lower data transmission capability than the second aggregated networking device and, in response, generate a maintenance warning.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first maintenance notification message to the second aggregated networking device is configured to cause the second aggregated networking device to take over operations as a primary aggregated networking device from the first aggregated networking device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device is configured to cause the second aggregated networking device to transmit control information to the first aggregated networking device, and wherein the first aggregated networking device is configured to:

synchronize the control information.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first aggregated networking device is configured to:

exchange, with the second aggregated networking device prior to receiving the maintenance instruction, maintenance capability information; and

determine, based on the maintenance capability information, that the second aggregated networking device is capable of interpreting the first maintenance notification message and the first maintenance completed notification message.

7. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:

a processing system; and

a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a maintenance support engine that is configured to:

receive a maintenance instruction;

transmit, in response to receiving the maintenance instruction:

a first maintenance notification message to a second aggregated networking device; and

a second maintenance notification message to a third networking device that is coupled to the second aggregated networking device, wherein the second maintenance notification message is configured to prevent the third networking device from transmitting data traffic to a communication system that is connected to the processing system;

perform maintenance operations based on the maintenance instruction;

determine that the maintenance operations have completed; and

transmit, in response to determining that the maintenance operations have completed:

a first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device; and

a second maintenance completed notification message to the third networking device that is configured to cause the third networking device to resume transmitting data traffic to the communication system that is connected to the processing system.

8. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the maintenance support engine is configured to:

receive, from the second aggregated networking device subsequent to sending the first maintenance notification message, second aggregated networking device configuration information; and

perform a maintenance check using the second aggregated networking device configuration information and first aggregated networking device configuration information that is stored in a database connected to the processing system.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the maintenance support engine is configured to:

determine that the maintenance check indicates that the IHS has a lower data transmission capability than the second aggregated networking device and, in response, generate a maintenance warning.

10. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the first maintenance notification message to the second aggregated networking device is configured to cause the second aggregated networking device to take over operations as a primary aggregated networking device from the maintenance support engine.

11. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device is configured to cause the second aggregated networking device to transmit control information to the communication system connected to the processing system, and wherein the maintenance support engine is configured to:

synchronize the control information in a database that is connected to the processing system.

12. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the maintenance support engine is configured to:

exchange, with the second aggregated networking device prior to receiving the maintenance instruction, maintenance capability information; and

determine, based on the maintenance capability information, that the second aggregated networking device is capable of interpreting the first maintenance notification message and the first maintenance completed notification message.

13. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the maintenance support engine is configured to:

configure, in response to receiving the maintenance instruction, ports that are included in the communication system connected to the processing system and that are coupled to the third networking device in a maintenance state that does not accept data traffic from the third networking device; and

configure, in response to in response to determining that the maintenance operations have completed, the ports that are included in the communication system connected to the processing system and that are coupled to the third networking device in an operational state that accepts data traffic from the third networking device.

14. A method for performing maintenance on an aggregated networking device, comprising:

receiving, by a first aggregated networking device, a maintenance instruction;

transmitting, in response to receiving the maintenance instruction:

a first maintenance notification message to a second aggregated networking device that is coupled to the first aggregated networking device; and

a second maintenance notification message to a third networking device that is coupled to each of the first aggregated networking device and the second aggregated networking device, wherein the second maintenance notification message is configured to prevent the third networking device from transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device;

performing, by the first aggregated networking device, maintenance operations based on the maintenance instruction;

determining, by the first aggregated networking device, that the maintenance operations have completed; and

transmitting, by the first aggregated networking device in response to determining that the maintenance operations have completed:

a first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device; and

a second maintenance completed notification message to the third networking device that is configured to cause the third networking device to resume transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, by the first aggregated networking device from the second aggregated networking device subsequent to sending the first maintenance notification message, second aggregated networking device configuration information; and

performing, by the first aggregated networking device, a maintenance check using first aggregated networking device configuration information and the second aggregated networking device configuration information.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining, by the first aggregated networking device, that the maintenance check indicates that the first aggregated networking device has a lower data transmission capability than the second aggregated networking device and, in response, generate a maintenance warning.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first maintenance notification message to the second aggregated networking device is configured to cause the second aggregated networking device to take over operations as a primary aggregated networking device from the first aggregated networking device.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device is configured to cause the second aggregated networking device to transmit control information to the first aggregated networking device, and wherein the method further comprises:

synchronizing, by the first aggregated networking device, the control information.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

exchanging, by the first aggregated networking device with the second aggregated networking device prior to receiving the maintenance instruction, maintenance capability information; and

determining, by the first aggregated networking device based on the maintenance capability information, that the second aggregated networking device is capable of interpreting the first maintenance notification message and the first maintenance completed notification message.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

configuring, by the first aggregated networking device in response to receiving the maintenance instruction, ports that are included in the first aggregated networking device and that are coupled to the third networking device in a maintenance state that does not accept data traffic from the third networking device; and

configuring, by the first aggregated networking device in response to determining that the maintenance operations have completed, the ports that are included in the first aggregated networking device and that are coupled to the third networking device in an operational state that accepts data traffic from the third networking device.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053311/0169) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0742 →
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 (052216/0758) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0680 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AF REEL 052243 FRAME 0773 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0152 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0169 →
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 26, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052243/0773 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Mar 24, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052216/0758 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: KALIYAMOORTHY, KARTHI
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051518/0128 →