IP Library Granted Patent US 11,153,168
Granted Patent B1
US 11,153,168 · App. 17/198,886 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Link validation system

Inventors: Sudharsan Dhamal Gopalarathnam (Redmond, WA); Vamshidhar Varre (Hyderabad, IN)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04L41/0869H04L41/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,153,168
App. No.
17/198,886
Filed
Mar 11, 2021
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2441
USPC
709/223
Abstract

A link validation system includes a first device and a second device. The first device identifies that a first link to the second device has become available via a first port on the first device, and determines that the first link to the second device is not a valid link. In response to determining that the first link to the second device is not a valid link, the first device configures the first port in an auto-negotiation error state. Subsequent to configuring the first port in the auto-negotiation error state, the first device detects a port connection cycling operation associated with the first port and, in response, clears the auto-negotiation error state for the first port.

Claims (50)

1. A link validation system, comprising:

a second device; and

a first device that is configured to:

identify that a first link to the second device has become available via a first port on the first device;

determine that the first link to the second device is not a valid link;

configure, in response to determining that the first link to the second device is not a valid link, the first port in an auto-negotiation error state;

detect, subsequent to configuring the first port in the auto-negotiation error state, a port connection cycling operation associated with the first port; and

clear, in response to detecting the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port, the auto-negotiation error state for the first port.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the first link to the second device is not a valid link includes determining that the first link to the second device does not conform to a link topology.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first link to the second device is identified as having become available via the first port in response to the first port entering an operationally up state, and wherein the auto-negotiation error state provides the first port in an operationally down state that allows the port connection cycling operation to be detected via the first port.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port includes the disconnection of a cable from the first port followed by a connection of a cable to the first port.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port includes the disconnection of a cable from a second port that is coupled to the first port by the cable, and the connection of the cable to a third port.

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

identify, subsequent to clearing the auto-negotiation state for the first port, that a second link to the second device has become available via the first port on the first device;

determine that the second link to the second device is a valid link; and

transmit data via the second link.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device is configured to:

complete auto-negotiation operations prior to identifying that the first link to the second device has become available via the first port on the first device.

8. 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 link validation engine that is configured to:

identify that a first link to a device has become available via a first port coupled to the processing system;

determine that the first link to the device is not a valid link;

configure, in response to determining that the first link to the device is not a valid link, the first port in an auto-negotiation error state;

detect, subsequent to configuring the first port in the auto-negotiation error state, a port connection cycling operation associated with the first port; and

clear, in response to detecting the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port, the auto-negotiation error state for the first port.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the determining that the first link to the device is not a valid link includes determining that the first link to the device does not conform to a link topology.

10. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the first link to the device is identified as having become available via the first port in response to the first port entering an operationally up state, and wherein the auto-negotiation error state provides the first port in an operationally down state that allows the port connection cycling operation to be detected via the first port.

11. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port includes the disconnection of a cable from the first port followed by a connection of a cable to the first port.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port includes the disconnection of a cable from a second port that is coupled to the first port by the cable, and the connection of the cable to a third port.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the link validation engine is configured to:

identify, subsequent to clearing the auto-negotiation state for the first port, that a second link to the second device has become available via the first port on the first device;

determine that the second link to the second device is a valid link; and

transmit data via the second link.

14. A method for validating a link, comprising:

identifying, by a first device, that a first link to a second device has become available via a first port on the first device;

determining that the first link to the second device is not a valid link;

configure, in response to determining that the first link to the second device is not a valid link, the first port in an auto-negotiation error state;

detecting, subsequent to configuring the first port in the auto-negotiation error state, a port connection cycling operation associated with the first port; and

clearing, in response to detecting the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port, the auto-negotiation error state for the first port.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining that the first link to the second device is not a valid link includes determining that the first link to the second device does not conform to a link topology.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first link to the second device is identified as having become available via the first port in response to the first port entering an operationally up state, and wherein the auto-negotiation error state provides the first port in an operationally down state that allows the port connection cycling operation to be detected via the first port.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port includes the disconnection of a cable from the first port followed by a connection of a cable to the first port.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the port connection cycling operation associated with the first port includes the disconnection of a cable from a second port that is coupled to the first port by the cable, and the connection of the cable to a third port.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

identifying, by the first device subsequent to clearing the auto-negotiation state for the first port, that a second link to the second device has become available via the first port on the first device;

determining, by the first device, that the second link to the second device is a valid link; and

transmitting, by the first device, data via the second link.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

completing, by the first device, auto-negotiation operations prior to identifying that the first link to the second device has become available via the first port on the first device.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0280) Recorded Jun 10, 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 062022/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0124) Recorded Jun 10, 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 062022/0012 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0001) Recorded Jun 10, 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 062021/0844 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058297/0332 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056295/0124 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056295/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056295/0280 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING PATENTS THAT WERE ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED SUBMITTED BUT NOT ENTERED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056250 FRAME: 0541. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 17, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 056311/0781 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 14, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 056250/0541 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: DHAMAL GOPALARATHNAM, SUDHARSAN; VARRE, VAMSHIDHAR
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 055625/0114 →