IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,805,983
Granted Patent B2
US 8,805,983 · App. 12/581,280 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Local externally accessible managed virtual network interface controller

Inventors: Shawn Joel Dube (Austin, TX); Timothy M. Lambert (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,805,983
App. No.
12/581,280
Filed
Oct 19, 2009
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2444
USPC
709/223
Abstract

An information handling system (IHS) includes a processing system operating as a controller. A network interface controller is coupled to the processing system and receives communications from a remote administrator via a management network. An external virtual device link is coupled to the processing system.

Claims (39)

1. A server information handling system (IHS), comprising:

a server IHS chassis;

a processing system located in the server IHS chassis and operating as a management controller;

a management network interface controller (NIC) located in the server IHS chassis, coupled to the processing system, and configured to transmit communications via a network between a remote IHS and the processing system during a remote IHS session to provide a server management user experience to a remote administrator that is using the remote IHS;

a host controller located in the server IHS chassis and coupled to the processing system through an internal virtual device link; and

a physical connector interface located on an external surface of the server IHS chassis, wherein the physical connector interface is directly coupled to the processing system through an external virtual device link, and wherein in response to a cabled connection of a local IHS to the physical connector interface, the processing system is configured to configure the connection to transmit communications with the local IHS over the external virtual device link during a local IHS session such that the local IHS session provides a server management user experience to a local administrator that is using the local IHS that is the same as the server management user experience that is provided during the remote IHS session to the remote administrator using the remote IHS.

2. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the external virtual device link includes a virtual NIC emulated by the processing system.

3. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to communicatively bridge the remote IHS and the local IHS using the external virtual device link and the management NIC.

4. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the physical connector interface includes a universal serial bus (USB) physical connector interface.

5. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to provide a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server in order to provide the local IHS with an address.

6. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to communicatively bridge the host controller and the local IHS using the external virtual device link and the internal virtual device link.

7. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to emulate the external virtual device link in response to detecting the connection of the local IHS to the physical connector interface.

8. A server information handling system (IHS), comprising:

a server IHS chassis;

a management controller located in the server IHS chassis;

a management network interface controller (NIC) located in the server IHS chassis and coupled to the management controller, wherein the management NIC is configured to connect to a network such that the management controller may transmit communications with a remote IHS during a remote IHS session to provide a server management user experience to a remote administrator that is using the remote IHS; and

a virtual NIC emulated by the management controller and coupled to a physical connector interface that is located on an external surface of the server IHS chassis, wherein in response to the physical connector interface being connected to a local IHS using a cable, the management controller is configured to configure the connection to transmit communications with the local IHS during a local IHS session such that the local IHS session provides a server management user experience to a local administrator that is using the local IHS that is the same as the server management user experience that is provided during the remote IHS session to the remote administrator using the remote IHS.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein a direct connection is provided between the management controller and the physical connector interface.

10. The IHS of claim 8 , further comprising:

a multiplexer coupled between the management controller and the physical connector interface.

11. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the physical connector interface includes a universal serial bus (USB) physical connector interface.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the management controller is configured to communicatively bridge the local IHS with a remote IHS using the virtual NIC and the management NIC.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the management controller is configured to emulate the virtual NIC in response to detecting that the local IHS has been connected to the physical connector interface.

14. The IHS of claim 8 , further providing:

a host controller located in the server IHS and coupled to the management controller through a plurality of internal virtual device links, where the management controller is configured to communicatively bridge the local IHS and the host controller using the virtual NIC and the plurality of interval virtual device links.

15. A method comprising:

providing a server Information Handling System (IHS) including a server IHS chassis that houses a management controller and includes a physical connector interface on an external surface of the server IHS chassis;

coupling a remote IHS to the management controller over a management network, using a management network interface controller (NIC) that is located in the server IHS chassis, such that the management controller may transmit communications over the network with a remote IHS during a remote IHS session to provide a server management user experience to a remote administrator that is using the remote IHS; and

connecting a local IHS to the physical connector interface using a cable such that an external virtual device link that is emulated by the management controller couples the management controller to the local IHS and, in response to the connecting, configuring the connection using the management controller such that management controller may transmit communications with the local IHS during a local IHS session such that the local IHS session provides a server management user experience to a local administrator that is using the local IHS that is the same as the server management user experience that is provided during the remote IHS session to the remote administrator using the remote IHS.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the external virtual device link is a direct connection between the physical connector interface and the management controller.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

communicatively bridging the remote IHS and the local IHS using the management NIC and the external virtual device link.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

emulating the external virtual device link as a virtual NIC using the management controller in response to detecting the connection of the local IHS to the physical connector interface.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

communicatively bridging the host controller and the local IHS using the internal virtual device link and the external virtual device link.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

providing a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server using the management controller; and

providing an address to the local IHS using the DHCP server.

Assignments (15)
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 SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2009
From: DUBE, SHAWN JOEL; LAMBERT, TIMOTHY M.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 023388/0756 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110093575A1 · Apr 21, 2011