IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,923,320
Granted Patent B2
US 8,923,320 · App. 13/709,200 · Granted Dec 30, 2014

Systems and methods for automating virtual network interface controller configuration during workload provisioning

Inventors: Pallavi Dasari (Austin, TX); Sudhir Shetty (Cedar Park, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04L47/82
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,923,320
App. No.
13/709,200
Filed
Dec 10, 2012
Granted
Dec 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Examiner
WONG, WARNER
Art Unit
2469
USPC
370/437
Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a network interface and a processor. The network interface may include a plurality of physical ports, each physical port configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks. The processor may be configured to receive workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers and automatically assign each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters.

Claims (73)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a network interface comprising a plurality of physical ports, each physical port configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks; and

a processor configured to:

receive workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers; and

automatically assign each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, wherein automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports comprises, for each virtual network interface controller:

filtering the corresponding switches to create a filtered switch list comprising switches having connectivity to virtual local area networks specified in the operational parameters to be associated with the virtual network interface controller;

filtering the ports to create a filtered port list comprising switching having connectivity to the switches of the filtered switch list;

creating a list of available partitions of the ports of the filtered port list, the available partitions comprising partitions not yet assigned to one of the plurality of virtual network interface controllers; and

assigning the virtual network interface controller to an available partition on the list of available partitions of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameters for each virtual network interface controller comprise at least one of a desired bandwidth, an identification of one or more virtual local area networks to have connectivity to the virtual network interface controller, a minimum bandwidth of the virtual network interface controller, whether redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, and whether bandwidth over-subscription is enabled in accordance with the workload requirements.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports further comprises, for each virtual network interface controller:

filtering from the list of available partitions the partitions that do not have capabilities of a desired connection type of the virtual network interface controller to create a filtered partition list; and

assigning the virtual network interface controller to an available partition on the filtered partition list based on the operational parameters.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , the processor further configured to, for each virtual network interface controller:

determine if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller; and

if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, automatically assign the virtual network interface controller to a second partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, such that the second partition is associated with a port associated with a different switch than that of the partition to which the virtual network interface controller is assigned.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the network interface comprises one or more network interface cards.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers; and

based on the operational parameters, automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of a plurality of physical ports, wherein each physical port is configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks, wherein automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports comprises, for each virtual network interface controller:

filtering the corresponding switches to create a filtered switch list comprising switches having connectivity to virtual local area networks specified in the operational parameters to be associated with the virtual network interface controller;

filtering the ports to create a filtered port list comprising switching having connectivity to the switches of the filtered switch list;

creating a list of available partitions of the ports of the filtered port list, the available partitions comprising partitions not yet assigned to one of the plurality of virtual network interface controllers; and

assigning the virtual network interface controller to an available partition on the list of available partitions of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the operational parameters for each virtual network interface controller comprise at least one of a desired maximum bandwidth, an identification of one or more virtual local area networks to have connectivity to the virtual network interface controller, a minimum bandwidth of the virtual network interface controller, whether redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, sequence order, and whether bandwidth over-subscription is enabled.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports further comprises, for each virtual network interface controller:

filtering from the list of available partitions the partitions that do not have capabilities of a desired connection type of the virtual network interface controller to create a filtered partition list; and

assigning the virtual network interface controller to an available partition on the filtered partition list based on the operational parameters.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, for each virtual network interface controller:

determining if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller; and

if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, automatically assigning the virtual network interface controller to a second partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, such that the second partition is associated with a port associated with a different switch than that of the partition to which the virtual network interface controller is assigned.

10. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:

receive workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers; and

based on the operational parameters, automatically assign each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of a plurality of physical ports, wherein each physical port is configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks, wherein automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports comprises, for each virtual network interface controller:

filtering the corresponding switches to create a filtered switch list comprising switches having connectivity to virtual local area networks specified in the operational parameters to be associated with the virtual network interface controller;

filtering the ports to create a filtered port list comprising switching having connectivity to the switches of the filtered switch list;

creating a list of available partitions of the ports of the filtered port list, the available partitions comprising partitions not yet assigned to one of the plurality of virtual network interface controllers; and

assigning the virtual network interface controller to an available partition on the list of available partitions of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters.

11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the operational parameters for each virtual network interface controller comprise at least one of a desired maximum bandwidth, an identification of one or more virtual local area networks to have connectivity to the virtual network interface controller, a minimum bandwidth of the virtual network interface controller, whether redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, sequence order, and whether bandwidth over-subscription is enabled in accordance with the workload requirements.

12. The article of claim 10 , wherein automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports further comprises, for each virtual network interface controller:

filtering from the list of available partitions the partitions that do not have capabilities of a desired connection type of the virtual network interface controller to create a filtered partition list; and

assigning the virtual network interface controller to an available partition on the filtered partition list based on the operational parameters.

13. The article of claim 10 , the instructions for further causing the processor to, for each virtual network interface controller:

determine if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller; and

if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, automatically assign the virtual network interface controller to a second partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, such that the second partition is associated with a port associated with a different switch than that of the partition to which the virtual network interface controller is assigned.

14. An information handling system, comprising:

a network interface comprising a plurality of physical ports, each physical port configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks; and

a processor configured to:

receive workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers;

automatically assign each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters; and

for each virtual network interface controller:

determine if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller; and

if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, automatically assign the virtual network interface controller to a second partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, such that the second partition is associated with a port associated with a different switch than that of the partition to which the virtual network interface controller is as signed.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the operational parameters for each virtual network interface controller comprise at least one of a desired bandwidth, an identification of one or more virtual local area networks to have connectivity to the virtual network interface controller, a minimum bandwidth of the virtual network interface controller, whether redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, and whether bandwidth over-subscription is enabled in accordance with the workload requirements.

16. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the network interface comprises one or more network interface cards.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers;

based on the operational parameters, automatically assigning each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of a plurality of physical ports, wherein each physical port is configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks; and

for each virtual network interface controller:

determining if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller; and

if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, automatically assigning the virtual network interface controller to a second partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, such that the second partition is associated with a port associated with a different switch than that of the partition to which the virtual network interface controller is assigned.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the operational parameters for each virtual network interface controller comprise at least one of a desired maximum bandwidth, an identification of one or more virtual local area networks to have connectivity to the virtual network interface controller, a minimum bandwidth of the virtual network interface controller, whether redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, sequence order, and whether bandwidth over-subscription is enabled.

19. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:

receive workload requirements defining operational parameters for one or more virtual network interface controllers;

based on the operational parameters, automatically assign each of the one or more virtual network interface controllers to a partition of one of a plurality of physical ports, wherein each physical port is configured to be coupled to a corresponding switch interfacing between the physical port and a switching fabric comprising one or more virtual local area networks; and

for each virtual network interface controller:

determine if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller; and

if redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, automatically assign the virtual network interface controller to a second partition of one of the plurality of physical ports based on the operational parameters, such that the second partition is associated with a port associated with a different switch than that of the partition to which the virtual network interface controller is assigned.

20. The article of claim 19 , wherein the operational parameters for each virtual network interface controller comprise at least one of a desired maximum bandwidth, an identification of one or more virtual local area networks to have connectivity to the virtual network interface controller, a minimum bandwidth of the virtual network interface controller, whether redundancy is enabled for the virtual network interface controller, sequence order, and whether bandwidth over-subscription is enabled in accordance with the workload requirements.

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 Jan 30, 2013
From: DASARI, PALLAVI; SHETTY, SUDHIR
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029723/0052 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140161137A1 · Jun 12, 2014