A system for managing and documenting a local area communications network is provided which deploys power sourcing equipment and powered devices by the use of active electronic modules, having an Ethernet controller and Power over Ethernet forwarding capabilities, as integral, managed components within the cable plant, to enhance management, documentation, security and emergency 911 aspects of the network as well as extending the physical reach of the network.

Systems and methods for managing a network

A storage area network (SAN) has one or more host digital data processors are coupled to one or more storage devices (e.g., LUNs) by an interconnect, e.g., a fiber channel-based fabric. Switches or switch-like interfaces on the interconnect fabric define zones or regions in which certain hosts can access certain storage devices, but not other storage devices. Scanners, e.g., operating within agents associated with the hosts, collect information regarding the regions and, more particularly, the hosts, storage devices and interconnect elements that make them up. A manager operating, for example, on a further digital data processor disambiguates information from the regions and discerns the topology of the portion of the SAN spanned by the regions. Thus, it identifies as a virtual SAN elements from regions that have at least one common storage device with at least one other region.

Storage area network methods and apparatus with virtual SAN recognition

A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring and reporting cable connectivity such as patch panel port-level connectivity on a real-time basis. For patch panel systems, the approach is based upon a distributed architecture that may be modularly scalable and may reduce, if not eliminate, the need for a centralized signal processor and complex cabling between patch panels and the centralized signal processor. Each patch panel may determine port level connectivity independently. Polling delays and polling-related overhead processing may be reduced or eliminated by supporting real-time monitoring of port connectivity at the port level. The approach provides improved real-time reporting of patch panel connectivity with reduced cabling complexity, increased reliability, and decreased maintenance costs. In addition, the approach is compatible with (i.e., may communicate with and be controlled by) a multipurpose network management system (NMS). In addition, a compatible revision system is provided.

Method and apparatus for patch panel patch cord documentation and revision

In order to solve a problem of an accumulation on the transmission side, a delay on the reception side, and the like at the time of transmission in a communication system such as a wireless LAN system, each communication station in a network transmits a beacon in which information with respect to the network is written and sets a state in which a reception operation is performed during periods of time before and after the transmission of the beacon signal when performing access control not to make communication timing of a packet collide with that of another station by detecting a signal transmitted from another station. With performing such processing, a system can be formed based on minimum level of transmission and reception operation when transmission and reception data does not exist in each communication station in the network, and also a data transfer can be performed with latency as small as possible in a minimum necessary level of transmission and reception operation by making a transition of a transmission and reception state in accordance with a fluctuating volume of transmission and reception data.

Communication method, communication device, and computer program

A powered communications patch panel is adapted to power network devices connected to the communications patch panel. Power is supplied to the network devices by the powered communications patch panel over the communication cabling. The powered communications patch panel may be provided with a management port to allow remote management of the patch panel via a network connection. Multiple management ports may be provided, allowing patch panels to be connected to one another in a daisy-chain configuration.

Powered patch panel

A multi-segment agent topology mechanism for use by multi-segment network devices in an Ethernet network. Topology information packets exchanged between topology agents in a network include segment identifier information as well as IP address of the sending agent. A device's topology agent maintains and updates topology information in topology tables which identifies interconnected network devices, such as concentrators and bridges, by IP address and segment identifier information as well as incoming slot and port information for eventual use by a network management system in evaluating a networks topology map, and in automatically determining changes in the network's topology.

Method and apparatus for determining and maintaining agent topology information in a multi-segment network

Embodiments of the invention relate to scalable policy assignment in an edge virtual bridging (EVB) environment. One embodiment includes fetching virtual machine (VM) information for one or more VMs from a virtual station interface (VSI) database (DB). The VM information includes a VSI type identification (ID) associated with each VM. A policy discriminator (PD) value is associated for each VSI type ID. A VSI DB table is generated with at least a portion of the VM information from the VSI DB and the PD for each VSI type ID. A message is received including virtual machine (VM) information for a created VM. One or more rules and bandwidth filter information associated with a VSI type ID are retrieved from the VSI DB table. The associated rules and filter information are applied based on the PD.

Scalable policy assignment in an edge virtual bridging (evb) environment

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting and blocking unauthorized MAC addresses used by virtual machines. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides automated and consistent verification of VM traffic against values assigned to each VM by network administrator. In another embodiment, the disclosure provides for validating a newly discovered VM by comparing its attributes with the corresponding description of the known VMs stored at a database. A re-validation check may also be implemented. If the VM is validated, the VM will be processed according to network policy to support features including VMReady. If the VM fails validation, other actions can be taken.

Method and apparatus to detect and block unauthorized MAC address by virtual machine aware network switches

Embodiments of the invention relate to reflective relay (RR) processing on logical ports for channelized links in edge virtual bridging (EVB) systems. One embodiment includes providing a virtual edge bridge (VEB) mode and a virtual Ethernet port aggregator (VEPA) mode in an EVB system on a same port of a physical switch. RR capability per channel is negotiated between a server and the physical switch in the EVB system. RR per channel is supported on the physical switch of the EVB system using RR setting information per channel.

Vasmi M. Abidi

Papers

Method and apparatus for determining and maintaining agent topology information in a multi-segment network

Scalable policy assignment in an edge virtual bridging (evb) environment

Method and apparatus to detect and block unauthorized MAC address by virtual machine aware network switches

Reflective relay processing on logical ports for channelized links in edge virtual bridging systems