Patent · US Active

Flexible server network connection upgrade systems and methods

US8069293B1 · kind B1 · utility

36Cited by
19References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 2009
Grant dateNov 29, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 15, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2213/3808
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system allowing a flexible upgrade of a computer system (e.g. server) to a high-speed network connection comprises base configuration motherboard or network card including a set of low-speed (e.g. 1 Gbps Ethernet) media access controllers (MACs) each connected to a low-speed physical controller (PHY), and a set of high-speed (e.g. 10 Gbps Ethernet) MACs. An expansion card including high-speed PHYs of choice can be connected by an end user to the base configuration motherboard or network card. A flow classifier classifies data sent/received over both high-speed and low-speed ports, and a single driver may control both high- and low-speed ports. One or both of the motherboard and/or expansion card are configured according to a detected type (e.g. physical layer standard, vendor) of expansion card connected to the motherboard and/or type of physical medium connected to the expansion card.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.