ECI Device Runtime Physical Function Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion cards in computing systems have fixed physical functions that cannot be altered after manufacturing, limiting flexibility and adaptability in configuring their operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an ECI device configuration manager that configures and retrieves ECI physical function configurations during runtime, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration of expansion component interconnect physical functions on an ECI device, enabling support for various functions such as IP, SCSI, or FCoE adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical functions are burned into an expansion card during manufacturing, then the card has stable and reliable functionality, but the card lacks flexibility and cannot be reconfigured for different functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring Vital Product Data (VPD) during manufacturing to include configuration data for multiple possible physical functions. This allows the expansion card to be manufactured with comprehensive configuration information stored in VPD, which can then be selectively applied at runtime without requiring complex hardware reconfiguration mechanisms. The configuration manager retrieves and applies the appropriate VPD data based on system requirements, enabling flexible reconfiguration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Ease of manufacture
If physical functions are fixed during manufacturing, then manufacturing processes are simple and cost-effective, but the expansion card cannot adapt to different operational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the physical function of the expansion card to change dynamically during runtime based on system requirements. The configuration manager monitors system needs and retrieves appropriate VPD configuration data to reconfigure the card's physical function on-the-fly. This dynamic reconfiguration capability allows the same hardware to adapt to different operational requirements (such as switching between different adapter types) without requiring multiple specialized cards or complex manufacturing processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expansion cards have dedicated fixed functions, then hardware requirements are clear and stable, but system configurability and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback through the configuration manager, which continuously monitors system requirements and the current state of expansion cards. Based on this feedback, the configuration manager retrieves appropriate VPD configuration data and applies reconfigurations to optimize system performance and adaptability. This feedback mechanism ensures that reconfigurations are made based on actual system needs rather than arbitrary changes, maintaining configuration stability while enabling necessary adaptability. The system can detect when reconfiguration is needed and apply changes only when beneficial.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuring expansion component interconnect (‘ECI’) physical functions on an ECI device in a computing system, including: configuring by an ECI device configuration manager, during run-time of the computing system, vital product data to include an ECI physical function configuration, wherein the ECI physical function configuration comprises data describing a type of ECI physical function; retrieving by an ECI device configuration manager, upon a subsequent startup of the computing system, the ECI physical function configuration from the vital product data; and configuring, by an ECI device configuration manager, a physical function of the ECI device to carry out the type of ECI physical function described in the ECI physical function configuration.