Multispeed Fiber Link Speed Auto-Negotiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computing systems with multispeed fiber modules, there is no automatic method to determine the highest common link speed between link partners, leading to potential failures in establishing a link or requiring manual user intervention, which can reduce network performance.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves trying each supported link speed in succession, from highest to lowest, using a 'blink' signal from the transmit laser to initiate a link speed determination session, allowing the system to automatically configure the link speed without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration is required to force the desired link speed on each link partner, then link speed can be controlled, but user operation complexity increases and network performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting and negotiating link speed between link partners without requiring manual user intervention. The multispeed fiber module autonomously determines the highest common link speed supported by both partners through automated detection and negotiation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of supported link speeds before establishing the actual data transmission link. By pre-negotiating the highest common speed between link partners, the system ensures optimal link configuration is established before full-speed operation begins.
2Device complexity
If no automatic determination method exists for highest common link speed, then device complexity remains low, but link establishment reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The link establishment process is segmented into distinct phases: detection phase where supported speeds are identified, negotiation phase where the highest common speed is determined, and execution phase where data transmission begins at the negotiated speed. This segmentation ensures reliable link establishment while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If manual user intervention is required to configure link speed, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming manual setup
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where link partners exchange information about their supported speeds and automatically adjust configuration based on the highest common denominator. This automated feedback loop ensures precise link speed configuration matching actual capabilities while eliminating manual setup time.
Data Source
AI summary
Automatically determining a link speed between link partners using a multispeed fiber module. An embodiment solves the problem of how to determine the highest common link speed between short range (SR)/long range (LR) fiber link partners when at least one of the link partners is using a multispeed fiber module. In an embodiment, a multispeed fiber module comprises a module that is capable of both 10 gigabit (GB) per second Ethernet and 1 GB per second Ethernet or lesser data transfer speeds over a fiber optical link. In an embodiment, the method comprises trying each link speed in a known succession, from highest supported speed to lowest supported speed. In an embodiment, an initiator link partner “blinks” a transmit laser, which alerts the link partners that a link speed determination session is being initiated. By automatically determining link speed, the user is relieved of the necessity to manually configure the link speed.