Micro Server MAC Address Pre-allocation for License Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for allocating MAC addresses to virtual apparatuses in micro server systems are problematic, particularly when network controllers are replaced, leading to unpredictable MAC address changes and software license authentication issues, especially in MR-IOV environments.
Innovation Solution
A micro server system that pre-allocates a set of MAC addresses, stored in a ROM, and allocates them to virtual apparatuses using a network controller, which can manage these addresses through a single physical port, supporting sequential, random, or manager-based allocation methods, ensuring consistent MAC address usage even with network changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual MAC address is generated based on a single real MAC address, then the network controller can communicate with external apparatuses, but the MAC address changes when the network controller is replaced, causing software license authentication issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-allocates multiple MAC addresses to the micro server before network controller replacement occurs. These MAC addresses are stored in advance in the system, allowing the new network controller to be configured with a pre-allocated MAC address that matches the original virtual apparatus, thereby maintaining consistency and avoiding re-authentication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the original MAC address from the pool of pre-allocated MAC addresses and assigns it to the virtual apparatus after network controller replacement. This copied MAC address is identical to the original, ensuring that the virtual apparatus maintains its identity and software licenses remain valid
2Productivity
If I/O virtualization is applied to allow multiple processor modules to share a single I/O device, then system density increases, but predicting MAC addresses for virtual apparatuses becomes difficult, causing license authentication problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-allocates multiple MAC addresses to the micro server in advance, creating a pool of known, predictable MAC addresses before virtual apparatuses are initialized. This allows the system to maintain high density through I/O virtualization while ensuring that each virtual apparatus can be assigned a predictable MAC address from the pre-allocated pool
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the single shared I/O device's MAC address space into multiple distinct MAC addresses, each assigned to a specific virtual apparatus. This segmentation is achieved through the pre-allocated MAC address pool, where each entry corresponds to a specific virtual apparatus, making MAC address prediction possible despite I/O virtualization
3Adaptability or versatility
If MR-IOV function is used to allow multiple hosts to access virtual apparatuses, then system flexibility increases, but MAC addresses may change, causing software license authentication failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-allocates MAC addresses to the micro server before MR-IOV connections are established or changed. When hosts connect or disconnect, the system can reassign MAC addresses from the pre-allocated pool to maintain consistency, ensuring that software licenses remain valid despite connection flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors MAC address usage and availability in the pre-allocated pool. When virtual apparatuses are initialized, connected, or disconnected, the system automatically selects and assigns appropriate MAC addresses from the pool, ensuring consistency while maintaining MR-IOV flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
A micro server includes a plurality of processor modules, and a network controller configured to control the plurality of processor modules to communicate with an external apparatus through a single physical port. The network controller performs communication by using a plurality of MAC addresses pre-allocated to the micro server.