Automated Network Channel Assignment Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual assignment of channels in network infrastructure provisioning for workloads is cumbersome, time-consuming, and requires significant expertise, making it difficult to maintain as changes occur in the environment.
Innovation Solution
A network infrastructure provisioning system that includes a server, switches, and a controller capable of automatically assigning channels to server traffic, enumerating server ports, determining associated switch ports, and assigning channels to those switch ports, thereby automating the channel assignment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual channel assignment is used for network infrastructure provisioning, then network configuration can be performed with existing expertise, but the process becomes time-consuming and difficult to maintain as environment changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-provisioning by automatically discovering servers, determining topology, and assigning channels without requiring manual administrator intervention. The controller autonomously enumerates server ports, determines associated switch ports, and assigns channels based on discovered topology information, eliminating the need for manual configuration while reducing provisioning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary discovery and enumeration actions before channel assignment. The controller first discovers servers and their topology, then enumerates server ports and determines associated switch ports before finally assigning channels. This preliminary action sequence enables automated channel assignment without requiring manual intervention during the actual channel assignment step.
2Reliability
If manual channel assignment is used, then administrators can control network configuration, but significant expertise is required and maintenance becomes difficult as environment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from topology discovery and port enumeration to automatically determine appropriate channel assignments. The controller receives feedback information about server ports and their associated switch ports from the discovery process, and uses this feedback to automatically assign channels, eliminating the need for manual expert intervention while maintaining configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the network infrastructure components and the channel assignment process. It mediates by automatically discovering topology information, enumerating ports, and determining channel assignments without requiring direct manual configuration. This intermediary approach simplifies the provisioning process while maintaining reliability through automated decision-making based on discovered topology.
3Productivity
If automated channel assignment is implemented, then provisioning time is reduced and administrative complexity is minimized, but the system must perform multiple enumeration and determination operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple operations into a unified automated process. The controller combines topology discovery, server port enumeration, switch port determination, and channel assignment into a single integrated provisioning sequence. This merging of operations increases productivity by eliminating manual steps while the automated nature of the combined process manages the complexity of multiple operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs multiple functions within a single provisioning process: it discovers topology, enumerates server ports, determines associated switch ports, and assigns channels. This multi-functionality approach increases provisioning speed by consolidating operations that would otherwise require separate manual steps, while the automated execution manages the inherent complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A network infrastructure provisioning system includes a server including a plurality of server ports. At least one switch is coupled to the server and includes a plurality of switch ports. A controller is coupled to the server and the at least one switch. The controller is operable to assign channels to server traffic, enumerate at least some of the plurality of server ports, determine switch ports associated with the enumerated server ports, and assign channels to the switch ports that are associated with the enumerated server ports. The assigning of channels to the switch ports may include assigning a primary storage channel to a first enumerated server port, assigning a primary networking channel to a last enumerated server port, assigning a secondary storage channel to an intermediate enumerated server port, and assigning a secondary networking channel to an intermediate enumerated server port.