NIC Teaming Pair Configuration via Priority Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring network ports in server computing devices for NIC teaming is a laborious process, often resulting in inefficient utilization and reduced redundancy, as existing methods do not effectively prioritize hardware redundancy when forming NIC teams.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines candidate ports for NIC teaming based on their addresses, calculating priority scores to optimize redundancy at the IOM, NIC, and controller levels, ensuring maximum port configuration as NIC teams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration methods are used for NIC teaming, then configuration flexibility is maintained, but the process becomes laborious and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration of NIC teaming pairs by automatically determining candidate ports, calculating priority scores, and selecting optimal pairings without requiring manual intervention. The computing device autonomously executes the configuration process based on predefined criteria involving IOM, NIC, and controller levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-determines candidate ports and calculates priority scores before final configuration is executed. By performing these preparatory actions in advance, the system streamlines the configuration process and enables automated selection of optimal NIC teaming pairs.
2Reliability
If existing NIC teaming methods are used, then basic redundancy is achieved, but hardware redundancy prioritization is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different prioritization criteria at different hierarchical levels (IOM level, NIC level, and controller level) to optimize redundancy. Each level contributes differently to the overall redundancy score, with IOM level being the primary factor, followed by NIC level, and then controller level. This localized quality approach ensures maximum hardware redundancy while maintaining clear configuration logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device has one or more network interface controllers (NICs). Each NIC has ports and controllers. Each port of each NIC is managed by one of the controllers of the NIC. The computing device has one or more input/output modules (IOMs). Each port of each NIC is connected to one of the IOMs. Candidate ports with which to establish a NIC teaming pair are determined for a target port, based on addresses of the ports. A selected candidate port from the candidate ports is determined, based on a priority score of each candidate port calculated based on the IOM to which the candidate port is connected, the NIC to which the candidate port is a part, and the controller that manages the candidate port. The target port is configured with the selected candidate port as the NIC teaming pair.