Dynamic Switch Port Bandwidth Allocation by Server Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems fail to dynamically allocate switch network port bandwidth based on server priority, leading to inefficient utilization of network resources.
Innovation Solution
Implement a port bandwidth control engine (PBCE) that monitors server priority levels and adjusts network port bandwidth allocation accordingly, ensuring high-priority servers receive adequate bandwidth while optimizing utilization for low-priority servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bandwidth is allocated equally to all processing modules, then simplicity of bandwidth management is maintained, but network resource utilization efficiency deteriorates when network bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the PBCE continuously monitors network conditions and adjusts bandwidth distribution in real-time based on current network capacity and server priorities. This transforms the static equal allocation into a dynamic system that adapts to changing network conditions, resolving the contradiction between management simplicity and resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the bandwidth allocation parameter from a fixed equal distribution to a variable distribution based on server priority levels and network conditions. The PBCE modifies bandwidth parameters dynamically, allocating higher bandwidth to high-priority servers and lower bandwidth to low-priority servers when network capacity is reduced, thereby improving overall network resource utilization.
2Productivity
If maximum bandwidth is allocated to all servers, then network performance is optimized, but bandwidth waste occurs when network bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The PBCE implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors actual network bandwidth availability and compares it with allocated bandwidth. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts bandwidth allocation to match actual network capacity, preventing bandwidth waste while maintaining optimal performance for high-priority servers. The feedback loop ensures that bandwidth is not allocated beyond what the network can actually deliver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes bandwidth allocation parameters based on monitored network conditions. When network bandwidth is reduced, the PBCE adjusts allocation parameters to prevent over-allocation and waste, while ensuring high-priority servers receive sufficient bandwidth to maintain performance. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between optimizing performance and preventing waste.
3Reliability
If bandwidth is reduced for low-priority servers, then high-priority server performance is improved, but overall network throughput may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating bandwidth allocation based on server priority levels. High-priority servers receive preferential bandwidth allocation to ensure their performance and reliability, while low-priority servers receive reduced bandwidth. This localized quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring that critical services maintain high performance while non-critical services operate with reduced resources, optimizing the overall system rather than treating all servers uniformly.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system includes processing modules and an I/O module. The processing modules each have one of a high or low priority level. The I/O module is coupled to a network device and includes network ports coupled to the processing modules. A port bandwidth control engine (PBCE) determines that the network device is providing a maximum bandwidth to the I/O module, and in response, allocates the maximum bandwidth equally to the processing modules. The PBCE further determines that the network device is providing a reduced bandwidth to the I/O module, and, in response, allocates to each high priority level processing module a first bandwidth on the associated network port and allocates to each low priority level processing module a second bandwidth on the associated network port.