Patent ID: 8867376
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method of verifying connectivity between hosts and optical ports on an optical circuit switch (OCS) in a data center based on the hosts' media access control (MAC) address, comprising: directing, at a network control module (NCM), an electrical packet switch operatively connected to an optical port of the optical circuit switch, to transmit a data packet containing a MAC address of a host connected to an optical port determined by the NCM; receiving, at the NCM, a response from the host, wherein the response comprises an indication that the MAC address contained in the transmitted data packet corresponds to the MAC address of a network interface card (NIC) at the host; storing the indication that the MAC address contained in the transmitted data packet corresponds to the MAC address of the NIC in memory at the NCM; and compiling and storing a list of optical ports on the OCS that are associated with a non-functional optical link and generating display data including the list of optical ports associated with a non-functional optical link based on the stored determination, wherein the OCS is a non-blocking OCS such that the NCM may direct any optical port on the optical circuit switch to connect with any other optical port on the OCS.