Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for performing the installation of cabling in a computing system. In one embodiment, one or more configuration utilities are employed which guide an installer through the appropriate sequence of cable connections for a given computing system. By illuminating various LEDs present on the assorted computing components, an installer is provided with an indication of which component and which port should be connected first, second and so on such that an installation results in a robust computing system.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to computer installation instruction and, more particularly, to a system and method for cabling a computing system. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Today, computers and their assorted peripherals are generally interconnected with a plurality of cables. In some instances, it may be that only one cable will fit in a particular computer slot and yet, in other cases, it may be possible for multiple cables to fit into a particular computer slot. To solve such problems, many computers and peripherals are being designed to use one communication scheme and therefore one cabling format. Universal Serial Bus is one such technology. 
   While such measures may become useful in the area of personal computers, large scale computing system implementations, such as server farms and server clusters, do not presently have the same luxury and are such a solution is not being considered. As such, large scale computing system implementations generally require many different cables of many different forms to interconnect many different computing components. 
   In addition to the task of connecting an appropriate cable to an appropriate port, the computing components used for large scale computing system implementations are often required to be connected in a predetermined topology. The results of cabling such complex computer installations out of order often include unexpected behavior of the system, system lock-ups as well as many additional otherwise avoidable problems. Miscabling in such large scale implementations, not to mention in the area of personal computers, can also result in numerous customer support and service issues. 
   Currently, the solution to cabling large scale computing systems has generally been to employ a trained cable installer. However, even when employing the services of a trained cable installer, detailed graphs, charts and instructions must still be followed to ensure both proper connections as well as the proper sequencing of connections. With the speed of technological advancement being what it is, whether or not a cable installer has up-to-date cabling instructions may be yet another concern during such an installation. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method are described for cabling a computer system. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a method for cabling a plurality of computing components is provided. The method preferably includes determining a cabling connection to be made between a first computing component and a second computing component. The method preferably further includes generating a signal on the first computing component and the second computing component indicative of the cabling connection to be made. 
   In an alternate embodiment, an apparatus for cabling a computer system is provided. The apparatus generally includes at least one processor and memory preferably associated with the at least one processor. A management communications interface preferably coupled to a communications network, the processor and the memory is also preferably included in the apparatus. Generally to effect cabling, the apparatus preferably includes a program of instructions storable in the memory and executable in the processor. The program of instructions is preferably operable to generate at least one signal indicative of a cabling connection to be made to at least a first computing component of a plurality of computing components preferably coupled to the communications network. 
   In yet another embodiment, a computing system preferably including a plurality of computing components is provided. Each of the plurality of computing components preferably includes a management communications interface preferably coupled to a communications network and at least one port operable to connect to at least one port on at least one of the remaining plurality of computing components. In the computing system, at least one of the plurality of computing components is preferably operable to identify a first computing component to be connected to a second computing component and to identify the second computing component to be connected to the first computing component. Preferably upon identifying the first and second computing components, the at least one computing component may generate at least one signal on the first computing component indicative of a cabling connection to be made between the first computing component and the second computing component. 
   One technical advantage provided by the present disclosure is a reduction in the number of customer support and service issues resulting from a computer installation. 
   An additional technical advantage provided by the present disclosure is the ability to adapt cabling instruction to a variety computer installations as well as to available computing components. 
   Yet another technical advantage provided by the present disclosure is the ability to employ current computing component hardware to effect a complex computing system cable installation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a computing system cabled according to teachings of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a computing system to be cabled according to teachings of the present disclosure; and 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for cabling a computing system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts. Accordingly, to overcome limitations and difficulties in current methods of cabling computer installations, a method and system have been developed which are capable of guiding a cable installer through computer installation with multiple components. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a computing system cabled according to teachings of the present disclosure. In addition to the numerous interconnections to be made, computing systems such as computing system  100  must often be cabled in a specific order. As such,  FIG. 1  illustrates one example of the cabling complexity with which computing systems are typically associated. For example, the decision as to whether servers  105   a - 105   d  are to be coupled to switches  110   a  and  110   b  before server  105   a  is coupled to storage unit  115  or whether server  105   a  is to be coupled to storage unit  115  before coupling switches  110   a  and  110   b  to servers  105   a - 105   d  is just one of the many cabling complexities associated with sophisticated computing systems such as computing system  100 . 
   As such, preferably included in computing system  100  are servers  105   a - 105   d , switches  110   a  and  110   b , storage unit  115  and tape library  120 . Computing system  100  may also include one or more routers, hubs, clients as well as various other computing components operable to function as a part of computing system  100 . 
   Servers  105   a - 105   d  preferably include component LEDs  125  (light emitting diode) and device LEDs  130   a - 130   d . Also preferably included on servers  105   a - 105   d  is management communications interface  135 . Similarly, switches  110   a  and  110   b  preferably include component LEDs  140 , device LEDs  145   a - 145   j  and device LEDs  147   a - 147   d . Management communications interface  150  is also preferably included on switches  110   a  and  110   b.    
   Storage unit  115  preferably includes component LED  160 , device LEDs  165   a - 165   d  and management communications interface  170 . Similarly, tape library  120  preferably includes component LED  175 , device LEDs  180   a - 180   d  and management communications interface  185 . The uses and purposes of the various component LEDs, device LEDs and management communication interfaces will be described in greater detail below. 
   Interconnecting the computing components of system  100  are cables or patch cables  190 . Depending upon the type of connection to be made between respective computing components, cables  190  may be Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, USB, Fire Wire, parallel, serial, SCSI or any other format operable to interconnect the computing components of a computing system such as computing system  100 . 
   According to the present disclosure, the cabling of computing system  100  may be enabled by preferably coupling each of the computing components of computing system  100  to management communications network  205  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Management communications interfaces  135 ,  150 ,  170  and  180  preferably enable such coupling. Management communications network  205  may be a fast Ethernet network, or other network form operable to communicate with one or more computing components on a systems management or higher level. Accordingly, management communications interfaces  135 ,  150 ,  170  and  180  may be Ethernet ports, serial ports, Fibre Channel ports, etc. 
   Many currently manufactured computing components are generally designed with at least one form of management communication ability for such purposes as computing component addressing, network configurations, software downloads and the like. Such communication ability enables a cable installer to use laptop computer  210  or another suitable device enabled with teachings of the present disclosure to communicate with the computing components to be incorporated into a computing system such as computing system  100 . By coupling laptop computer  210  enabled with teachings of the present disclosure to management communications network  205 , proper, effective and efficient cabling of computing system  100  may be achieved. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flow diagram of a method for cabling a computing system is illustrated. In general, method  300  of  FIG. 3  preferably provides a cable installer with signals or prompts such that the cable installer may be led through the preferred or proper cabling of a computing system installation. Method  300  may be implemented as a set of instructions that are storable in memory and executable by a processor of a computing component. 
   Upon beginning at step  305 , method  300  may effect communication with the plurality of computing components preferably coupled to management communications network  205  such that each of the computing components may be identified, as indicated at step  310 . Identification may include obtaining what type of component is to be cabled into a computing system, i.e., server, router, hub, bridge, storage device, etc. Identification of the computing components may also include determining what type of connection will be used for each computing component, i.e., Ethernet connections, SCSI (small computer system interface) connections, Fibre Channel connections, serial connections, etc. Various address assignments associated with each computing component may also be identified during step  310  of method  300 . For example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, IP (Internet protocol) address, Ethernet port address, etc., may be acquired from each computing component to be cabled into a computing system. 
   Once the computing components to be cabled into a computing system have been identified as desired at step  310 , method  300  may proceed to step  315 . At step  315 , the cabling sequence of the computing components is preferably determined. Such a cabling sequence may be determined one computing component at a time or, an entire computing system cabling sequence may be determined prior to initiation of cabling. 
   Accordingly, at step  315 , a first computing component to be cabled may be identified. Once a first computing component to be cabled has been identified, method  300  may proceed to step  320 . 
   At step  320 , identification of one or more computing components to be cabled to the first computing component identified at step  315  is preferably performed. Depending on the computing system being cabled, one computing component may be coupled to the first computing component identified at step  315  or a plurality of computing components may be coupled thereto. As such, step  320  may be designed such that each of the computing components to be coupled to the first computing component identified at step  315  is identified. Alternatively, step  320  may be designed such that only one of the plurality of computing components to be cabled to the first computing component is identified and selected for cabling. 
   Upon identification of the one or more computing components to be cabled to the first computing component, method  300  may proceed to step  325 . At step  325 , one or more connection points or ports on each computing component to be cabled may be identified. For example, if server  105   a  has been selected as the first computing component to be cabled and switch  110   a  is the computing component to which it is to be connected or cabled, it may be preferable to use an Ethernet connection or port on server  105   a  to cable server  105   a  to a similar port on switch  110   a . Similarly, if server  105   a  is selected as the first computing component to be cabled and storage unit  115  is the computing component to which server  105   a  is to be cabled, it may be desirable to use a Fibre Channel connection or port on server  105   a  for the cabling connection between the respective computing components. Alternatively, a SCSI connection may be preferred by storage unit  115  thereby requiring a SCSI port on server  105   a  to be employed for the cabling connection between the respective computing components. 
   Upon selection of one or more connection points or ports at step  325 , method  300  may proceed to step  330 . At step  330 , guidance for the cabling of the first computing component to be cabled to the remaining computing components may begin. 
   At step  330 , one or more signals may be generated to indicate to a cable installer the location of the cabling connections to be made. As such, component LEDs  125 ,  140 ,  160  and  175  may be employed to first indicate which components are to be cabled together. Subsequently, device LEDs  130   a - 130   d ,  145   a - 145   j ,  147   a - 147   d ,  165   a - 165   d  and  180   a - 180   d  may be employed to indicate which connection points or ports on the identified computing components are to be cabled. In addition to or in replacement of illuminating LEDs present on the computing components to be cabled, alternate signaling implementations may be employed alone or in combination. Such signaling implementations may include, but are not limited to, generating beep codes, powering on only selected components, generating flashing codes using assorted LEDs or other indicators, etc. Additionally, different forms of signalling may also be employed to indicate different things. For example, a green LED may indicate that an Ethernet cable is to be used while a yellow LED may indicate that a SCSI cable is required. Other embodiments of altering the signal are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. 
   As an installation example, in a computing system  100  implementation where server  105   a  is to be coupled to storage unit  110   b  and switch  110   a , method  300  may illuminate component LED  125  of server  105   a  to indicate that server  105   a  is the next computing component to be cabled. Next, method  300  may illuminate component LED  140  of switch  110   a  to indicate that server  105   a  is to be cabled to switch  110   a.    
   Upon identifying an appropriate port, such as an Ethernet port, on server  105   a , method  300  may illuminate device LED  130   c  to indicate that the device associated with device LED  130   c  is to have one end of an appropriate cable connected thereon. In addition, method  300  may also illuminate device LED  145   b  on switch  110   a  to indicate that a device associated with device LED  145   b  is to have the opposite end of the cable connected thereon. Accordingly, method  300  has indicated to a cable installer that a cable connection is to be made between a device associated with device LED  130   c  of server  105   a  and a device associated with device LED  145   b  of switch  110   a.    
   Upon verifying that no further connections are desired between server  105   a  and switch  110   a , method  300  may determine that it is now time to cable server  105   a  to storage unit  115 . Accordingly, method  300  may again illuminate component LED  125  of server  105   a  and component LED  160  of storage unit  115  to indicate that these two components are to be cabled together. Upon selection of the appropriate ports or devices to be connected amongst server  105   a  and storage unit  115 , method  300  may illuminate device LED  130   a , for example a Fibre Channel port, of server  105   a  and device LED  165   a  of storage unit  115  to indicate a cabling connection to be made between ports on the devices indicated by the respective device LEDs. 
   In part to effect proper cabling of a computing system  100 , it may be desirable to ensure that the preferred ports or connection points of the current computing components have been cabled as desired. Such a verification is provided for at step  335  of method  300 . Accordingly, in one embodiment of method  300 , upon generation of the signals indicative of cabling connections to be made, method  300  may proceed to step  335  of  FIG. 3 . At step  335 , verification of the cabling connection between the indicated computing components and/or the identified ports or devices may be performed. Such a verification may be employed in such scenarios where the order in which computing components are to be cabled will have significant effects on computing system  100  performance. 
   At step  340  of method  300 , the computing components currently being connected are evaluated to determine whether there are additional ports included on the respective computing components which require cabling. If a determination is made that there exists additional ports to be cabled, method  300  may proceed to step  325  for proper identification of the one or more ports to be cabled and a reiteration of the remaining steps of method  300 . If the results of the determination indicate that there are no additional ports on the current computing components to be cabled, method  300  may proceed to step  345 . 
   At step  345 , method  300  may again evaluate the computing components connected to management communications network  205  to determine whether any computing components remain to be cabled. Should one or more computing components be identified at step  345  as requiring cabling connections, method  300  may proceed to step  315  such that the next computing components to be cabled may be identified, appropriately cabled and a reiteration of the remaining steps of method  300 . Should a determination be made at step  345  that all of the computing components to be cabled have been cabled, method  300  may end at step  350 . 
   In an alternate implementation of method  300 , two or more devices may be coupled together using management communications interfaces included thereon. A routine similar to method  300  may be executed on one or more of the devices to indicate the cabling connections to be made between the computing components and the respective port or ports included on each. Through altering the computing components coupled together, an entire computing system may be appropriately and effectively cabled. 
   In summary the present disclosure provides a method and system operable to identify the computing components to be incorporated into a computing system. By generating signals on the computing components, a cable installer is able to cable the computing system accurately, efficiently and completely without having to wrestle with the limitations in existing methods of computing system cable installations. The present disclosure also provides verification that computing components of a computer system have been properly cabled or interconnected with each other. The present disclosure may be applied to generally all types of computing components including, but not limited to, servers, switches, hubs, storage devices, routers, etc. 
   Although the disclosed embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope.