Method for moving cables between devices

An inter-device cabling movement system includes a base and a plurality of cable attachment devices that extend from the base in a port identification sequence. Each of the plurality of cable attachment devices includes a cable engagement element that is configured to engage a respective cable, and a cable securing element that is configured to secure the cable engagement element to the respective cable. The cable engagement elements and cable securing elements may be utilized to secure each cable attachment device to respective cables connected to first ports on a first device so that those respective cables may be disconnected from the first pots on the first device and reconnected to second ports on a second device based on the port identification sequence.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to moving cabling between information handling systems

Information handling systems such as, for example, switch devices and/or other networking devices known in the art, typically include cabling connecting to multiple ports on that switch devices. For example, Top of Rack (ToR) switch devices in racks in a datacenter include multiple ports, and each of those ports may be connected to a respective cable that may be further connected to server devices, other networking devices, storage systems, and/or other computing devices known in the art that may be located in the rack with that ToR switch device or in other racks in the datacenter. As such, a relatively large number of cables may be connected to the ports on any particular ToR switch device (e.g., a respective cable may be connected to each of 32 ports on a conventional ToR switch device), and in the event of the failure or other unavailability of that ToR switch device, that unavailable ToR switch device must be replaced. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the replacement of such an unavailable ToR switch device requires each of the cables connected to that unavailable ToR switch device to be disconnected from its respective port on that unavailable ToR switch device, and reconnected to a corresponding port on the replacement ToR switch device, which can raise some issues.

Conventionally, the movement of cables between an unavailable ToR switch device and a replacement ToR switch device may be facilitated by labeling each of the cables connected to the unavailable ToR switch device with a sticker that identifies which port on the unavailable ToR switch device it is connected to, and one of skill in the art will appreciate how the lack of such labeling greatly complicates the process of reconnecting the cabling to corresponding ports on the replacement ToR switch device. However, such conventional labeling solutions often mislabel the location of cables (e.g., during the labeling process), which results in cable(s) being connected to the wrong port(s) on the replacement ToR switch device. Solutions to such labeling issues are to utilize Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) techniques to verify connections and move cabling between the unavailable ToR switch device and the replacement ToR switch device, but such solution are time consuming and increase operational costs. In most conventional systems, network administrators generate a blue print for the ToR switch device cabling connections and provide that blue print to field engineers who make the physical cable/ToR switch device connections using the techniques discussed above, followed by the network administrators confirming that those cable/ToR switch device connections are correct, which is also a time-consuming process requiring relatively high degrees of coordination. The issues associated with conventional inter-device cabling movement discussed above are exacerbated when multiple devices must be replaced.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an inter-device cabling movement system that addresses the issues discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) includes a chassis; a plurality of ports on the chassis; a respective cable that is connected to each of the plurality of ports; and an inter-device cabling movement system, comprising: a base; and a plurality of cable attachment devices that extend from the base in a port identification sequence corresponding to the plurality of ports, wherein each of the plurality of cable attachment devices includes: a cable engagement element that is configured to engage one of the respective cables; and a cable securing element that is configured to secure the cable engagement element to the one of the respective cables.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG.2, an embodiment of a cable system200is illustrated. One of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the cable system200illustrated and discussed in the examples below is a Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cable system, but that cable systems provided in the inter-device cabling movement system300may include any of a variety of other cable systems (e.g., Ethernet cable systems, Fibre Optic cable systems, etc.) that are configured to operate similarly as the cable system200discussed below. As illustrated, the cable system200includes a cable connector202(e.g., a DAC connector) that extends from a cable handle204, with a cable transition element206extending between the cable handle204and a cable208. In the illustrated embodiment, a cable connector element210is included on the cable208adjacent the cable transition element206, and in the specific example is provided by a “cable ring” that extends from the cable208and defines a connector element aperture210a. In some examples, the cable connector element210may be configured to be coupled to the cable208(e.g., a “snap-on cable ring”), while in other examples the cable connector element210may be integrated with the cable208(e.g., an “integrated cable ring”). However, while illustrated and described as being located on the cable, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the connector element210may be provided on the cable connector202, the cable handle204, or the cable transition element206while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Furthermore, while a cable connector element210is illustrated and described as being utilized with the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may be utilized with conventional cables (e.g., cables that do not include the connector element210) while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. As such, while a specific cable system200has been illustrated and described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may include a variety of cables having different cable components and cable component configurations while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Referring now toFIGS.3A and3B, an embodiment of an inter-device cabling movement system300is illustrated that may be used with the cable system200discussed above with reference toFIG.2, as well as with conventional cable systems known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the inter-device cabling movement system300includes a base302having a plurality of cable attachment devices304extending from the base in a port identification sequence306. In the illustrated embodiment, N cable attachment devices304are provided on the base302in a port identification sequence306that identifies the cable attachment devices304from left-to-right inFIG.3Aas including a first cable attachment device associated with a port 1 immediate adjacent a left side of the base302, a second cable attachment device associated with a port 2 immediately adjacent the port 1, and up to an Nth cable attachment device associated with a port N immediately adjacent the right side of the base302. In a specific example, the inter-device cabling movement system300may be provided for a switch device with 16 ports per row, and thus 16 cable attachment devices204may be included on the base302in a port identification sequence from 1 (on the left side of the base302) to 16 (on the right side of the base302), although different numbers of ports may be accommodated by the device cabling movement system300while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, while the base302is illustrated and described below as being provided by an elongated, solid object, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate may be provided by flexible elements and/or in other configurations as long as the port identification sequence of the cable attachment devices304discussed below is maintained.

As illustrated inFIG.3B, each of the cable attachment devices304may include a port sequence identifier304amounted to or included on the base302, a flexible element304b(e.g., a wire, cable, rope, etc.) extending from the port sequence identifier302, a mount304cincluded on a distal end of the flexible element304bopposite the port sequence identifier304a, a cable engagement element304dextending from the mount304c, and a cable securing element304eextending from the mount304cas well. However, while each of the cable attachment devices304is illustrated as being provided by a simplified carabiner-type clip on the end of a flexible rope/wire/cable, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that the cable attachment functionality of the cable attachment devices304may be provided in a wide variety of manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. As such, while a specific inter-device cabling movement system300has been illustrated and described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that inter-device cabling movement systems may include a variety of components and/or component configurations for providing the functionality discussed below, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

For example, with reference toFIG.4, an embodiment of an inter-device cabling movement system400is illustrated that may be used with the cable system200discussed above with reference toFIG.2, as well as with conventional cable systems known in the art. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the inter-device cabling movement system400includes features that are similar to the inter-device cabling movement system300discussed above with reference toFIGS.3A and3B, and thus includes similar reference numbers. For example, the inter-device cabling movement system400includes the base302having the plurality of cable attachment devices304extending from the base in the port identification sequence306.

However, in the illustrated embodiment, pairs of cable attachment devices304extends from the same port sequence identifier304a, which one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate allows the port identifier sequence to correspond to two rows of ports on a switch device. For example, the cable attachment device extending from a left side of a port sequence identifier304ainFIG.4may identify a corresponding port in a top row of ports on a switch device, while the cable attachment device extending from a right side of that port sequence identifier304ainFIG.4may identify a corresponding port in a bottom row of ports on a switch device. In a specific example, the inter-device cabling movement system300may be provided for a switch device with two rows of ports each having 16 ports per row, and thus 16 pairs of cable attachment devices204may be included on the base302in a port identification sequence from 1 (on the left side of the base302) to 16 (on the right side of the base302), with one cable attachment device204in each pair (e.g., the “left” cable attachment device extending from the port sequence identifier304afor that pair) corresponding to a top row port, and one cable attachment device204in each pair (e.g., the “right” cable attachment device extending from the port sequence identifier304afor that pair) corresponding to a bottom row port.

Furthermore,FIG.4also illustrates how the base302may include a surface connection subsystem having surface connectors402connected to the base302by support wires404on opposite sides of the base302. In a specific example, the surface connectors402may be provided by suction cups, magnets, hooks, and/or any other element that one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure would recognize as being configured to connect to a surface (e.g., a rack surface or other surface known in the art) with a force that is sufficient to support the inter-device cabling movement system300/400when supporting cabling as discussed below. Furthermore, while not illustrated herein in detail, one or more of the cable attachment devices304may be configured to connect to and disconnect from the base302without the use of tools, with the base302and the cable attachment devices304including coupling features that are configured to engage and secure together, and disengage to allow them to be detached. As such, the cable attachment devices304on the base302may be integrated, may be attachable/detachable, may include some number of integrated cable attachment devices304and options to add additional attachable/detachable cable attachment devices, and/or may include be provided in other configurations in order to accommodate any port configuration on computing devices with which the inter-device cabling movement system300/400will be utilized.

Referring now toFIG.5, an embodiment of a method500for moving cabling between devices is illustrated. As discussed below, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for the quick and accurate movement of cabling between ports on different devices by securing the relative port sequence of the cabling connected to first ports on a first device before disconnecting that cabling from those first ports, and then using that relative port sequence to connect that cabling to second ports on a second device. For example, the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may include a base and a plurality of cable attachment devices that extend from the base in a port identification sequence. Each of the plurality of cable attachment devices includes a cable engagement element that is configured to engage a respective cable, and a cable securing element that is configured to secure the cable engagement element to the respective cable. The cable engagement elements and cable securing elements may be utilized to secure each cable attachment device to respective cables connected to first ports on a first device so that those respective cables may be disconnected from the first ports on the first device and reconnected to second ports on a second device based on the port identification sequence. As such, cabling may be moved between ports on different devices while maintaining a relative port sequence of the cabling and first ports on a first device when that cabling is moved to second ports on a second device.

With reference toFIG.6A, during or prior to the method500, a plurality of the cable systems200(discussed above with reference toFIGS.2A-2C) may have been connected to a computing device600via respective ports602on that computing device600. In an embodiment, the computing device600may be provided by the IHS100discussed above with reference toFIG.1, and/or may include some or all of the components of the IHS100, and in the specific examples below is provided by a switch device or other networking device known in the art. However, while described as being provided by a switch device, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the ports on the computing device600may be provided on other types of computing devices, or on multiple computing devices, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. As can be seen in theFIG.6A, the ports602are oriented on the computing device600in a port sequence that, in the examples below, is provided by a single row of ports602numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and up to N from left-to-right as viewed inFIG.6A. Continuing with the specific example provided above, the single row of ports602illustrated inFIG.6Amay include 16 ports. However, as described herein, computing devices utilized with the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may include multiple rows of ports (e.g., two rows (e.g., a top row and bottom row) of 16 ports each) while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As such, the cable connector202on each cable system200may be positioned adjacent a respective port602on the computing device600, and then moved towards that port such that the cable connector202moves into that port602until it engages that port in a manner that allows the cable system200to transmit data to and from the computing device600. As will be appreciate by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, while every one of the ports602on the computing device600is illustrated and described below as having a cable system200connected thereto, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how at least some of the ports602on the computing device600may not be connected to a cable system200while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, while the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure is illustrated and described as being connected to cabling/cable systems200that is/are already connected to a computing device600, one of skill in the art will appreciate how the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may be used to organize cabling/cable systems200prior to their connection to a computing device (e.g., by connecting that cabling/those cable systems200to the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure prior to their connection to ports on a computing system) while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

The method500begins at block502where cable attachment devices on an inter-device cabling movement system engage and secure to cables connected to first ports on a first device in a port identification sequence. With reference toFIG.6B, in an embodiment of block502, the inter-device cabling movement system300may be positioned adjacent the computing device600. In specific examples, the inter-device cabling movement system300may be positioned adjacent the computing device600using the surface connectors402discussed above with reference toFIG.4, and thus the surface connectors402may be coupled to a rack surface (e.g., when provided by suction cups, magnets, hooks, or other rack coupling elements known in the art) or other surface adjacent the computing device600in a manner that allows the cable attachment devices to engage and secure to the cable systems200as discussed below. However, while described as being positioned adjacent the computing device600using the surface connectors402, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the inter-device cabling movement system300may be positioned adjacent the computing device600without the use of the surface connectors402(e.g., by setting the base302of the inter-device cabling movement system300on the rack adjacent the computing device600) while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With reference toFIG.6C, in an embodiment of block502, each cable attachment device304on the inter-device cabling movement system300may be engaged with and secured to a respective cable system200that is coupled to a respective port on the computing device600. As can be seen in the specific example illustrated inFIGS.6B and6C, the inter-device cabling movement system300may have been positioned adjacent the computing device600such that respective port sequence identifiers304aoriented in the port identification sequence on the base302(e.g., that identify a port sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and up to N from left-to-right inFIGS.6B and6C) are positioned adjacent ports602on the computing device600that correspond to that port identification sequence (e.g., a single row of ports602numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and up to N from left-to-right as viewed inFIG.6A). As such, the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “1” in the port sequence may be positioned adjacent the port602on the computing device600numbered “1”, the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “2” in the port sequence may be positioned adjacent the port602on the computing device600numbered “2”, and so on up to the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “N” in the port sequence positioned adjacent the port602on the computing device600numbered “N”.

Referring toFIGS.3B and6C, the engagement and securing of the cable attachment devices304to the cable systems200may include a user of the inter-device cabling system300moving the mount304c, cable engagement element304d, and cable securing element304eon that cable attachment device304towards the cable connector element210on the cable system200connected to the port602adjacent that cable attachment device304such that the cable engagement element304dengages (e.g., “hooks” in this example) the cable connector element210via its connector element aperture210a. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, in the specific examples illustrated and described herein that provide the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304ein a simplified carabiner-type clip, the engagement of the cable engagement element304dand the cable connector element210may include engaging and moving the cable securing element304e(relative to the cable engagement element304d) using the cable connector element210while the cable engagement element304dhooks the cable connector element210via its connector element aperture210ain order to allow the cable connector element210to enter the space between the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304e, which allows the cable securing element304eto return to an unmoved position that secures the cable connector element210in the space between the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304e, as illustrated inFIG.6C.

However, while a specific example of the engagement and securing of a simplified carabiner-type clip embodiment of the cable attachment device304to a cable connector element210on the cable system200is illustrated and described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how a wide variety of different cable attachment devices may be connected to a wide variety of cable systems while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, when conventional cable systems (e.g., without the cable connector element210described above) are used with the inter-device cabling system300of the present disclosure, the simplified carabiner-type clip embodiment of the cable attachment device304may be engaged with and secure to the cable208by engaging and moving the cable securing element304e(relative to the cable engagement element304d) using the cable208while the cable engagement element304dhooks the cable208in order to allow the cable208to enter the space between the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304e, which allows the cable securing element304eto return to an unmoved position that secures the cable208in the space between the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304e.

In other example, other embodiment of the cable attachment device304may include hooks (e.g., similar to the cable engagement element304ddiscussed above) that secure to the cable system200without the cable securing element304eby simply moving the cable engagement element304dinto the cable connector element210via its connector element aperture210ato engage and secure the cable connector element210to the cable engagement element304d. In yet other examples, other embodiment of the cable attachment device304may include straps (e.g., “VELCRO” straps, adhesive straps, etc.) that secure to the cable system200by wrapping the strap around the cable208to secure the cable208to the cable attachment device304. In yet other examples, other embodiment of the cable attachment device304may include clips that secure to the cable system200by clipping the cable208to secure the cable208to the cable attachment device304. As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how a wide variety of techniques and elements may be utilized to engage and secure to each cable system200in order to maintain the port sequence of the cable system200/port602connections illustrated inFIGS.6A,6B, and6C.

Furthermore, while not illustrated or described herein in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the cable attachment devices304on the inter-device cabling movement system400discussed above with reference toFIG.4may be connected to cable systems200that are connected to both a top row of ports and a bottom row of ports on a computing device. Continuing with the specific example above in which pairs of cable attachment devices304extends from the same port sequence identifier304ato allow the port identifier sequence on the inter-device cabling movement system400to corresponds to two rows of ports, the cable attachment device304extending from a left side of each port sequence identifier304amay be connected to a cable system200connected to a corresponding port in a top row of ports602on the computing device600, while the cable attachment device304extending from a right side of each port sequence identifier304amay be connected to a cable system200connected to a corresponding port in a bottom row of ports602on the computing device600.

The method500then proceeds to block504where the cables are disconnected from the first ports on the first device. With reference toFIG.6D, in an embodiment of block504, each of the cable systems200may be disconnected from their respective ports602on the computing device600in order to allow the inter-device cabling movement system300and the cable systems200connected to respective cable attachment devices304to be moved in a direction A relative to the computing device600. For example, the user of the inter-device cabling movement system300may disconnect the cable connector202on each cable system200from each respective port602on the computing device600, which allows the relative movement of the inter-device cabling movement system300/cable systems200and the computing device600in the direction A. In a specific example of the relative movement A, the computing device600may have failed, become unavailable, or otherwise be in a condition for replacement, and with the inter-device cabling movement system300positioned adjacent the computing device600using the surface connectors402(e.g., coupled to a rack surface), the computing device600may be removed from the rack. In another specific example of the relative movement A, the computing device600may have failed, become unavailable, or otherwise be in a condition for replacement, and the inter-device cabling movement system300with the connected cable systems200may be moved and positioned away from the computing device600using the surface connectors402(e.g., coupled to a rack surface) in order to allow the computing device600to be removed from the rack. However, while a few specific examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the computing device600and the cable systems200disconnected therefrom may be moved relative to each other in a variety of manners while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

The method500then proceeds to block506where the cables are connected to second ports on second device. With reference toFIGS.7A and7B, in an embodiment of block506, the inter-device cabling movement system300with the connected cable systems200may be positioned adjacent a computing device700that may have been provided to replace the computing device600that failed, became unavailable, or was otherwise in a condition for replacement. In an embodiment, the computing device700may be provided by the IHS100discussed above with reference toFIG.1, and/or may include some or all of the components of the IHS100, and in the specific examples below is provided by a switch device or other networking device known in the art. In a specific example, the computing device700may be similar to the computing device600by having its ports702configured and oriented in a manner that is similar to the ports602on the computing device600. However, while described as being provided by a switch device, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the ports on the computing device700may be provided on other types of computing devices, or on multiple computing devices, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

In a specific example, with the inter-device cabling movement system300coupled to a rack surface using the surface connectors402, the computing device700may be positioned in a rack in the previous location of the computing device600. In another specific example, the inter-device cabling movement system300with the connected cable systems200may be moved and positioned adjacent the computing device700using the surface connectors402(e.g., coupled to a rack surface) in order to allow the cable systems200to be connected to the computing device700. However, while a few specific examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the computing device700and the cable systems200connected to the inter-device cabling movement system300may be positioned adjacent each other in a variety of manners while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As can be seen, the inter-device cabling movement system300may be positioned adjacent the computing device700such that respective port sequence identifiers304aoriented in the port identification sequence on the base302(e.g., that identify a port sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and up to N from left-to-right inFIGS.7A and7B) are positioned adjacent ports702on the computing device700that correspond to that port identification sequence (e.g., a single row of ports702numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and up to N from left-to-right as viewed inFIGS.7A and7B). As such, the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “1” in the port sequence may be positioned adjacent the port702on the computing device700numbered “1”, the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “2” in the port sequence may be positioned adjacent the port702on the computing device700numbered “2”, and so on up to the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “N” in the port sequence positioned adjacent the port702on the computing device700numbered “N”

As such, the cable connector202on each cable system200may be positioned adjacent a respective port702on the computing device700, and then moved towards that port such that the cable connector202moves into that port702until it engages that port in a manner that allows the cable system200to transmit data to and from the computing device700. Thus, with continued reference toFIG.7B, the cable system200connected to the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “1” in the port sequence is connected to the port702on the computing device700numbered “1”, the cable system200connected to the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “2” in the port sequence is connected to the port702on the computing device700numbered “2”, and so on up to the cable system200connected to the cable attachment device304having the port sequence identifier304acorresponding to “N” in the port sequence connected to the port702on the computing device700numbered “N”. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, while every one of the ports702on the computing device700is illustrated and described below as having a cable system200connected thereto, at least some of the ports702on the computing device700may not be connected to a cable system200at block506while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Furthermore, as described herein, computing devices utilized with the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may include multiple rows of ports (e.g., two rows (e.g., a top row and bottom row) of 16 ports each), and thus cable systems200connected to the inter-device cabling movement system400discussed above with reference toFIG.4may be connected to multiple rows of ports on a computing device while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Continuing with the specific example above in which pairs of cable attachment devices304extends from the same port sequence identifier304ato allow the port identifier sequence on the inter-device cabling movement system400to corresponds to two rows of ports, the cable system200connected to the cable attachment device304extending from a left side of each port sequence identifier304amay be connected to a corresponding port in a top row of ports702on the computing device700, while the cable system200connected to the cable attachment device304extending from a right side of each port sequence identifier304amay be connected to a corresponding port in a bottom row of ports702on the computing device700.

The method500then proceeds to block508where the cable attachment devices on an inter-device cabling movement system unsecure and disengage the cables connected to the second ports on the second device. Referring toFIGS.3B,7B,7C, and7D, in an embodiment of block508, the unsecuring and disengagement of the cable attachment devices304from the cable systems200may include a user of the inter-device cabling system300moving the mount304c, cable engagement element304d, and cable securing element304eon that cable attachment device304away from the cable connector element210on the cable system200connected to the port702such that the cable securing element304eengages the cable connector element210and moves to allow the cable engagement element304dto disengage (e.g., “unhook” in this example) the connector element aperture210aon the cable connector element210. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, in the specific examples illustrated and described herein that provide the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304ein a simplified carabiner-type clip, the engagement of the cable securing element304eand the cable connector element210may move the cable securing element304e(relative to the cable engagement element304d) using the cable connector element210while the cable engagement element304dunhooks the connector element aperture210aon the cable connector element210in order to allow the cable connector element210to leave the space between the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304eand disengage the cable engagement element304d, as illustrated inFIG.7C, so that the inter-device cabling movement system300may be moved in a direction B away from the computing device700, as illustrated inFIG.7D.

However, while a specific example of the unsecuring and disengagement of a simplified carabiner-type clip embodiment of the cable attachment device304from a cable connector element210on the cable system200is provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how a wide variety of different cable attachment devices may be disconnected from a wide variety of cable systems while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, when conventional cable systems (e.g., without the cable connector element210described above) are used with the inter-device cabling system300of the present disclosure, the simplified carabiner-type clip embodiment of the cable attachment device304may be unsecured and disengaged from the cable208by engaging and moving the cable securing element304e(relative to the cable engagement element304d) using the cable208while the cable engagement element304dunhooks the cable208in order to allow the cable208to leave the space between the cable engagement element304dand cable securing element304e, which allows the cable208to disengage the cable engagement element304d.

In other example, other embodiment of the cable attachment device304may include hooks (e.g., similar to the cable engagement element304ddiscussed above) that unsecure and disengage from the cable system200without the cable securing element304eby simply moving the cable engagement element304dout of the connector element aperture210aon the cable connector element210. In yet other examples, other embodiment of the cable attachment device304may include straps (e.g., “VELCRO” straps, adhesive straps, etc.) that unsecure and disengage from the cable system200by unwrapping the strap from around the cable208to unsecure and disengage the cable208from the cable attachment device304. In yet other examples, other embodiment of the cable attachment device304may include clips that unsecure and disengage from the cable system200by unclipping the cable208to unsecure and disengage the cable208from the cable attachment device304. As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how a wide variety of techniques and elements may be utilized to unsecure and disengage each cable system200in order to allow the inter-device cabling movement system300away from the computing device700.

As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the inter-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure allows cabling to be accurately moved between switch devices by attaching its cable attachment devices to cabling currently connected to first ports on a first switch device by matching the port sequence identification on the inter-device cabling movement system with the port sequence of the first ports on the first switch device (e.g., attaching a cable attachment device associated with port sequence identifier “1” to a cable system connected to port 1 on the first switch device, attaching a cable attachment device associated with port sequence identifier “2” to a cable system connected to port 2 on the first switch device, and so on). Each of the cables may then be disconnected from the first switch device while remaining connected to the inter-device cabling movement system, and those cables may then be connected to second ports on a second switch device by matching the port sequence identification on the inter-device cabling movement system with the port sequence of the second ports on the second switch device (e.g., attaching a cable system connected to a cable attachment device associated with port sequence identifier “1” to a port 1 on the second switch device, attaching a cable system connected to a cable attachment device associated with port sequence identifier “2” to a port 2 on the second switch device, and so on), ensuring that the new connections of the cabling to the second switch device match the previous connections of the cabling to the first switch device.

Thus, systems and methods have been described that provide for the quick and accurate movement of cabling between ports on different switch devices by securing the relative port sequence of the cabling connected to first ports on a first switch device before disconnecting that cabling from those first ports, and then using that relative port sequence to connect that cabling to second ports on a second switch device. For example, the inter-switch-device cabling movement system of the present disclosure may include a base and a plurality of cable attachment devices that extend from the base in a port identification sequence. Each of the plurality of cable attachment devices includes a cable engagement element that is configured to engage a respective cable, and a cable securing element that is configured to secure the cable engagement element to the respective cable. The cable engagement elements and cable securing elements may be utilized to secure each cable attachment device to respective cables connected to first ports on a first switch device so that those respective cables may be disconnected from the first ports on the first switch device and reconnected to second ports on a second switch device based on the port identification sequence. As such, cabling may be moved between ports on different switch devices while maintaining a relative port sequence of the cabling and first ports on a first switch device when that cabling is moved to second ports on a second switch device, eliminating issues even when cables are unlabeled or labeled incorrectly, allowing quicker verification of the connections, reducing operating costs, reducing switch device replacement times, and/or providing other benefits that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.