Patent Publication Number: US-10318315-B2

Title: System and method for switch management

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/917,553 filed on Jun. 13, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to switch management. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability. 
     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
     Additionally, some embodiments of information handling systems include non-transient, tangible machine-readable media that include executable code that when run by one or more processors, may cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of methods described herein. Some common forms of machine readable media include, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and/or any other medium from which a processor or computer is adapted to read. 
     Computer networks form the interconnection fabric that enables reliable and rapid communications between computer systems and data processors that are in both close proximity to each other and at distant locations. These networks create a vast spider web of intranets and internets for handling all types of communication and information. Making all of this possible is a vast array of network switching products that make forwarding decisions in order to deliver packets of information from a source system or first network node to a destination system or second network node. Due to the size, complexity, and dynamic nature of these networks, sophisticated network switching products are often used to implement the interconnection fabric. 
     In order to provide improved flexibility between users with different needs, network switching products are often designed for scalability. In some examples, the network switching products may be based around a flexible chassis-based system. In some examples, the flexible chassis-based system includes a chassis with one or more slots for accepting modules. In some examples, the modules may include power supplies. In some examples, the modules may include fan trays. In some examples, the modules may include switching modules. Monitoring and/or managing the chassis-based system with the various modules may include multiple complex tasks. As the number and/or type of modules becomes more varied, the complexity of the monitoring and/or management tasks may increase in complexity. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved switch design that provides improved support for monitoring and/or managing the switch. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, a switch includes a plurality of switch modules, and a status display panel. The plurality of switch modules includes one or more power supply modules for providing power to the switch, one or more cooling modules for cooling the switch, and one or more switching modules. The switch is configured to detect the plurality of switch modules, interrogate the detected switch modules, hierarchically organize status information based on information associated with the interrogated switch modules, and display the organized status information on the status display panel. The status information is displayed on the status display panel using an interactive status display system. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for managing a switch includes detecting a plurality of switch modules, interrogating the detected switch modules, hierarchically organizing status information based on information associated with the interrogated switch modules, and displaying the organized status information on a status display panel using an interactive status display system. The plurality of switch modules includes one or more power supply modules for providing power to the switch, one or more cooling modules for cooling the switch, and one or more switching modules 
     According to yet another embodiment, an information handling system includes a switch, a plurality of status indicators, and a status display panel. The switch is configured to receive a plurality of switch modules including one or more power supply modules for providing power to the switch, one or more cooling modules for cooling the switch, and one or more switching modules. The switch is configured to detect the plurality of switch modules, interrogate the detected switch modules, hierarchically organize status information based on information associated with the interrogated switch modules, detect addition and removal of switch modules during switch operation, update the status information based on information associated with the added or removed switch modules, display the organized status information on the status display panel using an interactive status display system; and temporarily activate the status indicators in response to active use of the status display system. The status display panel is positioned on the switch so as to not reduce a total number of network ports supported by the one or more switching modules. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a simplified front view diagram of a chassis according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show simplified front view diagrams of switching modules according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show simplified diagrams of status displays according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  show simplified diagrams of status displays according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show simplified diagrams of status displays according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  show simplified diagrams of status message displays according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  show simplified diagrams of status displays supporting control according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  shows simplified diagrams of a status display hierarchy according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  shows a simplified diagram of a method of managing a switch according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     In the figures, elements having the same designations have the same or similar functions. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, specific details are set forth describing some embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. The specific embodiments disclosed herein are meant to be illustrative but not limiting. One skilled in the art may realize other elements that, although not specifically described here, are within the scope and the spirit of this disclosure. In addition, to avoid unnecessary repetition, one or more features shown and described in association with one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments unless specifically described otherwise or if the one or more features would make an embodiment non-functional. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a display device or monitor, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
       FIG. 1  shows a simplified front view diagram of a chassis  100  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 1 , chassis  100  is configured around a box-like frame  110 , sometimes called the hem. Frame  110  is configured with slots to receive various types of modules depending upon the desired configuration and function of the modules inserted into chassis  100 . Although chassis  100  is depicted with slots on the front of chassis  100 , as is discussed further below, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that chassis  100  may further include slots for installing modules on the rear and/or some other side of chassis  100 . In some examples, the modules may include plug-and-play style modules. In some examples, the plug-and-play style modules may support hot swapping allowing the plug-and-play style modules to be safely inserted, removed, and/or replaced during operation of chassis  100 . In some examples, chassis  100  may be used to house a network switching device or switch. In some examples, chassis  100  may include one or more interconnection mechanisms (not shown). In some examples, the one or more interconnection mechanisms may include a back plane. In some examples, the one or more interconnection mechanisms may include a mid-plane. 
     Chassis  100  includes one or more power supply slots  121 - 129  for accepting one or more power supply modules. Although only four power supply slots  121 - 129  are shown in  FIG. 1 , one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any number of power supply slots may be included in the one or more power supply slots  121 - 129 . In some examples, any number of the one or more power supply slots may be used depending upon power requirements of other modules to be inserted into chassis  100 . In some examples, each of the one or more power supply modules may be of different types and/or provide different voltage and current levels. In some examples, the one or more power supply modules may be plug-and-play style power supply modules. 
     Chassis  100  further includes one or more switching module slots  131 - 139  for accepting one or more switching modules. Although only nine switching module slots  131 - 139  are shown in  FIG. 1 , one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any number of switching module slots may be included in the one or more switching module slots  131 - 139 . A number and/or a type of switching modules that may be inserted in the one or more switching module slots  131 - 139  may be quite varied. In some examples, the one or more switching modules slots  131 - 139  may receive one or more route processing modules (RPMs). In some examples, the one or more switching modules slots  131 - 139  may receive one or more line cards. In some examples, the one or more switching modules slots  131 - 139  may receive one or more switching fabric modules (SFMs). In some examples, the one or more switching modules slots  131 - 139  may receive one or more uplink modules. In some examples, the one or more switching modules may be plug-and-play style switching modules. In some examples, the one or more switching modules slots  131 - 139  may also be configured to receive one or more power supply modules and/or one or more cooling modules. 
     Chassis  100  further includes one or more cooling module slots  140  for accepting one or more cooling modules. Although only one cooling slot  140  is shown in  FIG. 1 , one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any number of cooling module slots may be included in the one or more cooling module slots  140 . In some examples, any number of the one or more cooling module slots may be used depending upon cooling requirements of the other modules to be inserted into chassis  100 . In some examples, each of the one or more cooling modules may be of different types and/or provide different cooling capabilities. In some examples, the one or more cooling modules may include fan trays. In some examples, each of fan trays may include one or more cooling fans. In some examples, the one or more cooling modules may be plug-and-play style cooling modules. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a simplified front view diagram of a switching module  210  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 2A , switching module  210  includes a plurality of ports  220 . In some examples, switching module  210  may be installed in any one of the switching module slots  131 - 139 . Each of the ports  220  provides a connection point for coupling switching module  210  to another port in a network using a network link. In some examples, switching module  210  may be a module selected from a group consisting of a line card, an uplink module, a RPM, a SFM, and the like. As also shown in  FIG. 2A , each of the ports  220  includes two status indicators  230 . In some examples, the status indicators may indicate a status of the respective port  220 . In some examples, the status may include an indication of whether an operative network link is coupled to the respective port  220 . In some examples, the status may include an indication of whether network traffic is being exchanged using the respective port  220 . In some examples, each of the status indicators may be a LED or similar light-emitting device. 
     In some embodiments, reliance on status indicators  230  to indicate the status of the respective port may be limited. In some examples, when each of the status indicators  230  is either on or off, use of two status indicator may at best indicate four status conditions. In some examples, when the status indicators  230  also support multiple colors (e.g., a multi-color LED) and/or flashing, a number of status conditions may be increased, but may additionally result in less easily interpreted status conditions. In some examples, there may not be sufficient space on switching module  210  around the plurality of ports  220  to document the various status conditions. In some examples, as the number of conditions increases, more complex documentation and/or more sophisticated operators are required. In some examples, this may be compounded by dozens or even hundreds or more status indicators  230  for a fully populated switch. 
     In some embodiments, status indicators  230  may not always be visible to an operator of the switch. In some examples, switching module  210  may be installed in a rear-side of a chassis. In some examples, an operator located on a front-side of the chassis may not have visual access to see the status indicators  230  of switching module  210  when it is installed on the rear-side of the chassis. In some examples, the opposite may occur when the operator is to the rear-side of the chassis and switching module  210  is installed on the front-side of the chassis. 
     In some embodiments, use of large numbers of status indicators  230  may add significant cost to the operation of the switch. In some examples, when the switch includes 100s of ports, the status indicators  230  may consume  40 ,  50 , or even more Watts of power. Over an expected service lifetime for the switch, this may result in power consumption of 1000s of kilowatts. In some examples, the power consumed by the status indicators  230  may require larger power supply modules for the switch. In some examples, the power consumed by the status indicators  230  may require larger cooling modules for the switch. In some examples, one or more of these factors may add to a life-time cost of operating switch. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a simplified front view diagram of a switching module  250  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 2B , switching module  250  includes a plurality of ports  220 . In some examples, switching module  250  may be installed in any one of the switching module slots  131 - 139 . Each of the ports  220  provides a connection point for coupling switching module  250  to another port in a network using a network link. In some examples, switching module  250  may be a module selected from a group consisting of a line card, an uplink module, a RPM, a SFM, and the like. As also shown in  FIG. 2B , each of the ports  220  includes two status indicators  230 . In some examples, the status indicators may indicate a status of the respective port  220 . 
     Switching module  250  may further include a status display panel  260 . In some examples, status display panel  260  may provide a more intuitive and/or user-friendly interface for displaying status of the switch to the operator. In some examples, status display panel  260  may have low power consumption. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be a LCD panel. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be a multi-line LCD panel. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be a dot-matrix LCD panel. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be a color display. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be touch-sensitive. 
     In some embodiments, when status display panel  260  is used in the switch, status indicators  230  may be partially and/or fully disabled. In some examples, status indicators  230  may be disabled unless activated using status display panel  260 . In some examples, partially and/or fully disabling status indicators  230  may decrease power consumption and/or reduce cooling needs of the switch. 
     In some examples, status display panel  260  may reduce a number of ports  220  included in switching module  250 . In some examples, to avoid reducing the number of ports  220 , status display panel  260  may be included in only some of the switching modules installed in the switch. In some examples, only one status display panel  260  may be included with the switch. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be included in switching modules where the number of ports  220  is not reduced. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be included in RPMs. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be included in cooling modules. In some examples, status display panel  260  may be controlled by one or more processors of switching module  250 . In some examples, status display panel  260  may be controlled by one or more processors of an RPM separate from switching module  250 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows a simplified diagram of a status display  310  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 3A , status display  310  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding a switch such as a chassis-based switch. In some examples, status display  310  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Status display  310  includes a label  320  indicating that status display  310  is associated with an active RPM of the switch. In some examples, the active RPM of the switch may be a master RPM for the switch. In some examples, status display  310  may be a home screen for a status display system. In some examples, the status display system may be organized hierarchically. 
     Status display  310  also includes a button  330  for further activating the status display system. In some examples, button  330  may temporarily activate one or more status indicators of the switch. In some examples, the one or more status indicators may be status indicators  230 . In some examples, activating button  330  may activate the one or more status indictors for a specified duration. In some examples, the specified duration may be one minute. In some examples, the specified duration may be five minutes. In some examples, the specified duration may be configured using the status display system. In some examples, the specified duration may be restarted any time any button on status display  310  is activated. 
     In some examples, status display  310  may further include an intensity control  340 . In some examples, intensity control  340  may be used to increase and/or decrease a brightness and/or a contrast of status display  310 . In some examples, intensity control  340  may be used to adapt to ambient light levels. In some examples, activating an upper end of intensity control  340  may increase the brightness of status display  310 . In some examples, activating a lower end of intensity control  340  may decrease the brightness of status display  310 . 
       FIG. 3B  shows a simplified diagram of a status display  350  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 3B , status display  350  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding the switch. In some examples, status display  350  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Status display  350  includes a label  360  indicating that status display  350  is associated with a passive RPM of the switch. In some examples, status display  350  may be a home screen for the status display system. Status display  350  further includes a button  370  for further activating the status display system. In some examples, button  370  may operate similarly to button  330 . In some examples, status display  350  may further include an intensity control  380 . In some examples, intensity control  380  may operate similarly to intensity control  340 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows a simplified diagram of a switch status display  410  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 4A , switch status display  410  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding a chassis (e.g., chassis  100 ). In some examples, switch status display  410  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . In some examples, switch status display  410  may be displayed in response to activating button  330  and/or  370 . Switch status display  410  includes a label  412  indicating that switch status display  410  is displaying status information associated with the switch. 
     Switch status display  410  includes one or more navigation buttons. The one or more navigation buttons may include a Home button  402 . Home button  402  may be used to return to a home screen such as status display  310  and/or  350 . In some examples, upon returning to the home screen, the one or more status indicators may be disabled. In some examples, return to the home screen may occur after a specified period of non-use of the status display system. In some examples, the specified duration may be one minute. In some examples, the specified duration may be five minutes. In some examples, the specified duration may be configured using the status display system. In some examples, the specified duration may be restarted any time any button on switch status display  410  and/or any other status display of the status display system is operated. The one or more navigation buttons may further include a Back button  404 . Back button  404  may be used to return to a previously viewed status display of the status display system. Switch status display  410  may further include an intensity control  406 . In some examples, intensity control  406  may operate similarly to intensity control  340  and/or  380 . 
     Switch status display  410  may further include one or more buttons for accessing other levels in a hierarchy of the status display system. A Line Card button  414  may be used to access further information on any line cards installed in the switch. A RPM button  416  may be used to access further information on any RPMs installed in the switch. A Fan Tray button  418  may be used to access further information on any fan trays and/or cooling modules installed in the switch. A SFM button  420  may be used to access further information on any SFMs installed in the switch. A Power button  422  may be used to access further information on any power supply modules installed in the switch. A Chassis button  424  may be used to access further information on a chassis housing the switch. 
     Switch status display  410  may further include one or more labels for displaying further status indications. A System IP label  426  may be used to display a layer  3  and/or IP address for the switch. A System MAC label  428  may be used to display a layer  2  and/or media access control (MAC) address for the switch. 
       FIG. 4B  shows a simplified diagram of a line cards status display  430  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 4B , line cards status display  430  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding line cards installed in the switch. In some examples, line cards status display  430  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . In some examples, line cards status display  430  may be displayed in response to activating Line Card button  414  on switch status display  410 . Line cards status display  430  includes a label  432  indicating that line cards status display  430  is displaying status information associated any line cards installed in the switch. 
     Line cards status display  430  includes one or more navigation buttons. The one or more navigation buttons may include the Home button  402  and/or the Back button  404 . The one or more navigation buttons may further include a More button  408 . More button  408  may be used to access more status information than may currently be displayed on the line cards status display  430 . In some examples, the more status information may include additional buttons and/or labels to access additional features of the status display system associated with line cards. Line cards status display  430  may further include the intensity control  406 . 
     Line cards status display  430  may further include one or more buttons for accessing other levels in the hierarchy of the status display system. A LC 0  button  434  may be used to access further information on line card  0  installed in the switch. A LC 1  button  434  through a LC 4  button  442  may be used to access further information on line cards  1  through  4  respectively. In some examples, when more than five line cards are installed in the switch, More button  408  may be used to access additional LC* buttons for those additional line cards. 
       FIG. 4C  shows a simplified diagram of a line card status display  450  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 4C , line card status display  450  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding a line card (e.g., line card  0 ). In some examples, line card status display  450  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . In some examples, line card status display  450  may be displayed in response to activating LC 0  button  434  on line cards status display  430 . Line card status display  450  includes a label  452  indicating that line card status display  450  is displaying status information associated with line card  0 . 
     Line card status display  450  includes one or more navigation buttons. The one or more navigation buttons may include the Home button  402 , the Back button  404 , and/or the More button  408 . Line card status display  450  may further include the intensity control  406 . 
     Line card status display  450  may further include one or more buttons for accessing other levels in the hierarchy of the status display system. An INIT OK button  454  may be used to indicate a status of initialization of line card  0  and/or retrieve additional status information associated with the initialization of line card  0 . A PWR OK button  456  may be used to indicate a power status and/or retrieve additional status information associated with the power of line card  0 . A Temp OK button  458  may be used to indicate a temperature and/or retrieve additional status information associated with the temperature of line card  0 . An ON LINE button  460  may be used to indicate an on line status and/or retrieve additional status information associated with the on line state of line card  0 . One or more port buttons  464  may be used to retrieve status information associated with the various ports of line card  0 . 
     Line card status display  450  may further include one or more labels for displaying further status indications. As an example, a LC-TYPE label  426  may be used to display a type of line card  0 . 
       FIG. 4D  shows a simplified diagram of a port status display  470  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 4D , port status display  470  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding a port (e.g., port  1  of line card  0 ). In some examples, port status display  470  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . In some examples, port status display  470  may be displayed in response to activating a Port  1 button included in the one or more port buttons  478  on line card status display  450 . Port status display  470  includes a label  472  indicating that port status display  470  is displaying status information associated with port  1  of line card  0 . 
     Port status display  470  includes one or more navigation buttons. The one or more navigation buttons may include the Home button  402 , the Back button  404 , and/or the More button  408 . Port status display  470  may further include the intensity control  406 . 
     Port status display  470  may further include one or more buttons for accessing other levels in the hierarchy of the status display system. A Port  1  Admin Enabled OK button  474  may be used to indicate a status of administration of port  1  of line card  0  and/or retrieve additional status information associated with the administration of port  1  of line card  0 . One or more additional port status buttons  478  may be used to indicate and/or retrieve additional status information associated with the link, port speed, and/or auto-negotiation of port  1  of line card  0 . Port status display  470  may further include one or more labels for displaying further status indications. As an example, a PORT-TYPE label  476  may be used to display a type of port  1  of line card  0 . One or more additional port status labels  480  may be used to display address (e.g., an IP address and/or a MAC address) and/or other status information associated with port  1  of line card  0 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows a simplified diagram of a power supplies status display  510  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 5A , power supplies status display  510  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding power supplies installed in the switch. In some examples, power supplies status display  510  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . In some examples, power supplies status display  510  may be displayed in response to activating Power button  422  on switch status display  410 . Power supplies status display  510  includes a label  512  indicating that power supplies status display  510  is displaying status information associated with the power supplies installed on the switch. 
     Power supplies status display  510  includes one or more navigation buttons. The one or more navigation buttons may include the Home button  402  and/or the Back button  404 . Power supplies status display  510  may further include the intensity control  406 . Power supplies status display  510  may further include one or more power supply selection buttons  514  for accessing additional status information on each of the power supplies installed in the switch. 
     Power supplies status display  510  further demonstrates use of visual queuing to display status information associated with each of the power supplies. As shown by the visual queuing in  FIG. 5A , power supplies # 0 ,  1 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  are functioning normally, power supplies # 3  and  6  are not installed, and power supply # 2  is in a warning or an error state. In some examples, the visual queuing may include different intensities and/or brightnesses of the respective power supply selection buttons  514 . In some examples a lighter power supply selection button may indicate that a respective power supply is not installed. In some examples, a darker power supply selection button may indicate that a respective power supply is in a warning or an error state. In some examples, patterning may be used instead of and/or in addition to intensity. In some examples, the visual queuing may include use of color. In some examples, green may indicate an installed and functioning power supply, white an uninstalled power supply, and yellow and/or red may indicate a warning or an error state. In some examples, the visual queuing may include use of flashing. In some examples, the visual queuing may include use of a change in an outer border of the respective button. 
       FIG. 5B  shows a simplified diagram of a SFMs status display  530  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 5B , SFMs status display  530  includes various forms of indicia designed to convey status information regarding SFMs installed in the switch. In some examples, SFMs status display  530  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . In some examples, SFMs status display  530  may be displayed in response to activating SFM button  420  on switch status display  410 . SFMs status display  530  includes a label  532  indicating that SFMs status display  530  is displaying status information associated with the SFMs installed on the switch. 
     SFMs status display  530  includes one or more navigation buttons. The one or more navigation buttons may include the Home button  402  and/or the Back button  404 . SFMs status display  530  may further include the intensity control  406 . SFMs status display  530  may further include one or more SFM selection buttons  534  for accessing additional status information on each of the SFMs installed in the switch. SFMs status display  530  may further include one or more SFM Fan Tray selection buttons  536  for accessing additional status information on each of the SFM fan trays installed in the switch. 
     SFMs status display  530  further demonstrates use of visual queuing, similar to that used in power supplies status display  510 , to display status information associated with each of the SFMs and SFM fan trays. As shown by the visual queuing in  FIG. 5B , SFM  0 , SFM  1 , SFM fan tray  0 , and SFM fan tray  1  are functioning normally, SFM 3  is not installed, and SFM  2  is in a warning or an error state. 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  show simplified diagrams of status message displays according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 6A , a status message display  610  may be used to display a switch fault. In some examples, status message display  610  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Status message display  610  includes a switch fault label  612  and an insufficient power available button  614 . In some examples, status message display  610  and insufficient power available button  614  may be displayed in response to installation of a new module in the switch. In some examples, upon installation of the new module in the switch, the installed power supply modules may no longer be able to supply enough power for the new module. In some examples, the new module may be a switching module and/or a cooling module. In some examples, insufficient power available button  614  may be activated to display more information associated with the insufficient power available fault. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , a status message display  620  may be used to display a switch fault. In some examples, status message display  620  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Status message display  620  includes a switch fault label  622  and an insufficient cooling available button  624 . In some examples, status message display  620  and insufficient cooling available button  624  may be displayed in response to installation of a new module in the switch. In some examples, upon installation of the new module in the switch, the installed cooling modules may no longer be able to supply enough cooling to adequately cool the new module. In some examples, the new module may be a switching module and/or a power supply module. In some examples, insufficient cooling available button  624  may be activated to display more information associated with the insufficient cooling available fault. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6C , a status message display  630  may be used to display a switch fault. In some examples, status message display  630  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Status message display  630  includes a switch fault label  632  and a low line condition button  634 . In some examples, status message display  630  and low line condition button  634  may be displayed in response to a power supply fault. In some examples, low line condition button  634  may be activated to display more information associated with the low line condition fault. 
     In some embodiments, other status message displays may be used to display other switch faults and/or error and/or warning conditions. In some examples, one of the other status message displays may be used to display an out of range notice, such as an over temperature condition. In some examples, one of the other status message displays may include a notification for loss of communication with one of the installed modules. In some examples, one of the other status message displays may include a notification for a failure in the switch. In some examples, the failure in the switch may include a failure in a port, a failure in a network link, and the like. 
       FIGS. 7A-7B  show simplified diagrams of status displays supporting control according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 7A , a power status display  710  may be used to display power status and/or control power in the switch. In some examples, power status display  710  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Power status display  710  includes a label  712  indicating that power status associated with the switch is being displayed, one or more navigation buttons, and the intensity control. Power status display  710  further includes a power supply status button  714  for accessing additional status information on the power supply. Power status display  710  further includes a power cycle button  716  for initiating a power cycle operation of the power supply. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7B , a power cycle confirm status display  730  may be used to request confirmation of the power cycle request made by activating power cycle button  716 . In some examples, power cycle confirm status display  730  may be displayed on status display panel  260 . Power cycle confirm status display  730  includes a label  732  indicating that power cycle confirmation is being requested. Power cycle confirm status display  730  further includes a power cycle confirmation button  724  for confirming the power cycle request. Power cycling may be confirmed by activating button  724 . In some examples, the status display system may include further safe guards before permitting an operator to initiate a power cycle and/or any other controls present in the status display system. 
     According to some embodiments, the status display system may be used for more extensive control of the switch. In some examples, the status display system may provide additional status displays for configuring virtually any feature of the switch. In some examples, the status display system may provide an alternative interface to a command line interface and/or some other configuration interface accessed through a computing device and/or a workstation separate from the switch. In some examples, the status display system may include one or more security features and/or security policies to prevent accidental, unwanted, and/or unauthorized changes from being made to the configuration of the switch. In some examples, the status display system may allow changes to the configuration of only some of the features of the switch. 
       FIG. 8  shows simplified diagrams of a status display hierarchy according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a status display system may include a hierarchy of status displays. The hierarchy of  FIG. 8  includes five example status displays including a status display  810 , a switch status display  820 , a line cards status display  830 , a line card status display  840 , and a port status display  850 . Status displays  810 ,  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and  850  roughly correspond to status display  310 , switch status display  410 , line cards status display  430 , line card status display  450 , and port status display  470 , respectively of  FIGS. 3A and 4A-4D , but depict an alternative layout that may be used for status displays  810 ,  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and  850  when a taller and narrower status display panel is used in place of status display panel  260 . 
     In some examples, status display  810  may be a home display for the status display system. Status display  810  may provide general status information associated with a switch and may include various labels, buttons, and/or controls. Status display  810  may further include a Touch to Activate button  815 . In some examples, Touch to Activate button  815  may be used to temporarily activate one or more status indicators in a fashion similar to button  330 . When activated, Touch to Activate button  815  may further result in switch status display  820  being displayed as depicted by a transition arrow  816 . 
     Switch status display  820  may provide status information associated with a switch and may include various labels, buttons, and/or controls. Switch status display  820  may further include a Line Card button  825 . When activated, Line Card button  825  may further result in line cards status display  830  being displayed as depicted by a transition arrow  826 . 
     Line cards status display  830  may provide status information associated with any line cards installed in the switch and may include various labels, buttons, and/or controls. Line cards status display  830  may further include a LC 5  button  835 . When activated, LC 5  button  835  may further result in line card status display  840  being displayed as depicted by a transition arrow  836 . 
     Line card status display  840  may provide status information associated with line card  5  and may include various labels, buttons, and/or controls. Line card status display  840  may further include a P 1  button  845 . When activated, P 1  button  845  may further result in port status display  850  being displayed as depicted by a transition arrow  846 . Similarly, port status display  850  may provide status information associated with port  1  of line card  5  and may include various labels, buttons, and/or controls. 
     According to some embodiments, status displays  810 ,  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and/or  850  may demonstrate using buttons  815 ,  825 ,  835 , and/or  845  to move to lower levels of the hierarchy of the status display system. In some examples, transitions arrows  816 ,  826 ,  836 , and/or  846  may represent possible transitions between displays screens and levels of the hierarchy of the status display system. Status displays  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and/or  850  may further include navigation buttons for further moving between status displays and/or levels of the hierarchy of the status display system. 
     A Back button  861  on port status display  850  may be used to return to a previous status display. In some examples, when port status display  850  is reached via transition arrow  846 , activation of Back button  861  may result in a return to line card status display  840  as depicted by a transition arrow  862 . Similarly Back buttons  863 ,  865 , and  867  may be used to transition to previous status display screens  830 ,  820 , and  810 , respectively, as depicted by transition arrows  864 ,  866 , and  868 , respectively. In some examples, other status displays (not shown) in the status display system may include similar Back buttons for supporting navigation through the levels of the hierarchy of the status display system. 
     A Home button  890  on port status display  850  may be used to return to the home screen for the status display system. When activated Home button  890  may return to status display  810  as depicted by a transition arrow  895 . In some examples, status displays  820 ,  830 , and/or  840  as well as other status displays (not shown) in the status display system may include similar Home buttons for supporting navigation to the home screen of the status display system. In some examples, activation of any of the Home buttons may disable the one or more status indicators. 
     As discussed above and further emphasized here,  FIGS. 2B-8  are merely examples which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. In some embodiments, different configurations and/or layouts of the various status displays are possible. In some examples, the status display screen may support scrolling, panning, and/or zooming. In some embodiments, the status display system may include one or more user preferences. In some examples, the status display system may support internationalization. In some examples, the status display system may support custom color palettes. In some embodiments, the status display panel  260  may be associated with a user input device for selecting the buttons and/or controls on the status displays. In some examples, the user input device may include a touch screen. In some examples, the user input device may include one or more buttons around a perimeter of the status display panel  260 . In some examples, the user input device may include a joy stick, touch pad, and/or other positioning device. 
       FIG. 9  shows a simplified diagram of a method  900  of managing a switch according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the method  900  includes a process  910  for detecting modules in a switch, a process  920  for interrogating the detected modules, a process  930  for displaying interactive status information, a process  940  for monitoring changes in the switch, a process  950  for displaying informational messages, a process  960  for activating status indicators, and a process  970  for managing the modules. According to certain embodiments, the method  900  of managing a switch can be performed using variations among the processes  910 - 970  as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, one or more of the processes  910 - 970  may be implemented, at least in part, in the form of executable code stored on non-transient, tangible, machine readable media that when run by one or more processors (e.g., one or more processors of a switch and/or one or more processors of one or more switching modules) may cause the one or more processors to perform one or more of the processes  910 - 970 . 
     At the process  910 , modules in a switch are detected. Before status information associated with the switch may be displayed and/or managed, the status information may be collected from the modules included in the switch. In some examples, the modules may include one or more modules of each of various types. In some examples, the types may include power supply modules, cooling modules, and/or switching modules. In some examples, the switching modules may include line cards, RPMs, SFMs, uplink modules, and/or the like. In some examples, the switch may be a chassis-based switch. In some examples, the modules may be the modules installed in the slots  121 - 129 ,  131 - 139 , and/or  140  of chassis  100 . 
     According to some embodiments, the modules may be detected using a switch operating system. In some examples, the switch operating system may be the Force 10  Operating System. In some examples, the switch operating system may be executed by one or more processors of the switch. In some examples, the switch operating system may be executed by one or more processors of a RPM installed in the switch. In some examples, the switch may include module detection circuitry, one or more system management buses (SMBs), one or more intelligent platform management interfaces (IPMIs), and/or the like for supporting the detection of the modules. In some examples, process  910  may be initiated by power-up of the switch. 
     At the process  920 , the detected modules are interrogated. In some examples, the switch operating system may interrogate the one or more modules by exchanging one or more messages with each of the detected modules to determine status information associated with each of the detected modules. In some examples, the messages may be exchanged using the one or more SMBs, the one or more IPMIs, and/or the like. In some examples, the switch operating system may receive various kinds of information associated with each module. In some examples, the information associated with each module may include a type, one or more identifiers, one or more module numbers, one or more version numbers, one or more addresses, power requirements, voltage requirements, temperature limits, cooling requirements, and the like. In some examples, when the module is a switching module, the information associated with the switch module may further include a number of ports, port speeds, and/or the like. In some examples, when the module is a power supply module, the information associated with the power supply module may include voltages supplied, currents supplied, and/or the like. In some examples, when the module is a cooling module, the information associated with the cooling module may include a number of fan trays, a number of fans, a cooling capacity, an air flow direction, and/or the like. In some examples, the information associated with each module may be retrieved from memory in each module. In some examples, the memory may include one or more types of storage media commonly used in computing systems including ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, RAM, and the like. In some examples, the switch operating system may update the information associated with each module periodically. In some examples, the switch operating system may maintain one or more data structures with the retrieved information. 
     At the process  930 , interactive status information is displayed. Using a status display panel, such as status display panel  260 , the switch operating system may display status of the switch based on the information retrieved during process  920 . In some examples, the switch operating system may use the status display panel to display one or more status screens for interacting with an operator of the switch. In some examples, the switch operating system may display the status display system described in greater detail in  FIGS. 3A-8 . 
     At the process  940 , the switch is monitored for changes. In some examples, processes  910  and/or  920  may be performed periodically to obtain updated information about the modules installed in the switch. In some examples, the switch operating system may detect removal of a module. In some examples, the switch operating system may detect installation of a new module. In some examples, monitoring for changes may include using the module detection circuitry, the one or more SMBs, the one or more IPMIs, and/or the like. In some examples, the switch operating system may detect over and/or under voltages, and/or one or more out of range temperatures. 
     At the process  950 , informational messages are displayed. In some examples, one or more conditions in the switch may result in an informational message to be displayed. In some examples, the informational message may preempt use of the interactive use of the status display panel during process  930 . In some examples, the informational message may be associated with a warning and/or an error condition that should be displayed. In some examples, the warning and/or the error condition may be a low line condition and result in the message display of  FIG. 6C . In some examples, the informational message may be associated with a failure in installing a module. In some examples, the failure may be associated with the insufficient power available and/or the insufficient cooling available message displays of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , respectively. 
     At the process  960 , status indicators are activated. In some examples, the switch operating system may temporarily activate the status indicators of one or more modules of the switch. In some examples, the status indicators may be the status indicators  230 . In some examples, the status indicators may be activated only during periods when the status display panel is being interactively used. In some examples, the status indicators may be activated as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 3B . 
     At the process  970 , the modules are managed. In some examples, the switch operating system may manage the switch and/or the installed modules normally. In some examples, the status display system may be used to solicit control instructions from the operator. In some examples, the control instructions may include a power cycle confirm operation and/or other operations as discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 7A and 7B . In some examples, the control instructions may permit more extensive control and/or configuration of the switch and/or the installed modules. 
     Some embodiments of a switch may include non-transient, tangible, machine readable media that include executable code that when run by one or more processors may cause the one or more processors (e.g., one or more processors of a switch and/or one or more processors of one or more switching modules) to perform the processes of method  900  as described above. Some common forms of machine readable media that may include the processes of method  900  are, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and/or any other medium from which a processor or computer is adapted to read. 
     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. Thus, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims, and it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.