Patent ID: 8479261

Claim:
A method for implementing electronic chip identification (ECID) exchange for network security in a multiple-path local rack interconnect system, said method comprising: storing on each interconnect chip an ECID for the interconnect chip, each said ECID being unique and unchangeable binary data and being permanently stored on each said interconnect chip; and each said ECID unique and unchangeable binary data being directly available as parallel outputs for each said interconnect chip; providing a system management processor connected to each said interconnect chip and including a system list for the multiple-path local rack interconnect system; each said interconnect chip including a network manager using End-to-End (ETE) small control packets for network management and control functions in the multiple-path local rack interconnect system; said network manager of each said interconnect chip, sending predefined exchange identification (EXID) messages including said ECID unique and unchangeable binary data across links to other interconnect chips in the interconnect system; comparing a received EXID with said system list for the multiple-path local rack interconnect system to verify validity of the sending interconnect chip and for selectively enabling each said interconnect chip; periodically transmitting said EXID messages across selected links to other interconnect chips in the interconnect system; said selected links including links to disabled ports having a good link heartbeat; and responsive to the received EXID being identified as valid, writing a port enable configuration bit for the sending interconnect chip.