TWI697782B - Baseboard management controller switching method for sharing network protocol - Google Patents

Abstract

A switching method for a shared network protocol of a baseboard management controller comprises: determining whether a mainboard is connected with an external network card via a baseboard management controller; determining whether the external network card is connected with a network cable via the baseboard management controller if the mainboard is connected with the external network card; connecting a physical link of a shared network protocol of the baseboard management controller with an external network card network port if the external network card network port is connected with the network cable; and connecting the physical link of the shared network protocol of the baseboard management controller with a mainboard network port if the external network card network port is not connected with the network cable. As a result, the shared network protocol can be maintained in normal operation.

Description

Method for switching shared network communication protocol by substrate management controller

The present invention relates to a network communication protocol switching method, in particular to a network communication protocol switching method of a baseboard management controller.

Servers are usually equipped with external network cards, such as PCIE network cards or OCP network cards. The shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller of the server can enable the network interface between the baseboard and the external network card. For example, if the server is equipped with an OCP network card, the physical link of the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller will be connected to the network interface of the OCP network card. If the server is not equipped with an OCP card, the physical link of the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller is connected to the network interface of the baseboard. At present, the baseboard management controller can only switch the physical link of the shared network communication protocol between the two network interfaces of the external network card, or between the two network interfaces of the baseboard. There is no way to switch between the baseboard and the external Between the network cards of the network card. As a result, when the two network interfaces on the external network card are faulty or the network cable is unplugged, the baseboard management controller cannot switch the physical link of the shared network protocol to the network interface of the baseboard, resulting in the shared network The communication protocol is not working properly.

In view of this, there is indeed a need for an improved network protocol switching method that can at least solve the above shortcomings.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for a baseboard management controller to switch a shared network communication protocol, which can ensure that the shared network communication protocol continues to work normally.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for a baseboard management controller to switch a shared network communication protocol, including: using the baseboard management controller to determine whether the motherboard is connected with an external network card; if the motherboard is connected with an external network card, using the baseboard management controller Determine whether the external network interface of the external network card is connected to the network cable; if the external network interface of the external network card is connected to the network cable, use the physical link of the shared network protocol of the baseboard management controller to connect to the network interface of the external network card ; And if the network interface of the external network card is not connected to the network cable, connect the physical link of the shared network protocol of the baseboard management controller to the motherboard network interface of the motherboard.

According to the method for switching the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention, when the baseboard management controller detects through the integrated circuit bus that all the external network card network interfaces are not connected to the network line , The baseboard management controller will actively switch the physical link of the shared network communication protocol from the external network card network interface to the motherboard network interface. Conversely, if there is only one external network card network interface and the network cable is reconnected, the baseboard management controller will actively switch the physical link of the shared network protocol from the motherboard network interface to the external network card network interface, thereby The shared network communication protocol can continue to be maintained in a normal working state.

The above description of the disclosure and the following description of the implementation manners are used to demonstrate and explain the spirit and principle of the present invention, and to provide a further explanation of the patent application scope of the present invention.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following embodiments. The content is sufficient to enable anyone familiar with the relevant art to understand the technical content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and according to the content disclosed in this specification, the scope of patent application and the drawings Anyone who is familiar with relevant skills can easily understand the purpose and advantages of the present invention. The following examples further illustrate the viewpoints of the present invention in detail, but do not limit the scope of the present invention by any viewpoint.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the hardware device architecture of a server according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the server 100 includes a motherboard 10 and an external network card 20. The motherboard 10 includes a baseboard management controller 12 (Baseboard Management Controller) and an integrated circuit bus 14 (I-squared-C). , A motherboard network interface 16 and a network card slot 18. The baseboard management controller 12 is coupled to the integrated circuit bus 14, and the integrated circuit bus 14 is coupled to the network card slot 18. The motherboard network The road interface 16 is an RJ45 type network interface, and in other embodiments, the motherboard network interface 16 can be an RJ11 type or a USB type network interface. The baseboard management controller 12 includes a judgment circuit 121, a general-purpose input/output unit 122 (GPIO), a network protocol driver 123 (NCSI driver), a first switching circuit 124, and a second switching circuit 125. The judgment circuit 121 is respectively coupled to the universal input and output unit 122, the network communication protocol driver 123, and the integrated circuit bus 14. The network communication protocol driver 123 is respectively coupled to the first switching circuit 124 and the second switching circuit 125, the first switching circuit 124 is coupled to the motherboard network interface 16, and the second switching circuit 125 is connected to the network card slot 18 Phase coupling. In this embodiment, the first switching circuit 124 and the second switching circuit 125 are implemented using npn-type BJT. In other embodiments, the implementation of the first switching circuit 124 and the second switching circuit 125 can also be implemented using npn-type NMOS or PMOS. , Or use pnp type BJT, NMOS or PMOS.

的內容判斷外接網卡網路接口24是否連接於網路線。如果外接網卡網路接口24未連接於網路線，判斷電路121會命令網路通訊協定驅動器123輸出第一訊號至第一切換電路124以使第一切換電路124處於導通狀態，且亦命令網路通訊協定驅動器123輸出第二訊號至第二切換電路125以使第二切換電路125處於截止狀態。如此一來，基板管理控制器12的共享網路通訊協定的物理鏈路與主機板10的主機板網路接口16相連接而與外接網卡20的外接網卡網路接口24斷開。反之，如果外接網卡網路接口24有連接網路線，判斷電路121則命令網路通訊協定驅動器123輸出第二訊號至第一切換電路124以使得第一切換電路124處於截止狀態，且亦命令網路通訊協定驅動器123輸出第一訊號至第二切換電路125，以使得第二切換電路125處於導通狀態。如此一來，基板管理控制器12的共享網路通訊協定的物理鏈路與主機板10的主機板網路接口16斷開而與外接網卡20的外接網卡網路接口24相連接。The external network card 20 includes an electrical connection part 22 corresponding to the network card slot 18 and an external network card network interface 24, and the electrical connection part 22 is coupled to the external network card network interface 24, the external network card network interface 24 is an RJ45 type network In other embodiments, the external network card network interface 24 can be an RJ11 type or USB type network interface. When the electrical connection portion 22 of the external network card 20 is plugged into the network card slot 18 of the motherboard 10 and an electrical connection is achieved, the universal input and output portion 122 of the baseboard management controller 12 has a first voltage level, and vice versa. When the electrical connection portion 22 of the network card 20 is separated from the network card slot 18 of the motherboard 10, the universal input and output portion 122 has a second voltage level different from the first voltage level. In this embodiment, the second voltage The level is less than the first voltage level. In this way, the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 can know whether an external network card 20 is electrically connected to the motherboard 10 by detecting the difference in the voltage level of the universal input and output unit 122. Furthermore, under the condition that the external network card 20 is electrically connected to the motherboard 10, the judgment circuit 121 transmits the integrated circuit bus signal to the integrated circuit bus 14

Determine whether the external network card network interface 24 is connected to the network cable. If the external network card network interface 24 is not connected to the network cable, the determining circuit 121 will command the network protocol driver 123 to output the first signal to the first switching circuit 124 so that the first switching circuit 124 is in a conducting state, and also command the network The communication protocol driver 123 outputs the second signal to the second switching circuit 125 to make the second switching circuit 125 in the off state. In this way, the physical link of the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller 12 is connected to the motherboard network interface 16 of the motherboard 10 and disconnected from the external network interface 24 of the external network card 20. Conversely, if the external network card network interface 24 has a network connection route, the judgment circuit 121 instructs the network protocol driver 123 to output the second signal to the first switching circuit 124 so that the first switching circuit 124 is in the off state, and also commands the network The communication protocol driver 123 outputs the first signal to the second switching circuit 125, so that the second switching circuit 125 is in a conducting state. In this way, the physical link of the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller 12 is disconnected from the motherboard network interface 16 of the motherboard 10 and connected to the external network interface 24 of the external network card 20.

的內容判斷外接網卡20的一外接網卡網路接口24是否與一網路線連接。在步驟S103，當外接網卡網路接口24與網路線有連接時，基板管理控制器12的判斷電路121命令基板管理控制器12的網路通訊協定驅動器123輸出第二訊號與第一訊號至第一切換電路124與第二切換電路125，其中第一訊號的電壓位準使得第二切換電路125導通，而第二訊號的電壓位準無法使第一切換電路124導通，意即基板管理控制器12的共享網路通訊協定的物理鏈路與外接網卡20的外接網卡網路接口24相連接而與主機板10的主機板網路接口16斷開。在步驟S104中，當第二切換電路125導通時，第一訊號傳輸至外接網卡20的外接網卡網路接口24以致能外接網卡網路接口24。FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method for the baseboard management controller to switch shared network communication protocols according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the method for the baseboard management controller to switch the shared network communication protocol includes the following steps: In step S101, the determination circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 detects the universal input and output unit 122 of the baseboard management controller 12 If the detected voltage level of the universal input and output unit 122 is the first voltage level, it means that the motherboard 10 and the external network card 20 are electrically connected. In step S102, when the motherboard 10 is electrically connected to the external network card 20, the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 is based on the integrated circuit bus signal transmitted to the integrated circuit bus 14.

Determine whether an external network interface 24 of the external network card 20 is connected to a network cable. In step S103, when the external network card network interface 24 is connected to the network cable, the judgment circuit 121 of the BMC 12 commands the network communication protocol driver 123 of the BMC 12 to output the second signal and the first signal to the second signal. A switching circuit 124 and a second switching circuit 125, wherein the voltage level of the first signal makes the second switching circuit 125 conductive, and the voltage level of the second signal cannot make the first switching circuit 124 conductive, which means the baseboard management controller The physical link of the shared network communication protocol 12 is connected to the external network interface 24 of the external network card 20 and disconnected from the motherboard network interface 16 of the motherboard 10. In step S104, when the second switching circuit 125 is turned on, the first signal is transmitted to the external network interface 24 of the external network card 20 to enable the external network interface 24 of the external network card.

If in step S101, when the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 detects that the voltage level of the universal input and output section 122 of the baseboard management controller 12 is the second voltage level, it means that the motherboard 10 is not connected to the external If the network card 20 is electrically connected, step S105 is continued. In step S105, the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 commands the network protocol driver 123 to output the first signal to the first switching circuit 124, wherein the voltage level of the enable signal turns on the first switching circuit 124, which means The physical link of the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller 12 is connected to the mainboard network interface 16 of the mainboard 10. If in step S102, when the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 judges that the external network card network interface 24 is not connected to the network cable, step S105 is continued.

的內容來判斷外接網卡20的每一個外接網卡網路接口24是否與網路線連接。在步驟S203中，當至少有一個外接網卡網路接口24與網路線有連接時，基板管理控制器12的判斷電路121命令網路通訊協定驅動器123輸出第一訊號與第二訊號至第二切換電路125與第一切換電路124以使得第二切換電路125與第一切換電路124分別處於導通狀態與截止狀態，意即基板管理控制器12的共享網路通訊協定的物理鏈路與外接網卡20的每一外接網卡網路接口24相連接而與主機板10的每一主機板網路接口16斷開。在步驟S204中，當第二切換電路125處於導通狀態時，第一訊號傳輸至與網路線有連接的外接網卡網路接口24以致能外接網卡網路接口24。3 is a flowchart showing a method for switching shared network communication protocols by a baseboard management controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 3 and the embodiment of FIG. 2 is that the number of the external network card network interface 24 and the motherboard network interface 16 is plural. In step S202, the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 is based on the transmission Integrated circuit bus signal on integrated circuit bus 14

To determine whether each external network interface 24 of the external network card 20 is connected to a network cable. In step S203, when at least one external network card network interface 24 is connected to the network cable, the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 commands the network protocol driver 123 to output the first signal and the second signal to the second switch The circuit 125 and the first switching circuit 124 enable the second switching circuit 125 and the first switching circuit 124 to be in an on state and an off state, respectively, which means that the physical link of the BMC 12 and the external network card 20 are shared by the network communication protocol. Each external network card network interface 24 is connected to each motherboard network interface 16 of the motherboard 10 and disconnected from each motherboard network interface 16. In step S204, when the second switching circuit 125 is in the conducting state, the first signal is transmitted to the external network card network interface 24 connected to the network line so as to enable the external network card network interface 24.

If in step S202, when the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 judges that each external network card network interface 24 is not connected to the network cable, step S205 is continued. In step S205, the judgment circuit 121 of the baseboard management controller 12 instructs the network protocol driver 123 to output the first signal to the first switching circuit 124 so that the first switching circuit 124 is in a conducting state, which means that the baseboard management controller 12 The physical link of the shared network communication protocol is connected to each motherboard network interface 16 of the motherboard 10.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after the external network card 20 is electrically connected to the motherboard 10, the baseboard management controller 12 continuously monitors the network connection status of the external network card 20. FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the baseboard management controller monitoring the network connection status of the external network card according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in step S401, when the motherboard is electrically connected to the external network card, the baseboard management controller continuously monitors whether the network interface of at least one external network card is connected to the network cable through the integrated circuit bus. In step S402, when the baseboard management controller monitors that at least one external network card network interface is connected to the network cable, the baseboard management controller sets a network status parameter to be true. In step S403, after the network status parameter is set to true, if the baseboard management controller monitors that none of the external network card network interfaces are connected to the network cable, the network status parameter is reset to false.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the baseboard management controller monitoring the network connection status of the external network card according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in step S501, when the motherboard is electrically connected to the external network card, the baseboard management controller continuously monitors whether at least one network interface of the external network card is connected to the network cable through the integrated circuit bus. In step S502, when the baseboard management controller monitors that all the external network card network interfaces are not connected to the network cable, the baseboard management controller sets a network status parameter to false. In step S503, after the network status parameter is set to false, if the baseboard management controller monitors that at least one external network card network interface is connected to the network cable, the network status parameter is reset to true.

According to the method for switching the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention, when the baseboard management controller detects through the integrated circuit bus that all the external network card network interfaces are not connected to the network line , The baseboard management controller will actively switch the physical link of the shared network communication protocol from the external network card network interface to the motherboard network interface. Conversely, if there is only one external network card network interface and the network cable is reconnected, the baseboard management controller will actively switch the physical link of the shared network protocol from the motherboard network interface to the external network card network interface, thereby The shared network communication protocol can continue to be maintained in a normal working state.

Although the present invention is disclosed in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. All changes and modifications made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention fall within the scope of patent protection of the present invention. For the scope of protection defined by the present invention, please refer to the attached patent scope.

‧‧‧積體電路匯流排訊號100‧‧‧Server 10‧‧‧Motherboard 20‧‧‧External network card 12‧‧‧Baseboard management controller 14‧‧‧Integrated circuit bus 16‧‧‧Motherboard network interface 18‧‧‧Network card plug Slot 121‧‧‧Judging circuit 122‧‧‧Universal input and output unit 123‧‧‧Network communication protocol driver 124‧‧‧First switching circuit 125‧‧‧Second switching circuit 22‧‧‧Electrical connection part 24‧ ‧‧External network card network interface

‧‧‧Integrated circuit bus signal

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a hardware device in a server according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method of switching shared network communication protocols by the baseboard management controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for switching shared network communication protocols by a baseboard management controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the baseboard management controller monitoring the network connection status of the external network card according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the baseboard management controller monitoring the network connection status of the external network card according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Method flow chart unlabeled

Claims (10)

A method for switching a shared network communication protocol by a baseboard management controller includes: judging by a baseboard management controller whether a motherboard is connected with an external network card; if the motherboard is connected with the external network card, the baseboard management controller determines the Whether an external network interface of the external network card is connected to a network cable; if the external network interface of the external network card is connected to the network cable, it is connected to the baseboard management controller via a physical link of a shared network communication protocol The external network card network interface; and if the external network card network interface is not connected to the network cable, connect the physical link of the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller to a motherboard of the motherboard Network interface. The method for switching a shared network communication protocol by a baseboard management controller according to claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller is disposed on the motherboard. The method for switching a shared network communication protocol by a baseboard management controller according to claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller has a general-purpose input and output (GPIO), the motherboard is provided with a network card slot, and the general-purpose input and output It is electrically connected to the network card slot. When the external network card is plugged into the network card slot, the universal input and output has a first voltage level. When the external network card is not plugged into the network card slot, the The universal input and output have a second voltage level different from the first voltage level. The method for switching a shared network communication protocol by a baseboard management controller as described in claim 1, further comprising using a network communication protocol driver of the baseboard management controller when the external network interface is connected to the network cable (NCSI driver) Enable the network interface of the external network card. The method for switching the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller according to claim 1, further comprising using a network communication protocol driver of the baseboard management controller when the motherboard network interface is connected to the network cable Enable the network interface of the motherboard. As described in claim 1, the method for switching the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller further includes when the motherboard is connected to the external network card, using the baseboard management controller through an integrated circuit bus (I-squared -C ) Monitor whether the network interface of the external network card is connected to the network cable. The method for switching a shared network communication protocol by a baseboard management controller according to claim 6, wherein when the baseboard management controller monitors that the external network interface is connected to the network cable, the baseboard management controller sets a The network status parameter is true. The method for switching the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller as described in claim 7, further comprising when the network status parameter is true, if the baseboard management controller monitors that the network line is out of the network interface of the external network card , Then reset the network status parameter to false. The method for switching a shared network communication protocol by a baseboard management controller according to claim 6, wherein when the baseboard management controller monitors that the external network interface is not connected to the network cable, the baseboard management controller sets A network status parameter is false. The method for switching the shared network communication protocol of the baseboard management controller as described in claim 9, further comprising when the network status parameter is false, if the baseboard management controller monitors the external network interface and the network line If connected, reset the network status parameter to true.

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