Dell USA L P

Dell Products Inc.

Dwayne R Potter

Richard D Amberg

Dennis M Wiedeman

Eugene Baker

A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks ('VLANs') across multiple sites is provided. The system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test ('SUT') connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch. The first and second VLAN-capable switches are connected such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (&#x201c;VPN&#x201d;). The connection may include either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a Tline or an ATM connection. The system may also include a first VLAN-capable switch located at a first site; a first system under test (&#x201c;SUT&#x201d;) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a customer network located at a customer site remote from the first and second sites and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a router; and an ATM connection between the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first SUT and the customer network are connected to a single virtual private network (&#x201c;VPN&#x201d;). In this embodiment, the connection between the second site and customer site may be either an Internet connection or a high speed point-to-point connection.

Site-to-site dynamic virtual local area network

A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks (&ldquo;VLANs&rdquo;) across multiple sites is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch; and means for connecting the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (&ldquo;VPN&rdquo;). The means for connecting may consist of either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a T1 line or an ATM connection. In an alternative embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch located at a first site; a first system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a customer network located at a customer site remote from the first and second sites and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a router; and an ATM connection between the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first SUT and the customer network are connected to a single virtual private network (&ldquo;VPN&rdquo;). In this alternative embodiment, the connection between the second site and customer site may be either an Internet connection or a high speed point-to-point connection.

Method and apparatus for dynamically connecting a system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) to and disconnecting an SUT from a private virtual local area network (&ldquo;VLAN&rdquo;) in a computer manufacturing environment are described. In a preferred embodiment, each time an SUT disposed in a burn rack boots up, a VLAN-capable switch (hereinafter &ldquo;CAT&rdquo;) connected thereto checks the media access control (&ldquo;MAC&rdquo;) address of the SUT against a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation table (&ldquo;MAC-VLAN table&rdquo;). If the SUT's MAC address is not listed in the MAC-VLAN table, the CAT connects the SUT to a predefined default VLAN; i.e., the manufacturer's main manufacturing network. If the SUT's MAC address is included in the MAC-VLAN table, there is a private VLAN associated with the SUT and the CAT connects the SUT to the associated VLAN in a conventional fashion, at which point custom configuration can be performed as needed on the private VLAN. The MAC-VLAN correlation is performed as follows. When an SUT is moved from the assembly line to the burn rack, it is connected to the CAT and then booted from a configuration and diagnostics disk (hereinafter &ldquo;step diskette&rdquo;). The step diskette for each SUT on which custom configuration is to be performed includes two unique commands thereon; namely, a dv_connect command, which initiates connection of the SUT to an associated private VLAN to enable the custom configuration processes to be performed, and a dv_disconnect command, which initiates disconnection of the SUT from the private VLAN once the custom configuration has been completed.

Dynamic virtual local area network connection process

Method and apparatus for dynamically connecting a system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) to and disconnecting an SUT from a private VLAN in a computer manufacturing environment is described. In a preferred embodiment, each time an SUT disposed in a burn rack boots up, a VLAN-capable switch (hereinafter &ldquo;CAT&rdquo;) connected thereto checks the media access control (&ldquo;MAC&rdquo;) address of the SUT against a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation table (&ldquo;MAC-VLAN table&rdquo;). If the SUT's MAC address is not listed in the MAC-VLAN table, the CAT connects the SUT to a predefined default VLAN; i.e., the manufacturer's main manufacturing network. If the SUT's MAC address is included in the MAC-VLAN table, there is a private VLAN associated with the SUT and the CAT connects the SUT to the associated VLAN in a conventional fashion, at which point custom configuration can be performed as needed on the private VLAN.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Dwayne R Potter