Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Yash V Bansal

Surya Prakash Varanasi

Venkata Pramod Balakavi

Li Zhao

Sathseel Altekar

Venky Nagapudi

Gary Paul McClannahan

Mark William Branstad

Venkatesh Nagapudi

Gustavo Lau

An Ethernet/Fiber Channel network interface device which can be configured by a user to operate on an FC SAN, a CEE network or both. In one embodiment the configuration can be done using jumpers or connections to the pins of a chip, thus allowing a manufacturer to only inventory one device for use with either or both networks. In a second embodiment the configuration can be done in software by setting registers and memory values on the device. This embodiment allows the device to be changed between configurations without removing it from the server or blade. The devices according to the preferred embodiments further reduce power consumption by shutting down portions of the chip not needed based on the configuration of the device.

User selectable multiple protocol network interface device

A converged network adapter in sleep mode can allow a management entity to access and alter configuration of the network adapter over the network. Configuration data such as configuration parameters, firmware, and other data related to the network adapter can be stored in a memory, which can be coupled to a portion of the adapter that receives power during sleep mode. The management entity can send configuration messages to the adapter, which messages can include commands or instructions to read or write contents of the memory. The messages can include values of the configuration parameters to be altered, firmware code, etc. The management entity can also send configuration messages to a baseboard management controller (BMC) coupled to the adapter for message validation. The adapter and the BMC can send results of memory operations back to the management entity in response messages.

Systems and methods for reconfiguring a network adapter in sleep mode

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Yash V Bansal