US-12627618-B2 - Managing a subsystem of an information handling system by a data processing unit (DPU)

Abstract

Managing a subsystem of an information handling system by a data processing unit (DPU), including identifying a first connection between the DPU and a switch; identifying a second connection between the switch and the subsystem; identifying computational capabilities of the DPU, including routing support of the DPU; determining, based on the identified computational capabilities of the DPU, that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision; in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision: configuring the DPU to select the multi-directional link subdivision as an operating mode of the DPU; configuring the switch to invoke a virtual switch hierarchy at the switch to enable communication between the DPU and the subsystem through the virtual switch hierarchy; and after configuring the DPU and the switch, accessing, by the DPU, the subsystem to manage operation of the subsystem.

Inventors

• Jeffrey Leighton Kennedy
• Timothy M. Lambert

Assignees

• DELL PRODUCTS L.P.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240108

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A computer-implemented method of managing a subsystem of an information handling system by a data processing unit (DPU), including: identifying a first connection between the DPU and a switch; identifying a second connection between the switch and the subsystem; identifying computational capabilities of the DPU, including routing support of the DPU; determining, based on the identified computational capabilities of the DPU, that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision; in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision: configuring the DPU to select the multi-directional link subdivision as an operating mode of the DPU; configuring the switch to invoke a virtual switch hierarchy at the switch to enable communication between the DPU and the subsystem through the virtual switch hierarchy; and after configuring the DPU and the switch, accessing, by the DPU, the subsystem to manage operation of the subsystem.
2. 2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein managing operation of the subsystem includes offloading one or more computational tasks to the subsystem by the DPU.
3. 3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the DPU to select multi-directional link subdivision includes partitioning communication channels of the DPU into a first group and a second group.
4. 4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein partitioning the communication channels of the DPU includes assigning the first group of communication channels as upstream communication channels and assigning the second group of communication channels as downstream communication channels.
5. 5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the DPU includes 16 communication channels, with the first group of communication channels including 8 communication channels and the second group of communication channels including 8 communication channels.
6. 6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the DPU to select multi-directional link subdivision includes assigning each of the communication channels of the DPU as upstream communication channels.
7. 7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision, operating the DPU in a separate reference clock with independent spread (SRIS) mode.
8. 8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a reset signal between the DPU and the switch is an in-band reset signal.
9. 9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first connection between the DPU and the switch includes identifying a coupling between a card edge of the DPU and a slot of the switch.
10. 10 . An information handling system comprising a processor having access to memory media storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations, comprising: identifying a first connection between a DPU and a switch; identifying a second connection between the switch and a subsystem; identifying computational capabilities of the DPU, including routing support of the DPU; determining, based on the identified computational capabilities of the DPU, that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision; in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision: configuring the DPU to select the multi-directional link subdivision as an operating mode of the DPU; configuring the switch to invoke a virtual switch hierarchy at the switch to enable communication between the DPU and the subsystem through the virtual switch hierarchy; and after configuring the DPU and the switch, accessing, by the DPU, the subsystem to manage operation of the subsystem.
11. 11 . The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein managing operation of the subsystem includes offloading one or more computational tasks to the subsystem by the DPU.
12. 12 . The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein configuring the DPU to select multi-directional link subdivision includes partitioning communication channels of the DPU into a first group and a second group.
13. 13 . The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein partitioning the communication channels of the DPU includes assigning the first group of communication channels as upstream communication channels and assigning the second group of communication channels as downstream communication channels.
14. 14 . The information handling system of claim 13 , wherein the DPU includes 16 communication channels, with the first group of communication channels including 8 communication channels and the second group of communication channels including 8 communication channels.
15. 15 . The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein configuring the DPU to select multi-directional link subdivision includes assigning each of the communication channels of the DPU as upstream communication channels.
16. 16 . The information handling system of claim 10 , the operations further include in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision, operating the DPU in a separate reference clock with independent spread (SRIS) mode.
17. 17 . The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein a reset signal between the DPU and the switch is an in-band reset signal.
18. 18 . The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein identifying the first connection between the DPU and the switch includes identifying a coupling between a card edge of the DPU and a port of the switch by way of a slot or connector.
19. 19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising: identifying a first connection between a DPU and a switch; identifying a second connection between the switch and a subsystem; identifying computational capabilities of the DPU, including routing support of the DPU; determining, based on the identified computational capabilities of the DPU, that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision; in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision: configuring the DPU to select the multi-directional link subdivision as an operating mode of the DPU; configuring the switch to invoke a virtual switch hierarchy at the switch to enable communication between the DPU and the subsystem through the virtual switch hierarchy; and after configuring the DPU and the switch, accessing, by the DPU, the subsystem to manage operation of the subsystem.
20. 20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein managing operation of the subsystem includes offloading one or more computational tasks to the subsystem by the DPU.

Description

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure The disclosure relates generally to an information handling system, and in particular, managing a subsystem of the information handling system by a data processing unit (DPU). Description of the Related Art As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes, thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems 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 information handling systems allow for information handling systems 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, information handling systems 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. SUMMARY Innovative aspects of the subject matter described in this specification may be embodied in a method of managing a subsystem of an information handling system by a data processing unit (DPU), including identifying a first connection between the DPU and a switch; identifying a second connection between the switch and the subsystem; identifying computational capabilities of the DPU, including routing support of the DPU; determining, based on the identified computational capabilities of the DPU, that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision; in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision: configuring the DPU to select the multi-directional link subdivision as an operating mode of the DPU; configuring the switch to invoke a virtual switch hierarchy at the switch to enable communication between the DPU and the subsystem through the virtual switch hierarchy; and after configuring the DPU and the switch, accessing, by the DPU, the subsystem to manage operation of the subsystem. Other embodiments of these aspects include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices. These and other embodiments may each optionally include one or more of the following features. For instance, offloading one or more computational tasks to the subsystem by the DPU. Configuring the DPU to select multi-directional link subdivision includes partitioning communication channels of the DPU into a first group and a second group. Partitioning the communication channels of the DPU includes assigning the first group of communication channels as upstream communication channels and assigning the second group of communication channels as downstream communication channels. The DPU includes 16 communication channels, with the first group of communication channels including 8 communication channels and the second group of communication channels including 8 communication channels. Configuring the DPU to select multi-directional link subdivision includes assigning each of the communication channels of the DPU as upstream communication channels. Further in response to determining that the DPU supports multi-directional link subdivision, operating the DPU in a separate reference clock with independent spread (SRIS) mode. A reset signal between the DPU and the switch is an in-band reset signal. Identifying the first connection between the DPU and the switch includes identifying a coupling between a card edge of the DPU and a slot of the switch. The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other potential features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of an information handling system. FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an information handling system, including managing a subsystem of the information handling system by a data processing unit (DPU). FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the DPU in communication with a switch. FIG. 4 illustrates a method for managing the subsystem by the DPU. DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT(S) This disclosure discusses managing a su