Disaggregated star platform management bus architecture system

Abstract

A star topology platform management bus architecture and system that provides disaggregation of the platform control element portion and the routing element portion of a central management controller, which provides for physical design efficiency as well as other advantages.

1 . A platform management system comprising: 
 a first field replaceable unit, said first field replaceable unit comprising: 
 a first platform control element;  
   a second field replaceable unit, said second field replaceable unit comprising: 
 a first routing element,  
   a third field replaceable unit, said third field replaceable unit comprising: 
 a second platform control element;  
   a fourth field replaceable unit, said fourth field replaceable unit comprising: 
 a second routing element;  
   a first root segment, said first root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said first routing element; and    a second root segment, said second root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said second routing element.    
   
   
       2 . The platform management system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of satellite management controllers;    a first plurality of branch segments, said first plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said first routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers; and    a second plurality of branch segments, said second plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said second routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers,    wherein said first platform control element and said second control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions for said platform management system.    
   
   
       3 . The platform management system of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of intelligent field replaceable units, wherein one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers resides upon each of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units.  
   
   
       4 . The platform management system of  claim 3  wherein one or more of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units is a front board, wherein the front boards are mounted in a subrack.  
   
   
       5 . The platform management system of  claim 1  wherein said first platform control element and said second control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions for a plurality of field replaceable units within an electronic platform, and wherein said first platform control element and said second control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions on a redundant basis.  
   
   
       6 . The platform management system of  claim 2  wherein said first platform control element and said second control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions on a redundant basis.  
   
   
       7 . The platform management system of  claim 2  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       8 . The platform management system of  claim 2  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       9 . The platform management system of  claim 2  wherein said first plurality of branch segments is segregated into a first plurality of logical branch buses, and wherein said second plurality of branch segments is segregated into a second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       10 . The platform management system of  claim 9  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to one of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       11 . The platform management system of  claim 9  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       12 . The platform management system of  claim 2  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said second platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       13 . The platform management system of  claim 2  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       14 . The platform management system of  claim 9  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said second platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to one of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       15 . The platform management system of  claim 9  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       16 . The platform management system of  claim 4  wherein one or more of said first, second, third and fourth field replaceable units are mounted outside the subrack that holds the front boards.  
   
   
       17 . A platform management system comprising: 
 a first field replaceable unit, said first field replaceable unit comprising a first platform control element;    a second field replaceable unit, said second field replaceable unit comprising a first routing element, wherein no platform control element resides upon said second field replaceable unit; and    a first root segment, said first root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said first routing element.    
   
   
       18 . The platform management system of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a plurality of satellite management controllers; and    a plurality of branch segments, said plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said first routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers,    wherein said first platform control element is adapted to provide central management controller functions for said platform management system.    
   
   
       19 . The platform management system of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of intelligent field replaceable units, wherein one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers resides on each of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units.  
   
   
       20 . The platform management system of  claim 19  wherein one or more of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units is a front board, wherein the front boards are mounted in a subrack.  
   
   
       21 . The platform management system of  claim 18  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       22 . The platform management system of  claim 18  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       23 . The platform management system of  claim 18  wherein said first plurality of branch segments is segregated into a first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       24 . The platform management system of  claim 23  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to one of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       25 . The platform management system of  claim 23  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       26 . The platform management system of  claim 20  wherein one or more of said first and second field replaceable units are mounted outside the subrack that holds the front boards.  
   
   
       27 . A platform management system comprising: 
 a first field replaceable unit, said first field replaceable unit comprising a first platform control element; and    a second field replaceable unit, said second field replaceable unit comprising a first routing element;    a third field replaceable unit, said third field replaceable unit comprising a second routing element;    a first root segment, said first root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said first routing element; and    a second root segment, said second root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said second routing element.    
   
   
       28 . The platform management system of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 a plurality of satellite management controllers,    a first plurality of branch segments, said first plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said first routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers; and    a second plurality of branch segments, said second plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said second routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers,    wherein said first platform control element is adapted to provide central management controller functions for said platform management system.    
   
   
       29 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein each satellite management controller comprises two ports, and wherein each satellite management controller is communicatively linked to one of the first plurality of branch segments via a first port and to one of the second plurality of branch segments via a second port.  
   
   
       30 . The platform management system of  claim 28  further comprising a plurality of intelligent field replaceable units, wherein one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers resides on each of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units.  
   
   
       31 . The platform management system of  claim 30  wherein one or more of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units is a front board, wherein the front boards are mounted in a subrack.  
   
   
       32 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       33 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       34 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       35 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       36 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein said first plurality of branch segments are segregated into a first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       37 . The platform management system of  claim 28  wherein said second plurality of branch segments are segregated into a second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       38 . The platform management system of  claim 36  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to one of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       39 . The platform management system of  claim 36  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       40 . The platform management system of  claim 37  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to one or more of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       41 . The platform management system of  claim 37  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       42 . The platform management system of  claim 31  wherein one or more of said first, second and third field replaceable unit are mounted outside the subrack that holds the front boards.  
   
   
       43 . The platform management system of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 a fourth field replaceable unit, said fourth field replaceable unit comprising a second platform control element    a third root segment, said third root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said first routing element; and    a fourth root segment, said fourth root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said second routing element.    
   
   
       44 . The platform management system of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 a fourth field replaceable unit, said fourth field replaceable unit comprising a second platform control element a third root segment, said third root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said first routing element; and    a fourth root segment, said fourth root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said second routing element,    wherein said first platform control element and said second platform control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions for said platform management system.    
   
   
       45 . The platform management system of  claim 44 , wherein said first platform control element and said second platform control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions on a redundant basis.  
   
   
       46 . A platform management system comprising: 
 a first field replaceable unit, said first field replaceable unit comprising a first platform control element;    a second field replaceable unit, said second field replaceable unit comprising a second platform control element    a third field replaceable unit, said third field replaceable unit comprising a first routing element;    a fourth field replaceable unit, said fourth field replaceable unit comprising a second routing element;    a fifth field replaceable unit, said fifth field replaceable unit comprising a third routing element;    a sixth field replaceable unit, said sixth field replaceable unit comprising a fourth routing element;    a first root segment, said first root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said first routing element;    a second root segment, said second root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said second routing element;    a third root segment, said third root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said third routing element; and    a fourth root segment, said fourth root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said second platform control element and said fourth routing element.    
   
   
       47 . The platform management system of  claim 46  further comprising: 
 a plurality of satellite management controllers;    a first plurality of branch segments, said first plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said first routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers;    a second plurality of branch segments, said second plurality of branch segment adapted to provide communication links between said second routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers;    a third plurality of branch segments, said third plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said third routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers; and    a fourth plurality of branch segments, said fourth plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said fourth routing element and each of said plurality of satellite management controllers,    wherein said first platform control element and said second platform control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions for said platform management system.    
   
   
       48 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein said first platform control element and said second control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions on a redundant basis.  
   
   
       49 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       50 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       51 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein said third routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said second platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       52 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein said fourth routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said second platform control element and one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       53 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein each satellite management controller comprises two ports, wherein said first plurality of branch segments and said third plurality of branch segments link to a first port of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       54 . The platform management system of  claim 53  wherein each satellite management controller comprises two branch bus ports, and wherein said second plurality of branch segments and said fourth plurality of branch segments link to a second port of said plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       55 . The platform management system of  claim 47  further comprising a plurality of intelligent field replaceable units, wherein one or more of said plurality of satellite management controllers resides on each of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units.  
   
   
       56 . The platform management system of  claim 55  wherein one or more of said plurality of intelligent field replaceable units is a front board, wherein the front boards are mounted in the subrack.  
   
   
       57 . The platform management system of  claim 56  wherein one or more of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth field replaceable units are mounted outside the subrack that holds the front boards.  
   
   
       58 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein said first platform control element and said second platform control element are adapted to provide central management controller functions on a redundant basis.  
   
   
       59 . The platform management system of  claim 58  wherein said first plurality of branch segments and said third plurality of branch segments are segregated into a first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       60 . The platform management system of  claim 59  wherein said second plurality of branch segments and said fourth plurality of branch segments are segregated into a second plurality of logical branch buses  
   
   
       61 . The platform management system of  claim 59  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers linked to one or more of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       62 . The platform management system of  claim 60  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said first platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers linked to one or more of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       63 . The platform management system of  claim 59  wherein said third routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said second platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers linked to one or more of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       64 . The platform management system of  claim 60  wherein said fourth routing element is adapted to selectively route communications between said second platform control element and the satellite management controller or controllers linked to one or more of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       65 . The platform management system of  claim 59  wherein said first routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       66 . The platform management system of  claim 60  wherein said second routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       67 . The platform management system of  claim 59  wherein said third routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said first plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       68 . The platform management system of  claim 60  wherein said fourth routing element is adapted to selectively route communications among the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a first logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses and the satellite management controller or controllers that are communicatively linked to a second logical branch bus of said second plurality of logical branch buses.  
   
   
       69 . The platform management system of  claim 47  wherein one or more of said first, second, third and fourth routing elements are adapted to selectively route communications among the plurality of satellite management controllers.  
   
   
       70 . A platform management system comprising: 
 a first field replaceable unit, said first field replaceable unit comprising a first platform control element; and    a second field replaceable unit, said second field replaceable unit comprising a first routing element;    a third field replaceable unit, said third field replaceable unit comprising a second routing element;    a first root segment, said first root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said first routing element;    a second root segment, said second root segment adapted to provide a communication link between said first platform control element and said second routing element;    a first plurality of satellite management controllers;    a second plurality of satellite management controllers;    a first plurality of branch segments, said first plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said first routing element and each of said first plurality of satellite management controllers; and    a second plurality of branch segments, said second plurality of branch segments adapted to provide communication links between said second routing element and each of said second plurality of satellite management controllers,    wherein said first platform control element is adapted to provide central management controller functions for said platform management system.