Devices, Systems, and Methods for Distributed Monitoring and Control of Networked Server Computers

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include network cables that include a number of inter-integrated circuit communication addressable components in the connector heads. The inter-integrated circuit communication addressable components include signal translators and switches for communicating with environmental and electrical sensors, memories, and controllers in the connector heads and the computers or network interface cards to which they are coupled. Such embodiments allow for localized monitoring of environmental and operational data as well as location or server computer specific control of networked-server operations. Such information and control is useful in reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of server farm installation cooling, maintenance, operation, and troubleshooting. Other embodiments include methods for communicating between a switch and a server computer using the network cable assembly by translating a signal from a one communication protocol to another for transmission over a dedicated connection between two connector heads.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network cable comprising:
 a first connector head coupled to a first end of the network cable comprising:
 a first signal switch comprising a plurality of ports and having a first port coupled to a first connector terminal configured to establish a first connection external to the network cable; 
 a first bus internal to the first connector head coupled to a second port of the first signal switch; and 
 a second bus internal to the first connector head coupled to a third port of the first signal switch; 
   a second connector head coupled to a second end of the network cable comprising:
 a second signal switch comprising a plurality of ports and having a first port coupled to a second connector terminal configured to establish a second connection external to the network cable; 
 a first bus internal to the second connector head coupled to a second port of the second signal switch; and 
 a second bus internal to the second connector head coupled to a third port of the second signal switch and coupled to the second bus internal to the first connector head via the network cable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The network cable of  claim 1  wherein the first connector terminal is configured to couple to a first bus external to the network cable and the second connector terminal is configured to couple to a second bus external to the network cable. 
     
     
         3 . The network cable of  claim 2  wherein the first bus external to the network cable is disposed in a network device and the second bus external to the network cable is disposed in a server computer. 
     
     
         4 . The network cable of  claim 1  further comprising a device coupled to the first bus internal to the first connector head. 
     
     
         5 . The network cable of  claim 4  wherein the device comprises a memory. 
     
     
         6 . The network cable of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of devices coupled to the second bus internal to the second connector head. 
     
     
         7 . The network cable of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of devices coupled to the second bus internal to the second connector head comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The network cable of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of devices coupled to the second bus internal to the second connector head comprises a signal translation module coupled to a dedicated connection in the network cable and configured to generate a modified signal in response to a signal received via the second bus internal to the second connector head and send the modified signal via the dedicated connection to the second bus internal to the first connector. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a first device external to a network cable, a command signal at a first terminal of a first connector head coupled to a first end of the network cable;   routing the command signal to a first port of a first switch internal to the first connector head; and   routing the command signal from the first switch to a first bus internal to the first connector head or a second bus internal to the first connector head;   wherein the second bus internal to the first connector head is coupled to a bus internal to a second connector head coupled to a second end of the network cable.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein routing the command signal comprises determining an address information from the command signal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein routing the command signal further comprises configuring the first switch internal to the first connector head to couple the first terminal of the first connector head to the first bus internal to the first connector head or the second bus internal to first connector in response to the address information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second bus internal to the first connector head is coupled to the bus internal to the second connector head via a translation module. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein receiving, from the first device external to the network cable, the command signal at the first terminal of the first connector head, comprises receiving the command signal from a first bus internal to the first device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first device comprises a server computer or a network communication switch. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a network cable comprising:
 a first connector head coupled to a first end of the network cable comprising:
 a first signal switch comprising a plurality of ports and having a first port coupled to a first connector terminal configured to establish a first connection external to the network cable; 
 a first bus internal to the first connector head coupled to a second port of the first signal switch; and 
 a second bus internal to the first connector head coupled to a third port of the first signal switch; 
 
 a second connector head coupled to a second end of the network cable comprising:
 a second signal switch comprising a plurality of ports and having a first port coupled to a second connector terminal configured to establish a second connection external to the network cable; 
 a first bus internal to the second connector head coupled to a second port of the second signal switch; and 
 a second bus internal to the second connector head coupled to a third port of the second signal switch and coupled to the second bus internal to the first connector head via the network cable; 
 
   a first network device coupled to the first connector head; and   a second network device coupled to the second connector head.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the second bus internal to the first connector head is coupled to the second bus internal to the second connector head via the network cable and via a first translation module internal to the first connecter and a second translation module internal to the second connector head. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the network cable comprises a dedicated communication connection coupled to the second bus internal to the first connector head and the second bus internal to the second connector head. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the second connector head further comprises a first device coupled to the second bus internal to the second connector head. 
     
     
         19 . The network cable assembly of  claim 18  wherein the first device coupled to the second bus internal to the second connector head comprises a sensor.