Managing modifications to data processing systems based on channel card parameters

1 . A method for managing operation of a data processing system, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a management controller that is physically installed within the data processing system, parameters of a channel card of the data processing system, the channel card having at least one non-standard function based on standard functions of a type of the channel card, the management controller being a separate and independently operating computing device from the data processing system, and the management controller comprising a first processor that is separate and independently operating from a second processor of the data processing system;

identifying, by the management controller and based on the parameters of the channel card and parameters of the data processing system, at least one modification to the data processing system;

performing, by the management controller and based on the at least one modification, an action set to update operation of the data processing system; and

causing, by the management controller, the data processing system to provide computer-implemented services based on the updated operation of the data processing system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters of the channel card comprise at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of:

the type of the channel card;

a manufacturer of the channel card;

hardware components of the channel card; and

firmware of the channel card.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one modification comprises, in a first instance when the at least one modification is a first modification:

identifying a desired manner of operation of the channel card when operably connected to the data processing system;

evaluating, based on the parameters of the channel card and the parameters of the data processing system, a set of operational scenarios to obtain operation scenario outcomes;

comparing the operation scenario outcomes to the desired manner of operation; and

in an instance of the comparing where at least one of the operation scenario outcomes does not meet the desired manner of operation:

identifying a change in configuration for the channel card that, when applied to channel card, reduces a likelihood of additional instances of the comparing from occurring to obtain the at least one modification.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein performing the action set comprises, in the first instance where the at least one modification identified is the first modification:

applying, by the management controller and based on the at least one modification, the identified change in configuration for the channel card.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one modification comprises, in a second instance when the at least one modification is a second modification:

identifying a desired operation to be performed by the management controller and with respect to the channel card during startups of the data processing system;

identifying at least one restriction placed on the channel card during the startups; and

identifying, based on the at least one restriction, a manner for completing the desired operation during the startups.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the desired operation is retrieval, by the management controller, of diagnostic data from the channel card.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein performing the action set comprises, in the second instance where the at least one modification identified is the second modification:

updating a diagnostic data retrieval plan of the management controller based on the identified manner for completing the desired operation.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one restriction is a limit on types of communication mechanisms available during the startups.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one modification comprises, in a third instance when the at least one modification is a third modification:

identifying a function of the channel card that corresponds to a standard function of the standard functions, the function having a user-facing description that differs from a user-facing description of the standard function.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein performing the action set comprises at least one action selected from a list of actions consisting of, in the third instance where the at least one modification identified is the third modification:

modifying a name of the function based on a name of the corresponding standard function; and

modifying an icon for the function based on an icon for the corresponding standard function.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein performing the action set comprises, in the third instance where the at least one modification identified is the third modification:

modifying a manner in which an application presents information regarding the function to a user of the data processing system, the application utilizing the channel card during operation.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the obtaining, identifying, and performing are performed via a sideband channel of the data processing system.

13 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing operation of a data processing system, the operations comprising:

obtaining, by a management controller that is physically installed within the data processing system, parameters of a channel card of the data processing system, the channel card having at least one non-standard function based on standard functions of a type of the channel card, the management controller being a separate and independently operating computing device from the data processing system, and the management controller comprising a first processor that is separate and independently operating from a second processor of the data processing system;

identifying, by the management controller and based on the parameters of the channel card and parameters of the data processing system, at least one modification to the data processing system;

performing, by the management controller and based on the at least one modification, an action set to update operation of the data processing system; and

causing, by the management controller, the data processing system to provide computer-implemented services based on the updated operation of the data processing system.

14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the parameters of the channel card comprise at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of:

the type of the channel card;

a manufacturer of the channel card;

hardware components of the channel card; and

firmware of the channel card.

15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein identifying the at least one modification comprises, in a first instance when the at least one modification is a first modification:

identifying a desired manner of operation of the channel card when operably connected to the data processing system;

evaluating, based on the parameters of the channel card and the parameters of the data processing system, a set of operational scenarios to obtain operation scenario outcomes;

comparing the operation scenario outcomes to the desired manner of operation; and

in an instance of the comparing where at least one of the operation scenario outcomes does not meet the desired manner of operation:

identifying a change in configuration for the channel card that, when applied to channel card, reduces a likelihood of additional instances of the comparing from occurring to obtain the at least one modification.

16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein performing the action set comprises, in the first instance where the at least one modification identified is the first modification:

applying, by the management controller and based on the at least one modification, the identified change in configuration for the channel card.

17 . A data processing system, comprising:

a first processor coupled to first memory;

a management controller comprising a second processor that is separate and independently operating from the first processor of the data processing system, the management controller being physically installed within the data processing system as a separate and independently operating computing device from the data processing system; and

second memory coupled to the second processor, wherein the second processor stores instructions, which when executed by the second processor, cause the second processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining, by the management controller parameters of a channel card of the data processing system, the channel card having at least one non-standard function based on standard functions of a type of the channel card;

identifying, by the management controller and based on the parameters of the channel card and parameters of the data processing system, at least one modification to the data processing system;

performing, by the management controller and based on the at least one modification, an action set to update operation of the data processing system; and

causing, by the management controller, the data processing system to provide computer-implemented services based on the updated operation of the data processing system.

18 . The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein the parameters of the channel card comprise at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of:

the type of the channel card;

a manufacturer of the channel card;

hardware components of the channel card; and

firmware of the channel card.

19 . The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein identifying the at least one modification comprises, in a first instance when the at least one modification is a first modification:

identifying a desired manner of operation of the channel card when operably connected to the data processing system;

evaluating, based on the parameters of the channel card and the parameters of the data processing system, a set of operational scenarios to obtain operation scenario outcomes;

comparing the operation scenario outcomes to the desired manner of operation; and

in an instance of the comparing where at least one of the operation scenario outcomes does not meet the desired manner of operation:

identifying a change in configuration for the channel card that, when applied to channel card, reduces a likelihood of additional instances of the comparing from occurring to obtain the at least one modification.

20 . The data processing system of claim 19 , wherein performing the action set comprises, in the first instance where the at least one modification identified is the first modification:

applying, by the management controller and based on the at least one modification, the identified change in configuration for the channel card.