IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,092,630
Granted Patent B2
US 9,092,630 · App. 13/680,357 · Granted Jul 28, 2015

Systems and methods for isolation of information handling resources in response to external storage resource boot

Inventor: Ricardo L. Martinez (Leander, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F21/575G06F9/4401G06F21/566G06F2221/2147
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,092,630
App. No.
13/680,357
Filed
Nov 19, 2012
Granted
Jul 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2118
USPC
713/2
Abstract

An information handling system may include a processor, at least one information handling resource, at least one external port configured to receive an external information handling resource and couple the external information handling resource to the processor, and a basic input/output system. The basis input/output system may comprise a program of instructions executable by the processor and configured to cause the processor to determine whether a current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to the at least one external port, and in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to the at least one external port, disable one or more of the at least one information handling resource for the current boot session.

Claims (32)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

at least one information handling resource;

at least one external port configured to receive an external information handling resource and couple the external information handling resource to the processor; and

a basic input/output system comprising a program of instructions executable by the processor and configured to cause the processor to:

determine whether a current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to the at least one external port; and

in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to the at least one external port, disable one or more of the at least one information handling resources for the current boot session.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , the basic input/output system further configured to cause the processor to, in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from the external storage resource, allow an operating system executing on the processor to access information handling resources that would otherwise be disabled if the current boot session was initiated by a boot from the external storage resource.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the basic input/output system disables one or more of the at least one information handling resource for the current boot session based on a user preference.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the user preference is set forth in user-configurable settings and parameters for the basic input/output system.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein disabling the at least one information handling resource for the current boot session comprises configuring hardware-specific locking registers associated with the disabled information handling resources, to prevent the disabled information handling resources from being enabled by an operating system executing on the information handling system.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein disabling the at least one information handling resource for the current boot session comprises instituting an input/output trap for each disabled information handling resource, such that when an enable register for a disabled information handling resource is accessed by an operating system executing on the information handling system, an interrupt is generated allowing the basic input/output system to override the attempted access to the enable register.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one information handling resource comprises at least one of an internal storage resource and a network interface.

8. A method comprising:

determining, by a basic input/output system of an information handling system, whether a current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to an external port of the information handling system; and

in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to the external port, disabling, by the basic input/output system, one or more information handling resources of the information handling system for the current boot session.

9. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising, in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from the external storage resource, allowing an operating system executing on a processor of the information handling system to access information handling resources that would otherwise be disabled if the current boot session was initiated by a boot from the external storage resource.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein disabling one or more information handling resources of the information handling system for the current boot session comprises disabling one or more information handling resources for the current boot session based on a user preference.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user preference is set forth in user-configurable settings and parameters for a basic input/output system of the information handling system.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein disabling the one or more information handling resources for the current boot session comprises configuring hardware-specific locking registers associated with the disabled information handling resources, to prevent the disabled information handling resources from being enabled by an operating system executing on the information handling system.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein disabling the one or more information handling resources for the current boot session comprises instituting an input/output trap for each disabled information handling resource, such that when an enable register for a disabled information handling resource is accessed by an operating system executing on the information handling system, an interrupt is generated allowing a basic input/output system of the information handling system to override the attempted access to the enable register.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one information handling resource comprises at least one of an internal storage resource and a network interface.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer-executable basic input/output system instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:

determine whether a current boot session of an information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to an external port of the information handling system; and

in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from an external storage resource coupled to the external port, disable one or more information handling resources of the information handling system for the current boot session.

16. The article of claim 15 , the instructions for further causing the processor to, in response to a determination that the current boot session of the information handling system was initiated by a boot from the external storage resource, allow an operating system executing on the processor to access information handling resources that would otherwise be disabled if the current boot session was initiated by a boot from the external storage resource.

17. The article of claim 15 , wherein disabling one or more information handling resources of the information handling system for the current boot session comprises disabling one or more information handling resources for the current boot session based on a user preference.

18. The article of claim 17 , wherein the user preference is set forth in user-configurable settings and parameters for a basic input/output system of the information handling system.

19. The article of claim 15 , wherein disabling the one or more information handling resources for the current boot session comprises configuring hardware-specific locking registers associated with the disabled information handling resources, to prevent the disabled information handling resources from being enabled by an operating system executing on the information handling system.

20. The article of claim 15 , wherein disabling the one or more information handling resources for the current boot session comprises instituting an input/output trap for each disabled information handling resource, such that when an enable register for a disabled information handling resource is accessed by an operating system executing on the information handling system, an interrupt is generated allowing a basic input/output system of the information handling system to override the attempted access to the enable register.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2012
From: MARTINEZ, RICARDO L.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029527/0430 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140143530A1 · May 22, 2014