IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,043,492
Granted Patent B2
US 9,043,492 · App. 13/776,855 · Granted May 26, 2015

Method to publish remote management services over link local network for zero-touch discovery, provisioning and management

Inventors: Harikrishnan A. R. (Banglore, IN); Trung M. Tran (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04L61/2007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,043,492
App. No.
13/776,855
Filed
Feb 26, 2013
Granted
May 26, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2444
USPC
709/245
Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for realizing server management functionalities in the absence of a routable Internet Protocol (IP) network address of a remote access controller (RAC). A first device, which is operatively coupled to a link-local network, generates a Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) IP multicast query message, which it then sends to a second device on the link-local network. In response, the second device, which comprises a RAC, returns its link-local IP address to the first device.

Claims (59)

1. A computer-implementable method for automating the acquisition of the link-local Internet Protocol (IP) network address of a remote access controller (RAC), comprising:

using a first device to generate a Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) IP multicast query message, the first device operatively coupled to a link-local network;

using the first device to send the mDNS IP multicast query message to a second device, the second device comprising a RAC operatively coupled to the link-local IP network; and

receiving a mDNS IP multicast response message from the second device, the mDNS IP multicast response message containing the link-local IP address of the RAC.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the first device to generate a DNS-based Service Discovery (DNS-SD) message;

combining the mDNS IP multicast query message with the DNS-SD message to generate a mDNS/DNS-SD query message;

using the first device to send the mDNS/DNS-SD query message to the second device; and

receiving a response to the mDNS/DNS-SD query message from the second device, the response containing a management function as a service provided by the second device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RAC is one of the set of:

operatively coupled to a physical server embedded in a physical server.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the RAC comprises firmware and the mDNS protocol is implemented in the firmware of the RAC.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the DNS-SD protocol is implemented in the firmware of the RAC.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises at least one of the set of:

a RAC;

a host console;

a management console; and

a management controller.

7. A system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to the processor; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code for automating the acquisition of the link-local Internet Protocol (IP) network address of a remote access controller (RAC), the non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program code interacting with a plurality of computer operations and comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for:

using a first device to generate a Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) IP multicast query message, the first device operatively coupled to a link-local network;

using the first device to send the mDNS IP multicast query message to a second device, the second device comprising a RAC operatively coupled to the link-local IP network; and

receiving a mDNS IP multicast response message from the second device, the mDNS IP multicast response message containing the link-local IP address of the RAC.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

using the first device to generate a DNS-based Service Discovery (DNS-SD) message;

combining the mDNS IP multicast query message with the DNS-SD message to generate a mDNS/DNS-SD query message;

using the first device to send the mDNS/DNS-SD query message to the second device; and

receiving a response to the mDNS/DNS-SD query message from the second device, the response containing a management function as a service provided by the second device.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the RAC is one of the set of:

operatively coupled to a physical server

embedded in a physical server.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the RAC comprises firmware and the mDNS protocol is implemented in the firmware of the RAC.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the DNS-SD protocol is implemented in the firmware of the RAC.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first device comprises at least one of the set of:

a RAC;

a host console;

a management console; and

a management controller.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code for automating the acquisition of the link-local Internet Protocol (IP) network address of a remote access controller (RAC), the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

using a first device to generate a Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) IP multicast query message, the first device operatively coupled to a link-local network;

using the first device to send the mDNS IP multicast query message to a second device, the second device comprising a RAC operatively coupled to the link-local IP network; and

receiving a mDNS IP multicast response message from the second device, the mDNS IP multicast response message containing the link-local IP address of the RAC.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

using the first device to generate a DNS-based Service Discovery (DNS-SD) message;

combining the mDNS IP multicast query message with the DNS-SD message to generate a mDNS/DNS-SD query message;

using the first device to send the mDNS/DNS-SD query message to the second device; and

receiving a response to the mDNS/DNS-SD query message from the second device, the response containing a management function as a service provided by the second device.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the RAC is one of the set of:

operatively coupled to a physical server

embedded in a physical server.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the RAC comprises firmware and the mDNS protocol is implemented in the firmware of the RAC.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the DNS-SD protocol is implemented in the firmware of the RAC.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first device comprises at least one of the set of:

a RAC;

a host console;

a management console; and

a management controller.

Assignments (16)
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: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
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: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
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 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 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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2015
From: TRAN, TRUNG M.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 035501/0507 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2013
From: A.R., HARIKRISHNAN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029874/0345 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140244860A1 · Aug 28, 2014