Scalable BMC management stacks using virtual networks on single physical network device

1. A baseboard management controller (BMC) managing a computer system including N computer nodes, N being an integer greater than 1, comprising:

a processor;

a physical network interface controller;

a first communication interface controller;

a memory having firmware stored therein, wherein the firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to

initiate N virtual BMC stacks each managing at least one health or performance related aspect of a respective one of the N computer nodes;

initiate N virtual network interface controllers each communicating with the physical network interface controller; and

obtain, from a dynamic MAC address protocol server in the network, and assign a unique virtual MAC address for each of the N virtual network interface controllers;

wherein each of the virtual BMC stacks has a network interface configured to communicate with a respective one of the virtual network interface controllers, and wherein each of the N virtual BMC stacks is configured to communicate with a network connected to the physical network interface controller through the respective one virtual network interface controller;

wherein each of first and second virtual BMC stacks of the N virtual BMC stacks has a communication interface configured to communicate with a respective one of first and second computer nodes of the N computer nodes through the first communication interface controller; and

wherein for each of the first and second virtual BMC stacks, the network interface and the communication interface are different and separately operated during separate communications.

2. The BMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to dynamically generate the unique virtual MAC address for each of the N virtual network interface controllers.

3. The BMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to obtain an IP address dynamically for each of the N virtual network interface controllers using the virtual MAC address of the each virtual network interface controller.

4. The BMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to instruct the physical network interface controller to receive a network packet addressed to a first IP address assigned to a first virtual network interface controller and to forward the network packet to the first virtual network interface controller.

5. The BMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to initiate a management service module, wherein the management service module has a network interface configured to access the physical network interface controller directly.

6. The BMC of claim 5 , wherein the firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to instruct the physical network interface controller to receive a network packet addressed to a second IP address assigned to the physical network interface controller and to forward the network packet to the management service module.

7. The BMC of claim 5 , wherein each of the virtual BMC stacks includes a Web server and a management program, wherein the management service module includes a redirection program and a virtual media program.

8. The BMC of claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface controller is a controller for controlling one of a keyboard controller style (“KCS”) interface, a system management interface chip (“SMIC”) interface, a block transfer (“BT”) interface, SMBus System Interface (SSIF), an IPMB interface, a USB interface, a serial/modem interface, and a network interface.

9. The BMC of claim 1 , further comprising a second communication interface controller different from the first communication interface controller, wherein the first and second virtual BMC stacks communicate, through the second communication interface controller, with the first and second computer nodes, respectively.

10. A baseboard management controller (BMC) implemented method of managing a computer system including N computer nodes, N being an integer greater than 1, comprising:

initiating, at the BMC, N virtual BMC stacks each managing at least one health or performance related aspect of a respective one of the N computer nodes;

initiating N virtual network interface controllers each communicating with the physical network interface controller; and

obtaining, from a dynamic MAC address protocol server in the network, and assigning a unique virtual MAC address for each of the N virtual network interface controllers;

wherein each of the virtual BMC stacks has a network interface configured to communicate with a respective one of the virtual network interface controllers, and wherein each of the N virtual BMC stacks is configured to communicate with a network connected to the physical network interface controller through the respective one virtual network interface controller;

wherein each of first and second virtual BMC stacks of the N virtual BMC stacks has a communication interface configured to communicate with a respective one of first and second computer nodes of the N computer nodes through a first communication interface controller; and

wherein for each of the first and second virtual BMC stacks, the network interface and the communication interface are different and separately operated during separate communications.

11. The BMC implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:

dynamically generating the unique virtual MAC address for each of the N virtual network interface controllers; and

obtaining an IP address dynamically for each of the N virtual network interface controllers using the virtual MAC address of the each virtual network interface controller.

12. The BMC implemented method of claim 10 , comprising:

instructing the physical network interface controller to receive a network packet addressed to a first IP address assigned to a first virtual network interface controller and to forward the network packet to the first virtual network interface controller;

initiating a management service module, wherein the management service module has a network interface configured to access the physical network interface controller directly; and

instructing the physical network interface controller to receive a network packet addressed to a second IP address assigned to the physical network interface controller and to forward the network packet to the management service module.

13. The BMC implemented method of claim 10 , wherein each of the virtual BMC stacks includes a Web server and a management program, and wherein the management service module includes a redirection program and a virtual media program.

14. The BMC implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the first communication interface controller comprises a controller for controlling one of a keyboard controller style (“KCS”) interface, a system management interface chip (“SMIC”) interface, a block transfer (“BT”) interface, SMBus System Interface (SSIF), an IPMB interface, a USB interface, a serial/modem interface, and a network interface.

15. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of a baseboard management controller (BMC), cause the processor to

initiate N virtual BMC stacks each managing at least one health or performance related aspect of a respective one of N computer nodes; and

initiate N virtual network interface controllers each communicating with a physical network interface controller;

obtain, from a dynamic MAC address protocol server in the network, and assign a unique virtual MAC address for each of the N virtual network interface controllers;

wherein each of the virtual BMC stacks has a network interface configured to communicate with a respective one of the virtual network interface controllers, and wherein each of the N virtual BMC stacks is configured to communicate with a network connected to the physical network interface controller through the respective one virtual network interface controller;

wherein each of first and second virtual BMC stacks of the N virtual BMC stacks has a communication interface configured to communicate with a respective one of first and second computer nodes of the N computer nodes through a first communication interface controller; and

wherein for each of the first and second virtual BMC stacks, the network interface and the communication interface are different and separately operated during separate communications.

16. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

dynamically generate the unique virtual MAC address for each of the N virtual network interface controllers; and

obtain an IP address dynamically for each of the N virtual network interface controllers using the virtual MAC address of the each virtual network interface controller.

17. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

instruct the physical network interface controller to receive a network packet addressed to a first IP address assigned to a first virtual network interface controller and to forward the network packet to the first virtual network interface controller;

initiate a management service module, wherein the management service module has a network interface configured to access the physical network interface controller directly; and

instruct the physical network interface controller to receive a network packet addressed to a second IP address assigned to the physical network interface controller and to forward the network packet to the management service module.

18. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first communication interface controller comprises a controller for controlling one of a keyboard controller style (“KCS”) interface, a system management interface chip (“SMIC”) interface, a block transfer (“BT”) interface, SMBus System Interface (SSIF), an IPMB interface, a USB interface, a serial/modem interface, and a network interface.