System and method for an access controller assisted boot
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with network boots are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information handling system comprises a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an access controller communicatively coupled to the processor. The access controller has stored thereon a general pre-boot file and configured to receive boot configuration information from a management server. The access controller further configured to generate a boot script according to the boot configuration information and generate a specific pre-boot file based on the general pre-boot file and the boot script. The access controller is further configured to configure the information handling system to boot to a target based on the specific pre-boot file.
1. An information handling system comprising:
a processor;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and
an access controller integrated in the information handling system and communicatively coupled to the processor, the access controller having stored thereon a general pre-boot binary file, the access controller configured to:
receive boot configuration information from a management server;
generate a boot script including the boot configuration information;
generate a specific pre-boot binary file by combining the general pre-boot binary file with the boot script; and
configure the information handling system to boot from the specific pre-boot binary file.
2. An information handling system according to claim 1 , the access controller further configured to initiate a secure connection between the access controller and the target.
3. An information handling system according to claim 1 , the access controller further configured to store operating system (OS) data in a cache and send the OS data to the information handling system.
4. An information handling system according to claim 3 , the access controller further configured to determine if OS data associated with the target is stored in the cache, and if the OS data associated with the target is not stored in the cache, retrieve the OS data from the target and store the OS data associated with the target in the cache.
5. An information handling system according to claim 1 , the boot configuration information including at least one of a host internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) qualified name (iQN) and a target iQN.
6. An information handling system according to claim 1 , the specific pre-boot binary file configured to be executed by a network pre-boot execution environment boot loader.
7. An information handling system according to claim 1 , the access controller further configured to configure the information handling system to perform an internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) boot with respect to the target.
8. An access controller, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the instructions readable by the access controller integrated in an information handling system, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the access controller to:
receive boot configuration information from a management server;
generate a boot script including the boot configuration information;
generate a specific pre-boot binary file by combining a general pre-boot binary file stored on the access controller with the boot script; and
configure the information handling system to boot from the specific pre-boot binary file.
9. An access controller according to claim 8 , further comprising instructions for causing the access controller to initiate a secure connection between the access controller and the target.
10. An access controller according to claim 8 , further comprising instructions for causing the access controller to store operating system (OS) data in a cache and send the OS data to the information handling system.
11. An access controller according to claim 10 , further comprising instructions for causing the access controller to determine if OS data associated with the target is stored in the cache, and if the OS data associated with the target is not stored in the cache, retrieve the OS data from the target and store the OS data associated with the target in the cache.
12. An access controller according to claim 8 , the boot configuration information including at least one of a host internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) qualified name (iQN) and a target iQN.
13. An access controller according to claim 8 , the specific pre-boot binary file configured to be executed by a network pre-boot execution environment boot loader.
14. An access controller according to claim 8 , further comprising instructions for causing the access controller to configure the information handling system to perform an internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) boot with respect to the target.
15. A method comprising:
receiving, by an access controller integrated in an information handling system, boot configuration information from a management server;
generating, by the access controller, a boot script including the boot configuration information;
generating, by the access controller, a specific pre-boot binary file by combining a general pre-boot binary file stored on the access controller with the boot script; and
configuring, by the access controller, the information handling system to boot from the specific pre-boot binary file.
16. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising initiating, by the access controller, a secure connection between the access controller and the target.
17. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising storing, by the access controller, operating system (OS) data in a cache and sending the OS data to the information handling system.
18. A method according to claim 17 , further comprising determining, by the access controller, if OS data associated with the target is stored in the cache, and if the OS data associated with the target is not stored in the cache, retrieving the OS data from the target and storing the OS data associated with the target in the cache.
19. A method according to claim 15 , the boot configuration information including at least one of a host internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) qualified name (iQN) and a target iQN.
20. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising configuring, by the access controller, the information handling system to perform an internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) boot with respect to the target.