Systems and methods for scalable cloud computing by optimally utilizing management controller for host compute processing
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system comprising my include a host system comprising a host system processor, and a management controller communicatively coupled to the host system processor and configured to provide management of the information handling system via management traffic communicated between the management controller and a network external to the information handling system and allocate hardware processing resources of the management controller in order to provide compute processing support for the host system processor.
1. An information handling system comprising:
a host system comprising a host system processor;
a management controller communicatively coupled to the host system processor; and
a shared memory communicatively coupled to both the host system processor and the management controller;
wherein the management controller is configured to:
provide management of the information handling system via management traffic communicated between the management controller and a management network external to the information handling system and isolated from a data network coupled to the information handling system when the host system is in a powered-on state and also when the host system is in a powered-off state; and
allocate hardware processing resources of the management controller to provide compute processing support for the host system processor, such that data associated with the compute processing is stored in the shared memory and is configured to be operated on by both the host system processor and the hardware processing resources of the management controller.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the management controller is further configured to operate in a plurality of compute processing support modes, wherein each mode defines a priority of allocation of the hardware processing resources of the management controller between compute processing support for the host system processor and execution of management features of the management controller.
3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of compute processing support modes includes at least two of the following modes:
a full server management mode in which all hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to execution of management features of the management controller;
a dual mode in which a first portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to execution of management features of the management controller and a second portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor; and
a full compute support mode in which all hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor.
4. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of compute processing support modes includes one or more dual modes in which a first portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to execution of management features of the management controller and a second portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor, wherein the one or more dual modes comprise:
a first dual mode in which priority is given to compute processing support of the host system processor relative to execution of management features of the management controller;
a second dual mode in which approximately equal priority is given to processing support of the host system processor and execution of management features of the management controller; and
a third dual mode in which priority is given to execution of management features of the management controller relative to compute processing support of the host system processor.
5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the management controller is further configured to allocate hardware processing resources of the management controller to provide compute processing support for a second host system processor of a second information handling system communicatively coupled to the information handling system via at least one of the data network and the management network.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the management controller is further configured to:
in response to an interrupt received from the host system processor, retrieve from the shared memory a command and any data associated with the command stored to the shared memory by the host system processor; and
execute the command using hardware resources of the management controller.
7. The information handling system of claim 6 , wherein the management controller is further configured to:
store processed data resulting from execution of the command to the shared memory; and
communicate an interrupt to the host system processor to indicate to the host system processor that the processed data is to be retrieved by the host system processor from the shared memory.
8. A method comprising:
in an information handling system comprising a host system having a host system processor a management controller communicatively coupled to the host system processor, and a shared memory communicatively coupled to both the host system processor and the management controller, wherein the management controller is configured to provide management of the information handling system via management traffic communicated between the management controller and a management network external to the information handling system and isolated from a data network coupled to the information handling system when the host system is in a powered-on state and also when the host system is in a powered-off state, allocating hardware processing resources of the management controller to provide compute processing support for the host system processor, such that data associated with the compute processing is stored in the shared memory and is operated on by both the host system processor and the hardware processing resources of the management controller.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising operating in a plurality of compute processing support modes, wherein each mode defines a priority of allocation of the hardware processing resources of the management controller between compute processing support for the host system processor and execution of management features of the management controller.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of compute processing support modes includes at least two of the following modes:
a full server management mode in which all hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to execution of management features of the management controller;
a dual mode in which a first portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to execution of management features of the management controller and a second portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor; and
a full compute support mode in which all hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of compute processing support modes includes one or more dual modes in which a first portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to execution of management features of the management controller and a second portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor, wherein the one or more dual modes comprise:
a first dual mode in which priority is given to compute processing support of the host system processor relative to execution of management features of the management controller;
a second dual mode in which approximately equal priority is given to processing support of the host system processor and execution of management features of the management controller; and
a third dual mode in which priority is given to execution of management features of the management controller relative to compute processing support of the host system processor.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising allocating hardware processing resources of the management controller to provide compute processing support for a second host system processor of a second information handling system communicatively coupled to the information handling system via at least one of the data network and the management network.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
in response to an interrupt received from the host system processor, retrieving from the shared memory a command and any data associated with the command stored to the shared memory by the host system processor; and
executing the command using hardware resources of the management controller.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
storing processed data resulting from execution of the command to the shared memory; and
communicating an interrupt to the host system processor to indicate to the host system processor that the processed data is to be retrieved by the host system processor from the shared memory.
15. A management controller configured to be disposed in an information handling system and communicatively coupled to a host system processor of a host system of the information handling system, wherein the information handling system includes a shared memory communicatively coupled to both the host system processor and the management controller, and wherein the management controller is further configured to:
provide management of the information handling system via management traffic communicated between the management controller and a network external to the information handling system and isolated from a data network coupled to the information handling system when the host system is in a powered-on state and also when the host system is in a powered-off state; and
allocate hardware processing resources of the management controller to provide compute processing support for the host system processor, such that data associated with the compute processing is stored in the shared memory and is configured to be operated on by both the host system processor and the hardware processing resources of the management controller.
16. The management controller of claim 15 , wherein the management controller is further configured to operate in a plurality of compute processing support modes, wherein each mode defines a priority of allocation of the hardware processing resources of the management controller between compute processing support for the host system processor and execution of management features of the management controller.
17. The management controller of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compute processing support modes includes at least two of the following modes:
a full server management mode in which all hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to execution of management features of the management controller;
a dual mode in which a first portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to execution of management features of the management controller and a second portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor; and
a full compute support mode in which all hardware processing resources of the management controller are allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor.
18. The management controller of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compute processing support modes includes one or more dual modes in which a first portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to execution of management features of the management controller and a second portion of hardware processing resources of the management controller is allocated to compute processing support of the host system processor, wherein the one or more dual modes comprise:
a first dual mode in which priority is given to compute processing support of the host system processor relative to execution of management features of the management controller;
a second dual mode in which approximately equal priority is given to processing support of the host system processor and execution of management features of the management controller; and
a third dual mode in which priority is given to execution of management features of the management controller relative to compute processing support of the host system processor.
19. The management controller of claim 15 , wherein the management controller is further configured to allocate hardware processing resources of the management controller to provide compute processing support for a second host system processor of a second information handling system communicatively coupled to the information handling system via at least one of the data network and the management network.
20. The management controller of claim 15 , wherein the management controller is further configured to:
in response to an interrupt received from the host system processor, retrieve from the shared memory a command and any data associated with the command stored to the shared memory by the host system processor; and
execute the command using hardware resources of the management controller.
21. The management controller of claim 20 , wherein the management controller is further configured to:
store processed data resulting from execution of the command to the shared memory; and
communicate an interrupt to the host system processor to indicate to the host system processor that the processed data is to be retrieved by the host system processor from the shared memory.