Managing server nodes on a management network with modified service discovery protocol messages

1. A method comprising:

by program instructions on a computing device,

determining that a first management server requires management data for installation on a server node, wherein the first management server and the server node are communicatively coupled to a management network;

determining that the required management data for installation on the server node is not stored on the first management server;

broadcasting, on the management network, a first modified service discovery protocol (SDP) message requesting the required management data for installation on the server node;

receiving, from a second management server communicatively coupled to the management network, a second modified SDP message providing the required management data for installation on the server node; and

installing the required management data on the server node.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first management server requires management data for installation on the server node comprises:

receiving, from a baseboard management controller of the server node, a broadcasted third modified SDP message requesting configuration of the server node;

determining a server node configuration for the server node; and

determining the required management data based on the server node configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the second management server, a broadcasted third modified SDP message requesting storage space on the first management server;

sending, to the second management server, a fourth modified SDP message indicating that the first management server has the requested storage space available; and

storing management data from the second management server in the storage space available on the first management server.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

augmenting a SDP response to indicate that the requested storage space is no longer available.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second modified SDP message providing the required management data for installation on the server node comprises an indication of the availability of the required management data for installation on the server node.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first modified SDP message comprises at least one field undefined by the service discovery protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first modified SDP message comprises an identifier of the required management data for installation on the server node, wherein the management data comprises firmware, operating systems, and/or applications installed by the first management server on the server node to configure and manage the server node.

8. An apparatus comprising a computing device, a computer processor, and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

determining that a first management server requires management data for installation on a server node, wherein the first management server and the server node are communicatively coupled to a management network;

determining that the required management data for installation on the server node is not stored on the first management server;

broadcasting, on the management network, a first modified service discovery protocol (SDP) message requesting the required management data for installation on the server node;

receiving, from a second management server communicatively coupled to the management network, a second modified SDP message providing the required management data for installation on the server node; and

installing the required management data on the server node.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein determining that the first management server requires management data for installation on the server node comprises:

receiving, from a baseboard management controller of the server node, a broadcasted third modified SDP message requesting configuration of the server node;

determining a server node configuration for the server node; and

determining the required management data based on the server node configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer program instructions further cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

receiving, from the second management server, a broadcasted third modified SDP message requesting storage space on the first management server;

sending, to the second management server, a fourth modified SDP message indicating that the first management server has the requested storage space available; and

storing management data from the second management server in the storage space available on the first management server.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the computer program instructions further cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

augmenting a SDP response to indicate that the requested storage space is no longer available.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second modified SDP message providing the required management data for installation on the server node comprises an indication of the availability of the required management data for installation on the server node.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first modified SDP message comprises at least one field undefined by the service discovery protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first modified SDP message comprises an identifier of the required management data for installation on the server node, wherein the management data comprises firmware, operating systems, and/or applications installed by the first management server on the server node to configure and manage the server node.

15. A computer program product including a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

determining that a first management server requires management data for installation on a server node, wherein the first management server and the server node are communicatively coupled to a management network;

determining that the required management data for installation on the server node is not stored on the first management server;

broadcasting, on the management network, a first modified service discovery protocol (SDP) message requesting the required management data for installation on the server node;

receiving, from a second management server communicatively coupled to the management network, a second modified SDP message providing the required management data for installation on the server node; and

installing the required management data on the server node.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein determining that the first management server requires management data for installation on the server node comprises:

receiving, from a baseboard management controller of the server node, a broadcasted third modified SDP message requesting configuration of the server node;

determining a server node configuration for the server node; and

determining the required management data based on the server node configuration.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer program instructions further cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

receiving, from the second management server, a broadcasted third modified SDP message requesting storage space on the first management server;

sending, to the second management server, a fourth modified SDP message indicating that the first management server has the requested storage space available; and

storing management data from the second management server in the storage space available on the first management server.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer program instructions further cause the computer to carry out the steps of: augmenting a SDP response to indicate that the requested storage space is no longer available.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the second modified SDP message providing the required management data for installation on the server node comprises an indication of the availability of the required management data for installation on the server node.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the first modified SDP message comprises at least one field undefined by the service discovery protocol.