IP Library Granted Patent US 11,681,807
Granted Patent B2
US 11,681,807 · App. 17/313,507 · Granted Jun 20, 2023

Information handling system with mechanism for reporting status of persistent memory firmware update

Inventors: Xi Li (Round Rock, TX); Ching-Lung Chao (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F21/57G06F9/4401G06F11/2284
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,681,807
App. No.
17/313,507
Granted
Jun 20, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

During a power-on self-test (POST), a basic input/output system (BIOS) retrieves an attribute value associated with the persistent memory device, and compares the attribute value to a default value. In response to the attribute value matching the default value, the BIOS may determine that a firmware management protocol was not executed during a previous POST. In response to the attribute value not matching the default value, the BIOS may compare the attribute value to a current firmware version of firmware within the persistent memory device.

Claims (52)

1. A method comprising:

beginning, by a basic input/output system (BIOS), a power-on self-test (POST) of an information handling system; and

during the POST:

executing a routine to stage a firmware update image for a persistent memory device in a memory controller of the information handling system;

determining whether the routine is successful;

in response to the routine being successful, setting an attribute value to a staged firmware version, wherein the staged firmware version is associated with the firmware update image stored within the memory controller; and

in response to the routine not being successful, setting the attribute value to a pre-defined error code.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during a subsequent POST:

retrieving the attribute value associated with a persistent memory device;

comparing the attribute value to the staged firmware version; and

in response to the attribute value matching the staged firmware version, providing a firmware update successful message on a display device of the information handling system, the firmware update successful message indicating that firmware of the persistent memory device was successfully updated.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

during the subsequent POST:

in response to the attribute value not matching the staged firmware version, logging a firmware update failure message.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting a cold reset of the information handling system prior to beginning the subsequent POST.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during a subsequent POST:

retrieving the attribute value associated with a persistent memory device;

comparing the attribute value to a default value;

in response to the attribute value matching the default value, determining that a firmware management protocol was not executed during the previous POST.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during the subsequent POST:

in response to the attribute value not matching the staged firmware version, providing a firmware update not successful message on a display device of the information handling system, the firmware update not successful message indicating that firmware of the persistent memory device was not successfully updated.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the persistent memory device is a persistent dual in-line memory module.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attribute value is stored in a BIOS non-volatile random access memory.

9. An information handling system comprising:

a persistent memory device;

a memory controller to communicate with the persistent memory device; and

a basic input/output system (BIOS) that, during a power-on self-test (POST) of the information handling system: executes a routine to stage a firmware update image for the persistent memory device in the memory controller of the information handling system; determines whether the routine is successful; in response to the routine being successful, sets an attribute value to a staged firmware version, wherein the staged firmware version is associated with the firmware update image stored within the memory controller; and in response to the routine not being successful, sets the attribute value to a pre-defined error code.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein during a subsequent POST, the BIOS to: retrieve the attribute value associated with a persistent memory device; compare the attribute value to the staged firmware version; and in response to the attribute value matching the staged firmware version, provide a firmware update successful message on a display device of the information handling system, the firmware update successful message indicating that firmware of the persistent memory device was successfully updated.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein during the subsequent POST and in response to the attribute value not matching the staged firmware version, the BIOS to: log a firmware update failure message.

12. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the BIOS further to detect a cold reset of the information handling system prior to beginning the subsequent POST.

13. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein during a subsequent POST, the BIOS to: retrieve the attribute value associated with a persistent memory device; compare the attribute value to a default value; and in response to the attribute value matching the default value, determining that a firmware management protocol was not executed during the previous POST.

14. The information handling system of claim 9 , during the subsequent POST and in response to the attribute value not matching the staged firmware version, the BIOS to provide a firmware update not successful message on a display device of the information handling system, the firmware update not successful message indicating that firmware of the persistent memory device was not successfully updated.

15. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the persistent memory device is a persistent dual in-line memory module.

16. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the attribute value is stored in a BIOS non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM).

17. A method comprising:

beginning, by a basic input/output system (BIOS), a power-on self-test (POST) of an information handling system; and

during the POST:

setting an attribute value to a default value, the attribute value being associated with a persistent memory device of an information handling system;

executing a routine to stage a firmware update image for a persistent memory device in a memory controller of the information handling system;

if the routine is successful, then setting the attribute value to a staged firmware version, wherein the staged firmware version is associated with the firmware update image stored within the memory controller; and

if the routine is not being successful, then setting the attribute value to a pre-defined error code.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

during a subsequent POST:

retrieving the attribute value associated with a persistent memory device;

comparing the attribute value to the staged firmware version; and

in response to the attribute value matching the staged firmware version, providing a firmware update successful message on a display device of the information handling system, the firmware update successful message indicating that firmware of the persistent memory device was successfully updated.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the persistent memory device is a persistent dual in-line memory module.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the attribute value is stored in a BIOS non-volatile random access memory.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (058014/0560) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0473 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057758/0286) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 061654/0064 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057931/0392) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058014/0560 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057758/0286 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057931/0392 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057682/0830 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16408929 · May 10, 2019
Related Publication 20210256131A1 · Aug 19, 2021