Managing data processing systems based on location using out-of-band communications
Methods and systems for managing a data processing system based on location data are disclosed. A management controller of the data processing system may provide the location data via an out-of-band communication channel to a geolocation management server tasked with mapping a location of the data processing system over time. The data processing system may identify an occurrence of an event based on the location data (e.g., a change in location of the data processing system), prompting the data processing system to perform an action set to update operation of the data processing system (e.g., to conform to location-based policies). Based on its updated operation, the data processing system may provide computer-implemented services that are more likely to be in compliance with local policies.
1. A method for managing a data processing system based on location data, the method comprising:
providing, by a management controller that is physically installed within the data processing system and via an out-of-band communication channel, the location data to a geolocation management server tasked with mapping a location of the data processing system over time, wherein the data processing system comprises a single network module that is shared by the management controller and hardware resources of the data processing system, the single network module is adapted to separately advertise network endpoints for the management controller and the hardware resources such that first network communications meant for the hardware resources never flow through the management controller and second network communications meant for the management controller never flow through the hardware resources;
identifying, by the data processing system, an occurrence of an event that is based, at least in part, on the location data;
performing, by the data processing system, an action set based on the occurrence of the event to update operation of the data processing system; and
providing, by the data processing system, computer-implemented services based on the updated operation.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein in an instance of the event where the event is reception of the action set from the geolocation management server:
performing the action set comprises:
limiting, by the management controller, use of at least one function of the data processing system.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein limiting the use of the at least one function comprises:
disabling, by the management controller, a portion of the hardware resources of the data processing system.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein limiting the use of the at least one function further comprises:
disabling, by the management controller, a piece of software hosted by the hardware resources of the data processing system.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in an instance of the event where the event is initiating, by the hardware resources of the data processing system, a provisioning process:
sending, by the hardware resources, a provisioning request to a first provisioning server.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein in the instance of the event where the event is initiating, by the hardware resources, the provisioning process:
obtaining, by the hardware resources and from the first provisioning server, a provisioning response that is responsive to the provisioning request and based on the location data.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein in the instance of the event where the event is initiating, by the hardware resources, the provisioning process:
obtaining, by the hardware resources and from a second provisioning server, a provisioning response that is responsive to the provisioning request and based on the location data.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system comprises a single network module that is shared by both of the management controller and the hardware resources, the single network module being adapted to separately advertise network endpoints for the management controller and the hardware resources such that first network communications meant for the hardware resources never flow through the management controller and second network communications meant for the management controller never flow through the hardware resources, the network endpoints being are usable by the geolocation management server to respectively address the first network communications and the second network communications to the hardware resources and the management controller.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system further comprises a network module and hardware resources, the management controller and the single network module being are on separate power domains of an internal and primary power source of the data processing system from the hardware resources such that the management controller and the single network module are operable from receiving power from the internal and primary power source through a first power domain of the separate power domains while the hardware resources are inoperable from not receiving the power from the internal and primary power source through a second power domain of the separate power domains, the hardware resources comprising a processor of the data processing system, and the single network module, the hardware resources, and the management controller are all separate and distinct from one another within the data processing system.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the location data is generated by the single network module while the hardware resources are inoperable due to being unpowered.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the out-of-band communication channel runs through the single network module, and an in-band communication channel that services the hardware resources also runs through the network module.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the management controller hosts a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) stack to facilitate network communications via the out-of-band communication channel.
13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing a data processing system based on location data, the operations comprising:
providing, by a management controller that is physically installed within the data processing system and via an out-of-band communication channel, the location data to a geolocation management server tasked with mapping a location of the data processing system over time, wherein the data processing system comprises a single network module that is shared by the management controller and hardware resources of the data processing system, and the single network module is adapted to separately advertise network endpoints for the management controller and the hardware resources such that first network communications meant for the hardware resources never flow through the management controller and second network communications meant for the management controller never flow through the hardware resources;
identifying, by the data processing system, an occurrence of an event that is based, at least in part, on the location data;
performing, by the data processing system, an action set based on the occurrence of the event to update operation of the data processing system; and
providing, by the data processing system, computer-implemented services based on the updated operation.
14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein in an instance of the event where the event is reception of the action set from the geolocation management server:
performing the action set comprises:
limiting, by the management controller, use of at least one function of the data processing system.
15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein limiting the use of the at least one function comprises:
disabling, by the management controller, a portion of the hardware resources of the data processing system.
16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein limiting the use of the at least one function further comprises:
disabling, by the management controller, a piece of software hosted by the hardware resources of the data processing system.
17. A data processing system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor to store instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing the data processing system based on location data, the operations comprising:
providing, by a management controller that is physically installed within the data processing system and via an out-of-band communication channel, the location data to a geolocation management server tasked with mapping a location of the data processing system over time, wherein the data processing system comprises a single network module that is shared by both of the management controller and hardware resources of the data processing system, the single network module being adapted to separately advertise network endpoints for the management controller and the hardware resources such that first network communications meant for the hardware resources never flow through the management controller and second network communications meant for the management controller never flow through the hardware resources, and the processor is one of the hardware resources:
identifying, by the data processing system, an occurrence of an event that is based, at least in part, on the location data;
performing, by the data processing system, an action set based on the occurrence of the event to update operation of the data processing system; and
providing, by the data processing system, computer-implemented services based on the updated operation.
18. The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein in an instance of the event where the event is reception of the action set from the geolocation management server:
performing the action set comprises:
limiting, by the management controller, use of at least one function of the data processing system.
19. The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein limiting the use of the at least one function comprises:
disabling, by the management controller, a portion of the hardware resources of the data processing system.
20. The data processing system of claim 19 , wherein limiting the use of the at least one function further comprises:
disabling, by the management controller, a piece of software hosted by the hardware resources of the data processing system.