System and method for virtualization aware server maintenance mode

1. An information handling system for managing a maintenance operation, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein one or more variables associated with the information handling system are stored in the memory;

a hypervisor communicatively coupled to the processor;

a server management tool coupled to the hypervisor;

a user interface device, wherein the user interface device is coupled to the server management tool and to the hypervisor;

a remote access controller coupled to the server management tool, wherein the remote access controller is operable to place the server management tool in a maintenance mode and wherein upon placing the server management tool in the maintenance mode, the server management tool is operable to place the hypervisor in maintenance mode, wherein when the hypervisor is in maintenance mode the hypervisor stops running and accepting requests and the hypervisor is configurable and alterable;

one or more maintenance mode attributes associated with the maintenance mode, wherein the one or more maintenance mode attributes are maintained by the server management tool, and wherein the maintenance mode permits a maintenance operation to be performed on the information handling system, and wherein the maintenance operation comprises one of a firmware update and an upgrade;

a network interface controller, wherein the network interface controller is operable to communicate with the remote access controller;

a remote virtualization manager coupled to the network interface controller, wherein the remote virtualization manager is operable to at least record information associated with one or more modes of the hypervisor, wherein the one or more modes comprises the maintenance mode, and wherein the remote virtualization manager is operable to place the hypervisor in maintenance mode;

a timer of the processor with a timeout value, wherein the timeout value is associated with the amount of time required to perform a system action, and wherein the system action is queued; and

a maintenance mode lock of the hypervisor, wherein the maintenance mode lock is released after expiration of the timer, and wherein the remote virtualization manager is notified each time the maintenance mode lock is released.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an event, wherein the event is triggered by one of the user interface device, the remote access controller, the virtualization manager, and a remote access console coupled to the network interface controller.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a remote virtualization memory, wherein the recorded information is stored in the remote virtualization memory.

4. The system of claim 3 ,

wherein the maintenance mode lock is acquired by one of the user interface device, the virtualization manager, a remote access console coupled to the network interface controller, and the remote access controller, and wherein the maintenance mode lock is associated with one or more attributes of the maintenance mode of the hypervisor.

5. An information handling system for managing a maintenance operation, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory includes executable instructions, that when executed, cause the processor to:

receive a system action from a requestor, wherein the system action is associated with a hypervisor; and

determine if a maintenance mode lock is available for the hypervisor, wherein:

if the maintenance mode lock is available, then:

receive a triggered event, wherein the event is based, at least in part, on the system action;

process the event;

place the hypervisor in maintenance mode, wherein the hypervisor is operable to be placed in one or more modes, wherein the one or more modes comprises the maintenance, and wherein the maintenance mode permits a maintenance operation to be performed on the information handling system, and wherein the maintenance operation comprises one of a firmware update and an upgrade, and wherein placing the hypervisor in maintenance mode comprises stopping the hypervisor from running and accepting requests and allowing the hypervisor to be configured and altered;

set a timer with a timeout value, wherein the timeout value is associated with the amount of time required to perform the system action;

notify a virtualization manager associated with the hypervisor of the mode status of the hypervisor;

queue the system action;

process the system action;

maintain by a system management tool one or more maintenance mode attributes associated with the maintenance mode;

notify the requestor of the maintenance mode lock;

release the maintenance mode lock after expiration of the timer; and

notify the virtualization manager associated with the hypervisor each time the maintenance mode lock is released;

if the maintenance mode lock is not available, then notify the requestor of the mode status of the hypervisor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the requestor is one of the user interface device, the remote access controller, the virtualization manager, and a remote access console, wherein the remote access console is coupled to the network interface controller.

7. The system of claim 5 , where in the hypervisor is placed in maintenance mode upon receipt of an IPMI protocol extension command from the remote access controller.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the processor to, after determining the maintenance mode lock is available:

acquire the maintenance mode lock, wherein the maintenance mode lock is associated with one or more attributes of the maintenance mode of the hypervisor and wherein the maintenance mode lock is acquired prior to placing the hypervisor in maintenance mode; and

notify the requestor that the maintenance mode lock has been acquired.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the processor to:

request release of the maintenance mode lock from the requestor after expiration of the timer.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the processor to:

request that notification be sent to the virtualization manager each time the maintenance mode lock is released and each time the maintenance mode lock is acquired.

11. A method for managing virtualization server aware maintenance mode, comprising:

receiving a system action request from a requestor, wherein the system action request is associated with a hypervisor;

triggering an event from a remote access controller, wherein the triggered event is based, at least in part, on the received system action request;

processing the event, wherein a server management tool manages the processing of the event;

placing the hypervisor in maintenance mode, wherein the hypervisor is operable to be placed in one or more modes, wherein the one or more modes comprises the maintenance mode, and wherein the maintenance mode permits performance of a maintenance operation, and wherein the maintenance operation comprises one of a firmware update and an upgrade, and wherein placing they hypervisor in maintenance mode comprises stopping the hypervisor from running and accepting requests and allowing the hypervisor to be configured and altered;

notifying a virtualization manager associated with the hypervisor of the mode status of the hypervisor;

queuing the system action request;

setting a timer with a timeout value, wherein the timeout value is associated with the amount of time required to perform the system action request;

processing the system action request;

maintaining by a system management tool one or more maintenance mode attributes associated with the maintenance mode;

notifying the requestor of the maintenance mode lock;

releasing the maintenance mode lock after expiration of the timer; and

notifying the virtualization manager associated with the hypervisor each time the maintenance mode lock is released.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the requestor is one of a user interface device, the virtualization manager, a remote access console, and the remote access controller.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the remote access controller instructs the virtualization manager to place the hypervisor in maintenance mode.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the virtualization manager uses an extension to the IPMI protocol to place the hypervisor in maintenance mode.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hypervisor is placed in management mode by the server management tool.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

acquiring the maintenance mode lock, wherein the maintenance mode lock is associated with one or more attributes of the maintenance mode of the hypervisor; and

notifying the virtualization manager that the maintenance mode lock has been acquired.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the maintenance mode lock is released by the virtualization manager.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the notification is asynchronous.