IP Library Granted Patent US 10,467,015
Granted Patent B2
US 10,467,015 · App. 14/847,894 · Granted Nov 5, 2019

Method for out of band device configuration deployment and system therefor

Inventors: Sundar Dasar (Round Rock, TX); Yogesh P. Kulkarni (Round Rock, TX); William C. Munger (Round Rock, TX); Mukund P. Khatri (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products, LP
G06F9/4401G06F9/44505
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,467,015
App. No.
14/847,894
Filed
Sep 8, 2015
Granted
Nov 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2187
USPC
713/2
Abstract

An information handling system includes a non-volatile memory device for storing basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware. The system also includes a service processor that is coupled to the first non-volatile memory. The service processor initiates access to the first non-volatile memory, and stores configuration information at the non-volatile memory device. The configuration information can include Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) strings.

Claims (37)

1. A data processing system comprising:

a network interface;

a first non-volatile memory device;

a second non-volatile memory device that is different from the first non-volatile memory device, the second non-volatile memory device configured according to the uniform serial bus (USB) protocol as a USB device and storing a configuration database;

a baseboard management controller coupled to the first non-volatile memory device, coupled to the second non-volatile memory device, and coupled to the network interface, the baseboard management controller executing instructions that cause the baseboard management controller to:

store initial configuration information prior to executing a basic input/output system (BIOS) code during an initial execution of a boot sequence, the initial configuration information received from the first non-volatile memory device that also stores the BIOS code, the initial configuration information including Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) strings via the network interface;

perform a subsequent execution of the boot sequence after the initial execution of the boot sequence;

determine, during the subsequent execution of the boot sequence, that the second non-volatile memory device storing the configuration database stores updated configuration information that is different from the initial configuration information stored in the first non-volatile memory device; and

update the subsequent execution of the boot sequence based on the updated configuration information stored by the configuration database in the second non-volatile memory device; and

a central processing unit operable to execute the BIOS code for a BIOS firmware after the subsequent execution of the boot sequence is executed based on the updated configuration information stored by the configuration database in the USB device.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the configuration database stores calls to the HII strings.

3. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit configures a device without a conversion of the HII strings.

4. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the service processor reformats the HII strings.

5. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit retrieves the HII strings.

6. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the BIOS firmware queries the baseboard management controller for determining that the configuration database stores the updated configuration information.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 , wherein the baseboard management controller identifies the updated configuration information.

8. The data processing system of claim 6 , wherein the initial execution of the boot sequence is performed after an electrical power is applied to the baseboard management controller.

9. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the initial execution of the boot sequence is performed after an electrical power is applied to the central processing unit.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a baseboard management controller, initial configuration information retrieved during an initial execution of a boot sequence from a first non-volatile memory device storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) code, the initial configuration information formatted as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) strings, the baseboard management controller operating at an information handling system;

initiating, by the baseboard management controller, a subsequent execution of the boot sequence after the initial execution of the boot sequence;

determining, by the baseboard management controller during the subsequent execution of the boot sequence, that a second non-volatile memory device configured according to the uniform serial bus (USB) protocol as a USB device stores updated configuration information that is different from the initial configuration information stored in the first non-volatile memory device;

executing, by the baseboard management controller, the subsequent execution of the boot sequence based on the updated configuration information stored by the USB device; and

executing the BIOS code, by a central processing unit at the information handling system, after the subsequent execution of the boot sequence is executed based on the updated configuration information stored by the USB device.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving a query at the baseboard management controller, the query sent from the BIOS code for the updated configuration information.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving an acknowledgment from the baseboard management controller that identifies the updated configuration information.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) inquiry issued by the central processing unit to the baseboard management controller for the updated configuration information.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

retrieving the updated configuration information; and

storing the updated configuration information at the first non-volatile memory device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

retrieving, by the baseboard management controller, the HII strings from the USB device.

16. A non-transitory data storage medium storing instructions executable by a baseboard management controller at an information handling system to cause the baseboard management controller to:

receive initial configuration information during an initial execution of a boot sequence, the initial configuration information stored by a first non-volatile memory device storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) code;

initiate a subsequent execution of the boot sequence after the initial execution of the boot sequence;

issuing a query, during the subsequent execution of the boot sequence, from the first non-volatile memory device to the baseboard management controller for updated configuration information stored to a second non-volatile memory device configured according to the uniform serial bus (USB) protocol as a USB device, the updated configuration information different from the initial configuration information stored by the first non-volatile memory device; and

execute the subsequent execution of the boot sequence based on the updated configuration information stored by the USB device.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037160 FRAME 0142 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0812 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037160 FRAME 0239 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0115 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037160 FRAME 0171 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040017/0253 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - NOTES Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; BOOMI, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037160/0142 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - TERM LOAN Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; BOOMI, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037160/0239 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - ABL Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; BOOMI, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037160/0171 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2015
From: DASAR, SUNDAR; KULKARNI, YOGESH P.; MUNGER, WILLIAM C.; KHATRI, MUKUND P.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 036532/0194 →
Continuity (1)
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