Managing use of non-standard features of components of data processing systems
Methods and systems for managing operation of a data processing system are disclosed. Hardware resources of the data processing system may issue a command for execution by a channel card of the data processing system. The command may be screened based on an interaction model for the channel card. The interaction model may be based on, at least, on a non-standard feature of a type of the channel card. When the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature, the command may be modified. The modified command may be used to initiate execution of the non-standard feature by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service.
1 . A method for managing operation of a data processing system, the method comprising:
making an identification, by a management controller physically installed within the data processing system, that a processor of the data processing system has issued a command for execution by a channel card of the data processing system; and
based on the identification:
screening the command based on an interaction model for the channel card, the interaction model being based on, at least, a non-standard feature of the channel card based on standard features of a type of the channel card, wherein the standard features of the type of the channel card are based on an industry standard with which the channel card is compliant and the non-standard feature is a capability of the channel card that is additional to those of the industry standard, and is not natively invokable by hardware resources of the data processing system and software hosted thereon, and
in a first instance of the screening where the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature:
preventing the channel card from receiving the command for at least a period of time;
modifying, based on the interaction model, the command to obtain a non-standard feature customized command; and
initiating execution of the non-standard feature customized command by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service, and
in a second instance of the screening where the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the standard features, allowing the channel card to receive the command without modification.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the management controller is separate from and tasked with managing operation of the hardware resources of the data processing system, the hardware resources comprising:
the channel card; and
the processor that issued the command based on execution of a program thereon.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the screening, the modifying, and the initiating are performed, at least in part, by the management controller.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein to perform the screening, the management controller monitors the processor to identify and intercept issued commands transparently to the processor.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interaction model is based, at least in part, on user input indicating whether the non-standard feature is to be utilized during processing by the channel card.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the user input is based on an interaction between the management controller and a user of the data processing system, the user desiring the computer-implemented service to be provided.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to making the identification and by a management controller of the data processing system:
performing a feature identification process for the channel card to identify the non-standard feature;
obtaining user input regarding use of the non-standard feature; and
obtaining the interaction model for the channel card based on the user input.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein obtaining the interaction model comprises:
storing a data structure in the management controller that maps commands to modified commands.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein obtaining the interaction model further comprises:
programming the channel card to utilize maps of the commands to the modified commands as part of command processing by the channel card.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein obtaining the interaction model further comprises:
exporting the data structure to other management controllers of other data processing systems that host similar channel cards to the channel card to facilitate use of similar non-standard features.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system has a single network module that separately advertises network endpoints for the management controller and the hardware resources of the data processing system such that first communications meant for the hardware resources never flow through the management controller and second communications meant for the management controller never flow through the hardware resources.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the management controller and the single network module are on separate power domains from the hardware resources so that the management controller and the single network module are operable while the hardware resources are inoperable.
13 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a management controller of a data processing system, cause the management controller to perform operations for managing operation of the data processing system, the operations comprising:
making an identification, by the management controller that is physically installed within the data processing system, that a processor of the data processing system has issued a command for execution by a channel card of the data processing system; and
based on the identification:
screening the command based on an interaction model for the channel card, the interaction model being based on, at least, a non-standard feature of the channel card based on standard features of a type of the channel card, wherein the standard features of the type of the channel card are based on an industry standard with which the channel card is compliant and the non-standard feature is a capability of the channel card that is additional to those of the industry standard, and is not natively invokable by hardware resources of the data processing system and software hosted thereon, and
in a first instance of the screening where the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature:
preventing the channel card from receiving the command for at least a period of time;
modifying, based on the interaction model, the command to obtain a non-standard feature customized command; and
initiating execution of the non-standard feature customized command by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service, and
in a second instance of the screening where the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the standard features, allowing the channel card to receive the command without modification.
14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the management controller is separate from and tasked with managing operation of the hardware resources of the data processing system, the hardware resources comprising:
the channel card; and
the processor that issued the command based on execution of a program thereon.
15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein each of the screening, the modifying, and the initiating are performed, at least in part, by the management controller.
16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein to perform the screening, the management controller monitors the processor to identify and intercept issued commands transparently to the processor.
17 . A data processing system, comprising:
a management controller physically installed within the data processing system; and
a memory coupled to the management controller to store instructions, which when executed by the management controller, cause the management controller to perform operations, the operations comprising:
making an identification, by the management controller, that a processor of the data processing system has issued a command for execution by a channel card of the data processing system, and
based on the identification:
screening the command based on an interaction model for the channel card, the interaction model being based on, at least, a non-standard feature of the channel card based on standard features of a type of the channel card, wherein the standard features of the type of the channel card are based on an industry standard with which the channel card is compliant and the non-standard feature is a capability of the channel card that is additional to those of the industry standard, and is not natively invokable by hardware resources of the data processing system and software hosted thereon; and
in a first instance of the screening where the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature:
preventing the channel card from receiving the command for at least a period of time,
modifying, based on the interaction model, the command to obtain a non-standard feature customized command, and
initiating execution of the non-standard feature customized command by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service; and
in a second instance of the screening where the interaction model indicates that the command implicates use of the standard features, allowing the channel card to receive the command without modification.
18 . The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein the management controller is separate from and tasked with managing operation of the hardware resources of the data processing system, the hardware resources comprising:
the channel card; and
the processor that issued the command based on execution of a program thereon.
19 . The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein each of the screening, the modifying, and the initiating are performed, at least in part, by the management controller.
20 . The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein to perform the screening, the management controller monitors the processor to identify and intercept issued commands transparently to the processor.