IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,037,523
Granted Patent B2
US 8,037,523 · App. 11/961,079 · Granted Oct 11, 2011

Single sign-on for OS boot image provisioning and OS login based on user identity

Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,037,523
App. No.
11/961,079
Filed
Dec 20, 2007
Granted
Oct 11, 2011
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2434
USPC
726/19
Abstract

A method for single sign-one for operating system (OS) boot image provisioning and OS login based on user identity includes receiving authentication information from an information handling system (IHS) over a network. The authentication information is associated with a user. The authentication information is sent to network services. Boot image information is received from the network services. The boot image information is associated with a boot image and the authentication information. The boot image is provisioned to the IHS over the network, wherein the boot image includes an OS that is configured to read the authentication information from a shared memory region of the IHS and use the authentication information to auto-login the user to the OS.

Claims (50)

1. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes a shared memory region that is accessible by an operating system (OS) and a basic input/output system (BIOS), and wherein the memory further includes computer-readable instructions for the BIOS to:

prompt a user for authentication information;

receive the authentication information from the user;

write the authentication information in the shared memory region;

send the authentication information to network services;

receive boot server information from the network services over a network, wherein the boot server information is associated with a boot server and the authentication information;

send the authentication information to the boot server; and

access a boot image on the boot server, wherein the boot image includes an OS that is configured to read the authentication information from the shared memory region and use the authentication information to auto-login the user to the OS.

2. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the authentication information includes a login name of the user and a password of the user.

3. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes computer-readable instructions to receive an initiator Internet Small Computer System Interface Qualified Name (IQN).

4. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the boot server includes an Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) boot target.

5. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the boot server information includes Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) boot target information.

6. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the shared memory region is an adjusted Internet Small Computer System Interface Boot Firmware Table (IBFT), and wherein the adjusted IBFT has been adjusted to store the authentication information written by the BIOS such that the OS may read the authentication information from the IBFT.

7. A method comprising:

receiving authentication information from an information handling system (IHS) over a network, wherein the authentication information is associated with a user;

sending the authentication information to network services;

receiving boot image information from the network services, wherein the boot image information is associated with a boot image and the authentication information; and

provisioning the boot image to the IHS over the network, wherein the boot image includes an operating system (OS) that is configured to read the authentication information from a shared memory region of the IHS and use the authentication information to auto-login the user to the OS, and wherein the authentication information was written to the shared memory region of the IHS by a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) in the IHS.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the IHS is a boot client.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the boot image information includes a logical unit number (LUN).

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the network services include a directory server and an Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) server.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the boot client includes an Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) initiator.

12. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes computer-readable instructions executable by the processor to:

receive authentication information from an information handling system (IHS) over a network, wherein the authentication information is associated with a user;

send the authentication information to network services;

receive boot image information from the network services, wherein the boot image information is associated with a boot image and the authentication information; and

provision the boot image to the IHS over the network, wherein the boot image includes an operating system (OS) that is configured to read the authentication information from a shared memory region of the IHS and use the authentication information to auto-login the user to the OS, and wherein the authentication information was written to the shared memory region of the IHS by a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) in the IHS.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the IHS is a boot client.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the boot image information includes a logical unit number (LUN).

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network services include a directory server and an Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) server.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the boot client includes an Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) initiator.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the shared memory region is an adjusted iSCSI Boot Firmware Table (IBFT), and wherein the adjusted IBFT has been adjusted to store the authentication information written by the BIOS such that the OS may read the authentication information from the IBFT.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the authentication information includes a login name and a password.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the boot image is used to boot the IHS.

20. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes computer-readable instructions executable by the processor to:

prompt for authentication information;

receive the authentication information, wherein the authentication information is associated with a user

write, by a Basic Input Output System (BIOS), the authentication information to an adjusted iSCSI Boot Firmware Table (IBFT) in the memory;

send the authentication information to network services over a network;

receive boot server information from the network services over the network, wherein the boot server information is associated with a boot server and the authentication information;

send the authentication information to the boot server over the network;

access a boot image on the boot server over the network;

boot the IHS using the boot image to run an operating system (OS) on the IHS; and

read, using the OS, the authentication information from adjusted IBFT in the IHS and use the authentication information to auto-login the user to the OS.

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 SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2007
From: CHERIAN, JACOB; LO, YUAN-CHANG; CHAWLA, GAURAV
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 020276/0369 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090165097A1 · Jun 25, 2009