Method and system for a platform level data model and messages for transferring SMBIOS structures and data
A platform may comprise a management controller (MC) and a BIOS that may store SMBIOS information that may comprise metadata. SMBIOS information may be stored in the SMBIOS structure table. SMBIOS information may be transferred to the MC and may be communicated from the MC to an entity external to the platform. The BIOS may be inaccessible to the external entity. The MC may communicate with the external entity when the platform is powered ON or OFF. SMBIOS information may be transferred between the BIOS and the MC via a communication link. The MC and/or the BIOS may determine whether SMBIOS information from the MC is up-to-date. SMBIOS information may be copied from the BIOS to the MC if not up-to-date. SMBIOS information may be transferred via SMBIOS messages based on structure type, instance ID and/or handle.
1. A method comprising:
in a platform subsystem of a host device, the platform subsystem comprising a plurality of platform subsystem components, wherein one or more of said plurality of platform subsystem components stores system management basic input output system (SMBIOS) information, said stored SMBIOS information comprising system information for said platform subsystem, corresponding metadata, or any combination thereof:
communicating at least a portion of said SMBIOS information from a first of said plurality of platform subsystem components to one or more other of said plurality of platform subsystem components, wherein said at least a portion of said SMBIOS information is communicated:
in one or more messages communicated via a protocol layer above a physical layer, said one or more messages being communicated based on a Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP); and
via a communication link between said first of said plurality of platform subsystem components and said one or more other of said plurality of platform subsystem components; and
communicating said SMBIOS information from a management controller (MC) of said platform subsystem to an entity external to said platform subsystem independent of whether said platform subsystem is powered ON or powered OFF when a platform subsystem basic input output system (BIOS) comprising said SMBIOS information is inaccessible by said entity.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising communicating said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information from the platform subsystem BIOS to the MC in said one or more messages communicated via said protocol layer above the physical layer via the communication link between said platform subsystem BIOS and said MC.
3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising acquiring said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS by said MC.
4. The method according to claim 2 , comprising determining whether said stored SMBIOS information for said MC is up-to-date.
5. The method according to claim 2 , comprising copying specified SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS to said MC in instances when said stored SMBIOS information for said MC is not up-to-date.
6. The method according to claim 2 , comprising acquiring SMBIOS information from said MC by said platform subsystem BIOS, wherein said SMBIOS information is stored in said MC.
7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising determining whether said acquired SMBIOS information from said MC is up-to-date.
8. The method according to claim 7 , comprising copying specified SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS to said MC in instances when said acquired SMBIOS information is not up-to-date.
9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising identifying, transferring, or both identifying and transferring said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information via one or more messages.
10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising identifying, transferring, or both identifying and transferring said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information via one or more messages based on one or more of a structure type, an instance identifier, or a handle.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more messages communicated via said protocol layer above the physical layer are communicated based on a MCTP communication model comprising one or more of a message format, transport description, message exchange patterns, or operation endpoint characteristics.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said protocol layer above said physical layer, via which said MCTP communication model messages are communicated, is bound to a specific physical medium comprising said communication link.
13. A system, comprising:
one or more circuits for use in a platform subsystem of a host device, the platform subsystem comprising a plurality of platform subsystem components, wherein:
one or more of said plurality of platform subsystem components stores system management basic input output system (SMBIOS) information, said stored SMBIOS information comprising system information for said platform subsystem, corresponding metadata, or any combination thereof;
said one or more circuits enables communication of at least a portion of said SMBIOS information from a first of said plurality of platform subsystem components to one or more other of said plurality of platform subsystem components, wherein said at least a portion of said SMBIOS information is communicated:
in one or more messages communicated via a protocol layer above a physical layer, said one or more messages being communicated based on a Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP); and
via a communication link between said first of said plurality of platform subsystem components and said one or more other of said plurality of platform subsystem components; and
said one or more circuits enables communication of said SMBIOS information from a management controller (MC) of said platform subsystem to an entity external to said platform subsystem independent of whether said platform subsystem is powered ON or powered OFF when a platform subsystem basic input output system (BIOS) comprising said SMBIOS information is inaccessible by said entity.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits enables communication of said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information from the platform subsystem BIOS to the MC in said one or more messages communicated via said protocol layer above the physical layer via the communication link between said platform subsystem BIOS and said MC.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits enables acquisition of said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS by said MC.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits enables determination of whether said stored SMBIOS information for said MC is up-to-date.
17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits is enabled to copy specified SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS to said MC in instances when said stored SMBIOS information for said MC is not up-to date.
18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits enables acquisition of SMBIOS information from said MC by said platform subsystem BIOS, wherein said SMBIOS information is stored in said MC.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said one or more circuits enables determination of whether said acquired SMBIOS information from said MC is up-to-date.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein said one or more circuits is enabled to copy specified SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS to said MC in instances when said acquired SMBIOS information is not up-to-date.
21. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits enables identification, transfer, or both identification and transfer of said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information via one or more messages.
22. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits enables identification, transfer, or both identification and transfer of said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information via one or more messages based on one or more of a structure type, an instance identifier, or a handle.
23. A non-transitory machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for managing data, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
in a platform subsystem of a host device, the platform subsystem comprising a plurality of platform subsystem components, wherein one or more of said plurality of platform subsystem components stores system management basic input output system (SMBIOS) information, said stored SMBIOS information comprising system information for said platform subsystem, corresponding metadata, or any combination thereof:
communicating at least a portion of said SMBIOS information from a first of said plurality of platform subsystem components to one or more other of said plurality of platform subsystem components, wherein said at least a portion of said SMBIOS information is communicated:
in one or more messages communicated via a protocol layer above a physical layer, said one or more messages being communicated based on a Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP); and
via a communication link between said first of said plurality of platform subsystem components and said one or more other of said plurality of platform subsystem components; and
communicating said SMBIOS information from a management controller (MC) of said platform subsystem to an entity external to said platform subsystem independent of whether said platform subsystem is powered ON or powered OFF when a platform subsystem basic input output system (BIOS) comprising said SMBIOS information is inaccessible by said entity.
24. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 23 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables identifying, transferring, or both identifying and transferring said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information via one or more messages.
25. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 23 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables identifying, transferring, or both identifying and transferring said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information via one or more messages based on one or more of a structure type, an instance identifier, or a handle.
26. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 23 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables communicating said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information from the platform subsystem BIOS to the MC in said one or more messages communicated via said protocol layer above the physical layer via the communication link between said platform subsystem BIOS and said MC.
27. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 26 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables acquiring said at least said portion of said SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS by said MC.
28. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 26 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables determining whether said stored SMBIOS information for said MC is up-to-date.
29. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 26 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables copying specified SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS to said MC in instances when said stored SMBIOS information for said MC is not up-to-date.
30. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 26 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables acquiring SMBIOS information from said MC by said platform subsystem BIOS, wherein said SMBIOS information is stored in said MC.
31. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 30 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables determining whether said acquired SMBIOS information from said MC is up-to date.
32. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 31 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables copying specified SMBIOS information from said platform subsystem BIOS to said MC in instances when said acquired SMBIOS information is not up-to-date.