IP Library Granted Patent US 8,370,534
Granted Patent B2
US 8,370,534 · App. 12/630,183 · Granted Feb 5, 2013

Host-based messaging framework for PCIe device management

Inventors: Mukund P. Khatri (Austin, TX); Surender V. Brahmaroutu (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products, LP
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,370,534
App. No.
12/630,183
Filed
Dec 3, 2009
Granted
Feb 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2184
USPC
710/8
Abstract

A method of routing data in an information handling system can include receiving a notification from a management controller at a basic input/output system (BIOS) that includes a system management interrupt (SMI) handler. The a notification can indicate that the management controller has a data packet bound for a peripheral component interconnect express input/output (PCIe I/O) device coupled to a secondary processor. The method can include generating a system management interrupt at the information handling system via the BIOS SMI handler in response to the notification. The method can also include retrieving the data packet from the management controller via the BIOS SMI handler and sending a payload associated with the data packet from the BIOS SMI handler to the PCIe I/O device.

Claims (54)

1. A method of routing data in an information handling system, the method comprising:

receiving at a management controller a first data packet bound for a first peripheral component interconnect express input/output (PCIe I/O) device communicating with a primary processor that is associated with a primary chipset;

sending the first data packet from the management controller to the first PCIe I/O device via a management component transfer protocol (MCTP)-over-PCIe protocol;

receiving a notification from the management controller at a basic input/output system (BIOS) that includes a system management interrupt (SMI) handler, the notification indicating that the management controller has sent a second data packet bound for a second PCIe I/O device communicating with a secondary processor that is associated with a secondary chipset;

determining at the BIOS that the second PCIe I/O device is communicating with the secondary processor;

registering the second PCIe I/O device in association with the secondary processor;

assigning a PCIe capability identifier to the second PCIe I/O device at the BIOS;

generating an SMI at the information handling system via the SMI handler in response to the notification;

retrieving the second data packet from the management controller via the SMI handler; and

sending a payload associated with the second data packet from the SMI handler to the second PCIe I/O device, wherein the payload is sent to the second PCIe I/O device via the PCIe capability identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data packet includes header information indicating that the second data packet is bound for the second PCIe I/O device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data packet includes a PCIe vendor-defined messaging packet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the payload further comprises copying the payload to a buffer at the second PCIe I/O device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising asserting a control register setting, wherein firmware at the second PCIe I/O device consumes the payload in response to the control register setting.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a status message from the BIOS SMI handler to the management controller, the status message indicating that the payload has been delivered to the second PCIe I/O device.

7. A method of sending data in an information handling system, the method comprising:

receiving a data packet at a management controller;

when the data packet includes information indicating that the data packet is bound for a first peripheral component interconnect express input/output (PCIe I/O) device associated with a primary processor associated with a primary chipset, sending the data packet from the management controller to the first PCIe I/O device via a management component transfer protocol (MCTP)-over-PCIe protocol; and

when the data packet includes information indicating that the data packet is bound for a second PCIe I/O device associated with a secondary processor associated with a secondary chipset:

determining at a basic input/output system (BIOS) that the second PCIe I/O device is communicating with the secondary processor;

registering the second PCIe I/O device in association with the secondary processor;

assigning a PCIe capability identifier to the second PCIe I/O device at the BIOS;

sending a notification to a BIOS system management interrupt (SMI) handler, the notification indicating that the BIOS SMI handler is to generate a SMI at the information handling system;

sending the data packet to the BIOS SMI handler; and

receiving a status message from the BIOS SMI handler indicating that a payload associated with the data packet has been sent to the second PCIe I/O device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the management controller toggles an event at the BIOS and wherein the SMI is generated in response to the event being toggled.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein, in further response to the data packet including information indicating that the data packet is bound for the second PCIe I/O device, sending the data packet to a buffer at the second PCIe I/O device.

10. A method of sending data in an information handling system, the method comprising:

detecting a first event at a primary processor associated with a primary chipset, the first event indicating that a first peripheral component interconnect express input/output (PCIe I/O) device has a first vendor-defined messaging (VDM) packet for a management controller of the information handling system;

sending the first VDM packet to the management controller via a management component transfer protocol (MCTP)-over-PCIe protocol;

detecting a second event at a secondary processor associated with a secondary chipset, the second event indicating that a basic input/output system (BIOS) system management interrupt (SMI) handler is to generate a SMI;

querying a second PCIe I/O device associated with the secondary processor to determine a presence of a second VDM packet at the second PCIe I/O device that is communicating with the secondary processor, wherein the second PCIe I/O device is assigned a PCIe capability identifier at the BIOS;

retrieving the second VDM packet from the second PCIe I/O device via the PCIe capability identifier; and

delivering a payload associated with the second VDM packet from the BIOS SMI handler to the management controller.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second PCIe I/O device generates the second event at the processor in response to uploading the second VDM packet from a source.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising sending a status message from the BIOS SMI handler to the second PCIe I/O device, the status message indicating that the payload has been delivered to the management controller.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second event at the second processor comprises a PCIe advanced error reporting event.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second PCIe I/O device comprises a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including processor-readable instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving at a management controller a first data packet bound for a first peripheral component interconnect express input/output (PCIe I/O) device communicating with a primary processor associated with a primary chipset;

sending the first data packet from the management controller to the first PCIe I/O device via a management component transfer protocol (MCTP)-over-PCIe protocol;

receiving a notification from the management controller at a basic input/output system (BIOS) system management interrupt (SMI) handler, the notification indicating that the management controller has a second data packet bound for a second PCIe I/O device coupled to a secondary processor associated with a secondary chipset;

determining at the BIOS that the second PCIe I/O device is communicating with the secondary processor;

registering the second PCIe I/O device in association with the secondary processor;

assigning a PCIe capability identifier to the second PCIe I/O device at the BIOS;

generating an SMI at the information handling system via the BIOS SMI handler in response to the notification;

retrieving the second data packet from the management controller via the BIOS SMI handler; and

sending a payload associated with the second data packet from the BIOS SMI handler to the second PCIe I/O device, wherein the payload is sent to the second PCIe I/O device via the PCIe capability identifier.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an event at the secondary processor, the event indicating that the BIOS SMI handler is to generate a SMI;

querying the second PCIe I/O device to determine a presence of a vendor-defined messaging (VDM) packet at the second PCIe I/O device;

retrieving the VDM packet from the second PCIe I/O device; and

delivering a payload associated with the second VDM packet from the BIOS SMI handler to the management controller.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein sending the payload further comprises sending the payload to a buffer at the second PCIe I/O 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: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
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: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
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 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 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 29, 2009
From: KHATRI, MUKUND P.; BRAHMAROUTU, SURENDER V.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 023712/0566 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110138082A1 · Jun 9, 2011