IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,652,216
Granted Patent B2
US 9,652,216 · App. 13/645,240 · Granted May 16, 2017

System and method for providing out-of-band software or firmware upgrades for a switching device

Inventors: Vivek Dharmadhikari (San Jose, CA); Haresh K. Shah (Los Altos Hills, CA)
Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
G06F8/65
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,652,216
App. No.
13/645,240
Filed
Oct 4, 2012
Granted
May 16, 2017
Kind
B2
Examiner
KANG, INSUN
Art Unit
2193
USPC
717/173
Abstract

An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes at least one network switch that includes at least one processing unit, a memory coupled to the at least one processing unit, the memory storing at least one image including instructions controlling functions of the at least network switch, and a baseband management controller coupled to the memory and the at least one processing unit, the baseband management controller receiving and storing at least one upgraded image for writing to the memory to replace the at least one image. The baseband management controller receives the at least one upgraded image from a remote terminal, powers off the at least one processing unit, and writes the at least one upgraded image to the memory while the at least one processing unit is powered off.

Claims (52)

1. An information handling system, comprising:

at least one network switch, the at least one network switch comprising:

a memory storing at least one image that includes runtime instructions for running an operating system of the at least one network switch;

at least one processing unit coupled to the memory and configured to read the runtime instructions from the memory when running the operating system of the at least one network switch; and

a baseband management controller coupled to the memory,

wherein the baseband management controller is configured to:

receive a command as a network packet to power off the at least one processing unit,

convert the command into a serial command,

transmit the converted command to the at least one processing unit over a serial coupling through a multiplexer,

receive at least one upgraded image that includes upgraded runtime instructions for running the operating system of the at least one network switch from a remote terminal,

power off the at least one processing unit,

write the at least one upgraded image to the memory while the at least one processing unit is powered off, and

maintain operation of the at least one network switch while writing the at least one upgraded image to the memory, while the at least one processing unit is powered off and while the operating system is not running.

2. The information handling system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one network switch comprises a level 2 (L2) switch.

3. The information handling system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing unit executes the runtime instructions included in the at least one image to control functions of the at least one network switch.

4. The information handling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a programmable logic device coupled to the memory, wherein the programmable logic device executes the runtime instructions included in the at least one image to control functions of the at least one network switch.

5. The information handling system according to claim 4 , wherein the programmable logic device comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

6. The information handling system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one image includes at least one of a bootloader and the operating system.

7. The information handling system according to claim 1 , wherein the baseband management controller is configured to receive the at least one upgraded image from a remote terminal, power off the at least one processing unit, and write the at least one upgraded image to the memory while the at least one processing unit is powered off by Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) messages received from a remote terminal.

8. A level 2 (L2) network switch having out-of-band upgrade capabilities, comprising:

a memory storing at least one image that includes runtime instructions for running an operating system of the L2 network switch;

at least one processing unit coupled to the memory and configured to read the runtime instructions from the memory to run the operating system of the L2 network switch; and

a baseband management controller coupled to the memory, wherein the baseband management controller is configured to:

receive a command as a network packet to power off the at least one processing unit,

convert the command into a serial command,

transmit the converted command to the at least one processing unit over a serial coupling through a multiplexer,

receive at least one upgraded image that includes upgraded runtime instructions for running the operating system of the L2 network switch from a remote terminal,

power off the at least one processing unit,

write the at least one upgraded image to the memory while the at least one processing unit is powered off, and

maintain operation of the L2 network switch while writing the at least one upgraded image to the memory, while the at least one processing unit is powered off and while the operating system is not running.

9. The L2 network switch according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one processing unit executes the runtime instructions included in the at least one image to control functions of the L2 network switch.

10. The L2 network switch according to claim 8 , further comprising a programmable logic device coupled to the memory, wherein the programmable logic device executes the runtime instructions included in the at least one image to control functions of the L2 network switch.

11. The L2 network switch according to claim 10 , wherein the programmable logic device comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

12. The L2 network switch according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one image includes at least one of a bootloader and the operating system.

13. The L2 network switch according to claim 8 , wherein the baseband management controller is configured to receive the at least one upgraded image from a remote terminal, power off the at least one processing unit, and write the at least one upgraded image to the memory while the at least one processing unit is powered off by Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) messages received from a remote terminal.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions for execution by one or more processors that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for upgrading at least one image stored in a memory including runtime instructions for running an operating system of a level 2 (L2) switch, the method comprising:

receiving a request to establish a remote management session;

receiving a command as a network packet to power off at least one processing unit of the L2 switch, the at least one processing unit coupled to the memory and configured to read the runtime instructions from the memory to run the operating system of the L2 switch;

converting the command into a serial command;

transmitting the converted command to the at least one processing unit over a serial coupling through a multiplexer;

powering off the at least one processing unit of the L2 switch;

receiving at least one upgraded image that includes upgraded runtime instructions for running the operating system of the L2 switch from a remote terminal;

writing, while the at least one processing unit is powered off, the upgraded image to the memory of the L2 switch;

maintaining operation of the L2 switch while writing the upgraded image to the memory, including while the at least one processing unit of the L2 switch is powered off and while the operating system is not running;

powering on the at least one processing unit of the L2 switch; and

rebooting the L2 switch with the upgraded image.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising accessing the memory of the L2 switch using a multiplexer.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the command comprises an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) command messages.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one processing unit comprises a host processor of the L2 switch.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the host processor executes the runtime instructions of the at least one image for controlling functions of the L2 switch.

19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein a programmable logic device executes the runtime instructions of the at least one image for controlling functions of the L2 switch.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the programmable logic device comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

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 Oct 4, 2012
From: DHARMADHIKARI, VIVEK; SHAH, HARESH K.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029079/0749 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140101653A1 · Apr 10, 2014