Field replaceable unit information management method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of information management, and provides a field replaceable unit information management method, which is executed by a baseboard management controller, and comprises the following steps of: (A) transmitting an inquiry command to a plurality of elements to receive a plurality of element information sets; (B) for each element information set, judging whether an element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit or not according to header information of the element information set; (C) for each component information set, when the component corresponding to the component information set is judged to be a field replaceable unit, generating a device unique identification code, and storing the component information set and the device unique identification code; (D) when an original equipment manufacturer instruction is received, transmitting all the stored device unique identification codes to a use end; and (E) when an instruction set is received, transmitting a component information set to the user end.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of information management, and in particular to a field replaceable unit information management method. BACKGROUND

[0002] A field replaceable unit (FRU) refers to a component that can be replaced in the field when a part of a server is damaged or needs to be repaired. Such a design can reduce maintenance costs and time, making server maintenance more rapid and convenient.

[0003] The physical memory of the FRU stores information such as product name, product serial number, production date, and hardware version number. After-sales service personnel can use the above information to troubleshoot, and maintenance personnel can use the above information to perform maintenance.

[0004] However, to obtain the information of each FRU, the information of the corresponding FRU needs to be obtained according to the method provided by the original manufacturer, and the obtaining method often requires the after-sales service personnel or maintenance personnel to query the table provided by the original manufacturer to know which FRUs are in the server and the software tools used with each FRU, and to personally operate multiple different software tools to obtain the information of multiple different FRUs. It is not possible to directly obtain the information of multiple FRUs from a remote location. In addition, if the user end self-plugs or removes a certain device in the system, changes the original configuration, then the after-sales service personnel of the original manufacturer cannot know the latest configuration, and cannot manage and operate from a remote location. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of the present application is to provide a field replaceable unit information management method that can obtain FRU information from a remote location through a single management software.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A field replaceable unit information management method performed by a baseboard management controller, the baseboard management controller being signal connected with a plurality of components, and the baseboard management controller being connected with a user end via a communication network, comprising the following steps: (A) the baseboard management controller transmits an inquiry command to the plurality of components to receive a plurality of component information sets respectively from the plurality of components, each component information set including a header information and an address information; (B) for each component information set, the baseboard management controller judges whether the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the component information set; (C) for each component information set, when judging that the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit, the baseboard management controller generates a device unique identification code corresponding to the component information set and conforming to the intelligent platform management interface specification, and stores the component information set and the device unique identification code; (D) when receiving a manufacturer original equipment instruction from the user end indicating to provide all device unique identification codes, the baseboard management controller transmits all stored device unique identification codes to the user end; and (E) when receiving an instruction set including one of the plurality of unique identification codes, the baseboard management controller transmits a component information set corresponding to the unique identification code to the user end.

[0008] Preferably, in step (B), for each component information set, the baseboard management controller judges whether the value of the zeroth byte group of the header information of the component information set is a predetermined value to judge whether the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit, and when judging that the value of the zeroth byte group of the header information of the component information set is the predetermined value, the baseboard management controller determines that the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit.

[0009] Preferably, in step (B), for each component information set, the baseboard management controller further judges whether the sum of the values of all bytes of the header information of the component information set except the last byte is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the component information set to judge whether the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit, and when judging that the value of the zeroth byte group of the header information of the component information set is the predetermined value, and the sum of the values of all bytes of the header information of the component information set except the last byte is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the component information set, the baseboard management controller determines that the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit.

[0010] Preferably, the baseboard management controller stores a field replaceable unit device table, and in step (C), the baseboard management controller records the element information set and the device unique identification code into the field replaceable unit device table for each element information set.

[0011] Preferably, before step (B), the method further comprises the following step: (F) the baseboard management controller assigns an initial value to a controller counter i, the initial value corresponding to the first element information set in the plurality of element information sets; wherein in step (B), the baseboard management controller determines whether the element corresponding to the i-th element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the i-th element information set; in step (C), the baseboard management controller generates an i-th device unique identification code corresponding to the i-th element information set and conforming to the intelligent platform management interface specification, and stores the i-th element information set and the i-th device unique identification code; and after step (C), the method further comprises the following steps: (G) the baseboard management controller determines whether the i-th element information set is the last one; and (H) when it is determined that the i-th element information set is not the last one, repeating step (B) until it is determined that the i-th element information set is the last one.

[0012] To solve the further technical problems mentioned above, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0013] A method for managing information of field replaceable units, performed by a host system, the host system comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising a baseboard management controller, and a plurality of components connected to the baseboard management controller, and the baseboard management controller being connected to a user via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: (A) for each node's baseboard management controller, the node's baseboard management controller transmitting an inquiry command to all components of the node to receive a plurality of component information sets respectively from the plurality of components of the node, each component information set comprising a header information and an address information; (B) for each node's each component information set, the node's baseboard management controller determining whether the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the component information set; (C) for each node's each component information set, when it is determined that the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit, the node's baseboard management controller generating a device unique identifier corresponding to the component information set and conforming to a smart platform management interface specification, and storing the component information set corresponding to the component and the device unique identifier; (D) when a target baseboard management controller of a target node of the plurality of nodes receives a manufacturer original equipment instruction from the user indicating to provide all device unique identifiers, the target baseboard management controller transmits all stored device unique identifiers to the user; and (E) when the target baseboard management controller of the target node receives an instruction set comprising one of the plurality of unique identifiers, the target baseboard management controller of the target node transmits a component information set corresponding to the unique identifier to the user.

[0014] Preferably, in step (B), for each node's each component information set, the node's baseboard management controller determines whether the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the component information set is a predetermined value to determine whether the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit, and when it is determined that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the component information set is the predetermined value, the baseboard management controller determines that the component corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit.

[0015] Preferably, in step (B), for each element information set of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node further judges whether the sum of the values of all bytes except the last byte of the header information of the element information set is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the element information set, to determine whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit, and when the value of the zeroth byte group of the header information of the element information set is the predetermined value and the sum of the values of all bytes except the last byte of the header information of the element information set is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the element information set, the baseboard management controller of the node determines that the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit.

[0016] Preferably, the baseboard management controller of each node stores a field replaceable unit device table, and in step (C), for each element information set of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node records the element information set and the device unique identification code into the field replaceable unit device table.

[0017] Preferably, before step (B), the following step (F) is further included: (F) for each baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node assigns an initial value to a controller counter i, which corresponds to the first element information set in the plurality of element information sets; wherein in step (B), for each baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node judges whether the element corresponding to the ith element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the ith element information set, in step (C), for each baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node generates an ith device unique identification code corresponding to the ith element information set and conforming to the intelligent platform management interface specification, and stores the ith element information set and the ith device unique identification code, and after step (C), the following steps (G) and (H) are further included: (G) for each baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node judges whether the ith element information set is the last one; and (H) when it is judged that the ith element information set is not the last one, step (B) is repeated until it is judged that the ith element information set is the last one.

[0018] The effect of the present application is that the baseboard management controller stores the element information set and the device unique identification code corresponding to the field replaceable unit determined, without accessing the firmware code of the field replaceable unit when adding or removing the field replaceable unit, so that the user can transmit the instruction set from a remote terminal through a single management software to obtain the element information set. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Other features and effects of the present application will become apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a host system and a user end for implementing a field replaceable unit information management method according to the present application;

[0021] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a baseboard management controller obtaining field replaceable unit information procedure of an embodiment of the field replaceable unit information management method according to the present application; and

[0022] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a user end obtaining field replaceable unit information procedure of the embodiment of the field replaceable unit information management method according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Before the present application is described in detail, it is to be understood that, throughout the description, like elements are referred to with like numerals.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, Figure 1 illustrating a host system 1 and a user end 100 for implementing a field replaceable unit information management method according to the present application, the host system 1 includes a plurality of nodes 11, each node 11 having a baseboard management controller 111 connected to the user end 100 via a communication network 101, and a plurality of elements 112 connected to the baseboard management controller 111.

[0025] It is to be noted that, in the present embodiment, the host system 1 is, for example, a server, the communication network 101 is, for example, the Internet, the user end 100 is, for example, a computer, and the plurality of elements 112 are connected to the baseboard management controller 111 via an I2C bus, and are, for example, temperature sensors, fan controllers, voltage and current sensors, and field replaceable units such as main boards, LAN cards, VGA cards, and storage cards.

[0026] An embodiment of the field replaceable unit information management method according to the present application includes a baseboard management controller 111 obtaining field replaceable unit information procedure, and a user end obtaining field replaceable unit information procedure.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, Figure 1 2 ​The baseboard management controller of the embodiment of the field replaceable unit information management method of the present application obtains a field replaceable unit information program, and the steps included in the following will be described.

[0028] In step 21, for the baseboard management controller 111 of each node 11, the baseboard management controller 111 transmits an inquiry command to all elements 112 of the node to receive a plurality of element information sets respectively from the plurality of elements 112 of the node. Each element information set includes a header information and an address information.

[0029] In step 22, for the baseboard management controller 111 of each node 11, the baseboard management controller 111 assigns an initial value to a controller counter i. The initial value corresponds to the first of the plurality of element information sets, i.e. i = 1.

[0030] In step 23, for the baseboard management controller 111 of each node 11, the baseboard management controller 111 judges whether the element 112 corresponding to the i-th element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the i-th element information set. When it is judged that the element 112 corresponding to the i-th element information set is a field replaceable unit, the process proceeds to step 24; and when it is judged that the element 112 corresponding to the i-th element information set is not a field replaceable unit, the process proceeds to step 25.

[0031] It is worth noting that in the present embodiment, the baseboard management controller 111 judges whether the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the element information set is a predetermined value (e.g. 0X01), and whether the sum of the values of all bytes of the header information of the element information set except the last byte (i.e. 0~6th byte) is equal to the value of the last byte (i.e. 7th byte) of the header information of the element information set, to judge whether the element 112 corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit. When it is judged that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the element information set is the predetermined value, and the sum of the values of all bytes of the header information of the element information set except the last byte is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the element information set, the baseboard management controller 111 determines that the element 112 corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit.

[0032] It should be noted that the last byte of the header information of the component information set records a common header checksum. The baseboard management controller 111 determines whether the sum of the values ​​of all bytes of the header information of the component information set except the last byte is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the component information set, so as to confirm whether the header information of the component information set is correct. In other embodiments, only whether the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the component information set is the predetermined value may be determined to determine whether the component 112 corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit. That is, when it is determined that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the component information set is the predetermined value, the baseboard management controller 111 determines that the component 112 corresponding to the component information set is a field replaceable unit.

[0033] In step 24, for the baseboard management controller 111 of each node 11, the baseboard management controller 111 generates an i-th device unique identifier corresponding to the i-th component information set and complying with the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification, and stores the i-th component information set and the i-th device unique identifier.

[0034] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the baseboard management controller 111 stores a field replaceable unit device table (FRU device table), and the baseboard management controller 111 records the i-th component information set and the i-th device unique identification code in the field replaceable unit device table.

[0035] In step 25, the baseboard management controller 111 of each node 11 determines whether the i-th component information set is the last one. If the i-th component information set is not the last one, the process proceeds to step 26. If the i-th component information set is the last one, the baseboard management controller terminates the process of obtaining field replaceable unit information.

[0036] In step 26 , for each baseboard management controller 111 of the node 11 , the baseboard management controller 111 increases the value of the controller counter by one, ie, i=i+1, and repeats step 23 .

[0037] See Figure 1 、 3 The following describes the steps involved in the process of obtaining field replaceable unit information by the user end of the embodiment of the field replaceable unit information management method of the present invention.

[0038] In step 31, the user 100 generates and transmits an instruction set indicating the OEM to provide all the device unique identification codes to the plurality of BMCs 111 via the communication network 101, so that the plurality of BMCs 111 transmit the stored all the device unique identification codes to the user 100.

[0039] In step 32, the user 100 assigns an initial value to a user counter. The initial value corresponds to the first one of the plurality of device unique identification codes, i.e. i = 1.

[0040] In step 33, the user 100 generates and transmits an instruction set including the ith device unique identification code to a target BMC 111 corresponding to the ith device unique identification code according to the ith device unique identification code via the communication network 101, so that the target BMC 111 transmits an element information set corresponding to the ith device unique identification code to the user 100.

[0041] In step 34, the user 100 determines whether the ith device unique identification code is the last one. When it is determined that the ith device unique identification code is not the last one, the flow proceeds to step 35; and when it is determined that the ith device unique identification code is the last one, the flow proceeds to step 36.

[0042] In step 35, the user 100 increments the value of the user counter by one, i.e. i = i + 1, and repeats step 33.

[0043] In step 36, the user 100 displays all the received element information sets.

[0044] It is worth noting that in the present embodiment, the user 100 implements the user obtaining field replaceable unit information procedure by using a web-based management software, so in step 36, the user 100 displays the plurality of element information sets in a webpage.

[0045] In summary, the field replaceable unit information management method of the present application stores the element information set corresponding to the element 112 determined to be a field replaceable unit and the device unique identification code by the BMC 111, without accessing the firmware code of the field replaceable unit when adding or removing the field replaceable unit, so that the user 100 can obtain the element information set by transmitting the instruction set from a remote location via a single management software, thereby achieving the purpose of the present application.

[0046] The above description is only some embodiments of the present application, and cannot limit the scope of the present application. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications according to the scope of the present application and the content of the patent specification are still within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for managing information of field replaceable units (FRUs), performed by a baseboard management controller (BMC), wherein the BMC is connected to a plurality of components, and the BMC is connected to a user through a communication network, and the method comprises the steps of: receiving a request from the user; determining whether the request is a request for information of the FRUs; and if the request is the request for information of the FRUs, sending the information of the FRUs to the user. comprising the steps of: (A) the baseboard management controller transmitting an inquiry command to the plurality of elements to receive a plurality of element information sets respectively from the plurality of elements, each element information set comprising a header information and an address information; (B) for each element information set, the baseboard management controller determining whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the element information set; (C) for each element information set, when the element corresponding to the element information set is determined to be a field replaceable unit, the baseboard management controller generating a device unique identifier corresponding to the element information set and conforming to the Intelligent Platform Management Interface specification, and storing the element information set and the device unique identifier; (D) when receiving a manufacturer's instruction from the user end indicating to provide all device unique identifiers, the baseboard management controller transmitting all stored device unique identifiers to the user end; and (E) when receiving an instruction set comprising one of the plurality of unique identifiers, the baseboard management controller transmitting an element information set corresponding to the unique identifier to the user end.

2. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 1, wherein, In step (B), for each element information set, the baseboard management controller determines whether the value of the first octet of the header information of the element information set is a predetermined value to determine whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit, and when the value of the first octet of the header information of the element information set is determined to be the predetermined value, the baseboard management controller determines that the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit.

3. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 2, wherein, In step (B), for each element information set, the baseboard management controller further determines whether the sum of the values of all octets of the header information of the element information set except the last octet is equal to the value of the last octet of the header information of the element information set to determine whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit, and when the value of the first octet of the header information of the element information set is determined to be the predetermined value and the sum of the values of all octets of the header information of the element information set except the last octet is equal to the value of the last octet of the header information of the element information set, the baseboard management controller determines that the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit.

4. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 1, wherein, The baseboard management controller stores a field replaceable unit device table, and in step (C), for each element information set, the baseboard management controller records the element information set and the device unique identifier into the field replaceable unit device table.

5. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 1, wherein, Before step (B), further comprising the step of: (F) the baseboard management controller assigning an initial value to a controller counter i, the initial value corresponding to the first of the plurality of element information sets; wherein in step (B), the baseboard management controller determines whether the element corresponding to the ith element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the ith element information set, in step (C), the baseboard management controller generates an ith device unique identifier corresponding to the ith element information set and conforming to the intelligent platform management interface specification, and stores the ith element information set and the ith device unique identifier, and after step (C), the following steps are further included: (G) the baseboard management controller determines whether the ith element information set is the last one; and (H) when it is determined that the ith element information set is not the last one, step (B) is repeated until it is determined that the ith element information set is the last one.

6. A field replaceable unit information management method, performed by a host system, the host system comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising a baseboard management controller, and a plurality of components connected to the baseboard management controller, and the baseboard management controller connected to a user via a communication network, characterized by, comprising the following steps: (A) for each node's baseboard management controller, the baseboard management controller of the node transmits an inquiry command to all elements of the node to receive multiple element information sets respectively from the multiple elements of the node, each element information set including a header information and an address information; (B) for each element information set of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node determines whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the element information set; (C) for each element information set of each node, when it is determined that the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit, the baseboard management controller of the node generates a device unique identifier corresponding to the element information set and conforming to the intelligent platform management interface specification, and stores the element information set corresponding to the element and the device unique identifier; (D) when a target baseboard management controller of a target node of the multiple nodes receives a manufacturer's instruction from the user end indicating that all device unique identifiers are to be provided, the target baseboard management controller transmits all stored device unique identifiers to the user end; and (E) when the target baseboard management controller of the target node receives an instruction set including one of the multiple unique identifiers, the target baseboard management controller of the target node transmits an element information set corresponding to the unique identifier to the user end.

7. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 6, wherein, In step (B), for each element information set of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node determines whether the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the element information set is a predetermined value to determine whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit, and when it is determined that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information of the element information set is the predetermined value, the baseboard management controller determines that the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit.

8. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 7, wherein, In step (B), for each element information set of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node further judges whether the sum of the values of all bytes except the last byte of the header information of the element information set is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the element information set, to determine whether the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit. When the value of the zeroth byte group of the header information of the element information set is the predetermined value, and the sum of the values of all bytes except the last byte of the header information of the element information set is equal to the value of the last byte of the header information of the element information set, the baseboard management controller of the node determines that the element corresponding to the element information set is a field replaceable unit.

9. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 6, wherein, The baseboard management controller of each node stores a field replaceable unit device table. In step (C), for each element information set of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node records the element information set and the device unique identification code into the field replaceable unit device table.

10. The field replaceable unit information management method of claim 6, wherein, Before step (B), the following step is further included: (F) For the baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node assigns an initial value to a controller counter i, and the initial value corresponds to the first element information set in the plurality of element information sets. In step (B), for the baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node judges whether the element corresponding to the ith element information set is a field replaceable unit according to the header information of the ith element information set. In step (C), for the baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node generates an ith device unique identification code corresponding to the ith element information set and conforming to the intelligent platform management interface specification, and stores the ith element information set and the ith device unique identification code. After step (C), the following step is further included: (G) For the baseboard management controller of each node, the baseboard management controller of the node judges whether the ith element information set is the last one; and (H) When it is judged that the ith element information set is not the last one, step (B) is repeated until it is judged that the ith element information set is the last one.

Images