Method and device for communication between BMC in storage chassis and host software, and storage chassis

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of storage chassis communication design technology, specifically providing a method, apparatus, and storage chassis for communication between the BMC and host software within a storage chassis. The method includes the following steps: configuring a switching board in the storage chassis, with a network switching chip on the switching board; configuring each port of the network switching chip to achieve interconnection between non-co-operating ports within the network switching chip; obtaining the management controller slot number; automatically configuring the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network ports according to the management controller slot number, thereby enabling full interconnection between the host software on all management controllers within the storage chassis and the BMC via the network. This improves the communication efficiency between the host software and the BMC; any host management controller can collect real-time and complete monitoring data from all BMCs within the storage chassis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication design technology for memory chassis, and specifically to a method, apparatus, and memory framework for communication between the BMC and host software within a memory chassis. Background Technology

[0002] In storage devices, as management controllers become increasingly complex, the Base Monitoring Center (BMC), as the out-of-band management center, plays an increasingly important role in the system. Host software also has demands on the BMC: 1. To obtain more hardware monitoring information from the BMC, support high concurrency access, and minimize latency. 2. To allow any management controller host software to view information collected by all BMCs within the storage chassis. 3. To assist in locating management controller-related issues through out-of-band log collection.

[0003] Existing solutions generally achieve this in two ways: Solution 1: The BMC only communicates with the host management controller, and all information of the entire storage chassis is synchronized by the host software. Solution 2: In addition to communicating with the host management controller, the BMC also synchronizes data with the BMCs on other management controllers in the storage chassis, so that a single host software can see the data collected by all BMCs in the storage chassis.

[0004] The disadvantages of Solution 1: When one management controller malfunctions, it's impossible to collect hardware information from the malfunctioning controller through the host software of the other management controller. It also cannot help locate the problem in the malfunctioning management controller. The disadvantages of Solution 2: It cannot meet the first requirement of the host software for the BMC. This is because the BMC, in addition to handling the number of synchronization buses between BMCs, also handles data between the host and the BMC; moreover, the BMC's CPU processing power is not strong; when assisting in locating management controller problems, it needs to synchronize BMC log information. The BMC log contains a large number of logs from other components (e.g., BMC's own logs, CPLD logs, BIOS logs, MCE logs, etc.), and log transmission also competes for the bus with other synchronization data, resulting in very low transmission efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of Solution 1: when one management controller malfunctions, it's impossible to collect hardware information from the malfunctioning controller through the host software of another management controller. It also fails to help locate the problem in the malfunctioning management controller. Solution 2's shortcomings: it doesn't meet the first requirement of the host software regarding the BMC. This is because the BMC, besides handling the number of synchronization buses between BMCs, also handles data between the host and the BMC; moreover, the BMC's CPU processing power is limited; and when assisting in locating management controller problems, it needs to synchronize BMC log information. The BMC log contains logs from many other components (e.g., BMC's own logs, CPLD logs, BIOS logs, MCE logs, etc.), and log transmission also competes for the bus with other synchronization data, resulting in very low transmission efficiency. Therefore, this invention provides a method, apparatus, and storage framework for communication between the BMC and host software within a storage chassis.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for communication between a BMC and host software within a storage chassis. The storage chassis includes at least two management controllers, each management controller including a BMC and host software. The method includes the following steps:

[0007] A switching board is configured in the storage chassis, and a network switching chip is configured on the switching board;

[0008] Configure each port of the network switching chip to enable interconnection between non-same-side ports within the network switching chip;

[0009] Get the management controller slot number;

[0010] The IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port is automatically configured according to the management controller slot number, so that the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis can be interconnected with the BMC through the network.

[0011] Preferably, in the step of configuring a switching board in the storage chassis, and configuring a network switching chip on the switching board, two switching boards are configured. Two switching boards are used for redundancy.

[0012] Preferably, the network switching chip is provided with ports P1, P2, P3, and P4. The steps for configuring each port of the network switching chip to achieve interconnection between non-same-side ports within the network switching chip include:

[0013] Configure ports P1 and P3 to communicate with each other;

[0014] Configure ports P1 and P4 to communicate with each other;

[0015] Configure ports P2 and P3 to communicate with each other;

[0016] Configure ports P2 and P4 to communicate with each other.

[0017] Preferably, the steps of automatically configuring the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, so as to realize the interconnection of host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis with the BMC via the network, include:

[0018] The system automatically configures the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port based on the management controller slot number, divides different switching boards into different network domains, and enables all host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis to be interconnected with the BMC via the network.

[0019] By configuring the host software as described above, it can communicate with any BMC via the switch board.

[0020] Secondly, the present invention provides a communication device between a BMC and a host within a storage chassis. The storage chassis includes at least two management controllers, each of which includes a BMC and host software. The device includes a board configuration module, a port configuration module, an acquisition module, and an interconnection configuration module.

[0021] The board configuration module is used to configure a switching board in the storage chassis, and the switching board is equipped with a network switching chip;

[0022] The port configuration module is used to configure the ports of the network switching chip to enable interconnection between non-same-side ports within the network switching chip.

[0023] The acquisition module is used to obtain the slot number of the management controller;

[0024] The interconnect configuration module is used to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, so as to realize the interconnection between the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis and the BMC through the network.

[0025] Preferably, the network switching chip is provided with ports P1, P2, P3 and P4; the port configuration module is specifically used to configure ports P1 and P3 to communicate with each other, configure ports P1 and P4 to communicate with each other, configure ports P2 and P3 to communicate with each other, and configure ports P2 and P4 to communicate with each other.

[0026] Preferably, the number of switching boards configured in the board configuration module in the storage chassis is two;

[0027] The interconnect configuration module is specifically used to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, divide different switching boards into different network domains, and realize the interconnection between the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis and the BMC through the network.

[0028] Thirdly, the technical solution of the present invention also provides an interconnected storage chassis for realizing communication between the BMC and the host, including a switching board and at least two management controllers, each management controller including the BMC and management controller host software;

[0029] The switching board is equipped with a network switching chip and the ports on different sides of the network switching chip are interconnected.

[0030] The BMC of each management controller and the network port of the host are interconnected with the port of the network switching chip.

[0031] Preferably, the management controller includes a first management controller and a second management controller;

[0032] The network switching chip has ports P1, P2, P3 and P4. Ports P1 and P3 are interconnected, ports P1 and P4 are interconnected, ports P2 and P3 are interconnected, and ports P2 and P4 are interconnected.

[0033] The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip;

[0034] The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip;

[0035] The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip;

[0036] The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip.

[0037] Preferably, there are two switching boards, namely a first switching board and a second switching board;

[0038] The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip of the first switching board.

[0039] The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip of the first switching board;

[0040] The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip of the first switching board;

[0041] The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip of the first switching board;

[0042] The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip of the second switching board.

[0043] The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip of the second switching board;

[0044] The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip of the second switching board;

[0045] The network port of the second management controller's host is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip on the second switching board. Within the storage chassis, the network switching chip fully interconnects the BMCs within the storage chassis with the management controller's host software, cleverly solving problems within the storage chassis: locating abnormal startup issues of remote controllers within the storage chassis; improving communication efficiency between the host software and the BMCs; and enabling any host software to collect real-time and complete data monitored by all BMCs within the chassis.

[0046] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the present invention has the following advantages: In the storage chassis, the BMC in the storage chassis and the host software of the management controller are fully interconnected through the network switching chip, which cleverly solves the problems in the storage chassis: locating the problem of abnormal startup of the remote controller in the storage chassis; improving the communication efficiency between the host software and the BMC; and enabling any host management controller to collect data monitored by all BMCs in the storage chassis in real time and completely.

[0047] Furthermore, the design principle of this invention is reliable, the structure is simple, and it has a very wide range of application prospects.

[0048] Therefore, it is evident that the present invention has outstanding substantive features and significant progress compared with the prior art, and the beneficial effects of its implementation are also obvious. Attached Figure Description

[0049] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a full network interconnection scheme between the storage chassis MCS and BMC in one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this invention, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0052] This invention provides a method for communication between a BMC and host software within a storage chassis. The storage chassis includes at least two management controllers, each of which includes a BMC and host software. The method includes the following steps:

[0053] Step 1: Configure a switching board in the storage chassis, and the switching board is equipped with a network switching chip;

[0054] Step 2: Configure each port of the network switch chip to enable communication between non-same-side ports within the network switch chip;

[0055] Step 3: Obtain the management controller slot number;

[0056] Step 4: Automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, so that the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis can be interconnected with the BMC through the network.

[0057] In some embodiments, in the step of configuring a switching board in the storage chassis, and configuring a network switching chip on the switching board, two switching boards are configured. Two switching boards are used for redundancy.

[0058] The network switch chip has ports P1, P2, P3, and P4. The steps to configure the ports of the network switch chip to enable communication between non-same-side ports within the chip include:

[0059] Configure ports P1 and P3 to communicate with each other;

[0060] Configure ports P1 and P4 to communicate with each other;

[0061] Configure ports P2 and P3 to communicate with each other;

[0062] Configure ports P2 and P4 to communicate with each other.

[0063] The steps to achieve full network interconnection between the host software on all management controllers within the storage chassis and the BMC via the network include: (1) Configuring the interconnection of internal ports of the network switching chip; (2) Automatically configuring the IP / MAC addresses of the BMC and host software network ports according to the management controller slot number; (3) Configuring the interconnection of internal ports of the network switching chip; (4) Configuring the IP / MAC addresses of the BMC and host software network ports according to the management controller slot number; (5) Configuring the interconnection of internal ports of the network switching chip and the BMC via the network.

[0064] The system automatically configures the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port based on the management controller slot number, divides different switching boards into different network domains, and enables all host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis to be interconnected with the BMC via the network.

[0065] With the host software configured as described above, it can communicate with any BMC via the switch board. Here, the host software is the Management Controller System (MCS).

[0066] like Figure 1 As shown, the network IP addresses of the first management controller are: BMC-Eth1: 192.168.10.1 and MCS-Eth1: 192.168.10.10.

[0067] First management controller network IP address: BMC-Eth2: 192.168.20.1; MCS-Eth2: 192.168.20.10;

[0068] Second management controller network IP addresses: BMC-Eth1: 192.168.10.2; MCS-Eth1: 192.168.10.20;

[0069] Second management controller network IP addresses: BMC-Eth2: 192.168.20.2; MCS-Eth2: 192.168.20.20;

[0070] Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0;

[0071] After completing the above settings, the MCS can communicate with any one of the BMCs through the switching board. Two switching boards are used for redundancy.

[0072] This invention utilizes the GE-SWITCH hardware network switching chip for message forwarding, eliminating the need for data synchronization between BMCs or MCSs in traditional solutions. While maintaining performance, it also optimizes software design and reduces software complexity. This invention allows the MCS to directly view any BMC, enabling it to collect complete BMC information within the frame in real time, ensuring the integrity of hardware monitoring data within the frame. When any management controller malfunctions, other management controllers within the storage chassis can collect BMC logs (which contain hardware fault location information, such as BIOS logs, MCE logs, CPLD logs, etc.) to pinpoint the problem with the malfunctioning management controller.

[0073] This invention also provides a communication device between a BMC and a host within a storage chassis. The storage chassis includes at least two management controllers, each of which includes a BMC and host software. The device includes a board configuration module, a port configuration module, an acquisition module, and an interconnect configuration module.

[0074] The board configuration module is used to configure a switching board in the storage chassis, and the switching board is equipped with a network switching chip;

[0075] The port configuration module is used to configure the ports of the network switching chip to enable interconnection between non-same-side ports within the network switching chip.

[0076] The acquisition module is used to obtain the slot number of the management controller;

[0077] The interconnect configuration module is used to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, so as to realize the interconnection between the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis and the BMC through the network.

[0078] In some embodiments, the network switching chip is provided with ports P1, P2, P3 and P4; the port configuration module is specifically used to configure ports P1 and P3 to communicate with each other, configure ports P1 and P4 to communicate with each other, configure ports P2 and P3 to communicate with each other, and configure ports P2 and P4 to communicate with each other.

[0079] In some embodiments, the board configuration module configures two switching boards in the storage chassis;

[0080] The interconnect configuration module is specifically used to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, divide different switching boards into different network domains, and realize the interconnection between the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis and the BMC through the network.

[0081] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment of the invention also provides an interconnected storage chassis for realizing communication between the BMC and the host, including a switching board and at least two management controllers, each management controller including the BMC and the host, and the host is equipped with host software;

[0082] The switching board is equipped with a network switching chip and the ports on different sides of the network switching chip are interconnected.

[0083] The BMC of each management controller and the network port of the host are interconnected with the port of the network switching chip.

[0084] In some embodiments, the management controller includes a first management controller and a second management controller;

[0085] The network switching chip has ports P1, P2, P3 and P4. Ports P1 and P3 are interconnected, ports P1 and P4 are interconnected, ports P2 and P3 are interconnected, and ports P2 and P4 are interconnected.

[0086] The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip;

[0087] The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip;

[0088] The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip;

[0089] The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip.

[0090] There are two switching boards, namely the first switching board and the second switching board;

[0091] The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip of the first switching board.

[0092] The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip of the first switching board;

[0093] The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip of the first switching board;

[0094] The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip of the first switching board;

[0095] The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip of the second switching board.

[0096] The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip of the second switching board;

[0097] The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip of the second switching board;

[0098] The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip of the second switching board.

[0099] First management controller network IP address: BMC-Eth1: 192.168.10.1; MCS-Eth1: 192.168.10.10;

[0100] First management controller network IP address: BMC-Eth2: 192.168.20.1; MCS-Eth2: 192.168.20.10;

[0101] Second management controller network IP addresses: BMC-Eth1: 192.168.10.2; MCS-Eth1: 192.168.10.20;

[0102] Second management controller network IP addresses: BMC-Eth2: 192.168.20.2; MCS-Eth2: 192.168.20.20;

[0103] Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0;

[0104] After completing the above settings, the MCS can communicate with any one of the BMCs through the switching board. Two switching boards are used for redundancy.

[0105] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto. Various equivalent modifications or substitutions can be made to the embodiments of the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and essence of the invention, and such modifications or substitutions should all be within the scope of the invention. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the invention should also be covered within the protection scope of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for communication between a BMC (Browser Controller) within a storage chassis and host software, characterized in that, The storage chassis includes at least two management controllers, each management controller including a BMC and host software, and the method includes the following steps: A switching board is configured in the storage chassis, and a network switching chip is configured on the switching board; Configure each port of the network switching chip to enable interconnection between non-same-side ports within the network switching chip; Get the management controller slot number; The IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port is automatically configured according to the management controller slot number, so that the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis can be interconnected with the BMC through the network. In the step of configuring a switching board in the storage chassis, and configuring a network switching chip on the switching board, the number of switching boards configured is two; The network switch chip has ports P1, P2, P3, and P4. The steps to configure the ports of the network switch chip to enable communication between non-same-side ports within the chip include: Configure ports P1 and P3 to communicate with each other; Configure ports P1 and P4 to communicate with each other; Configure ports P2 and P3 to communicate with each other; Configure ports P2 and P4 to communicate with each other; Message forwarding is achieved through the GE-SWITCH hardware network switching chip, allowing the MCS to directly see any BMC. The MCS collects complete BMC information within the frame in real time, ensuring the integrity of hardware monitoring data within the frame. When any management controller malfunctions, BMC logs are collected through other management controllers within the storage frame to locate the problem of the malfunctioning management controller.

2. The method for communication between the BMC and host software within the storage chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steps to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port based on the management controller slot number, and to achieve full network interconnection between the host software on all management controllers within the storage chassis and the BMC, include: The system automatically configures the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port based on the management controller slot number, divides different switching boards into different network domains, and enables all host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis to be interconnected with the BMC via the network.

3. A communication device between a BMC (Browser Controller) within a storage chassis and host software, characterized in that, The storage chassis includes at least two management controllers, each management controller including a BMC and host software, and the device includes a board configuration module, a port configuration module, an acquisition module, and an interconnect configuration module; The board configuration module is used to configure a switching board in the storage chassis, and the switching board is equipped with a network switching chip; The port configuration module is used to configure the ports of the network switching chip to enable interconnection between non-same-side ports within the network switching chip. The acquisition module is used to obtain the slot number of the management controller; The interconnect configuration module is used to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, so as to realize the interconnection between the host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis and the BMC through the network; The network switching chip is equipped with ports P1, P2, P3 and P4; the port configuration module is specifically used to configure ports P1 and P3 to communicate with each other, ports P1 and P4 to communicate with each other, ports P2 and P3 to communicate with each other, and ports P2 and P4 to communicate with each other. The board configuration module configures two switching boards in the storage chassis; The interconnect configuration module is specifically used to automatically configure the IP address / MAC address of the BMC and host software network port according to the management controller slot number, divide different switching boards into different network domains, and realize the interconnection of host software on all management controllers in the storage chassis with the BMC through the network. Message forwarding is achieved through the GE-SWITCH hardware network switching chip, allowing the MCS to directly see any BMC. The MCS collects complete BMC information within the frame in real time, ensuring the integrity of hardware monitoring data within the frame. When any management controller malfunctions, BMC logs are collected through other management controllers within the storage frame to locate the problem of the malfunctioning management controller.

4. An interconnected storage chassis for realizing communication between BMC and host software, characterized in that, It includes a switching board and at least two management controllers, each management controller including a BMC and management controller host software; The switching board is equipped with a network switching chip and the ports on different sides of the network switching chip are interconnected. The BMC of each management controller and the network port of the host are interconnected with the port of the network switching chip respectively; The management controller includes a first management controller and a second management controller; The network switching chip has ports P1, P2, P3 and P4. Ports P1 and P3 are interconnected, as are ports P1 and P4, P2 and P3, and P2 and P4. The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip; The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip; The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip; The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip.

5. The interconnected storage chassis for realizing communication between the BMC and host software according to claim 4, characterized in that, There are two switching boards, namely the first switching board and the second switching board; The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip of the first switching board. The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip of the first switching board; The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip of the first switching board; The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip of the first switching board; The network port of the BMC of the first management controller is connected to port P3 of the network switching chip of the second switching board. The network port of the host of the first management controller is connected to port P1 of the network switching chip of the second switching board; The network port of the BMC of the second management controller is connected to port P4 of the network switching chip of the second switching board; The network port of the host of the second management controller is connected to port P2 of the network switching chip of the second switching board.

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