BIOS Configuration Storage Management for IHS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information handling systems (IHSs) face issues with BIOS configurations becoming invalid, leading to inoperability or reduced functionality, and existing methods for restoring valid configurations are complex and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The IHS determines if a BIOS configuration has been modified and assesses its validity, storing the new configuration in a new location if it is likely valid, or overwriting an existing configuration if not, to manage BIOS configurations effectively and prevent data loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If BIOS configuration is modified and stored in the same location, then storage space is conserved, but data loss occurs when the configuration is invalid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage locations for BIOS configurations by creating multiple distinct storage slots (first location and second location) to store different configuration versions. This segmentation allows the system to preserve multiple configuration states simultaneously, preventing data loss when a configuration is invalid while maintaining manageable storage organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by validating BIOS configurations before storing them and determining validity status in advance. The system assesses whether a modified configuration is valid before committing it to storage, and prepares appropriate storage locations beforehand based on the validity assessment, preventing data loss proactively rather than reactively.
2Reliability
If BIOS configuration validation is performed, then configuration reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs configuration validation as a preliminary action before storing the BIOS configuration. By validating the configuration in advance and determining its validity status before commitment to storage, the system ensures reliability is improved while the time penalty is incurred only once during the storage process rather than repeatedly during system operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex manual validation processes with automated validation mechanisms that can quickly assess configuration validity. The system uses automated determination of whether a configuration is valid, substituting what would otherwise require time-consuming manual inspection or testing with efficient automated validation logic.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system (“IHS”) includes a processor and a memory device for storing instructions processable by the processor for causing the IHS to determine whether configuration of a basic input output system (“BIOS”) has been modified. The instructions are also processable by the processor for causing the IHS to, in response to determining that the configuration has been modified, determine whether a previously stored configuration is likely a valid configuration. Moreover, the instructions are processable by the processor for causing the IHS to, in response to determining that the previously stored configuration is likely a valid configuration, store the configuration that has been modified in a new location of a storage device. Furthermore, the instructions are processable by the processor for causing the IHS to, in response to determining that the previously stored configuration is likely not a valid configuration, store the configuration that has been modified in a location of the storage device that stores the previously stored configuration.