Pre-Install Software Subset via BMC for OS Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of updating firmware and drivers on computing systems often interferes with normal system operation, requires restarts, and leads to additional downtime, as it typically involves downloading and installing OS and driver updates sequentially, which can impact live servers and consume bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
An update platform that uses a baseboard management controller to pre-install a customized subset of software components, including drivers and firmware, before the new operating system is installed, allowing for simultaneous installation within a single maintenance window and reducing bandwidth usage by sending only necessary components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firmware and driver updates are installed sequentially after OS installation, then system reliability is improved, but downtime and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transferring and installing firmware and driver updates to the computing device before the operating system is installed. The update platform identifies required updates based on hardware components detected during OS installation, then pre-installs these updates so they are ready when the OS is deployed, eliminating post-installation update steps and reducing total downtime.
2Reliability
If complete software component packages are transferred to computing devices, then all necessary updates are available, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by selecting and transferring only the specific firmware and driver components that are actually required for the hardware components being installed with the operating system. The update platform analyzes the OS installation package, identifies associated hardware, and extracts only the relevant updates needed for those specific components, rather than transferring complete software component packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the update content for each specific computing device based on its hardware configuration. The update platform determines which firmware and driver updates are needed for the particular hardware components detected in the device, providing locally optimized update packages rather than universal complete packages, thus reducing bandwidth consumption while ensuring update completeness.
3Reliability
If OS installation and driver updates are performed in separate sequential steps, then each step can be completed thoroughly, but total installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the OS installation process with the firmware and driver update installation into a single integrated operation. The update platform transfers updates to the computing device before OS installation, allowing both the operating system and its required updates to be installed simultaneously in one deployment step, rather than performing them in separate sequential steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein relate to providing a subset of software components customized for a device to the device prior to the device installing an associated operating system. An update platform including a repository including a number of software components associated with multiple operating systems and multiple hardware sets is to determine that an operating system install is to occur on the device. The update platform is to select a subset of the software components for the device based on the operating system install and hardware devices on the device. The update platform is to push the subset to a storage coupled to a baseboard management controller of the device prior to the operating system install.