Management Controller Virtual Console Clipboard Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing management solutions for information handling systems lack the ability to remotely exchange clipboard data and other files with a host system via a virtual console enabled by a management controller, rather than the host system itself.
Innovation Solution
An information handling system with a management controller that establishes a virtual console session between the host system and a remote terminal, allowing the management controller to mount a partition with data and transmit notifications to the host system for data exchange, enabling clipboard data transfer between the remote terminal and the host system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing management solutions (e.g., VNC) are used to enable clipboard data exchange, then clipboard exchange functionality can be achieved, but the solution must run on the host system itself, increasing system resource requirements and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management controller as an intermediary device between the host system and remote terminal. The management controller enables clipboard data exchange by mounting a partition with clipboard data and transmitting notifications to the host system, eliminating the need for VNC or similar solutions to run on the host system itself. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing the desired functionality while reducing host system complexity and resource requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual console is enabled via a management controller rather than the host system, then out-of-band management capability is improved, but existing solutions lack clipboard exchange functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clipboard exchange functionality into distinct components: the management controller handles virtual console and partition mounting operations, while the host system handles data reception and processing. This segmentation allows the management controller to provide out-of-band management capabilities independently, while still enabling full clipboard exchange functionality without requiring host system involvement in the control plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The management controller acts as an intermediary that bridges the remote terminal and host system for clipboard operations. It mounts partitions containing clipboard data, transmits notifications to the host system, and coordinates the data exchange process, thereby enabling clipboard functionality in virtual console environments without compromising out-of-band management capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If clipboard data is transferred through mounted partitions via management controller, then remote management capability is enhanced, but data transfer mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements clipboard data transfer by creating a mounted partition that contains copies of the clipboard data. The management controller mounts this partition and transmits notifications to the host system, which then accesses the data from the partition. This copying mechanism enables flexible remote management capabilities while keeping the data transfer mechanism relatively simple and standardized, avoiding the need for complex custom protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system may include a host system including a host system processor and a host system memory coupled to the host system processor; and a management controller configured to provide out-of-band management of the host system. The management controller may be configured to establish a virtual console session between the host system and a remote terminal. The management controller may further be configured to, in response to a command from the remote terminal to send data from the remote terminal to the host system, mount a partition of the management controller such that the partition is accessible to the host system, wherein the partition includes the data. The management controller may be further configured to transmit a notification to the host system indicating the command and the partition, wherein the host system is configured to receive the data from the partition in accordance with the command.