Firmware Storage License Management for Dynamic Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems face challenges in dynamically managing and allocating physical storage resources efficiently, particularly in adapting to varying storage needs without requiring frequent reboots or physical hardware changes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a firmware-based system that utilizes licenses to dynamically adjust the amount of storage exposed to the operating system and hypervisor, allowing for on-demand storage capacity by initializing and updating data structures and generating notifications for hot add events, thereby enabling efficient allocation of storage without exceeding allocated limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical storage resources are dynamically adjusted without licenses, then storage flexibility improves, but storage security and licensing control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidstorage security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the amount of physical storage exposed to the OS and hypervisor based on license status. The firmware can transition storage capacity from hidden to accessible state when licenses are activated, and vice versa when licenses are removed, enabling flexible adaptation while maintaining security control through the licensing mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The firmware acts as an intermediary layer between the physical storage hardware and the OS/hypervisor. It controls access to storage resources by mediating between license validation results and storage exposure, thereby maintaining both flexibility and security through this intermediate control point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If storage capacity is expanded through physical hardware additions, then storage capacity increases, but system downtime and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidsystem downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The additional physical storage is installed and prepared in advance but remains hidden from the OS and hypervisor until a license is activated. This preliminary configuration allows the storage to be ready physically without requiring system downtime or reboots when the license is subsequently activated, as the firmware can expose the storage dynamically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic exposure of storage capacity through license activation without requiring physical hardware changes or system reboots. The firmware can transition storage from hidden to accessible state on-demand, eliminating the need for system downtime during capacity expansion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If all physical storage is exposed to the OS and hypervisor, then storage accessibility improves, but storage allocation control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage accessibilityVSAvoidstorage allocation control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically controls the amount of storage exposed to the OS and hypervisor based on license status. The firmware can adjust the visible storage capacity up or down, providing both accessibility when needed and allocation control when licenses are managed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The firmware changes the parameter of exposed storage capacity based on license validation. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system maintains ease of operation for licensed storage while preserving allocation control through the licensing mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11915029B2System and method of managing available memory of an information handling system

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, one or more methods, and/or one or more processes may receive a first license associated with a first amount of physical storage to permit an operating system (OS) and/or a hypervisor to utilize; initialize a data structure with first information associated with the first amount of the physical storage; retrieve the first information associated with the first amount of the physical storage from the data structure; receive a second license associated with a second amount of the physical storage, greater than the first amount, to permit the OS and/or the hypervisor to utilize; update the data structure with second information associated with the second amount of the physical storage; receive a notification associated with the second amount of the physical storage; and retrieve the second information associated with the second amount of the physical storage from the data structure.