HTTP Serial Output Redirection via Service Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current serial over LAN technologies require specialized IPMI tools and user expertise for server administrators to access and redirect serial output, limiting accessibility and usability.
Innovation Solution
Configuring a service controller on a computing device to redirect serial output over a network using HTTP, enabling web browsers to stream serial output through WebSocket connections, eliminating the need for IPMI tools and allowing access from any HTTP-compliant device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IPMI tools are used to access serial output, then serial output can be redirected over the network, but the system requires specialized tools and user expertise, reducing accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling serial output redirection through a standard web browser interface that works across multiple devices and operating systems. The service controller provides a universal access point that eliminates the need for device-specific IPMI tools, allowing any HTTP-compliant client to connect to and view serial output from any server.
Solution Approach 2:
The service controller acts as an intermediary between the computing device's serial output and the client device's web browser. It receives serial output from the computing device, processes it into HTTP-compatible format, and transmits it to the web browser, thereby mediating the communication between systems that would otherwise be incompatible.
2Ease of operation
If IPMI compliant tools are configured on client devices, then serial output redirection is enabled, but the configuration and usage complexity increases for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by automatically handling the complex configuration and protocol translation on the service controller side. The service controller autonomously receives serial output, converts it to HTTP format, and manages the connection to web browsers without requiring users to configure IPMI settings or understand the underlying protocol complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The service controller serves as an intermediary that shields users from configuration complexity. It absorbs the complexity of IPMI configuration and protocol translation, presenting a simple web-based interface to users that requires no specialized knowledge of IPMI tools or configuration procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard web browsers are used to access serial output, then accessibility is improved, but a mechanism is needed to convert serial output to HTTP format
Solution Approach 1:
The service controller acts as an intermediary that performs format conversion between serial output and HTTP protocols. It receives binary serial data from the computing device, translates it into text-based HTTP format suitable for web browsers, and manages the transmission, thereby enabling browser compatibility without requiring changes to the browser itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The service controller applies parameter changes by transforming the data format, encoding, and protocol parameters from serial communication to HTTP communication. It changes the data representation from binary serial streams to text-based HTTP messages, and adjusts transmission parameters to match web browser expectations.
Data Source
AI summary
A service controller on a computing device can be configured to redirect serial output over a network using HTTP. For example, the service controller can be configured with a web server that can receive the serial output and stream the serial output to a web browser over an HTTP connection. In some implementations, the HTTP connection can be a WebSocket connection, as defined by the HTML5 specification. In some implementations, a proxy server can be configured with a web server that can receive serial over LAN (SOL) output from multiple servers and stream the SOL to a web browser on a client device.