Managed BIOS Offloading Message Handling to Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of information handling systems has highlighted the need for centralized management of BIOS settings, with existing proprietary and standardized interfaces facing challenges in efficiently managing BIOS settings across networked environments, particularly during the power-on procedure.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes a separate controller to offload tasks associated with message handling between the CPU and management controller, allowing the BIOS to continue executing the power-on procedure while establishing a connection to the management controller, using more resource-intensive transport protocols and ensuring security through system management interrupts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the BIOS establishes a connection to the management controller during the power-on procedure, then centralized management of BIOS settings is enabled, but the power-on procedure becomes blocked waiting for connection establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the connection establishment task from the main power-on procedure by creating a dedicated background thread that independently manages the connection to the management controller. This allows the BIOS setup execution to proceed without being blocked by connection delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection establishment is initiated as a preliminary background action before the main power-on procedure completes. The system prepares the connection in advance through a separate thread, so that when the connection is needed, it is already established or being established without blocking the main flow.
2Reliability
If the BIOS waits for management controller connection readiness, then connection stability is improved, but system responsiveness during power-on deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the connection establishment timing based on readiness status. The background thread continuously monitors connection readiness and proceeds when ready, rather than using a static wait approach. This maintains reliability by ensuring the connection is stable while improving responsiveness by not unnecessarily delaying.
3Reliability
If resource-intensive transport protocols are used for management communication, then security and management capability are improved, but system resource consumption during power-on increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resource-intensive protocol handling and encryption/decryption operations are extracted from the main CPU execution flow and offloaded to dedicated hardware modules. This allows secure communication using resource-intensive protocols while minimizing the impact on overall system resource consumption during power-on.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (dedicated hardware module) between the BIOS and the management controller that handles the resource-intensive protocol operations. This intermediary performs encryption, decryption, and protocol management, allowing the use of secure protocols without burdening the main system resources.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for a managed BIOS is disclosed. A software for a BIOS in an information handling system is provided on a computer readable medium. A first code, for execution on a central processing unit (CPU), is operable to initiate a connection to a management controller through a controller, send a message to the management controller through the controller, and receive a message from the management controller through the controller in response to a system management interrupt. The first code is also operable to stall a power-on procedure if it is able to determine a plurality of bootable devices before the connection to the management controller is ready. The first code is further operable to stall the power-on procedure before releasing control to an operating system if the management controller is active.