Management Processor Network Interface Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art management processors face limitations in managing computer components without an interface, as they require transient in-band and out-of-band interfaces, necessitating additional software and correlating multiple interfaces, which can be unstable and require customizations, making them unreliable and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a management processor with a network card interface that surfaces management information between the operating system and the management processor, allowing for visibility and communication regardless of the computer's state, eliminating the need for additional software and interface correlation, and enabling full machine and state information access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional in-band and out-of-band interfaces are used for management, then management functionality can be provided, but the system becomes complex requiring additional software and interface correlation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the management processor's management interface with the operating system's network interface card interface, merging two previously separate interfaces into a unified interface. This eliminates the need for separate in-band and out-of-band interfaces and their associated correlation complexity, while maintaining comprehensive management functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The management processor's interface is designed to serve multiple functions by surfacing management information through the operating system's network interface. This universal interface can handle both in-band and out-of-band management scenarios, eliminating the need for specialized separate interfaces for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional software agents are installed to enable management visibility, then comprehensive component management is achieved, but system stability decreases due to software dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The management processor utilizes the operating system's existing network interface card interface to provide management functionality. Instead of requiring additional software agents to be installed on each component, the system leverages the OS's built-in interface capabilities, eliminating software dependency risks while maintaining comprehensive visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The management processor acts as an intermediary that surfaces management information through the operating system's network interface. This mediator approach allows the management processor to access component information without requiring direct software installation on each component, reducing software stability concerns.
3Ease of operation
If transient interfaces are used for management communication, then interface availability is limited to specific states, but management reliability decreases when system state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The management processor establishes a persistent interface connection with the operating system's network interface in advance. This preliminary setup ensures that the management interface remains available across different system states, eliminating the transient availability issues associated with state-dependent interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of limiting the interface to specific operational states, the management processor maintains interface availability beyond the minimum required states. By extending interface persistence beyond what is strictly necessary for basic communication, the system ensures continuous management reliability across various system conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Example management processors, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example management processor includes a network card interface to communicatively couple the management processor to an operating environment, and a request processor to forward a received external management request to the operating environment via the network card interface, and to combine response information received from the operating environment with response information generated at the management processor.