NC-SI Pass-Through for High-Power PCI Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-power consuming devices with sideband enablement, such as SmartNICs and FPGAs, cannot operate in the auxiliary power supply mode due to high power requirements and lack of out-of-band management, limiting their configuration and management within information handling systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enables management and configuration of high-power consuming PCI-connected devices through a baseboard management controller (BMC) and Virtual Ethernet Bridge (VEB) using a second pass-through communication path, allowing discovery, configuration, and management during auxiliary power mode, including configuring uplink ports and VLAN/MAC filter rules for NC-SI pass-through.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If high-power consuming devices (SmartNICs, FPGAs) are used to enhance networking capabilities, then device functionality and performance are improved, but power consumption increases making them incompatible with auxiliary power mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetworking capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates power modes into auxiliary power mode (for management) and main power mode (for device operation). The BMC operates independently in auxiliary power mode to perform discovery and configuration, while the high-power device remains dormant until main power is restored, allowing functionality without continuous power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The BMC performs discovery, identification, and configuration of high-power devices during auxiliary power mode before the device is activated. This preliminary action prepares the device for operation once main power is available, ensuring the device can be properly managed when it becomes operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If high-power consuming devices are used to provide enhanced networking capabilities, then device functionality is improved, but out-of-band management capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetworking capabilityVSAvoidmanagement capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The BMC acts as an intermediary between the system administrator and the high-power device. During auxiliary power mode, the BMC discovers and identifies the device, then establishes a communication path through the VEB to enable out-of-band management. This intermediary role allows management operations to be performed even when the primary device is inactive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces direct management of high-power devices with BMC-mediated management through the VEB communication path. This substitution enables out-of-band management capabilities by using the BMC's auxiliary power mode operations instead of relying on the high-power device's own management interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a communication path through PCI slots is used to connect the controller to the VEB, then device connectivity is established, but management during auxiliary power mode is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice connectivityVSAvoidconfiguration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The VEB serves as an intermediary communication bridge between the BMC and the high-power device. The BMC communicates with the VEB through the PCI slot communication path, and the VEB forwards management traffic to the appropriate device, enabling configuration during auxiliary power mode by decoupling the management path from the device's power state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11411753B2Adding network controller sideband interface (NC-SI) sideband and management to a high power consumption device

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A method includes determining, during auxiliary power operating mode of an information handling system, devices connected to peripheral component interconnect (PCI) slots and identifying, via a controller of the IHS, when a Virtual Ethernet Bridge (VEB) is present on a first communication path, which indicates that a high power consuming device with sideband enablement is present in a corresponding one of the PCI slots. The method includes configuring, via the first communication path, an uplink port on the VEB, collecting information about the VEB, including a VEB MAC address and capabilities of the VEB, setting a VLAN/MAC filter rule for NC-SI pass-through in the VEB, and configuring an intermediate device within a second communication path between the controller and the VEB for NC-SI pass-through utilizing a management MAC address, enabling NC-SI pass-through of traffic routed between the controller and the VEB.