Secure Network Boot System for Agent Reinstallation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large-scale information handling system installations, managed service providers face challenges in reinstalling agents on information handling systems that fail to boot or lose their agent installation, requiring a complex process involving booting the operating system and accessing a services internet portal.
Innovation Solution
A secure network boot system enables multi-stage installation of agents, allowing for on-demand diagnostics and automatic entitlement validation, providing both In-Band and Out-of-Band access to remote service capabilities, and supporting various network configurations, including EFI technology and existing BIOS options, to simplify and secure the service delivery process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional agent reinstallation process is used (booting OS and accessing services portal), then agent can be reinstalled, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pre-boot agent that executes before the operating system loads, allowing agent reinstallation to occur during the boot process itself. This preliminary action eliminates the need for post-boot manual intervention through services portals, directly reducing both operational complexity and reinstallation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automated agent reinstallation through the pre-boot environment without requiring user interaction or manual steps. The pre-boot agent automatically detects the need for reinstallation, retrieves the necessary components, and completes the installation process autonomously, making the system self-service capable.
2Reliability
If secure network boot is implemented, then security and service delivery are improved, but system compatibility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the pre-boot agent to be universally compatible across multiple system configurations and network boot implementations. By creating a multi-functional solution that works across different hardware and software environments, the system achieves secure service delivery without sacrificing adaptability to various system configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system which enables a secure network boot to address customer services offerings. The customer service offerings can include on-demand diagnostics to system reinstallation as well as automatic entitlement validation and service installation. Such a system enables a method of network booting that can be secure from beginning to end, is routable in any network configuration that supports Internet routing, avoids traditional infrastructure requirements thereby making the infrastructure more accessible, is extensible to address scaling requirements, is extensible to EFI technology and can be used on existing BIOS option-ROM implementations, provides a better (i.e., simpler, more secure) customer experience for network boot services, provides a multi-stage architecture that allows numerous service offerings to be obtained once entitlement is validated, and provides for both In-Band (OS operational and booted) and Out-of-Band (OS not operational or not installed) access to remote service capabilities.