Platform State Monitoring for Cross-Architecture OS Boot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Information Handling Systems (IHSs) face challenges in efficiently managing and providing uniform platform state information across different computing architectures, requiring OS boot devices to account for diverse hardware interfaces, which complicates the boot process and resource management.
Innovation Solution
The IHSs implement a platform state monitor that collects and publishes information to a shared memory location during the boot sequence, using a UEFI boot sequence, and an OS boot device monitor that collects and publishes state information for the selected OS boot device, mapping this data to ACPI entries, enabling uniform access across different architectures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If OS boot devices directly access hardware interfaces to collect state information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces platform state monitors as intermediary components that collect hardware state information and publish it to shared memory locations. These monitors act as mediators between the hardware interfaces and OS boot devices, allowing the OS to obtain accurate state information without directly accessing complex hardware interfaces. The intermediary layer abstracts the hardware complexity while preserving measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system supports multiple computing architectures, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal platform state monitor framework that can collect and publish state information for multiple computing architectures (x86, ARM, RISC-V) through a common interface. The monitors are designed to be architecture-agnostic, publishing standardized state information to shared memory locations that any OS boot device can access regardless of the underlying architecture. This multi-functional design enables broad adaptability while maintaining uniform access patterns.
3Productivity
If state information is collected during boot sequence, then productivity is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements platform state monitors that begin collecting hardware state information during early boot sequence phases, before the OS boot device is selected and before the operating system is loaded. By performing state collection preliminarily during the boot sequence rather than waiting for OS initialization, the system prepares state information in advance, reducing the time required for resource management decisions once the OS is running.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include an Information Handling System (IHS) that is adapted to provide state information for hardware of the IHS. Upon being powered, a boot sequence of the IHS is initiate. Prior to selection of an OS (Operating System) boot device during the boot sequence, platform state information is collected for IHS hardware that is configured during a respective phase of the boot sequence. A platform state monitor is loaded that publishes the collected platform state information to a shared memory location. Upon selection of an OS boot device during the boot sequence, an OS boot device monitor is loaded that corresponds to the processor architecture of the selected OS boot device, where the loaded OS boot device state monitor collects state information for the selected OS boot device and publishes the collected OS boot device state information to the shared memory location.