Pre-boot Teamed Network Initialization for Server Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems in data centers face challenges in efficient initialization and environmental management due to the complexity and density of servers, which can impact the speed and reliability of network-based initialization sequences.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a teamed network environment using communication modules and a secondary teaming application that loads during pre-boot initialization, allowing for simultaneous processing across multiple processors and enabling efficient access to an operating system from remote storage through iSCSI-enabled networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If servers are mounted within server racks with increased complexity and density to process more information, then the information handling capacity increases, but the environmental and operating conditions deteriorate impacting initialization routines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network initialization process into separate phases by implementing a pre-boot teaming application that operates independently before the main operating system loads. This segmentation allows network teaming to be established in advance, ensuring reliable network connectivity without being affected by the complexity of the full server system during initialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by executing the teaming application during the pre-boot phase, before the operating system fully loads. This ensures that network teaming is configured and established in advance, creating a stable network environment that can handle the information processing demands without compromising initialization reliability.
2Reliability
If network teaming is implemented to improve network performance and redundancy, then network reliability improves, but device complexity increases during initialization sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates network teaming functionality into a distinct pre-boot application, isolating the complexity of teaming configuration from the main initialization sequence. This allows network reliability to be improved through teaming while the complexity is contained within a specific, manageable segment of the boot process.
Solution Approach 2:
The teaming application operates autonomously during the pre-boot phase, configuring network teaming without requiring intervention from the main operating system or additional initialization routines. This self-service approach improves network reliability while avoiding the addition of complex inter-dependent initialization sequences.
3Productivity
If multiple communication modules are used to provide network teaming, then network bandwidth and redundancy improve, but the initialization process becomes more complex and slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent executes network teaming configuration in advance during the pre-boot phase, before the operating system initialization begins. This preliminary action ensures that multiple communication modules are already configured and operational, providing increased bandwidth without adding time to the main initialization process.
Solution Approach 2:
The teaming application maintains continuous network functionality throughout the boot process by establishing network teaming before the operating system loads. This continuity ensures that network bandwidth is available from the start of operation without interruption or additional setup time during initialization.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to enable teamed network environments during network based initialization sequences is disclosed. In one form of the disclosure, an information handling system can include a plurality of communication modules. One of the communication modules can be used to store a first teaming application. The information handling system can also include a processor configured to execute the first teaming application to provide a teamed network environment using the plurality of communication modules to load an operating system during a pre-boot initialization.