Proxy Management Controller for Server Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Management controller devices in information handling systems often become unavailable due to software issues or unsupported component additions, leading to unavailability of essential services like thermal and power management, which conventional restart methods cannot remedy.
Innovation Solution
A proxy management controller system is introduced, where a neighboring management controller device acts as a virtual proxy to create a virtual container, receive and convert raw data, and perform management operations for an unavailable management controller device, ensuring continuous operation of server devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If management controller services are restarted to resolve software bugs or configuration issues, then service availability may be temporarily restored, but the underlying software defects or incompatibility problems persist and cause repeated failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy management controller as an intermediary component that mediates between the unavailable management controller and the server device. When the primary management controller becomes unavailable due to software bugs or configuration issues, the proxy management controller steps in to provide backup management services, ensuring continuous operation without requiring system restarts or complex architectural changes
2Reliability
If management controller services are restarted to restore availability, then temporary service recovery may occur, but data loss or service interruption time occurs during the restart process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring proxy management controllers in standby mode before primary management controller failures occur. This allows the proxy controllers to immediately assume management responsibilities when failures happen, eliminating service interruption time and preventing data loss that would otherwise occur during restart procedures
3Reliability
If management controller services are restarted to resolve issues, then service may be temporarily restored, but repeated restarts are required for recurring problems
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy management controller acts as a permanent intermediary solution rather than a temporary fix. It provides continuous backup management capabilities that eliminate the need for repeated restarts, thereby maintaining management operation efficiency and preventing the productivity losses associated with cyclic service interruptions and restart procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A proxy management controller system includes a first management controller device in a first server device, a second management controller device in a second server device, and a proxy management controller manager subsystem coupled to the first and second management controller device. The first management controller device receives an instruction from the proxy management controller manager subsystem to provide a proxy management controller for the second management controller device, and creates a proxy management controller virtual container for the second management controller device. The first management controller device then receives raw data collected by the second management controller device from the second server device, stores the raw data in the proxy management controller virtual container, and converts the raw data to formatted data. The first management controller device then uses the formatted data to perform at least one management operation that is associated with the second management controller device.