Remote BMC Offload via Net-SCM for Flexible Host Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current BMCs and secure control modules compliant with DC-SCM specifications require new hardware devices whenever functional requirements change, lacking flexibility in accommodating new or different functionality through software updates.
Innovation Solution
A network secure control module (Net-SCM) offloads BMC functionality to a remote management application, allowing software changes to adapt to new requirements without needing new hardware, using a processor, network interface, and connector to transmit and receive management signals and information between the host and the remote application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standardized secure control module (DC-SCM) is used to modularize BMCs, then vendor competition and standardized interfaces are enabled, but new hardware devices are required whenever functional requirements change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional hardware-based BMC architecture with a software-based management application running on a remote server. The secure control module acts as a network interface rather than a local processing unit, transmitting management signals over the network to the remote application. This substitution of mechanical/hardware processing with software-based processing enables functional changes through software updates without requiring new hardware devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network interface as an intermediary between the secure control module and the management application. Instead of direct local processing, management signals are transmitted through the network to a remote server where the management application processes them. This intermediary architecture allows the system to maintain standardized hardware interfaces while enabling flexible software-based functional changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If BMC functionality is hard-coded in hardware, then reliable control is achieved, but flexibility to accommodate new functionality through software updates is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BMC functionality into two parts: a standardized secure control module that maintains reliable hardware interfaces and connection stability, and a remote management application that provides flexible software-based control logic. This segmentation allows the hardware component to remain stable and reliable while the software component can be updated to accommodate new functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the management application from the local hardware dimension to a remote software dimension accessible via network. By transitioning from local hardware-based processing to remote software-based processing, the system gains the ability to update functionality through software while maintaining reliable control through the standardized hardware interface and secure control module.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure control module for BMC platform offloading to a remote application includes a processor, a network interface, and a connector with data connections. The connector is configured to connect to one or more data connections of a motherboard of a host. The secure control module includes non-transitory computer readable storage media storing code executable by the processor to perform operations that include receiving management signals from the connector. The management signals include input related to controlling the host. The operations include transmitting the management signals over the network interface to a management application running on a remote server, and receiving, over the network interface, management information from the management application. At least a portion of the management information is in response to the management signals. The operations include transmitting the management information over the connector to the host on at least one of the one or more data connections.