Server Core Board Recovery via BMC Forced Downloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ARM servers face challenges in quickly repairing core boards that are bricked due to bootloader damage, as they cannot be directly recovered via a USB interface when installed in a server chassis within an IDC computer room, necessitating factory resets that are time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a baseboard management controller (BCM) and components like a forced downloading switch, system on chip, and USB interface into the server architecture, allowing for fault repairing of core boards without disassembly, by sending control signals and data via wired connections for efficient recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If factory reset is performed on the core board, then the fault can be resolved, but the repair time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The baseboard management controller pre-configures the core board with a forced downloading mode through hardware switches and control signals before the fault occurs. When the core board becomes bricked, the system can immediately activate the pre-configured recovery mechanism without needing to perform time-consuming factory resets, thus reducing repair time while maintaining reliable fault resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The baseboard management controller acts as an intermediary between the external computer and the core board. It receives control signals from the computer, processes them through the forced downloading switch, and translates them into appropriate recovery commands for the core board, enabling faster and more direct fault repair without requiring direct USB connection to the bricked core board
2Adaptability or versatility
If the core board is installed in a server chassis within IDC computer room, then the server can operate in data center environment, but the core board cannot be directly recovered via USB interface
Solution Approach 1:
The baseboard management controller serves as an intermediary management layer that bridges the gap between the remote data center environment and the core board recovery process. It receives control signals through the server's management interface, processes them locally, and activates the forced downloading mode on the core board, thereby maintaining server deployability in IDC while enabling convenient remote repair access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical USB connection requirement with an electronic control signal-based system. Instead of physically connecting a USB cable to the core board for recovery, the system uses control signals transmitted through the baseboard management controller's communication interfaces to trigger the same recovery effect, thus maintaining server deployment flexibility while improving repair accessibility
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a core board, a server, a fault repairing method and apparatus, and a storage medium, and relates to the field of the cloud computing. A specific implementation solution of the server includes: a baseboard manager controller; and at least one core board connected to the baseboard manager controller, and configured to receive, when receiving a forced downloading signal from the baseboard manager controller, data for repairing from the baseboard manager controller to perform fault repairing. The present implementation can improve the fault repairing efficiency of the core board in the server.