Server PCIe Topology Acquisition via Baseboard Management Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing servers face challenges in conveniently acquiring and displaying asset information, particularly with the increasing complexity of Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for acquiring PCIe device asset information by sending a PCIe physical topology acquisition request to a baseboard management controller (BMC) during the server's startup process, acquiring PCIe physical topology data, and combining it with PCIe device logical information to obtain the server's PCIe system topology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the server acquires PCIe device asset information through traditional methods, then the acquisition process becomes complex and difficult, but the system structure remains simple

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of acquiring PCIe device asset informationVSAvoidcomplexity of PCIe device configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) as an intermediary component that stores PCIe physical topology data in its preset memory. The server sends a PCIe physical topology acquisition request to the BMC, which returns the pre-stored topology data. This intermediary approach allows the server to acquire PCIe device asset information conveniently without directly dealing with the complex PCIe device configurations, as the BMC handles the complexity of data storage and retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the server directly accesses PCIe device information, then the information acquisition is direct, but the system cannot leverage pre-stored topology data for efficient acquisition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of acquiring PCIe device asset informationVSAvoidavailability of PCIe physical topology data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the BMC store PCIe physical topology data in its preset memory before the server needs to acquire the information. The topology data is pre-collected and stored, including PCIe root port information, bandwidth information, device types, and device numbers. When the server needs to acquire PCIe device asset information, it simply sends a request to the BMC, which quickly retrieves and returns the pre-stored data, significantly improving acquisition efficiency without losing any topology information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250156364A1Server, server asset information acquisition method and apparatus, and server asset information providing method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 INSPUR SUZHOU INTELLIGENT TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The present application relates to the technical field of servers, and discloses a server asset information acquisition method and apparatus, a server asset information providing method and apparatus, a baseboard management controller (BMC), and a server. The acquisition method comprises: in the process of starting a basic input output system (BIOS), sending a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) physical topology acquisition request to a BMC; acquiring PCIe physical topology data corresponding to the PCIe topology acquisition request returned by the BMC; and acquiring a PCIe system topology of a server according to the PCIe physical topology data and PCIe device logic information.