Service Processor Emulated Storage for Composed Machine Inventory

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cloud computing environments, there is a need to optimize the management of pooled and configurable computing resources to efficiently allocate and schedule workloads across heterogeneous computing racks, ensuring efficient resource utilization and optimal service delivery while managing operational costs.

Innovation Solution

A computer system is implemented where a first service processor emulates storage devices to a composed machine, exposing a bootable utility image to collect hardware inventory information, and receives this information through a second emulated storage device, enabling the pod manager to efficiently allocate and manage resources across computing racks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If service processors use traditional direct hardware access methods, then hardware inventory collection is straightforward, but the composed machine cannot boot from remote storage and hardware discovery is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboot capabilityVSAvoidstorage device emulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The service processor creates virtual copies of storage devices through emulation. The first storage device is emulated as a bootable utility image, and the second storage device is emulated as a data storage device. This copying approach enables the composed machine to boot from remote storage while maintaining the abstraction layer needed for hardware discovery, resolving the contradiction between boot capability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The service processor acts as an intermediary between the composed machine and the physical storage infrastructure. By emulating storage devices, it mediates the boot process and hardware communication, allowing the composed machine to access hardware inventory through standardized interfaces without direct physical connection complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If hardware inventory information is collected through traditional interfaces, then the collection process is simple, but the pod manager cannot efficiently allocate and manage resources across heterogeneous computing racks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidstorage device emulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The service processor performs preliminary hardware inventory collection during the boot process before resource allocation is needed. By emulating storage devices that present hardware information through standardized interfaces, the system pre-gathers inventory data that the pod manager can then efficiently use for resource allocation across heterogeneous racks, improving productivity without requiring complex real-time discovery mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The emulated storage devices serve multiple functions: the first emulated storage device provides boot capability, the second emulated storage device enables hardware inventory collection, and both provide standardized interfaces for communication with the pod manager. This multi-functionality improves resource allocation efficiency while managing complexity through a unified emulation framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the system collects detailed hardware inventory information, then resource optimization is improved, but the information collection process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware inventory informationVSAvoidstorage device emulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The service processor creates virtual copies of storage devices that present hardware inventory information through standardized interfaces. This copying approach enables detailed hardware inventory collection without requiring complex direct hardware interrogation, as the emulated storage devices encapsulate the complexity while providing uniform access points for information retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10511407B2Techniques of deep discovery of a composed node through management network

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 AMERICAN MEGATRENDS

AI summary

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and a computer system are provided. A first service processor of the computer system emulates a first storage device to a composed machine of a computing pod. The first service processor exposes a bootable utility image to the composed machine through the first storage device. The bootable utility image is configured to boot a program that collects hardware inventory information from the composed machine. The first service processor emulates a second storage device to the composed machine. The first service processor receives the hardware inventory information from the composed machine through the second storage device.