Smart Interface Card Virtualized Management Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart interface card management technologies suffer from poor scalability due to the incompatibility of in-band and out-of-band management methods with common servers, requiring specific registers and I2C bus interfaces, which limits their applicability and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A smart interface card control method and apparatus that registers a virtualized management interface using a preset protocol stack, creating a virtual link to connect the BMC management interface, allowing control instructions to be sent over this link without the need for additional hardware resources, enabling management through standard protocols like Ethernet or SCSI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If in-band management manner is used with specific registers, then the smart interface card can be managed by reading/writing registers, but the host cannot manage multiple smart interface cards from different manufacturers without installing multiple management software, resulting in poor scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the smart interface card compatible with multiple management protocols (I2C, LPC, Ethernet, SCSI, USB) simultaneously. The card can present itself as different device types depending on what the host supports, allowing a single card design to work across different host configurations and manufacturers without requiring multiple specialized management software packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing the smart interface card to dynamically change its presented device type and communication protocol based on host capabilities. The card can switch between presenting as an I2C device, LPC device, Ethernet device, or SCSI device, adapting its management interface parameters to match the host's available resources and protocols.
2Ease of operation
If out-of-band management manner is used with I2C bus interface, then the control instruction can be transmitted through additional I2C bus, but the host cannot manage the smart interface card if it lacks I2C bus interface or idle I2C bus interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing multiple communication interfaces (I2C, LPC, Ethernet, SCSI, USB) on the smart interface card, allowing it to be managed through different protocols depending on host availability. This multi-functional approach ensures the card can be managed on hosts regardless of which specific interface is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary approaches by introducing alternative communication paths when the primary I2C interface is unavailable. The card can use LPC interface as an intermediary management path, or escalate to higher-level protocols like Ethernet or SCSI, providing multiple intermediary channels for control instruction transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple smart interface cards from different manufacturers are inserted, then more functionality is available, but different management software from multiple manufacturers needs to be installed separately, increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing smart interface cards that all support the same set of standard management protocols (I2C, LPC, Ethernet, SCSI, USB). This allows a single host management system to manage multiple cards from different manufacturers using the same software, eliminating the need for manufacturer-specific management software and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent promotes homogeneity by standardizing the management interfaces across all smart interface cards. All cards present compatible interfaces and follow consistent protocols, creating a homogeneous management environment where diverse hardware can be managed through unified software, reducing complexity despite hardware diversity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments can provide a smart interface card control method and apparatus. Under such a method or apparatus, after a smart interface card is inserted into a smart interface card slot of a host, a virtualized management interface can be registered with the host using a protocol stack of a preset type. A virtual link can be created to connect a baseboard management controller management interface to the virtual link. A management address configuration instruction sent by the host can be received for configuring a management address of the management interface. A control instruction sent by the host by using the management address can be received, and the control instruction to the BMC management interface can be sent by using the virtual link. According to the foregoing smart interface card control method and apparatus, scalability of the smart interface card can be improved.