Software Shelf Manager for Hardware Manageability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dedicated hardware solutions for manageability features in hardware platform architectures lack flexibility, requiring significant reengineering for different systems, consuming excessive space and power, and failing to communicate effectively with various devices using multiple protocols.
Innovation Solution
A software or firmware-based shelf manager that implements manageability functions, such as power budget negotiation, cooling control, and security management, using standards like IPMI and ATCA, allowing for flexibility across different systems and environments, and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated hardware solutions are used for manageability features, then reliability and performance are improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces dedicated hardware solutions with software or firmware implemented on general-purpose processors. The shelf manager functionality is implemented as software modules that can be loaded and executed on existing processor infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate hardware management controllers while maintaining the required manageability functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal shelf manager software platform that can manage diverse hardware components across different system configurations. The software is designed to work with multiple communication protocols and can be deployed on various processor architectures, providing multi-functional manageability capabilities without requiring dedicated hardware for each function.
2Reliability
If dedicated hardware solutions are used for manageability features, then manageability functions are performed reliably, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the manageability functions with the existing processor and system management infrastructure. The shelf manager software runs on the same processor that executes the main system code, sharing CPU cycles, memory, and I/O resources. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate power supplies and cooling infrastructure for dedicated hardware management controllers.
3Reliability
If dedicated hardware solutions are used for manageability features, then specific system requirements are met, but adaptability to different systems decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic shelf manager software platform that can adapt its behavior based on the specific system configuration. The software includes configurable parameters and can dynamically adjust its manageability functions based on the detected hardware environment, communication protocols required, and system-specific requirements, providing both reliability for specific systems and adaptability to different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes to enable the shelf manager software to adapt to different systems. The software includes configurable parameters for communication protocols, power management thresholds, cooling control settings, and other system-specific parameters that can be adjusted without changing the underlying hardware or software architecture.
4Reliability
If conventional hardware solutions are used, then manageability functions are provided, but space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the manageability functions from dedicated hardware components and relocates them to software modules running on existing processors. This extraction eliminates the physical space requirements for separate hardware management controllers, power supplies, and associated cooling infrastructure while maintaining the availability of manageability functions.
5Reliability
If dedicated hardware solutions are used, then system-specific optimization is achieved, but reengineering effort for different systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses software copying and deployment mechanisms to rapidly adapt the shelf manager to different systems. Rather than reengineering hardware for each system, the software can be copied, configured with appropriate parameters, and deployed to different processor platforms, dramatically reducing the time and effort required to optimize manageability functions for different systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method according to one embodiment may include discovering, by software, at least one variable from at least one component populated on a shelf system. The method may also include performing, by the software, at least one shelf management function based on at least one variable. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.