Updating Firmware of Unsupported Devices via Bootable Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firmware updates for unsupported devices in information handling systems are hindered by the lack of standardized update packages and out-of-band update support, particularly when the required operating system differs from the installed one, making it difficult to apply updates seamlessly.
Innovation Solution
A system update procedure that downloads a vendor update package, creates a bootable medium with the necessary operating system, and triggers reboots to install the updates, allowing for seamless firmware updates of unsupported devices by dynamically creating bootable ISO images and chaining them to apply updates across different operating environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standardized update package format is used for supported devices, then update management is simplified and automated, but unsupported devices cannot receive updates because their packages do not conform to the standardized format
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process that transforms vendor-specific update packages into the standardized DUP format. This intermediary layer enables unsupported devices to be updated through the standardized update management system without requiring changes to either the vendor's update format or the system's update infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the format parameter of update packages by converting them from vendor-specific formats to the standardized DUP format. This parameter transformation allows packages from unsupported devices to be recognized and processed by the standardized update management system.
2Reliability
If out-of-band update support is implemented for unsupported devices, then firmware updates can be applied independently of the host system, but the update infrastructure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the standardized update infrastructure universally applicable to both supported and unsupported devices. By implementing format conversion, the same update management system can handle devices regardless of their native update package format, eliminating the need for separate out-of-band update paths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vendor-specific update tools are provided for unsupported devices, then updates can be applied to those devices, but the tools are not available on all supported operating systems
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion process acts as an intermediary that translates vendor-specific update tools and packages into the standardized DUP format, which is supported across all operating systems. This eliminates the operating system compatibility limitations of vendor-specific tools while maintaining support for unsupported devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual update management is required for unsupported devices, then updates can be applied with custom procedures, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service update capability for unsupported devices by automatically converting vendor-specific packages to standardized format and integrating them into the automated update workflow. This eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining the ability to update devices that would otherwise require custom procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system may include an unsupported information handling resource that has not been qualified by a manufacturer of the information handling system for use with the information handling system. The system may execute a system update procedure configured to: download a vendor update package for the unsupported information handling resource; determine that the vendor update package requires an operating system different from a currently installed operating system of the information handling system; create a bootable medium comprising the operating system and the vendor update package; trigger a first reboot of the information handling system into the operating system of the bootable medium, wherein the bootable medium is configured to install the vendor update package; and trigger a second reboot of the information handling system into the currently installed operating system of the information handling system.