USB Interface Emulating Mass Storage for IPMI Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for managing server computers remotely are hindered by the need for physical presence due to limited communication interfaces, which are costly and inefficient, particularly for systems like IPMI that only support three slow interfaces: KCS, SMIC, and BT, requiring additional hardware and lacking support for faster channels like USB.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a USB system interface for IPMI communications by emulating a standard mass storage device, such as a CD-ROM, to enable IPMI commands and responses over USB, allowing out-of-band communication without the need for custom hardware drivers and supporting unsupported transports like USB.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional IPMI interfaces (KCS, SMIC, BT) are used for remote server management, then system compatibility is maintained, but communication speed is extremely slow and additional hardware is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the USB interface universal by implementing a USB device driver that can carry both mass storage traffic and IPMI communication traffic. The USB interface is configured to respond to mass storage requests while also handling IPMI commands, eliminating the need for dedicated IPMI hardware interfaces and enabling high-speed communication without additional specialized hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a USB device driver as an intermediary layer between the USB interface and the IPMI protocol. This driver translates IPMI commands into USB-compatible communication protocols, enabling high-speed USB communication to carry IPMI traffic without requiring changes to the underlying USB hardware or protocol standards.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional dedicated hardware interfaces are added to support IPMI communications, then protocol compatibility is ensured, but system cost and hardware complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The USB interface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it handles both mass storage operations and IPMI communications. The USB device driver enables the interface to respond to mass storage requests from the operating system while also processing IPMI commands, eliminating the need for separate dedicated IPMI hardware interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the IPMI communication function with the existing USB mass storage interface. By combining these two functions into a single USB interface and its associated driver, the system reduces hardware complexity while maintaining both mass storage capability and IPMI protocol compatibility.
3Productivity
If USB interface is used for IPMI communications, then communication speed and cost-effectiveness improve, but support for unsupported transports is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transport parameter from traditional serial-based IPMI interfaces to USB-based communication. By modifying the communication protocol parameters and implementing a USB device driver that speaks both USB and IPMI protocols, the system enables high-speed USB communication for IPMI management while maintaining protocol compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed for utilizing a universal serial bus (“USB”) transport as a system interface to transmit and receive IPMI commands and responses. An intelligent platform management interface (“IPMI”) transport library is provided that receives IPMI commands from IPMI client applications executing on a host. The IPMI commands are encapsulated into vendor specific small computer systems interface (“SCSI”) commands and transmitted over the USB transport to a virtual mass storage device provided by a management device. In response to receiving the vendor specific commands, IPMI firmware executing on the management device extracts the IPMI commands and executes them. A response may be returned to the host by encapsulating the IPMI response into a vendor specific SCSI response and transmitting the response to the host.