Distributed baseboard management controller for multiple devices on server boards
First Claim
1. A server board comprising:
- a first device comprisingone or more general purpose processors configured to execute instructions,a first timer including a first storage location configured to store an expiration timer value, anda first service processor, wherein the first service processor is configured as a master baseboard management controller of the server board to monitor a communication channel for alive messages from a plurality service processors corresponding to a plurality of other devices including a second device; and
the second device comprisingone or more general purpose processors configured to execute instructions,a second timer including a second storage location configured to store an expiration timer value, anda second service processor, whereinthe second service processor is configured as a secondary baseboard management controller of the server board when the first service processor is configured as the master baseboard management controller,the second service processor is configured to start a switchover process to operate as the master baseboard management controller, instead of the secondary baseboard management controller, in response to the second timer expiring based on a first value, and is configured to also reset the second timer to a second value based on an alive message period in response to the second timer expiring based on the first value,the second service processor is further configured to reset the first service processor and to complete the switchover process to operate as the master baseboard management controller in response to the second timer expiring based on the second value prior to a primary alive message being received from the first service processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A server board includes first and second devices. A first service processor of the first device operates as a master baseboard management controller of the server board, and monitors a communication channel for alive messages from a plurality service processors. A second service processor operates as a secondary baseboard management controller, and sets a second timer to a first value. In response to a determination that the second timer has expired based on a first value: the second service processor to start a switchover process, and to set the second timer to a second value based on an alive message period. In response to a primary alive message not being received from the first service processor prior to the second timer expiring based on the second value, the second service processor to reset first service processor and to operate as the master baseboard management controller.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A server board comprising:
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a first device comprising one or more general purpose processors configured to execute instructions, a first timer including a first storage location configured to store an expiration timer value, and a first service processor, wherein the first service processor is configured as a master baseboard management controller of the server board to monitor a communication channel for alive messages from a plurality service processors corresponding to a plurality of other devices including a second device; and the second device comprising one or more general purpose processors configured to execute instructions, a second timer including a second storage location configured to store an expiration timer value, and a second service processor, wherein the second service processor is configured as a secondary baseboard management controller of the server board when the first service processor is configured as the master baseboard management controller, the second service processor is configured to start a switchover process to operate as the master baseboard management controller, instead of the secondary baseboard management controller, in response to the second timer expiring based on a first value, and is configured to also reset the second timer to a second value based on an alive message period in response to the second timer expiring based on the first value, the second service processor is further configured to reset the first service processor and to complete the switchover process to operate as the master baseboard management controller in response to the second timer expiring based on the second value prior to a primary alive message being received from the first service processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A server board comprising:
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a first device comprising one or more general purpose processors to execute instructions; a first timer including a first storage location to store an expiration timer value; and a first service processor, wherein the first service processor is configured as a master baseboard management controller of the server board to monitor a communication channel for alive messages from a plurality service processors corresponding to a plurality of other devices including a second device and a third device, the first service processor is configured to update a third expiration timer value of the third device in a storage location of a shared memory in response to an alive message being received from the third device, and the first service processor is further configured to send, to the third device, a reset signal in response to the first timer expiring prior to the alive message being received from the third device; and the second device comprising one or more general purpose processors to execute instructions; a second timer including a second storage location to store an expiration timer value; and a second service processor, wherein the second service processor is configured as a secondary baseboard management controller of the server board when the first service processor is configured as the master baseboard management controller, the second service processor is configured to start a switchover process to operate as the master baseboard management controller, instead of the secondary baseboard management controller, in response to the second timer expiring based on a first value, and is configured to also reset the second timer to a second value based on an alive message period in response to the second timer expiring based on the first value, and the second service processor is further configured to reset first service processor and to complete the switchover process to operate as the master baseboard management controller in response to the second timer expiring based on the second value prior to a primary alive message being received from the first service processor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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monitoring, by a first service processor, a communication channel for alive messages from a plurality of service processors corresponding to a plurality of other devices including a second device and a third device, wherein the plurality of service processors operate as slave baseboard management controllers; updating, by the first service processor, a third expiration timer value of the third device in a storage location of a shared memory in response to an alive message being received from a third service processor of the third device over the communication channel; sending, by the first service processor, a primary alive message to a second service processor of the second device in response to a first alive message being received from the third service processor; and resetting, by the first service processor, the third device in response to a first timer expiring prior to a first alive message being received from the third service processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification