Method and apparatus for IPMI-bridge-server for non-IPMI devices

• US 10,587,453 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Inventors: Maity, Sanjoy, Ayanam, Varadachari Sudan, Christopher, Samvinesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/797,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20140280814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,555 Days
• Field of Search: 709223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/022 Multivendor or multi-standard integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an IPMI bridge server configured to expand the management functions of an IPMI control system to a plurality of non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices. The IPMI bridge server includes: a processor, a network interface controller assigned with a network address; and a memory containing a firmware. When the firmware is executed at the processor, it is configured to be in communication with a group of first protocol specific managed devices through a first protocol control point and a first communication link, and a group of second protocol specific managed devices through a second protocol control point and a second communication link, and to receive management requests each for performing a protocol specific management function at one of the group of first protocol specific managed devices or the group of second protocol specific managed devices.

Claims

1. A method for expanding management functions of an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) control system to a plurality of non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices, comprising:

executing, at a processor of the IPMI control system, a program to be in communication with a group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through a first non-IPMI protocol control point and a first communication link, and a group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through a second non-IPMI protocol control point and a second communication link, wherein the program, when executed, defines;

an IPMI-defined system interface configured to receive a first IPMI message from and transmit a second IPMI message to a local management computer; and

a network interface configured to receive a third IPMI message from and transmit a fourth IPMI message to a remote management computer,

wherein the system interface is separate and independent from the network interface; and

receiving, at the program and through a network interface controller of the IPMI control system, IPMI management requests each for performing a non-IPMI protocol specific management function at one of the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices or the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices,

wherein each of the IPMI management requests includes data for constructing one of the first and the third IPMI messages in accordance with IPMI communication protocol, the one of the first and the third IPMI messages including at least a protocol specific IPMI OEM command, a device identifier of a selected managed device, and a corresponding protocol command, and a related IPMI OEM command value, and

wherein an IPMI message module is configured to receive the one of the first and the third IPMI messages, extract the at least the protocol specific IPMI OEM command, and forward the device identifier, the corresponding protocol command and the related IPMI OEM command value to a management program,

wherein the management program accepts the one of the first and the third IPMI messages, translates the at least the protocol specific IPMI OEM command into a protocol specific command, sends the protocol specific command to the selected managed device, and instructs the selected managed device to perform one or more protocol specific management functions, and the management program further receives response from the selected managed device and formulates the response as one of the second and fourth IPMI messages to a corresponding management computer, and

wherein the first communication link is a first bi-directional mobile communication network and the second communication link is a second bi-directional mobile communication network different from the first bi-directional mobile communication network, and each of the first bi-directional mobile communication network and the second bi-directional mobile communication network is selected from a group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile communication network, and a satellite communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving, at the program, all communication messages directed to the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through network packets addressed to the same network address;

handling the network packets addressed to the same network address by the same network interface controller; and

translating IPMI messages directed to the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the each of the IPMI management requests is a fifth message encapsulated in at least one network packet addressed to the network address;

the method comprising;

receiving the network packet through the network interface controller and retrieve the fifth IPMI message from the network packet through the IPMI message module; and

receiving the network packet through the system interface and retrieve the fifth IPMI message from the network packet through the IPM message module.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of a first non-IPMI protocol response message and a second non-IPMI protocol response is a non-IPMI protocol specific message encapsulated in at least one network packet addressed to the corresponding IPMI management request sender;

the method comprising;

receiving a first non-IPMI protocol response message from the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through the first non-IPMI protocol control point and the first communication link, and generate an first IPMI response message through the IPMI message module;

receiving a second non-IPMI protocol response message from the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through the second non-IPMI protocol control point and the second communication link, and generate an second IPMI response message through the IPMI message module; and

sending the first IPMI response message and the second IPMI response message back to the original IPMI management request sender.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices comprises DLNA devices, M2M devices, or POPAI devices, and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices comprises DLNA devices, M2M devices, or POPAI devices.

6. An Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) bridge server configured to expand the management functions of an IPMI control system to a plurality of non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices, the IPMI bridge server comprising:

a processor;

a network interface controller assigned with a network address; and

a memory containing a firmware configured to be, when executed at the processor, in communication with a group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through a first non-IPMI protocol control point and a first communication link, and a group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through a second non-IPMI protocol control point and a second communication link, and to receive IPMI management requests each for performing a non-IPMI protocol specific management function at one of the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices or the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices;

wherein the firmware comprises;

an IPMI-defined system interface configured to receive a first IPMI message from and transmit a second IPMI message to a local management computer; and

a network interface configured to receive a third IPMI message from and transmit a fourth IPMI message to a remote management computer,

wherein the system interface is separate and independent from the network interface,

wherein each of the IPMI management requests includes data for constructing one of the first and the third IPMI messages in accordance with IPMI communication protocol, the one of the first and the third IPMI messages including at least a protocol specific IPMI OEM command, a device identifier of a selected managed device, and a corresponding protocol command, and a related IPMI OEM command value, and

an IPMI message module that receives the one of the first and the third IPMI messages, extracts the at least the protocol specific IPMI OEM command, and forwards the device identifier, the corresponding protocol command and the related IPMI OEM command value to a management program,

wherein the management program accepts the one of the first and the third IPMI messages, translates the at least the protocol specific IPMI OEM command into a protocol specific command, sends the protocol specific command to the selected managed device and instructs the selected managed device to perform one or more protocol specific management functions, and the management program further receives response from the selected managed device and formulates the response as one of the second and fourth IPMI messages to a corresponding management computer, and

wherein the first communication link is a first bi-directional mobile communication network and the second communication link is a second bi-directional mobile communication network different from the first bi-directional mobile communication network, and each of the first bi-directional mobile communication network and the second bi-directional mobile communication network is selected from a group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile communication network, and a satellite communication network.

7. The IPMI bridge server of claim 6, wherein the firmware is configured to provide communication access for communicating with the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices, and to translate IPMI messages directed to the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices.

8. The IPMI bridge server of claim 7, wherein the firmware further comprises:

a first non-IPMI protocol control point for receiving and transmitting the first non-IPMI protocol communication through the first communication link;

a second non-IPMI protocol control point for receiving and transmitting the second non-IPMI protocol communication through the second communication link;

a device database configured to store a customer management control function table, and property information of the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices;

a SDR configured to store an inventory of the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices connected through the first communication link and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices connected through the second communication link,

wherein the management program is configured to manage or perform management functions on the selected managed device according to its own communication protocol; and

the IPMI message module is configured to process incoming IPMI messages from and outgoing IPMI messages to the remote management computer and the local management computer.

9. The IPMI bridge server of claim 8, wherein the firmware is configured to determine the selected managed device from the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices based on the customer management control function table and the inventory and property information stored in the device database.

10. The IPMI bridge server of claim 8, wherein the customer management control function table and an inventory and property information are obtained through a discovery and provision process.

11. The IPMI bridge server of claim 6, wherein the each of the IPMI management requests is a fifth IPMI message encapsulated in at least one network packet addressed to the network address;

and wherein the firmware is configured to

receive the network packet through the network interface controller and retrieve the fifth IPMI message from the network packet through the IPMI message module; and

receive the network packet through the system interface and retrieve the fifth IPMI message from the network packet through the IPMI message module.

12. The IPMI bridge server of claim 11, wherein each of a first non-IPMI protocol response message and a second non-IPMI protocol response is a non-IPMI protocol specific message encapsulated in at least one network packet addressed to the corresponding IPMI management request sender;

and wherein the firmware is configured to

receive a first non-IPMI protocol response message from the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through the first non-IPMI protocol control point and the first communication link, and generate an first IPMI response message through the IPMI message module;

receive a second non-IPMI protocol response message from the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through the second non-IPMI protocol control point and then second communication link, and generate an second IPMI response message through the IPMI message module; and

send the first IPMI response message and the second IPMI response message back to the original IPMI management request sender.

13. The IPMI bridge server of claim 6, wherein the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices comprises DLNA devices, M2M devices, or POPAI devices.

14. The IPMI bridge server of claim 6, wherein the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices comprises DLNA devices, M2M devices, or POPAI devices.

15. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) control system, cause the processor to:

execute a program to be in communication with a group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through a first non-IPMI protocol control point and a first communication link, and a group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through a second non-IPMI protocol control point and a second communication link, wherein the program, when executed, defines;

an IPMI-defined system interface configured to receive a first IPMI message from and transmit a second IPMI message to a local management computer; and

a network interface configured to receive a third IPMI message from and transmit a fourth IPMI message to a remote management computer,

wherein the system interface is separate and independent from the network interface; and

receive, at the program and through a network interface controller of the IPMI control system, IPMI management requests each for performing a non-IPMI protocol specific management function at one of the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices or the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices,

wherein each of the IPMI management requests includes data for constructing one of the first and the third IPMI messages in accordance with IPMI communication protocol, the one of the first and the third IPMI messages including at least a protocol specific IPMI OEM command, a device identifier of a selected managed device, and a corresponding protocol command, and a related command value, and

an IPMI message module that receives the one of the first and the third IPMI messages, extracts the at least the protocol specific IPMI OEM command, and forwards the device identifier, the corresponding protocol command and the related IPMI OEM command value to a management program,

wherein the management program accepts the one of the first and the third IPMI messages, translates the at least the protocol specific IPMI OEM command into a protocol specific command, sends the protocol specific command to the selected managed device, and instructs the selected managed device to perform one or more protocol specific management functions, and the management program further receives response from the selected managed device and formulates the response as one of the second and fourth IPMI messages to a corresponding management computer, and

wherein the first communication link is a first bi-directional mobile communication network and the second communication link is a second hi-directional mobile communication network different from the first bi-directional mobile communication network, and each of the first bi-directional mobile communication network and the second bi-directional mobile communication network is selected from a group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile communication network, and a satellite communication network.

16. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 15, comprising the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

receive, at the program, all communication messages directed to the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through network packets addressed to the same network address;

handle the network packets addressed to the same network address by the same network interface controller; and

translate IPMI messages directed to the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices.

17. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the each of the IPMI management requests is a fifth IPMI message encapsulated in at least one network packet addressed to the network address;

wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive the network packet through the network interface controller and retrieve the fifth IPMI message from the network packet through the IPMI message module; and

receive the network packet through the system interface and retrieve the fifth IPMI message from the network packet through the IPMI message module.

18. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein each of a first non-IPMI protocol response message and a second non-IPMI protocol response is a non-IPMI protocol specific message encapsulated in at least one network packet addressed to the corresponding IPMI management request sender;

the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive a first non-IPMI protocol response message from the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through the first non-IPMI protocol control point and the first communication link, and generate an first IPMI response message through the IPMI message module;

receive a second non-IPMI protocol response message from the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices through the second non-IPMI protocol control point and the second communication link, and generate an second IPMI response message through the IPMI message module; and

send the first IPMI response message and the second IPMI response message back to the original IPMI management request sender.

19. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein the group of first non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices comprises DLNA devices, M2M devices, or POPAI devices, and the group of second non-IPMI protocol specific managed devices comprises DLNA devices, M2M devices, or POPAI devices.