System and method for information handling system manufacture with verified hardware configuration

• US 20060195208A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sammer, Curtis, Yee, Sin-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence

Abstract

An information handling system hardware signature based on a verified hardware configuration for the information handling system serves as a reference to confirm the hardware configuration of the information handling system through a manufacture process. For instance, after hardware component testing, the hardware components of the information handling system are queried and compared against the hardware signature to ensure continued compliance with the verified configuration. Similarly, the hardware configuration is confirmed against the hardware signature after loading an image and prior to final test of the assembled information handling system. Comparison of current hardware with the hardware signature throughout the manufacture process ensures compliance with a predetermined hardware configuration without requiring multiple hardware verifications.

Claims

1. A method for manufacture of an information handling system having a predetermined configuration of plural hardware components based on a customer order, the method comprising:

verifying that the plural hardware components have the predetermined configuration;

creating a hardware signature representing the plural hardware components;

storing the hardware signature;

testing the hardware components;

querying the hardware components to create a current hardware signature; and

comparing the current hardware signature with the stored hardware signature to determine whether the current hardware configuration has the predetermined configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the current hardware configuration differs from the predetermined configuration; and

returning to verifying that the plural hardware components have the predetermined configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the current hardware configuration matches the predetermined configuration;

installing an image on the information handling system;

querying the hardware components to create a current hardware signature; and

comparing the current hardware signature with the stored hardware signature to determine whether the current hardware configuration has the predetermined configuration.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining that the current hardware configuration differs from the predetermined configuration; and

returning to verifying that the plural hardware components have the predetermined configuration.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining that the current hardware configuration matches the predetermined configuration;

performing final system tests on the information handling system; and

shipping the information handling system to the customer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the hardware signature further comprises storing the hardware signature on a hard disc drive of the information handling system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein querying the hardware components further comprises sending system calls to the hardware components.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the hardware signature further comprises querying the hardware components by sending system calls to the hardware components

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a difference between the stored hardware signature and the current hardware signature; and

corrupting the stored hardware signature to indicate that verifying the hardware components is required.

10. A system for manufacture of information handling systems, each information handling system having a configuration of plural hardware components, the system comprising:

a hardware verification engine operable to verify that the plural hardware components of an information handling system match a predetermined configuration;

a hardware signature engine operable to compile a hardware signature listing the verified hardware components and to store the hardware signature on the information handling system;

a hardware extended test engine operable to detect failures associated with the hardware components; and

a hardware signature compare engine operable to query the plural hardware components and compare the queried components with the hardware signature, the hardware signature compare engine issuing a fault if the queried components fail to match the hardware signature.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an image engine operable to install an image on the information handling system; and

a final test engine operable to test the information handling system with the image installed;

wherein the hardware signature compare engine is further operable prevent the image engine from installing the image if the queried components fail to match the hardware signature.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the hardware signature engine compiles the hardware signature list by performing a system call to each hardware component.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the hardware signature engine compiles the hardware signature from the predetermined configuration.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the predetermined configuration is a customer build-to-order manifest.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the hardware signature compare engine queries the plural hardware components with system calls.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the hardware signature compare engine is further operable to corrupt the hardware signature if the queried hardware components fail to match the hardware signature, the corrupted hardware signature indicating that hardware verification is required.

17. An information handling system comprising:

a hardware signature engine operable to create a hardware signature representing the hardware configuration of assembled information handling system components and to store the hardware signature on a selected of the components; and

a hardware signature compare engine operable to retrieve the stored hardware signature, to query the hardware components and to issue a fault if the queried hardware components differ from the hardware signature.

18. The information handling system of claim 17 further comprising a hardware verification engine operable to verify that the assembled information handling system components have a predetermined configuration so that the hardware signature represents the predetermined configuration.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the predetermined configuration fills a build-to-order manifest.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the hardware signature engine stores the signature on the hard disc drive.