Remote installation performance over management controllers in monolithic and modular systems

• US 20080155533A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chenault, Thomas, Mittapalli, Balaji, Dasari, RadhaKrishna Reddy
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A method and system are provided for installing software code on a remote information handling system (RIHS) comprising a management access controller (MAC). A remote management station (RMS) is implemented to manage the RIHS by communicating with its MAC over a network connection. The RIHS is initially booted by selecting a virtual media device (VMD) emulating a predetermined physical mass storage device containing a boot file and appearing to be physically attached via the RIHS'"'"'s USB bus. Once booted, the RMS transfers additional boot files and installation files containing network share information to the MAC. The MAC transfers the files across a USB bus to the RIHS'"'"'s memory where they are loaded and installed. A network connection is established to a network share comprising software code installation files. The software code installation files are then transferred from the network share to the RIHS for installation.

Claims

1. A method for installing software code on a remote information handling system (RIHS) comprising a management access controller (MAC), the method comprising:

managing said RIHS using a remote management station (RMS) operable to communicate with said MAC over a network connection;

initiating said RIHS using a virtual media device (VMD) operable to emulate a predetermined physical media device comprising at least one boot file;

transferring at least one network share installation file comprising network share information from said RMS to said MAC;

loading said network share installation file from said MAC into said RIHS for installation; and

establishing a network connection operable to transfer at least one software code installation file from said network share to said RIHS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said network communication between said RMS and said MAC is out of band, said out of band communication communicated through a network port implemented in said MAC.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said emulated physical media device comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said VMD is operable to be configured in a BIOS implemented in said RIHS.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said boot file comprises boot kernel information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one network share installation file is generated by said RMS.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one network share installation file is copied from said MAC to said RIHS memory over a USB connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said software code installation files are transferred through a network port implemented in said RIHS.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said network port comprises a local area network (LAN) on motherboard (LOM) port.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one software code installation file is generated by said RMS.

11. A system for installing software code on a remote information handling system (RIHS) comprising a management access controller (MAC), the system comprising:

a remote management station (RMS) operable to manage said RIHS by communicating with said MAC over a network connection;

a virtual media device (VMD) operable to emulate a predetermined physical media device comprising at least one boot file;

at least one network share installation file comprising network share information operable to be transferred from said RMS to said MAC; and

a network connection operable to transfer at least one software code installation file from said network share to said RIHS.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said network communication between said RMS and said MAC is out of band, said out of band communication communicated through a network port implemented in said MAC.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said emulated physical media device comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said VMD is operable to be configured in a BIOS implemented in said RIHS.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said boot file comprises boot kernel information.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one network share installation file is generated by said RMS.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one network share installation file is copied from said MAC to said RIHS memory over a USB connection.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said software code installation files are transferred through a network port implemented in said RIHS.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said network port comprises a local area network (LAN) on motherboard (LOM) port.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one software code installation file is generated by said RMS.