Method and system for using a server management program for an error configuration table

• US 20100037044A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Liang, Yung Shun, Yang, Chih-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for using a server management program for an error configuration table, wherein a user loads the management program, which receives a Hardware Error Configuration Table (HECT) from baseboard management controller (BMC) firmware, the HECT table containing error control parameters for a hardware error event table. A replica of the HECT is maintained in SRAM using BMC firmware. The HECT is sent via the basic input output system (BIOS) during system power up. An interface is set up to allow the user to configure error event thresholds. The user can set preferred threshold of a system management requirement without rebooting system. If the user makes changes to the HECT, the management program sends the new HECT to BMC firmware to feedback the completion. A software SMI is issued to inform BIOS of HECT changes during the BMC completion. BIOS informs the operating system (OS) to discard and reload the new HECT.

Claims

1. A method for using a management program for an error configuration table, comprising:

loading the management program;

wherein the management program receives a hardware error configuration table (HECT) from a baseboard management controller;

wherein said hardware error configuration table (HECT) contains error control parameters for a hardware error event table;

maintaining a replica of the hardware error configuration table (HECT) in SRAM using baseboard management controller firmware, said hardware error configuration table (HECT) being sent by a basic input output system (BIOS) during system power up; and

setting up interface to allow a user to configure error event thresholds;

wherein the user can set preferred threshold of a system management requirement without rebooting the system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a change is made by the user to the hardware error configuration table (HECT).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the management program sends the new hardware error configuration table (HECT) to the baseboard management controller.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a software SMI is issued to inform the BIOS of hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the BIOS informs an operating system (OS) to discard and reload the new hardware error configuration table (HECT).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the error event threshold is a variable threshold.

7. An information handling system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a basic input output system (BIOS) in communication with the CPU, the BIOS being configured to operate during initialization of the information handling system to;

use a server management program for an error configuration table, comprising;

loading the management program;

wherein the management program receives a hardware error configuration table (HECT) from a baseboard management controller;

wherein said hardware error configuration table (HECT) contains error control parameters for a hardware error event table;

maintain a replica of hardware error configuration table (HECT) in SRAM using baseboard management controller firmware, said hardware error configuration table (HECT) being sent by a BIOS during system power up; and

set up an interface to allow a user to configure error event thresholds;

wherein the user can set preferred threshold of a system management requirement without rebooting the system.

8. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein a change is made by the user to the hardware error configuration table (HECT).

9. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein the management program sends the new hardware error configuration table (HECT) to a baseboard management controller for the baseboard management controller to feedback completion.

10. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein a software SMI is issued to inform the BIOS of hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes while the baseboard management controller feedbacks the completion.

11. The information handling system of claim 10, wherein the BIOS informs an operating system (OS) to discard and reload the new hardware error configuration table (HECT).

12. The information handling system of claim 7, new hardware error configuration table (HECT) information is updated to a baseboard management controller via a KCS command/data port.

13. A method for using a server management program for an error configuration table, comprising:

booting system;

retrieving a previous configuration table;

validating a hardware error configuration table (HECT), wherein said hardware error configuration table (HECT) contains error control parameters for a hardware error event table;

updating the hardware error configuration table (HECT) to system memory;

backing up a new hardware error configuration table (HECT);

updating the new hardware error configuration table (HECT) information to a baseboard management controller;

saving hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes;

adjusting parameters accordingly;

sending hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes to system BIOS; and

receiving hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes from baseboard management controller firmware;

setting preferred threshold of a system management requirement by a user without rebooting the system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising creating the new hardware error configuration table (HECT) in system memory if hardware error configuration table (HECT) is not validated.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the new hardware error configuration table (HECT) information is updated to a baseboard management controller via a KCS command/data port.

16. A method for using a computing system management program with an error configuration table, comprising:

booting up the computing system;

updating a new hardware error configuration table (HECT) to a baseboard management controller, wherein said hardware error configuration table (HECT) contains error control parameters for a hardware error event table;

informing system BIOS of the hardware error configuration table (HECT) update;

completing booting process;

updating hardware error configuration table (HECT) by a user;

receiving hardware error configuration table (HECT) by a management program from a the baseboard management controller;

sending hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes by a user from the management program to the baseboard management controller; and

updating system memory to back up hardware error configuration table (HECT) to non-volatile memory.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the new hardware error configuration table (HECT) is backed up to NVRAM.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes are saved to SRAM.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the management program receives the hardware error configuration table (HECT) from SRAM at the baseboard management controller.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a software SMI is generated to inform the system BIOS of hardware error configuration table (HECT) changes.