System and Method for Modifying Firmware

• US 20100313191A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Dhedhi, Mohammed, Yin, Jianwen, Zhuo, Haihong, Qian, Xianghong
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system and method for updating software in an information handling system are disclosed. One or more relationships between a firmware package and a set of components associated with the information handling system are generated. A first storage partition identifier is generated based, at least in part, on the relationships. A second storage partition identifier generate is based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of the set of components, where the second storage partition identifier is associated with the first storage partition identifier. A first storage partition having the first storage partition identifier is generated. A second storage partition having the second storage partition identifier is generated. A copy of the firmware information is stored so that the firmware information is associated with the second storage partition. Firmware for at least one of the set of components is modified based, at least in part, on firmware information.

Claims

1. A method for modifying firmware of an information handling system having a computer readable medium, the method comprising:

receiving a firmware package, wherein the firmware package comprises firmware information for a set of components in the information handling system;

determining one or more relationships between the firmware package and at least one of the set of components;

generating a first storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on the one or more relationships;

generating a second storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of each component, wherein the second storage partition identifier is associated with the first storage partition identifier;

generating a first storage partition on the computer readable medium, wherein the first storage partition identifier identifies the first storage partition;

generating a second storage partition on the computer readable medium, wherein the first storage partition identifier identifies the first storage partition;

storing a copy of the firmware information on the computer readable medium so that the firmware information is associated with the second storage partition; and

modifying firmware for at least one of the set of components based, at least in part, on the firmware information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second firmware package, wherein the second firmware package comprises updated firmware information for a second set of components in the information handling system;

determining one or more relationships between the second firmware package and at least one of the second set of components;

generating a third storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of each of the second set of components; and

determining whether the third storage partition identifier relates to a previously generated storage partition identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether the third storage partition identifier relates to a previously generated storage partition identifier further comprises comparing the third storage partition identifier with the second storage partition identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

if the third storage partition identifier relates to the second storage partition identifier;

generating a fourth storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on the one or more relationships between the second firmware package and at least one of the second set of components;

generating a fourth storage partition on the computer readable medium, wherein the fourth storage partition identifier identifies the fourth storage partition;

associating the second storage partition identifier with the fourth storage partition identifier;

storing a copy of the updated firmware information on the computer readable medium so that the updated firmware information is associated with the second storage partition; and

modifying firmware for at least one of the second set of components based, at least in part, on the updated firmware information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a third firmware package;

identifying the third firmware package to use for rollback of firmware for a target component; and

determining whether the target component relates to a previously generated storage partition identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the target component relates to the second storage partition identifier.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

deleting the third storage partition identifier;

associating the second storage partition identifier with the first storage partition identifier; and

modifying firmware for at the target component based, at least in part, on the firmware information associated with the second storage partition identifier.

8. A computer program, stored in a tangible medium for modifying firmware of an information handling system, comprising executable instructions to cause at least one processor to:

determine one or more relationships between a firmware package and a set of components in the information handling system, wherein the firmware package comprises firmware information for the set of components;

generate a first storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on the one or more relationships;

generate a second storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of each component, wherein the second storage partition identifier is associated with the first storage partition identifier;

generate a first storage partition, wherein the first storage partition identifier identifies the first storage partition;

generate a second storage partition, wherein the first storage partition identifier identifies the first storage partition;

store a copy of the firmware information so that the firmware information is associated with the second storage partition; and

modify firmware for at least one of the set of components based, at least in part, on the firmware information.

9. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the computer program further comprises executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to:

determine one or more relationships between a second firmware package and a second set of components in the information handling system, wherein the second firmware package comprises updated firmware information;

generate a third storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of the second set of components; and

determine whether the third storage partition identifier relates to a previously generated storage partition identifier.

10. The computer program of claim 9 further comprises the instructions to cause the at least one processor to compare the third storage partition identifier with the second storage partition identifier.

11. The computer program of claim 10, wherein the computer program further comprises executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to:

if the third storage partition identifier relates to the second storage partition identifier;

generate a fourth storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on the one or more relationships between the second firmware package and the second set of components;

generate a fourth storage partition having the fourth storage partition identifier;

associate the second storage partition identifier with the fourth storage partition identifier;

store a copy of the updated firmware information so that the updated firmware information is associated with the second storage partition; and

modify firmware for at least one of the second set of components based, at least in part, on the updated firmware information.

12. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the computer program further comprises executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to:

identify a third firmware package to use for rollback of firmware for a target component; and

determine whether the target component relates to a previously generated storage partition identifier.

13. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the target component relates to the second storage partition identifier.

14. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to:

delete the third storage partition identifier;

associate the second storage partition identifier with the first storage partition identifier; and

modify firmware for at the target component based, at least in part, on the firmware information associated with the second storage partition identifier.

15. An information handling system, comprising:

at least one processor;

a computer readable medium comprising instructions that cause the at least one processor to;

determine one or more relationships between a firmware package and a set of components associated with the information handling system, wherein the firmware package comprises firmware information;

generate a first storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on the one or more relationships;

generate a second storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of the set of components, wherein the second storage partition identifier is associated with the first storage partition identifier;

generate a first storage partition, wherein the first storage partition identifier identifies the first storage partition;

generate a second storage partition, wherein the second storage partition identifier identifies the second storage partition;

store a copy of the firmware information so that the firmware information is associated with the second storage partition; and

modify firmware for at least one of the set of components based, at least in part, on the firmware information.

16. The information handling system of claim 15, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

determine one or more relationships between a second firmware package and a second set of components associated with the information handling system, wherein the second firmware package comprises updated firmware information;

generate a third storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of the second set of components; and

determine whether the third storage partition identifier relates to a previously generated storage partition identifier.

17. The information handling system of claim 16, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

compare the third storage partition identifier with the second storage partition identifier.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

if the third storage partition identifier relates to the second storage partition identifier;

generate a fourth storage partition identifier based, at least in part, on the one or more relationships between the second firmware package and the second set of components;

generate a fourth storage partition having the fourth storage partition identifier;

associate the second storage partition identifier with the fourth storage partition identifier;

store a copy of the updated firmware information so that the updated firmware information is associated with the second storage partition; and

modify firmware for at least one of the second set of components based, at least in part, on the updated firmware information.

19. The information handling system of claim 18, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

identify a third firmware package to use for rollback of firmware for a target component; and

determine whether the target component relates to the second storage partition identifier.

20. The information handling system of claim 19, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

delete the third storage partition identifier;

associate the second storage partition identifier with the first storage partition identifier; and

modify firmware for at the target component based, at least in part, on the firmware information associated with the second storage partition identifier.