METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING SERVICE PROCESSOR SOLUTIONS

• US 20130185402A1
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Ayanam, Varadachari Sudan, Parthiban, Baskar
• Granted Patent: US 9,184,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54

Abstract

A computer-implementable method. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of initializing operation of a physical service processor to communicatively couple to a remote file system over a communications link. The remote file system has a computer-executable development module for modifying at least one network configuration setting for the physical service processor. The method also includes the step of causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on a virtual service processor that is operative to emulate operation of the physical service processor, and the step of initializing operation of the virtual service processor with the at least one modified network configuration setting. The method further includes the step of verifying that the virtual service processor, when initialized with the at least one modified network configuration setting, operates without error.

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method, comprising the steps of:

(a) initializing operation of a physical service processor to communicatively couple to a remote file system over a communications link, the remote file system having a computer-executable development module for modifying at least one network configuration setting for the physical service processor;

(b) causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on a virtual service processor that is operative to emulate operation of the physical service processor;

(c) initializing operation of the virtual service processor with the at least one modified network configuration setting; and

(d) verifying that the virtual service processor, when initialized with the at least one modified network configuration setting, operates without error.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the virtual service processor operates without error when initialized with the at least one modified network configuration setting, writing a firmware to a memory device of the physical service processor, the firmware having at least one network configuration setting corresponding to the at least one network configuration setting, as modified, on the virtual service processor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the firmware is configured such that, when executed, the physical service processor is initialized with the modified at least one network configuration setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote file system is communicatively coupled to a hardware layer that is operatively associated with the physical service processor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the development module is communicatively coupled to a virtual network layer on the hardware layer, and the virtual network layer is operatively associated with the virtual service processor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on the virtual service processor comprises changing at least one network configuration setting for at least one virtual network interface of the virtual service processor, and the at least one virtual network interface is configured to emulate operation of a corresponding at least one network interface of the physical service processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein changing the at least one network configuration setting for the at least one virtual network interface comprises at least one of:

(a) selecting at least one service to be provided by a remote server computer; and

(b) selecting a port number for at least one service provided by a remote server computer.

8. A computer-implementable method, comprising the steps of:

(a) initializing operation of a physical service processor to communicatively couple to a remote file system over a communications link, the physical service processor having at least one physical network interface and operative to perform at least one remote management function for at least one target computer via the at least one physical network interface, and the remote file system having a computer-executable development module for modifying at least one network configuration setting for the physical service processor;

(b) causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on a virtual service processor that is operative to emulate operation of the physical service processor, the virtual service processor having at least one virtual network interface configured to emulate operation of the at least one physical network interface of the physical service processor;

(c) initializing operation of the virtual service processor with the at least one modified network configuration setting; and

(d) verifying that the virtual service processor, when initialized with the modified network configuration setting, operates without error.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of, if the virtual service processor operates without error when initialized with the modified network configuration setting, writing a firmware to a memory device of the physical service processor, the firmware having at least one network configuration setting corresponding to the at least one network configuration setting, as modified, on the virtual service processor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the firmware is configured such that, when executed, the physical service processor is initialized with the modified at least one network configuration setting.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the remote file system is communicatively coupled to a hardware layer that is operatively associated with the physical service processor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the development module is communicatively coupled to a virtual network layer on the hardware layer, the virtual network layer operatively associated with the virtual service processor.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on the virtual service processor comprises changing configuration data for remotely managing a computing platform of the corresponding at least one target computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein performing the at least one remote management function for the at least one target computer comprises monitoring at least one health-related aspect of the operation of one or more hardware components on the at least one target computer.

15. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computer to perform functions comprising:

(a) initializing operation of a physical service processor to communicatively couple to a remote file system over a communications link, the remote file system having a computer-executable development module for modifying at least one network configuration setting for the physical service processor;

(b) causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on a virtual service processor that is operative to emulate operation of the physical service processor;

(c) initializing operation of the virtual service processor with the at least one modified network configuration setting; and

(d) verifying that the virtual service processor, when initialized with the modified network configuration setting, operates without error.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise, if the virtual service processor operates without error when initialized with the modified network configuration setting, writing a firmware to a memory device of the physical service processor, the firmware having at least one network configuration setting corresponding to the at least one network configuration setting, as modified, on the virtual service processor.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the firmware is configured such that, when executed, the physical service processor is initialized with the modified at least one network configuration setting.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the remote file system is communicatively coupled to a hardware layer that is operatively associated with the physical service processor.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the development module is communicatively coupled to a virtual network layer on the hardware layer, and the virtual network layer is operatively associated with the virtual service processor.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the function of causing the development module to modify at least one network configuration setting on the virtual service processor comprises changing at least one network configuration setting for at least one virtual network interface of the virtual service processor, and the at least one virtual network interface is configured to emulate operation of a corresponding at least one network interface of the physical service processor.