Method and system for providing a modulized server on board

• US 7,103,765 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Askey Computer Corporation (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Ben Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US10/002,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 711/100, 361/684, 361/685
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and system for providing a modulized server-on-a-board is disclosed. The server-on-a-board is installed on a computing device. The method and system include providing bus interface logic, providing local control BIOS, a flash memory and a set of control button connectors, light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector. The local control BIOS is coupled with the bus interface logic and the flash memory. The bus interface logic interacts with the computing device and allows computing device to detect the server board. The local control BIOS boots up the server and prepares the computing device for use as the server. The flash memory stores a server image for the server, which is provided to the computing device using the local control BIOS. The control button connectors allow the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to its initial state, by a single press of buttons connected to these connectors. The LED and LCD connectors allow the system status to be displayed or shown.

Claims

1. A system for providing a server-on-a-board on a computing device, the computing device including at least a processor and an optional mass storage device, the system comprising:

bus interface logic for interfacing between the computing device and the system, the bus interface logic allowing the computing device to detect the system;

a local control BIOS coupled with the bus interface logic, the local control BIOS for booting up the server and preparing the computing device for use as the server; and

a memory for storing a server image for the server, the server image being provided to the computing device using the local control BIOS.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of control button connectors;

a plurality of buttons, the plurality of control button connectors for allowing the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to its initial state, by a single press of at least one of the plurality of buttons connected to the plurality of control button connectors;

a plurality of LED and LCD connectors allowing the system status to be displayed or shown.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory is a flash memory.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a push button; and

wherein the control logic further includes a one-button init connector, coupled with the push button, for restoring the server to a default state in response to the push button being depressed for a particular time.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a push button; and

wherein the control logic further includes a shut-down connector, coupled with the push button, the shut-down connector shutting down the server gracefully if the push button is pressed for a particular time.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector;

and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector connecting to the power-on connector of the system board, coupled with the shut-down push button, the power-on connector further turns the power supply on if the push button is depressed when the computing device is supplied with AC power.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a status LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a operating status of the system.

9. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a power status of the system.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a LCD display connector coupled with the LCD for indicating a operating status of the system.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the bus interface logic, the local BIOS control logic, a flash memory and a set of control button connectors, light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector are incorporated into a single board.

12. A method for providing a server-on-a-board on a computing device, the computing device including at least a processor and an optional mass storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a board including bus interface logic, a local control BIOS, a flash memory, the bus interface logic for interfacing between the computing device and the system, the bus interface logic allowing the computing device to detect the system, the local control BIOS coupled with the bus interface logic, the local control BIOS for booting up the server and preparing the computing device for use as the server, the memory for storing a server image for the server, the server image being provided to the computing device using the local control BIOS; and

(b) allowing a user to utilize the server access using the board.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the board further includes a plurality of control button connectors, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector, the plurality of control button connectors allowing the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to an initial state, by a single press of buttons connected to the plurality of control button connectors, the plurality of LED connectors and the LCD connector allowing the system status to be displayed or shown.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the memory is a flash memory.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the board further includes control logic.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the board further includes a push button;

and

wherein the control logic further includes a one-button init connector, coupled with the push button, for restoring the server to a default state in response to the push button being depressed for a particular time.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the board further includes a push button;

and

wherein the control logic further includes a shut-down connector, coupled with the push button, the shut-down connector shutting down the server gracefully if the push button is pressed for a particular time.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector;

wherein the computing device includes a system board; and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector connecting to a power-on connector of the system board for the computing device, coupled with the shut-down push button, the power-on connector further turns the power supply on if the push button is depressed when the computing device is supplied with AC power.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a status LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a operating status of the system.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a power status of the system.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a LCD display connector coupled with the LCD for displaying a operating status of the system.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the bus interface logic, the local BIOS control logic, the flash memory and a set of control button connectors, light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector, are incorporated into a single board.

23. A method for providing a server-on-a-board on a computing device, the computing device including at least a processor and an optional mass storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a system for providing the server using bus interface logic in the system;

accessing a local control BIOS on the system;

using the local control BIOS for preparing the computing device for use as the server and booting up the server, for accessing a memory in the system for storing a server image for the server, the server image being provided to the computing device using the local control BIOS.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

using a plurality of control button connectors allowing the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to its initial state, by a single press of buttons connected to the plurality of control button connectors;

using the LED and LCD connectors allowing the system status to be displayed or shown.