Remote installation performance over management controllers in monolithic and modular systems

• US 7,899,090 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Dang T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morlan; Robert M
• Application Number:
  US11/615,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 370/546, 370/254, 370/255
• US Class Current: 370/546
• 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:

using a virtual media device (VMD) to initiate said RIHS, wherein said VMD is operable to emulate a predetermined physical media device attached to a remote management station (RMS);

using a first network port and a second network port to establish an out of band network connection between said MAC and said RMS, wherein said MAC comprises said first network port, said RMS comprises said second network port, and said predetermined physical media device comprises at least one boot file;

using said at least one boot file to perform boot operations to remotely boot said RIHS, wherein said RMS performs said boot operations and said VMD is coupled to said RIHS through a universal serial bus;

generating at least one network share installation file comprising network share information, wherein said generating is performed by said RMS;

transferring said at least one network share installation file from said RMS to said MAC, wherein said network share installation file is transferred over said out of band network connection;

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

using a third network port and said network share information contained in said network share installation file to establish a non-out-of-band network connection operable to transfer at least one software code installation file from a network share associated with said network share installation file to said RIHS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said VMD comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

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

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one boot file comprises boot kernel information.

5. 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.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said third network port comprises a local area network (LAN) on motherboard (LOM) port.

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

a virtual media device (VMD) operable to initiate said RIHS, wherein said VMD is operable to emulate a predetermined physical media device attached to a remote management station (RMS);

a first network port and a second network port operable to establish an out of band network connection between said MAC and said RMS, wherein;

said MAC comprises said first network port and said RMS comprises said second network port;

said predetermined physical media device comprises at least one boot file;

said at least one boot file is used to perform boot operations to remotely boot said RIHS;

said RMS performs said boot operations; and

said VMD is coupled to said RIHS through a universal serial bus;

at least one network share installation file comprising network share information, wherein said at least one network share installation file is generated by said RMS and is transferred over said out of band network connection; and

a third network port operable to establish a non-out-of-band network connection operable-to transfer at least one software code installation file from a network share to said RIHS, wherein said network share information contained in said network share installation file is used by said third network port to establish said network connection.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said VMD comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said VMD is operable to be configured in a BIOS implemented in said RIHS.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one boot file comprises boot kernel information.

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

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said third network port comprises a local area network (LAN) on motherboard (LOM) port.