Installation of operating system on host computer using virtual storage of BMC

• US 9,778,844 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Balakrishnan, Venkatesan, Arumugam, Valantina
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BORROMEO, JUANITO C
• Application Number:
  US14/277,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1014 One time programmable [OTP] memory, e.g. PROM, WORM
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/06 Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers , e.g. RAID, emulated record carriers or networked record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4408 Boot device selection

Abstract

Certain aspects of present disclosure are directed the present disclosure relates to a baseboard management controller (BMC) implemented method of installation of operating system (OS) on a host computer using virtual storage of BMC. The method includes: (a) receiving a device request from the host computer to access a storage device, (b) simulating the storage device to host computer according to the device request, (c) receiving a data request command from host computer, (d) transferring requested data to the host computer according to the data request command, (e) receiving a data storage command from host computer directed to the simulated storage device and writing a status file at request of the data storage command, (f) determining if the status file exists in the simulated storage, and (g) stopping emulating the storage device to the host computer through the first communication interface if it is determined that the status file exists.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a baseboard management controller (BMC) having a processor, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, and a first communication interface, wherein the non-volatile memory stores firmware of the BMC, when executed at the processor, configured to perform following operations;

receiving a data request command from a host computer in accordance with a storage protocol directed to a simulated storage device simulated by the BMC;

in response to the data request command, transferring requested data to the host computer through the first communication interface in accordance with the storage protocol;

receiving a data storage command from the host computer in accordance with the storage protocol directed to the simulated storage device, wherein the data storage command requests writing a status file indicating an OS installation is completed on the host computer to the simulated storage device;

in response to receiving the data storage command, writing the status file indicating the OS installation is completed on the host computer to the simulated storage device;

determining if the status file exists in the simulated storage; and

in response to determining that the status file exists, stopping emulating the storage device to the host computer through the first communication interface; and

the host computer, configured to

in response to completion of the OS installation on the host computer, sending to the BMC the data storage command requesting writing, to the simulated storage, a status file indicating the OS installation is completed on the host computer.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first communication interface includes at least one of a keyboard controller style (KCS) interface, a system management interface chip (SMIC) interface, and a block transfer (BT) interface.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first communication interface includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface and the storage protocol includes a USB storage protocol.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data stored in the simulated storage device include a plurality of hardware drivers specific to the host computer.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host computer includes

a boot program configured to, when executed at a processor of the host computer, send the device request to the BMC, retrieve an operating system (OS) installer from an OS media, and initiate execution of the OS installer.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the OS installer is configured to

retrieve a first OS installation file from the OS media;

detect the storage device simulated by the BMC through the first communication interface;

send the data request command to the simulated storage device through the first communication interface, wherein the data request command specifying a second OS installation file stored in the simulated storage device;

receive the second OS installation file through the first communication interface; and

install an OS on the host computer using the first and second OS installation files.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the boot program is configured to specify, for the OS installer, location of hardware drivers specific to the host computer at the simulated storage device;

wherein the OS installer is configured to retrieve the hardware drivers from the simulated storage device in accordance with the storage protocol.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the OS media is a media device local to the host computer.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the OS media is a media device connected to the host computer through a network.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the boot program is configured to send the device request, for simulating a storage device through the first communication interface, to the BMC through a communication protocol.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the boot program is configured to send the device request through the first communication interface.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the boot program is configured to send the device request through a second communication interface that is different from the first communication interface.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication protocol is in accordance with IPMI standard and the device request includes an IPMI OEM message.

14. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the OS installer is configured to

generate a data storage command to write the status file to the simulated storage device;

and

send the data storage command to the BMC through the first communication interface.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first OS installation file is a collection of system files and the second OS installation file is a collection of hardware drivers specific to the host computer.

16. A baseboard management controller (BMC) implemented method of installing an operating system (OS) on a host computer using virtual storage of BMC, comprising:

receiving a data request command from a host computer in accordance with a storage protocol directed to a simulated storage device simulated by the BMC;

in response to the data request command, transferring requested data to the host computer through the first communication interface in accordance with the storage protocol;

in response to completion of an OS installation on the host computer, sending to the BMC a data storage command requesting writing a status file, to the simulated storage, indicating the OS installation is completed on the host computer;

receiving the data storage command from the host computer in accordance with the storage protocol directed to the simulated storage device;

in response to receiving the data storage command, writing the status file indicating the OS installation is completed on the host computer to the simulated storage device;

determining if the status file exists in the simulated storage; and

in response to determining that the status file exists, stopping emulating the storage device to the host computer through the first communication interface.

17. The BMC implemented method of claim 16, wherein the first communication interface includes at least one of a keyboard controller style (KCS) interface, a system management interface chip (SMIC) interface, and a block transfer (BT) interface, and a universal serial bus (USB) interface using a USB storage protocol.

18. The BMC implemented method of claim 17, wherein the host computer includes a boot program configured to, when executed at a processor of the host computer, send the device request to the BMC, retrieve an OS installer from an OS media, and initiate execution of the OS installer to perform following operations:

retrieving a first OS installation file from the OS media, wherein the first OS installation file is a collection of system files;

detecting the storage device simulated by the BMC through the first communication interface;

sending the data request command to the simulated storage device through the first communication interface, wherein the data request command specifying a second OS installation file stored in the simulated storage device, wherein the second OS installation file is a collection of hardware drivers specific to the host computer;

receiving the second OS installation file through the first communication interface; and

installing an OS on the host computer using the first and second OS installation files.

19. The BMC implemented method of claim 18, wherein the boot program is configured to specify, for the OS installer, location of hardware drivers specific to the host computer at the simulated storage device;

wherein the OS installer is configured to retrieve the hardware drivers from the simulated storage device in accordance with the storage protocol, and wherein the OS media comprises a media device local to the host computer, and a media device connected to the host computer through a network.

20. The BMC implemented method of claim 18, wherein the boot program is configured to send the device request, for simulating a storage device through the first communication interface, to the BMC through a communication protocol.

21. The BMC implemented method of claim 18, wherein the OS installer is configured to

generate a data storage command to write the status file to the simulated storage device;

and

send the data storage command to the BMC through the first communication interface.

22. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a process of a baseboard management controller (BMC), cause the processor to:

receive a data request command from a host computer in accordance with a storage protocol directed to a simulated storage device simulated by the BMC;

in response to the data request command, transfer requested data to the host computer through the first communication interface in accordance with the storage protocol;

in response to completion of an OS installation on the host computer, send to the BMC a data storage command requesting writing a status file, to the simulated storage, indicating the OS installation is completed on the host computer;

receive the data storage command from the host computer in accordance with the storage protocol directed to the simulated storage device;

in response to receiving the data storage command, write the status file indicating the OS installation is completed on the host computer to the simulated storage device;

determine if the status file exists in the simulated storage; and

in response to determining that the status file exists, stop emulating the storage device to the host computer through the first communication interface.

23. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 22, wherein the host computer includes a boot program configured to, when executed at a processor of the host computer, send the device request to the BMC, retrieve an operating system (OS) installer from an OS media, and initiate execution of the OS installer to perform following operations:

retrieving a first OS installation file from the OS media, wherein the first OS installation file is a collection of system files;

detecting the storage device simulated by the BMC through the first communication interface;

sending the data request command to the simulated storage device through the first communication interface, wherein the data request command specifying a second OS installation file stored in the simulated storage device, wherein the second OS installation file is a collection of hardware drivers specific to the host computer;

receiving the second OS installation file through the first communication interface; and

installing an OS on the host computer using the first and second OS installation files.

24. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 23, wherein the boot program is configured to specify, for the OS installer, location of hardware drivers specific to the host computer at the simulated storage device;

wherein the OS installer is configured to retrieve the hardware drivers from the simulated storage device in accordance with the storage protocol, and wherein the OS media comprises a media device local to the host computer, and a media device connected to the host computer through a network.

25. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 23, wherein the OS installer is configured to

generate a data storage command to write the status file to the simulated storage device;

and

send the data storage command to the BMC through the first communication interface.