Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for managing communications in a distributed system are disclosed. To improve the efficiency of communication, the system may implement the port extension protocol which may allow communication devices to utilize ports of other devices for communication purposes. To do so, the communication devices may instruct the other devices with respect to how the communication devices expect the other devices to process data units transmitted via networks (e.g., network data units). However, not all of the other devices that may process the network data units may include functionality to process and/or implement the instructions from the communication devices. To extend the functionality of such devices, a remote control plane for devices that lack this processing functionality may be provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for managing communications in a distributed system are disclosed. To improve the efficiency of communication, the system may implement the port extension protocol which may allow communication devices to utilize ports of other devices for communication purposes. To do so, the communication devices may instruct the other devices with respect to how the communication devices expect the other devices to process data units transmitted via networks (e.g., network data units). However, not all of the other devices that may process the network data units may include functionality to process and/or implement the instructions from the communication devices. To extend the functionality of such devices, a remote control plane for devices that lack this processing functionality may be provided.

Abstract: Managing failover between information handling systems, including receiving, at an interface of a smart network interface card (smartNIC) of a primary information handling system, a packet, the primary information handling system communicatively couped to a secondary information handling system; determining whether the packet was transmitted by a network interface card (NIC) of the secondary information handling system; determining that the packet was transmitted by the NIC of the secondary information handling system, and in response, determining whether the packet is an address resolution protocol (ARP) request; determining that the packet is an ARP request, and in response, cloning a medium access control (MAC) address of the NIC of the secondary information handling system at the smartNIC of the primary information handling system; and forwarding the ARP request to a uplink connection.

Abstract: A system for data processing, comprising a management controller operating on a processor and configured to load and execute one or more algorithms that provide the function of transmitting a request to a managed device using a Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) protocol and to receive a response from the managed device. A system management bus and security policy system operating on the processor is configured to execute one or more algorithms to process the response from the managed device to apply an SPDM security policy to the response.

Abstract: A system for data processing, comprising a management controller operating on a processor and configured to load and execute one or more algorithms that provide the function of transmitting a request to a managed device using a Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) protocol and to receive a response from the managed device. A system management bus and security policy system operating on the processor is configured to execute one or more algorithms to process the response from the managed device to apply an SPDM security policy to the response.

Abstract: A management controller sends a first firmware measurement request to verify integrity of a device. The first firmware measurement request is sent at initial power on of the device, and is sent subsequent to negotiating a secure session between the management controller and the device. The management controller verifies a first firmware measurement in a first firmware measurement response to the first firmware measurement request prior to storing the first firmware measurement, and sends a heartbeat request to the device to monitor for a device state change. The management controller may receive a heartbeat acknowledgement from the device in response to the heartbeat request, wherein the heartbeat acknowledgement includes an indication of the device state change. In response to the receipt of the heartbeat acknowledgment that includes the device state change, the management controller sends a second firmware measurement request to the device.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, one or more methods, and/or one or more processes may determine, via a baseboard management controller (BMC) of an information handling system, to provide firmware to a component of the information handling system; may provide, via the BMC, first data to the component via a first bus; based at least on the first data, may provide, via a communications bridge of the component, a first signal to a non-volatile memory medium (NVMM) of the component, a multiplexer of the component, and an integrated circuit of the component, in which the first signal causes the integrated circuit to be held in a reset state, causes a write protection of the NVMM to be cleared, and causes the multiplexer to couple the BMC to the NVMM; and may provide, via the BMC, the firmware to the NVMM via the multiplexer.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a first memory to store firmware core data for a peripheral device. A second memory includes a video framebuffer portion and a firmware core data portion. In response to a firmware exception within the peripheral device, the second memory receives the firmware core data. A baseboard management controller communicates with the peripheral device and with the second memory. The baseboard management controller queries the peripheral device for firmware storage capabilities of the peripheral device, and notifies a user of the information handling system that a firmware crash of the peripheral device has occurred. In response to the firmware crash of the peripheral device, the baseboard management controller receives the firmware core data from the peripheral device.

Abstract: A management controller sends a first firmware measurement request to verify integrity of a device. The first firmware measurement request is sent at initial power on of the device, and is sent subsequent to negotiating a secure session between the management controller and the device. The management controller verifies a first firmware measurement in a first firmware measurement response to the first firmware measurement request prior to storing the first firmware measurement, and sends a heartbeat request to the device to monitor for a device state change. The management controller may receive a heartbeat acknowledgement from the device in response to the heartbeat request, wherein the heartbeat acknowledgement includes an indication of the device state change. In response to the receipt of the heartbeat acknowledgment that includes the device state change, the management controller sends a second firmware measurement request to the device.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, one or more methods, and/or one or more processes may determine, via a baseboard management controller (BMC) of an information handling system, to provide firmware to a component of the information handling system; may provide, via the BMC, first data to the component via a first bus; based at least on the first data, may provide, via a communications bridge of the component, a first signal to a non-volatile memory medium (NVMM) of the component, a multiplexer of the component, and an integrated circuit of the component, in which the first signal causes the integrated circuit to be held in a reset state, causes a write protection of the NVMM to be cleared, and causes the multiplexer to couple the BMC to the NVMM; and may provide, via the BMC, the firmware to the NVMM via the multiplexer.

Abstract: A system for data processing, comprising a management controller operating on a processor and configured to load and execute one or more algorithms that provide the function of transmitting a request to a managed device using a Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) protocol and to receive a response from the managed device. A system management bus and security policy system operating on the processor is configured to execute one or more algorithms to process the response from the managed device to apply an SPDM security policy to the response.

Abstract: Remote management of network interface peripheral cards uses physical pin reassignment and a dedicated management network. One or more physical pins in a connector may be dynamically redefined from an interface protocol to a different interface protocol. The dynamic redefinition allows existing input/output signals to be routed to the pins to provide remote management features.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a first memory to store firmware core data for a peripheral device. A second memory includes a video framebuffer portion and a firmware core data portion. In response to a firmware exception within the peripheral device, the second memory receives the firmware core data. A baseboard management controller communicates with the peripheral device and with the second memory. The baseboard management controller queries the peripheral device for firmware storage capabilities of the peripheral device, and notifies a user of the information handling system that a firmware crash of the peripheral device has occurred. In response to the firmware crash of the peripheral device, the baseboard management controller receives the firmware core data from the peripheral device.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a host, an intelligent peripheral connected to the host, and a baseboard management controller. The host includes a memory and a central processing unit. The intelligent peripheral is configured to communicate with the baseboard management controller to obtain configuration information, and provide networking services to the host after configuration. The baseboard management controller is configured to communicate with a management network; establish a communication channel with the intelligent peripheral independent of the host system; obtain configuration information for the intelligent peripheral from the management network; and provide the configuration information to the intelligent peripheral.

Abstract: A system includes servers that are connected in series, and a top of rack (TOR) switch having a first TOR switch port and a second TOR switch port that are connected to a first end and a second end, respectively, of the series connected servers. A multi chassis link aggregation group may be established on the first TOR switch port and the second TOR switch port to transform the series connected servers into a single logical channel. A highest media access control address is determined from the servers to represent the single logical channel.

Abstract: A system includes servers that are connected in series, and a top of rack (TOR) switch having a first TOR switch port and a second TOR switch port that are connected to a first end and a second end, respectively, of the series connected servers. A multi chassis link aggregation group may be established on the first TOR switch port and the second TOR switch port to transform the series connected servers into a single logical channel. A highest media access control address is determined from the servers to represent the single logical channel.

Abstract: Remote management of an information handling system is based on a dynamic port assignment. A port number in the TCP/IP protocol identifies packets of data reserved for the remote management of peripheral devices connected to, or communicating with, the information handling system. When a network interface card receives the packets of data, the network interface card compares headers of the packets of data to the port number reserved for the remote management. The network interface card identifies and routes the packets of data having the headers specifying the port number for the remote management of the information handling system.

Abstract: Remote management of an information handling system is based on a dynamic port assignment. A port number in the TCP/IP protocol identifies packets of data reserved for the remote management of peripheral devices connected to, or communicating with, the information handling system. When a network interface card receives the packets of data, the network interface card compares headers of the packets of data to the port number reserved for the remote management. The network interface card identifies and routes the packets of data having the headers specifying the port number for the remote management of the information handling system.

Abstract: Remote management of network interface peripheral cards uses physical pin reassignment and a dedicated management network. One or more physical pins in a connector may be dynamically redefined from an interface protocol to a different interface protocol. The dynamic redefinition allows existing input/output signals to be routed to the pins to provide remote management features.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a host, an intelligent peripheral connected to the host, and a baseboard management controller. The host includes a memory and a central processing unit. The intelligent peripheral is configured to communicate with the baseboard management controller to obtain configuration information, and provide networking services to the host after configuration. The baseboard management controller is configured to communicate with a management network; establish a communication channel with the intelligent peripheral independent of the host system; obtain configuration information for the intelligent peripheral from the management network; and provide the configuration information to the intelligent peripheral.