Abstract: In various embodiments, a remote access controller supporting remote management of an Information Handling System (IHS). The remote access controller receives a first firmware image comprising first firmware for a first hardware component of the IHS. A personality of the first firmware is determined and at least a portion of the first firmware is stored to a first region of a persistent storage of the first hardware component, where the first region is designated as storing firmware for adapting the first hardware component to the first personality. In response to a detected reconfiguration of the IHS, the remote access controller generates a notification of the first firmware that is stored by the first hardware component and that is usable to adapt operation of the first hardware component to the first personality.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide multi-modal based updates to firmware utilized by a hardware component of an IHS (Information Handling System), where the firmware updates are managed by a remote access controller of the IHS that provides remote management of the hardware component. The remote access controller receives a notification of an update to an agreement for utilization of the hardware component, where the agreement indicates firmware modes authorized for use by the hardware component. Firmware modes are identified that are locally stored by the hardware component. Any firmware modes are identified that are authorized for use by the hardware component based on the updated first agreement and that are not locally stored by the hardware component, and the identified firmware modes are retrieved for local storage by the hardware component. In this manner, firmware utilized in an IHS remains consistent with applicable service agreements.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to provide a firmware update to devices configured in a redundant configuration in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to send, to a server, a request to perform a firmware update on the firmware device, and receive, from the server, information associated with a plurality of firmware update images that are available for use with the firmware device and a score associated with each firmware update image. The score is indicative of how well its associated firmware update image functioned with each of a plurality of previous firmware updates on other firmware devices. Using the score, the instructions may select one firmware update image, and perform a firmware update on the firmware device using the one firmware update image.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a remote access controller supporting remote management of an Information Handling System (IHS). The remote access controller receives a first firmware image comprising first firmware for a first hardware component of the IHS. A personality of the first firmware is determined and at least a portion of the first firmware is stored to a first region of a persistent storage of the first hardware component, where the first region is designated as storing firmware for adapting the first hardware component to the first personality. In response to a detected reconfiguration of the IHS, the remote access controller generates a notification of the first firmware that is stored by the first hardware component and that is usable to adapt operation of the first hardware component to the first personality.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide multi-channel transmission of a firmware image to a hardware component of an IHS (Information Handling System), where the firmware image is transmitted by a remote access controller of the IHS that supports remote management of the IHS. Upon a firmware being initiated, the remote access controller determines an available bandwidth of a first signaling pathway of the hardware component and also determines an available bandwidth of a second signaling pathway of the hardware component. One portion of the firmware image is transmitted to the hardware component using the first signaling pathway, where a size of that portion is selected based on the available bandwidth of the first signaling pathway. Another portion of the firmware image is transmitted to the hardware component using the second signaling pathway, where a size of that portion is selected based on the available bandwidth of the second signaling pathway.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a remote access controller of an IHS (Information Handling System) that provides remote management of the IHS. The remote access controller initiates an update of firmware used to operate a hardware component of the IHS by transmitting a firmware image to the hardware component via a first signaling pathway connecting the remote access controller to the hardware component. The remote access controller detects a failure in transmission of the firmware image to the hardware component via the first signaling pathway and identifies a second signaling pathway connecting the remote access controller to the hardware component. The remote access controller resumes transmission of the firmware image to the hardware component via the second signaling pathway and the firmware used to operate the hardware component is updated using the transmitted firmware image.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to provide a firmware update to devices configured in a redundant configuration in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to receive a firmware update image associated with the firmware device, determine that the firmware update image possesses a critical sub-image portion, and schedule a firmware update to be performed in the future on the firmware device using the one firmware update image. The firmware update image conforms to a Platform Level Data Model (PLDM) protocol that is configured to perform rebootless firmware updates.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to provide a firmware update to multiple storage units configured with different interfaces in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to receive a firmware update image associated with the storage units, and for each of the storage units, identify an update profile based on the type of interface associated with the storage unit, the interface configured to provide communication between the storage unit and the IHS, and perform a firmware update on the storage unit according to the update profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to provide a firmware update to devices configured in a redundant configuration in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to receive a firmware update image associated with the storage unit, receive an indication that the storage unit requires a reboot of the IHS, and when the storage unit is experiencing minimal I/O usage, reset the storage unit using the firmware update image. The firmware update image is configured to perform rebootless firmware updates on the storage unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to provide a firmware update to multiple storage units configured in a redundant configuration in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to receive a firmware update image associated with multiple devices configured in the IHS, identify two or more of the devices that are configured in a redundant configuration relative to one another, and perform the firmware update sequentially on the two or more devices.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) includes at least one storage unit that conforms to an NVMe specification and first and second BMCs. The BMCs are in communication with the storage unit and each configured with computer-executable instructions to negotiate with the second BMC, whether first or second BMC is to be an active BMC such that the other of the first or second BMCs becomes a passive BMC. When the first BMC is the active BMC, allow shared commands to be issued to a storage unit conforming to a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) specification; otherwise, inhibit the shared commands from being issued to the storage unit.

Abstract: A device-capability-based locking key management system includes a key management system coupled to a server device via a network. The server device includes storage devices coupled to a remote access controller device. The remote access controller device identifies each of the storage devices, and then identifies a key management profile for each of the storage devices. A first key management profile identified for at least one first storage device is different from a second key management profile identified for at least one second storage device. The remote access controller device then uses the respective key management profile identified for each of the storage devices to create a respective key management sub-client for each of the storage devices, and each respective key management sub-client communicates with the key management system to provide a locking key for its respective storage device.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) endpoint, and a PCIe downstream port. The PCIe downstream port blocks PCIe vendor-defined messages (VDMs) from the PCIe endpoint as a default mode, changes to a second mode in response to the PCIe endpoint being verified, and allows PCIe VDMs from the PCIe endpoint while in the second mode.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for operating a device management bus coupled to a remote access controller and a managed device. The remote access controller detects an inoperable state of the bus and determines a FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) memory is accessible on the managed device. A predefined reset indicator is written to the FRU memory. The managed device monitors for the reset indicator being written to a specified location in FRU memory. Upon detecting the reset indicator in FRU memory, the managed device resets a bus controller coupled to the device management bus and transmits a reset notification on the device management bus. The remote access controller may include an I2C shim that controls access to an I2C multiplexer utilized for transmitting I2C commands from a service processor and an I2C coprocessor, preventing certain inoperable bus states due to concurrent operation of the I2C multiplexer by the I2C coprocessor and the service processor.

Abstract: A device-capability-based locking key management system includes a key management system coupled to a server device via a network. The server device includes storage devices coupled to a remote access controller device. The remote access controller device identifies each of the storage devices, and then identifies a key management profile for each of the storage devices. A first key management profile identified for at least one first storage device is different from a second key management profile identified for at least one second storage device. The remote access controller device then uses the respective key management profile identified for each of the storage devices to create a respective key management sub-client for each of the storage devices, and each respective key management sub-client communicates with the key management system to provide a locking key for its respective storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for operating a device management bus coupled to a remote access controller and a managed device. The remote access controller detects an inoperable state of the bus and determines a FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) memory is accessible on the managed device. A predefined reset indicator is written to the FRU memory. The managed device monitors for the reset indicator being written to a specified location in FRU memory. Upon detecting the reset indicator in FRU memory, the managed device resets a bus controller coupled to the device management bus and transmits a reset notification on the device management bus. The remote access controller may include an I2C shim that controls access to an I2C multiplexer utilized for transmitting I2C commands from a service processor and an I2C coprocessor, preventing certain inoperable bus states due to concurrent operation of the I2C multiplexer by the I2C coprocessor and the service processor.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) endpoint, and a PCIe downstream port. The PCIe downstream port blocks PCIe vendor-defined messages (VDMs) from the PCIe endpoint as a default mode, changes to a second mode in response to the PCIe endpoint being verified, and allows PCIe VDMs from the PCIe endpoint while in the second mode.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a port configured to couple a hot-pluggable device received in the information handling system to the processor. The port may comprise a hot-plug controller configured to detect the insertion of the hot-pluggable device into the information handling system and delay communication of a hot-plug interrupt to an operating system executing on the processor in response to the insertion of the hot-pluggable device in order to allow for platform-specific configuration of the hot-pluggable device.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a plurality of information handling resources a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of information handling resources, and a software-based controller. The controller may be configured to monitor for environmental factors associated with the plurality of information handling resources, calculate a health ranking of the plurality of information handling resources based on the environmental factors, and communicate the health ranking to a software-based controller for managing communication to the information handling resources. The software-based controller may include executable instructions configured to, when read and executed by a processor, redirect communication associated with the plurality of information handling resources based on the health ranking.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a port configured to couple a hot-pluggable device received in the information handling system to the processor. The port may comprise a hot-plug controller configured to detect the insertion of the hot-pluggable device into the information handling system and delay communication of a hot-plug interrupt to an operating system executing on the processor in response to the insertion of the hot-pluggable device in order to allow for platform-specific configuration of the hot-pluggable device.