Abstract: A method and a computer program product executed by a processor may include or perform various operations. The operations include periodically reading a wear level for each of a plurality of storage devices operating in a multi-tiered storage system which includes a first storage tier and a second storage tier that is a lower tier than the first storage tier. At least one storage device operates in the first storage tier and at least one storage device operates in the second storage tier. The operations further include identifying a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices that is operating in the first storage tier and has a wear level that is higher than an average wear level for the plurality of storage devices. The operations additionally include causing the first storage device to switch from operating in the first storage tier to operating in the second storage tier.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product executed by a processor may include or perform various operations. The operations include periodically reading a wear level for each of a plurality of storage devices operating in a multi-tiered storage system which includes a first storage tier and a second storage tier that is a lower tier than the first storage tier. At least one storage device operates in the first storage tier and at least one storage device operates in the second storage tier. The operations further include identifying a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices that is operating in the first storage tier and has a wear level that is higher than an average wear level for the plurality of storage devices. The operations additionally include causing the first storage device to switch from operating in the first storage tier to operating in the second storage tier.

Abstract: A fan system for improved external case fan design with self-cleaning bristles, the fan system includes a housing a housing defining an opening and an interior space that extends along an axis, a plurality of fan blades positioned within the interior space and configured to rotate about the axis, and bristles positioned proximate to the opening of the housing. The fan system also includes one or more brushes configured to rotate about the axis and to be moved to a position to engage the bristles for cleaning and a mechanism configured to move the brushes to the position for engaging the bristles.

Abstract: A fan system for improved external case fan design with self-cleaning bristles, the fan system includes a housing a housing defining an opening and an interior space that extends along an axis, a plurality of fan blades positioned within the interior space and configured to rotate about the axis, and bristles positioned proximate to the opening of the housing. The fan system also includes one or more brushes configured to rotate about the axis and to be moved to a position to engage the bristles for cleaning and a mechanism configured to move the brushes to the position for engaging the bristles.

Abstract: At initiation of boot of a computing device, a processor executes a firmware interface of the computing device, like a basic input/output system (BIOS) or a unified extended firmware interface (UEFI). The processor executes the firmware interface to detect whether a dynamic hardware configuration (DHC) function has been enabled. In response to detecting that the DHC function has been enabled, the processor executes the firmware interface to configure hardware components of the computing device according to a DHC, such as to selectively disable the hardware components. After configuring the hardware components according to the DHC, the processor proceeds to boot the computing device.

Abstract: A method includes running a system mainline initialization process on a compute node that includes an expansion card with read-only memory storing expansion card initialization code. The method obtains and executes the expansion card initialization code from the read-only memory to perform initialization of the expansion card. The method further includes updating a current operational progress state of the expansion card initialization stored in non-volatile memory of the node as the expansion card initialization moves through a plurality of operational progress states, detecting a fault, such as a hung condition, during the expansion card initialization in response to exceeding a predetermined time period in the current operational progress state, and storing a fault indication in the non-volatile memory, wherein the fault indication identifies the card experiencing the fault. Optionally, the method may reset the node and bypass initializing the card associated with the fault indication.

Abstract: At initiation of boot of a computing device, a processor executes a firmware interface of the computing device, like a basic input/output system (BIOS) or a unified extended firmware interface (UEFI). The processor executes the firmware interface to detect whether a dynamic hardware configuration (DHC) function has been enabled. In response to detecting that the DHC function has been enabled, the processor executes the firmware interface to configure hardware components of the computing device according to a DHC, such as to selectively disable the hardware components. After configuring the hardware components according to the DHC, the processor proceeds to boot the computing device.

Abstract: A method includes running a system mainline initialization process on a compute node that includes an expansion card with read-only memory storing expansion card initialization code. The method obtains and executes the expansion card initialization code from the read-only memory to perform initialization of the expansion card. The method further includes updating a current operational progress state of the expansion card initialization stored in non-volatile memory of the node as the expansion card initialization moves through a plurality of operational progress states, detecting a fault, such as a hung condition, during the expansion card initialization in response to exceeding a predetermined time period in the current operational progress state, and storing a fault indication in the non-volatile memory, wherein the fault indication identifies the card experiencing the fault. Optionally, the method may reset the node and bypass initializing the card associated with the fault indication.

Abstract: A method for tracking a pluggable component associated with an electronic device is provided. The method may include identifying at least one field of vital product data (VPD) information associated with the pluggable component. The method may also include decoding the at least one field of VPD information. Additionally, the method may include determining, based on the decoding of the at least one field, when a hardware id associated with the pluggable component is valid. The method may further include generating a pairing signature based on the hardware id being valid.

Abstract: Secure code verification enforcement in a trusted computing device, including: examining, by a secure code validation module, a trusted computing device that is locked in a powered down state in response to an impermissible physical access of the trusted computing device; determining, by the secure code validation module, whether content of trusted memory in the trusted computing device has been altered; and responsive to determining that the content of trusted memory in the trusted computing device has not been altered, unlocking, by the secure code validation module, the trusted computing device such that the trusted computing device can be powered up.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing a real-time indication of platform trust are provided. Embodiments include an integrity reporting module determining that a platform is currently operating in a system management mode (SMM) and receiving from an integrity measurement module, an integrity measurement results signal. Embodiments also include the integrity reporting module determining whether the received integrity measurement results signal indicates the platform is trusted. If the received integrity measurement results signal indicates that the platform is trusted, the integrity reporting module provides to a user of the platform, a real-time visual indication that the platform is trusted. If the received integrity measurement results signal indicates that the platform is not trusted, the integrity reporting module provides to the user a real time visual indication that the platform is not trusted.

Abstract: Secure code verification enforcement in a trusted computing device, including: examining, by a secure code validation module, a trusted computing device that is locked in a powered down state in response to an impermissible physical access of the trusted computing device; determining, by the secure code validation module, whether content of trusted memory in the trusted computing device has been altered; and responsive to determining that the content of trusted memory in the trusted computing device has not been altered, unlocking, by the secure code validation module, the trusted computing device such that the trusted computing device can be powered up.