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: A system and method are disclosed for delegating, by a resource-constrained device, a privilege to a basic input/output system, wherein the privilege allows the basic input/output system to authenticate an endpoint device on behalf of the resource-constrained device. The system and method also includes generating an asymmetric security key that includes a private key and a public key and transmitting the public key to the basic input/output system, wherein the public key is included in a proxy certificate generated by the basic input/output system. In addition, the system and method includes establishing a secure session between the basic input/output system and the endpoint device using the private key and the proxy certificate, wherein the secure session is used by the basic input/output system to authenticate and verify that the endpoint device is authorized to perform an operation.

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: Systems and methods prevent nonsecure updates to firmware of an IHS (Information Handling System). During factory provisioning of the IHS, a manifest of firmware loaded for operating a hardware component of the IHS is digitally signed by a remote access controller of the IHS, and the signed manifest is stored to the IHS. Once the IHS has been deployed and during an interval where the IHS does not have access to external networks by which to validate a received firmware update, the signed manifest of loaded firmware is retrieved and used to determine whether the received firmware update is compatible with the loaded firmware of the hardware component. When the update is compatible with the loaded firmware, at least a portion of the loaded firmware is replaced with the firmware update and an updated manifest is digitally signed to reflect availability of the update for use by the hardware component.

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 devices configured in a redundant configuration in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include first and second Remote Access Controllers (RACs) that each includes computer-executable instructions to receive, by the first RAC, a firmware update image associated with the device in which the firmware update image conforms to a PLDM specification. The first RAC may then, issue a command to the firmware device indicating that the firmware device is to request a firmware update from the first RAC in which the command includes information about the second RAC. The information indicates the ability of the second RAC to complete a transfer of the firmware update image when the first RAC partially completes the transfer of the firmware update image.

Abstract: System and methods are provided for updating firmware used by a managed hardware component of an Information Handling System (IHS). A remote access controller of the IHS, that operates separate from CPUs of the IHS and that provides remote management of the IHS, initiates an update of firmware used to operate the hardware component. A programmable hardware accelerator is detected within an inventory of managed hardware components of the IHS. Availability of the hardware accelerator is determined for transmission of data to the hardware component. Transmission of a firmware image to the hardware component is delegated to the hardware accelerator, providing faster transmission of the firmware image than would be possible by the remote access controller. Upon transmission of the firmware image by the hardware accelerator, the firmware of the hardware component is updated using the firmware image transmitted by the hardware accelerator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a firmware update to multiple, similar hardware devices in an Information Handling System (IHS). In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to receive a request to perform a firmware update to a plurality of devices, update a first of the plurality of devices with the requested firmware update, and calculate a health score for the first device as a result of the first device being updated. Based upon the health score, the system and method may determine whether to update the other devices based at least in part, on the determined health score, and update the other devices based on the determination.

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 first and second Remote Access Controllers (RACs) that each includes computer-executable instructions to receive, by the first RAC, a firmware update image associated with the firmware device, and commence transfer of the firmware update image to the firmware device to perform a firmware update on the firmware device using an update mode that restricts another update request to the firmware device until the first RAC finishes or cancels the firmware update. When the transfer is halted prior to completion, the program instructions cause the second RAC to determine where the firmware update image transfer was halted, and commence transferring the remainder of the firmware update image that has not yet been transferred to the firmware device.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide thermal monitoring during updates to firmware used by managed hardware of an Information Handling System (IHS). A remote access controller of the IHS, that operates separate from CPUs of the IHS, initiates a firmware update for a hardware component via a bus mastered by the remote access controller. Except for transmissions in support of the firmware update, communications on the bus are blocked. While communications on the bus are blocked, a request is detected for transmission of a portion of the firmware update to the hardware component. A time is determined for responding to the request. Prior to the time for responding, a second of the hardware components of the IHS that shares the bus mastered by the remote access controller is polled for thermal data. During the firmware update of the hardware component, closed-loop cooling of the IHS is provided using the thermal data.

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: 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 update firmware during authentication of a hardware component of an IHS (Information Handling System), where firmware updates are managed by a remote access controller that provides remote management of the IHS. The remote access controller calculates a measurement based on firmware loaded for use by a hardware component of the IHS. Based on the measurement, an integrity of the firmware loaded for use by the hardware component is validated against a reference signature. When the integrity of the firmware is not validated, the hardware component is quarantined. When the integrity of the firmware is successfully validated, the remote access controller determines whether a firmware update is required for the firmware loaded by the hardware component. When a firmware update is required, an integrity of the updated firmware is validated, the updated firmware is loaded by the hardware component and further initialization of the hardware component is allowed.

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 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: 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: 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 first and second Remote Access Controllers (RACs) that each includes computer-executable instructions to receive a firmware update image associated with the firmware device, and gather data associated with a behavior of the firmware device following the firmware update after the firmware device is updated with the firmware update image. Using the data, the instructions generate a score for the firmware update based at least in part, on the behavior of the IHS following the firmware update.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to provide firmware updates to multiple similar hardware devices in an Information Handling System (IHS) are disclosed. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to receive a request to perform a firmware update on a specific type of the hardware device, determine a subset of the hardware devices that are to receive the firmware update according to the type of each of the hardware devices, and download the firmware update to each of the subset of hardware devices.