Abstract: Computing device expansion modules and control of their operation based on temperature are disclosed. According to an aspect, an expansion module includes an interface configured to operably connect to a computing device including a service manager. Further, the expansion module includes a controller configured to determine whether communication with the service manager of the computing device is enabled or not enabled. The controller is also configured to set a first temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in response to determining that communication with the service manager is enabled. Further, the controller is configured to set a second temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in response to determining that communication with the service manager is not enabled. The second temperature level is lower than the first temperature level.

Abstract: An apparatus for a license orchestrator to most efficiently distribute fee-based licenses includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor to determine that a workload is scheduled to be executed by a computing device. The computing device includes a licensable resource available for execution of the workload. The code is executable to compare a per-use licensing cost associated with using the licensable resource for execution of the workload with a cost of using existing capabilities of the computing device for execution of the workload and license and use the licensable resource for execution of the workload in response to determining that the per-use licensing cost of the licensable resource is less than using the existing capabilities of the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining sound-producing characteristics of electroacoustic transducers are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes electroacoustic transducers configured to generate sound. The system also includes an acoustoelectric transducer configured to convert sound produced by the electroacoustic transducers into one or more electrical signals. Further, the system includes a computing device configured to apply one or more patterns of electrical signals to the electroacoustic transducers to test for one or more sound-producing characteristics. The computing device is also configured to receive, from the acoustoelectric transducer, electrical signals that resulted from application of the patterns of electrical signals to the electroacoustic transducers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling an electronic device via interface of a heat-transfer conduit of the electronic device to a cold plate assembly are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes an electronic device including one or more electronic components. Further, the electronic device includes a heat-transfer conduit including a first end and a second end. The first end of the heat-transfer conduit is positioned to receive heat from the electronic component(s). The heat-transfer conduit is configured to conduct heat from the first end to the second end. Further, the system includes a cold plate assembly including a cold plate and a mechanism configured to permit movement of the cold plate. At the first position, the cold plate may contact the second end for receipt of heat from the heat-transfer conduit at the second end. At the second position, the cold plate is apart from the second end.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a packet encryption circuit that uses an encryption keys to encrypt each of two or more portions of a data packet. Each portion is encrypted with a different encryption key and includes one or more layers of the data packet. A first portion includes a layer of the data packet with MAC information. The apparatus includes a packet transmitter that transmits, from a source router, an encrypted data packet to an intermediate router between the source router and a destination router. The encrypted data packet includes an encrypted version of the data packet encrypted using the encryption keys. The intermediate router has encryption keys sufficient for a service level agreement of the intermediate router and lacks a portion of the encryption keys. The source and destination routers use a MAC security standard for encryption and decryption of the data packet using the encryption keys.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for telemetry-based network switch configuration validation are disclosed. An analytics engine captures a first network snapshot including telemetry data received from one or more network switches in a first state. Upon receiving a notice indicating that a network configuration change has been applied, the analytics engine initiates a timer in response to receiving the notice. The analytics engine captures, in response to expiration of the timer, a second network snapshot including telemetry data received from the one or more network switches in a second state and compares the first network snapshot and the second network snapshot. In dependence upon the comparison of the first network snapshot to the second network snapshot, the analytics engine validates the network configuration change.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for unlocking a persistent region in memory are disclosed. An information handling apparatus includes a controller, a memory coupled to the controller, the memory having a persistent region that can either be locked or unlocked, and a firmware configured to determine whether the persistent region of the memory is locked, obtain a stored passphrase from a storage device if the persistent region is locked, and use the passphrase to unlock the persistent region of the memory.

Abstract: A method of identifying an unsupported storage device on a server is disclosed as including providing the server with a baseboard management controller (BMC), the BMC obtaining vital product data (VPD) from a storage device on the server, the BMC comparing the VPD from the storage device with one or more approved VPDs, and the BMC issuing an output in response to said comparison.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer programs products for connection parameter awareness in an authenticated link-layer network session are disclosed. A client sends, to a network access server (NAS), an initiation packet announcing the initiation of an authentication session. The client establishes an authenticated link-layer session with the NAS. The client receives, from the NAS, a network policy packet including a network policy defined by one or more connection parameters for the link-layer session. The client then enforces the network policy.

Abstract: A method of data transfer over a communication network from a first information handling apparatus to a plurality of second information handling apparatuses includes generating, by the first information handling apparatus, an initial block and initializing, based on the initial block, a ledger. The method includes broadcasting the ledger to the plurality of second information handling apparatuses, and attempting to compute a new block, by each one of the plurality of second information handling apparatuses. Upon one of the plurality of second information handling apparatuses successfully computing said new block, the method then transmits data to the one of the plurality of second information handling apparatuses and updates the ledger based on the new block.

Abstract: A method for preparing fast boot of an information handling apparatus. The information handling apparatus contains a first CPU configured to connect to a storage device storing firmware and a second CPU connected to the first CPU. The method contains the steps of: allocating a firmware region in memories associated with each one of the first and second CPUs respectively; and copying a firmware from a storage device to the firmware region of each one of the memories. By utilizing a system memory such as NVDIMM which provides higher access speed than NAND flash and also persistent data storage, one or more CPUs can be booted from firmware images in the NVDIMM much faster, thus saving the total booting time.

Abstract: A blade server with an apparatus for configuring the blade server is disclosed. the blade server includes at least one data processor and the data processor is configured to determine presence of a response file at a remote management module, upon deployment of the blade server, in response to the response file being present, receive the response file from the remote management module, and retrieve an ISO of a desired operating system for the blade server in accordance with data stored in the response file, in order to install the desired operating system for the blade server.

Abstract: Powering random access memory (RAM) modules with non-volatile memory components may include providing, by a power supply, a first output voltage to one or more RAM modules, each RAM module of the one or more RAM modules comprising a volatile memory component and a non-volatile memory component; providing, by the power supply, a second output voltage to one or more system components distinct from the one or more RAM modules; detecting a power event; sending, by the power supply, in response to detecting the power event, a signal to the one or more RAM modules to initiate a save operation, wherein the save operation comprises storing, for each of the one or more RAM modules, data from the volatile memory component to the non-volatile memory component; and ceasing, by the power supply, the second output voltage while maintaining the first output voltage to facilitate the save operation.

Abstract: Data exchange using fan unit signal lines is disclosed, including receiving a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal on a PWM signal line of a fan unit; detecting that a frequency of the PWM signal is outside a frequency range used to control a fan speed of a fan in the fan unit; selecting a data output based on the frequency of the PWM signal; and sending the data output on a tachometric signal line of the fan unit.

Abstract: A method for using server power to predict failures includes receiving power consumption data and health alerts of a remote server, analyzing the power consumption data of the remote server to determine trends in the power consumption data, and comparing the trends in the power consumption data and the health alerts with a server failure model. The server failure model is derived from historical power consumption data and health alerts associated with one or more servers of a same type as the remote server. The method includes predicting a failure in the remote server based on the comparison between the trends in the power consumption data and the health alerts and the server failure model and sending an alert in response to the predicted failure. The alert indicates the predicted failure.

Abstract: A method of replacing an original server in a network by a new server is disclosed. Each of the original server and the new server includes at least a baseboard management controller (BMC). The BMC can generate a set of data including at least one configuration data relating to a hardware of the original server. Further, the BMC of the original server can configure at least one hardware of the original server according to the set of data, the new server, and configure at least one hardware of the new server according to the set of data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computing device, apparatus for holding a power supply device, and methods of installing a power supply device in the computing device. The apparatus comprises a container and at least one electrical contact disposed on the container. The container is configured to hold the power supply device and to be received in a receiving space defined by the computing device. The container, when received in the receiving space, is operable to be removed from the receiving space without necessity of opening a cover of the computing device. The apparatus, computing device, and methods are advantageous in various aspects such as being favorable to the lifetime of the power supply device, convenient for uses to manage the power supply device, such as monitoring the status and make replacement when necessary, etc.

Abstract: A method for authorization of internet of things (“IoT”) identity bootstrapping includes receiving from a device, at a network access server (“NAS”) of a user and in response to an attestation request sent to the device, a vendor network address of a vendor server of a vendor and a device identifier for the device. The method includes authenticating the vendor using the vendor network address and, in response to authenticating the vendor, sending the device identifier to the vendor server. The method includes communicating device attestation packets between the vendor server and the device. The device attestation packets validate the device to the vendor server. The method includes receiving device attestation from the vendor server. The device attestation indicating validity status of the device to the NAS. The method includes, in response to the device attestation indicating validity of the device, transmitting a new device identity to the device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller adds telemetry data to a telemetry packet transmitted along a communication pathway for data packets being transmitted from a sending host to a receiving host. The controller determines, from the telemetry packet, a number of network nodes in the communication pathway that have added telemetry data to the telemetry packet. The controller transmits the telemetry packet to a next destination along the communication pathway and to a network controller in response to determining that the number of network nodes in the communication pathway that have added telemetry data to the telemetry packet is equal to or greater than a network node threshold. The controller just transmits the telemetry packet to the next destination in response to determining that the number of network nodes in the communication pathway that have added telemetry data to the telemetry packet is less than the network node threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical link fault management includes a processor in a network device with an optical adapter of an optical link, and a memory that stores program code. The program code is executable by the processor to store state parameters from the optical adapter in a data log, input the state parameters from the data log into a failure prediction model, and generate, using the failure prediction model, a probability of failure of the optical adapter based on current state parameters from the data log. In response to the probability of failure reaching a failure threshold, the program code is executable by the processor to decrease data traffic in the optical link and to send an alert comprising the probability of failure. The failure threshold includes a probability of failure indicative of impending failure of the optical adapter.