Abstract: A system includes a programmable non-volatile memory, a switch, a control chipset, and a basic input/output (BIOS) module. The switch has a first terminal coupled to the programmable non-volatile memory, and a second terminal coupled to the control chipset. The control chipset is configured to store a SKU parameter set in the programmable non-volatile memory according to a predetermined memory allocation. The BIOS module is coupled to the control chipset, and is configured to load and update the SKU parameter set according to the predetermined memory configuration during a booting operation of the motherboard.

Abstract: A method for initializing a peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) interface card is provided. The method includes: initializing, by a processing unit in a boot procedure according to a preset first value of a flag, a PCI-E interface card inserted in a PCI-E interface slot by using a first initialization parameter included in a basic input/output system (BIOS) code; setting, by the processing unit in the boot procedure according to the initialized PCI-E interface card, the flag to have the first value or a second value; determining, by the processing unit in the boot procedure, whether the initialized PCI-E interface card needs to be reinitialized; and reinitializing, by the processing unit according to the second value of the set flag when the PCI-E interface card needs to be reinitialized, the PCI-E interface card by using a second initialization parameter included in the BIOS code.

Abstract: A method for recovering a basic input/output system (BIOS) image file of a computer system is provided. The method includes steps of: controlling a switch unit of the computer system to switch from a first state to a second state when the BIOS image file is to be updated; reading a current BIOS image file so as to store the same as a backup; controlling the switch unit to switch back to the first state; determining whether a command is received within a first predetermined time period when the BIOS image file is successfully updated to a new version of the BIOS image file; and when negative, controlling the switch unit to switch to the second state and writing the backup of the current version of the BIOS image file.

Abstract: When a baseboard management controller (BMC) is used to control a fan speed of a fan unit of a server by executing a firmware with fan parameter data stored in one temporary storage region, the fan parameter data is updated by receiving fan parameter update data and storing the fan parameter update data in another temporary storage region, and updating the fan parameter data using the fan parameter update data after determining that the received fan parameter update data is valid.

Abstract: A method for data communication within an I2C system is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) generating a communication error code indicative of error status when data transmission from a master module to a slave module via an I2C bus fails; b) determining whether to retransmit the data to the slave module according to the communication error code; c) when the determination made in step c) is affirmative, determining whether a number of times of data retransmission(s) associated with the data reaches a predetermined number; d) when the determination made in step c) is affirmative, resetting the master module; and e) recording a communication error event according to the communication error code after step a).

Abstract: An HDMI apparatus and a method for controlling the same are provided. The HDMI apparatus includes an HDMI connection port, a control circuit, a master circuit, a slave circuit, and a switch circuit. The master circuit and the slave circuit are respectively configured to generate a master HDMI output signal and a slave HDMI output signal. The switch circuit is selectively conducted in a first conductive state and a second conductive state according to a control signal generated by the control circuit. In the first conductive state, the switch circuit is electrically connected to the master circuit, so that the master HDMI output signal is output through the HDMI connection port. In the second conductive state, the switch circuit is electrically connected to the slave circuit, so that the slave HDMI output signal is output through the HDMI connection port.

Abstract: A method of error detection during a booting process of a computer system includes: for each of setting variables of a BIOS program, determining whether or not a respective one of stored values corresponding to the setting variable is in a respective one of value ranges corresponding to the setting variable according to a variable range comparison table; and when it is determined that for at least one of the setting variables, the stored value corresponding thereto is not in the respective one of the value ranges, updating, according to a variable definition file, the at least one of the setting variables using one of preset default values corresponding to the at least one of the setting variables.

Abstract: A method for data transmission within a server that includes a processor, a main memory, a southbridge, a chipset, and a buffer, the chipset including a baseboard management controller (BMC), the method including: obtaining memory information about a segment of the peripheral memory allocated for a peripheral controller included in the chipset; transmitting a notifying command to the BMC indicating a data size of to-be-transmitted data associated with a booting operation of the server; transmitting at least a part of the to-be-transmitted data to the segment, according to the memory information; and transmitting a standby command to the BMC indicating that the part of the to-be-transmitted data has been stored in the segment.

Abstract: A motherboard is to be disposed in a local server, and includes a platform controller hub (PCH) that transmits a command associated with read access to image file data, and a baseboard management controller that includes a memory unit and a processor unit which is electrically connected between the memory unit and the PCH. The memory unit stores an image file data associated with boot-up data of the local server. The processor unit receives the command from the PCH, and interprets the command so as to retrieve the image file data stored in the memory unit. The processor unit performs format conversion upon the image file data so as to generate a packet which conforms to protocols of the PCH, and transmits the packet to the PCH.

Abstract: A method is for updating an original firmware file of an I/O module which communicates with multiple host-end devices and stores the original firmware file. The method includes: receiving a current-received data packet from one host-end device; when it is determined that the current-received data packet is a first data packet constituting an update file, and that the original firmware file is not undergoing an update process, setting a status flag to indicate that the original firmware file is undergoing an update process, storing the current-received data packet; and repeating the previous steps when it is determined that the current-received data packet is not a last one data packet constituting the update file.

Abstract: A method for performing automatic system recovery is implemented by a server including a control chipset and a baseboard management controller (BMC). In the method, when a current image file is corrupted, a recovery engine generates an indicator of a version of the current image file and transmits the indicator to the BMC. The BMC then transmits a request for a backup image file to an external electronic device. After the BMC receives file link information of a disk image file from the electronic device, the BMC accesses the electronic device to download the disk image file, and mounts the disk image file as a virtual disk on the BMC. Afterward, the recovery engine replaces the current image file with the disk image file from the virtual disk.

Abstract: A method of detecting power reset of a server includes: after receiving an event signal, determining whether or not to initialize a random access memory (RAM) of a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the server based on the event signal thus received, and initializing the RAM when it is determined to initialize the same; determining whether a protocol error event has occurred according to a flag value of a power reset flag stored in the RAM; determining whether malfunction of a processor unit of the BMC has occurred when it is determined that the protocol error event has not occurred; and determining that a power reset event has occurred when it is determined that malfunction of the processor unit has not occurred.

Abstract: A method for updating system information of a computer device is provided. The computer device includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) and a non-volatile memory. The method includes steps of: a) upon activation of the BMC, determining whether the BMC is in a power on reset (PoR) state, and obtaining current system information that is associated with the computer device; b) when it is determined that the BMC is in the PoR state, determining whether system information stored in the non-volatile memory conforms with the current system information; and c) when the determination made in step b) is negative, storing the current system information in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a server rack system includes: initializing each of a rack management controller (RMC), a rack back plate (RBP) and a baseboard management controller (BMC); transmitting by the RMC an initiation message to RBP; transmitting by the RBP initiation messages to the BMC and the RMC, respectively; transmitting by the BMC an initiation message to RBP transmitting by the BMC a real-time monitoring output associated with a condition of a server to the RBP after receiving the initiation message transmitted by the RBP; and transmitting by the RBP at least a portion of the real-time monitoring output received from the BMC to the RMC after receiving the initiation message transmitted by the RMC.

Abstract: A wrist worn RFID device with security protection includes a wrist worn body, a control circuit, a sensing circuit, a safety circuit, a RFID module and a processing circuit. When the control circuit detects that two connecting ends of the control circuit are electrically conducted due to two combined portions of the wrist worn body are fastened together, an enable signal is generated. The processing circuit controls the sensing circuit and the safety circuit according to the enable signal. When detecting the physiological signal, the sensing circuit generates a first validation signal. When the inputted user information is accepted by the identity verification program, the safety circuit generates a second validation signal. The processing circuit generates a control signal according to the first validation signal and the second validation signal, so that the RFID module implements a wireless transmission based on the control signal.

Abstract: A server includes a chassis, a power bridge module having a first power connector, a backplate having a first signal connector, a tray, a motherboard module and a signal bridge board. The motherboard module is fixed to the tray, and includes a second power connector detachably and electrically connected to the first power connector. The signal bridge board includes a second signal connector detachably and electrically connected to the first signal connector. Removal of the tray out of the chassis results in removal and electrical disconnection of the second signal connector from the first signal connector, and removal and electrical disconnection of the second power connector from the first power connector.

Abstract: A system includes a programmable non-volatile memory, a switch, a control chipset, and a basic input/output (BIOS) module. The switch has a first terminal coupled to the programmable non-volatile memory, and a second terminal coupled to the control chipset. The control chipset is configured to store a SKU parameter set in the programmable non-volatile memory according to a predetermined memory allocation. The BIOS module is coupled to the control chipset, and is configured to load and update the SKU parameter set according to the predetermined memory configuration during a booting operation of the motherboard.

Abstract: A method of determining a physical location of a hard drive includes the steps of: executing commands to obtain generic device names of expanders, addresses of hard drives connected to the expanders, slot numbers corresponding to the addresses, logical device names of the hard drives, the address of the hard drives; establishing correspondence information by using the address to link the generic device name of the expander to the logical device name of the hard drive connected to the expander, and to the slot number; and determining, according to the correspondence information, the generic device name of the expander to which a hard drive is connected and the slot number corresponding to the hard drive is installed, so as to locate the hard drive.

Abstract: A method of updating firmware of a server rack system includes: receiving, by a rack management controller (RMC), a firmware updating program; broadcasting, by the RMC, an update notification to a rack back plate (RBP); after receiving the update notification, transmitting one by one, by the RBP, request messages which are associated with respective ones of sections of the firmware updating program to the RMC; responding, by the RMC, to each of the request messages by transmitting the respective one of the sections to the RBP; and after receiving the sections of the firmware updating program, recovering, by the RBP, the firmware updating program at least from the complete sections for subsequent firmware update.

Abstract: A method implemented by a status-monitoring device connected between a storage device and a corresponding output unit includes: a) determining presence of a storage device according to a first packet from the storage device; b) when it is determined that the storage device is present, generating a pulse signal according to a second packet from the storage device; c) generating a driving signal indicating a status associated with the storage device according to at least a logic level of the pulse signal; and d) sending the driving signal to the output unit for driving the output unit to output an output signal indicating the status.