Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, a communications port communicatively coupled to the processor, and a basic input/output system (BIOS) comprising boot firmware configured to be executed by the processor of the information handling system when the information handling system is booted and/or powered on, and configured to initialize information handling resources of the information handling system and/or initialize interoperation of the information handling system with other information handling systems, the BIOS further configured to: responsive to a failure to complete a phase of execution of the BIOS, create a virtual disk on the memory such that the virtual disk is mountable as a volume by a second information handling system coupled to the information handling system via the communications port, and store telemetry information relevant to the failure to the virtual disk.

Abstract: A method may include, in an operating system executing on an information handling system, obtaining information regarding basic input/output system (BIOS) configuration security controls, evaluating the BIOS configuration security controls to determine if the BIOS configuration security controls satisfy a standard for performing a BIOS-managed BIOS firmware update, and if the BIOS configuration security controls fail to satisfy the standard for performing the BIOS-managed BIOS firmware update, configuring the BIOS configuration security controls to enforce a secure BIOS update policy on a subsequent boot of the information handling system and triggering a warm reboot of the information handling system.

Abstract: An information handling system executing an integrated antenna power and cooling management system may comprise an antenna situated nearby components of the information handling system, a chassis enclosing the information handling system, the antenna, and a wireless interface device with a wireless radio to generate a signal to transmit data via the antenna, where the components and the chassis are capable of absorbing a total thermal heat capacity, the chassis having an outer surface coming into contact with human skin during execution of the information handling system, a temperature sensor to determine an operating temperature of the information handling system reaching a control point value, and a processor executing code instructions to estimate antenna thermal output during data transmission relative to the total thermal heat capacity of the components, based on the operating temperature of the information handling system, and control an active cooling system for cooling the chassis.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for maintaining a threshold operating temperature in an information handling system includes: identifying an operating temperature associated with the information handling system; determining a first fan speed associated with one or more fans of the information handling system based on the operating temperature; causing the one or more fans to rotate based on the first fan speed; identifying that the operating temperature has increased to reach the threshold operating temperature; and in response to identifying that the operating temperature has increased to reach the threshold operating temperature: identifying a power consumption level associated with the information handling system; determining a second fan speed associated with the one or more fans based on the power consumption level; and causing the one or more fans to rotate based on the second fan speed.

Abstract: A method for binding applications to a platform root of trust includes pre-provisioning application binding components in an information handling system. An application requesting OS access sends its access control list (ACL) and application metadata to the BIOS, which performs initial checks. The BIOS responds with platform metadata and a first nonce. The application communicates the metadata, the first nonce and a second nonce to a server. The server checks the nonces and metadata, creates a third nonce and an application binding object (ABO). The application checks the nonces and sends a binding certificate to the BIOS. The BIOS checks the nonces, creates a binding certificate, verifies the binding certificate and sends a binding session credential (BSC) to the application. The application binds the BSC with platform credentials.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a visual indicator, and a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and the visual indicator and configured to perform out of band management of the information handling system, the management controller further configured to, responsive to receiving an indication from the processor that the information handling system is attempting to enter a standby mode and prior to the information handling system entering the standby mode, cause the visual indicator to generate a visual indication that the information handling system is attempting to enter the standby mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for maintaining a threshold operating temperature in an information handling system includes: identifying an operating temperature associated with the information handling system; determining a first fan speed associated with one or more fans of the information handling system based on the operating temperature; causing the one or more fans to rotate based on the first fan speed; identifying that the operating temperature has increased to reach the threshold operating temperature; and in response to identifying that the operating temperature has increased to reach the threshold operating temperature: identifying a power consumption level associated with the information handling system; determining a second fan speed associated with the one or more fans based on the power consumption level; and causing the one or more fans to rotate based on the second fan speed.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a motherboard. The PSU provides power to components of the information handling system, and includes power monitoring circuitry and digital-to-analog (D/A) circuitry. The power monitoring circuitry of the PSU determines whether the provided power exceeds one of a plurality of thresholds during a respective one of a plurality of time periods, and provides a digital value on one of a plurality of pins based on one of the threshold voltages being exceeded during the corresponding time period. The D/A circuitry of the PSU detects the digital value on one of the pins, and provides one of a plurality of quantized voltages. Each of quantized voltages corresponds to a different one of the pins. The motherboard receives the one of quantized voltages, and activates a throttling operation based on the received one of quantized voltages.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a battery configured to provide electrical energy to components of the information handling system, and a basic input/output system (BIOS) communicatively coupled to the processor and embodied by executable instructions embodied in non-transitory computer readable media, the instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, in response to one of execution of a BIOS managed operation or a request for execution of the BIOS managed operation: determine an energy requirement for execution of the BIOS managed operation; determine an energy capacity of the battery; determine if the energy capacity is sufficient to satisfy the energy requirement; and limit one or more features of the BIOS managed operation in response to the energy capacity being insufficient to satisfy the energy requirement.

Abstract: An information handling system is configured to implement a battery management method and perform battery management operations including receiving information indicative of an operating system associated with the information handling system and determining a battery behavior environment (BBE) based, at least in part, on the operating system. A battery management unit (BMU) profile associated with the battery behavior environment may be selected, wherein the BMU profile indicates settings for one or more battery management parameters. The BMU is then configured in accordance with the BMU profile and the battery is managed in accordance with the BMU profile.

Abstract: A power-subsystem-monitoring-based computing system includes a power subsystem coupled to a first computing component. A throttling engine throttles the first computing component when the power subsystem exceeds its maximum power consumption, and de-throttles the first computing component when the power subsystem no longer exceeds its maximum power consumption. The throttling engine also throttles the first computing component when the power subsystem exceeds its rated power consumption for a first time period, and de-throttles the first computing component when the power subsystem no longer exceeds its rated power consumption.

Abstract: A system for protecting an information handling system from alterations in chain sequencing uses a root of trust to secure transition points between entities in a sequence according to a chain of trust stored in a chain of trust database. Before transitioning control from a first entity transferring control to a second entity receiving control, the root of trust validates the transferring entity and the receiving entity. Failure to validate both entities results in the root of trust stopping the boot process to prevent malicious code from interfering with the BIOS executing the correct steps in the process.

Abstract: A method for binding applications to a platform root of trust includes pre-provisioning application binding components in an information handling system. An application requesting OS access sends its access control list (ACL)and application metadata to the BIOS, which performs initial checks. The BIOS responds with platform metadata and a first nonce. The application communicates the metadata, the first nonce and a second nonce to a server. The server checks the nonces and metadata, creates a third nonce and an application binding object (ABO). The application checks the nonces and sends a binding certificate to the BIOS. The BIOS checks the nonces, creates a binding certificate, verifies the binding certificate and sends a binding session credential (BSC) to the application. The application binds the BSC with platform credentials.

Abstract: A variable power bus (VPB) cable, such as a USB Type-C cable, is validated for actual current capacity with respect to a specified power rating for the cable. The power cable validation is performed when the cable is connected to a power storage adapter and a portable information handling system. The validation includes, prior to negotiating a power delivery contract for electrical power to be supplied to the information handling system from the VPB port via the VPB cable, applying a first voltage to the VPB cable to identify a first indication of a current capacity of the VPB cable; and when the first indication confirms that the current capacity of the VPB cable corresponds to a specified power rating for the VPB cable, enabling the power delivery contract to be negotiated according to the specified power rating, otherwise blocking the power delivery contract using the VPB cable.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented to employ a programmable integrated circuit within a smart battery pack to detect and/or log occurrence of chassis intrusion and/or tampering events in a battery-powered information handling system within which the smart battery pack is installed. A battery management unit (BMU) or other programmable integrated circuit of the installed smart battery pack may be utilized to detect occurrence of a tampering and/or intrusion event into the chassis of the host information handling system based on a current state of a system present (Sys_Pres) signal at the battery pack that indicates temporary or permanent disconnection of system motherboard circuitry from the smart battery pack of the battery-powered information handling system. Such a detected occurrence of a tampering and/or intrusion event may be reported to a remote human user of remote system and/or to a local human user of the local system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing a verbalized diagnostic message to a user of an information handling system includes: determining, by an embedded controller, an error associated with the information handling system; accessing, by the embedded controller, a memory device of the information handling system, the memory device storing a plurality of diagnostic files; selecting, by the embedded controller, a diagnostic file from the plurality of diagnostic files, the diagnostic file indicating the error associated with the information handling system; generating, by the embedded controller, the verbalized diagnostic message; sending, by the embedded controller, the verbalized diagnostic message to an audio device of the information handling system in an embedded controller audio stream; and presenting, by the audio device, the verbalized diagnostic message to the user via one or more speakers of the information handling system.

Abstract: Motherboard connector failures can be predicted. An embedded controller can be employed on the motherboard to monitor when devices are connected to and disconnected from the motherboard's connectors. The embedded controller can maintain an event log and connector information in which it counts the number of times a device is connected to/disconnected from a connector. The BIOS can leverage the event log and the connector information to notify an end user to take action to correct or prevent possible corrosion. Training records may also be employed to predict connector failure. The training records can track and maintain baseline and periodic device training attributes. When the periodic training attributes deviate from the baseline training attributes, an end user can be notified to take action to remove corrosion.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a plurality of information handling resources communicatively coupled to the processor, a power subsystem configured to deliver electrical energy to the processor and the plurality of information handling resources to enable operation of the processor and the plurality of information handling resources and a management controller. The management controller may be configured to create an inventory of the plurality of information handling resources; based on the inventory, determine a worst-case maximum power consumption of the processor and the plurality of information handling resources; determine if the worst-case maximum power consumption exceeds a power limit associated with the power subsystem; and if the worst-case maximum power consumption exceeds the power limit, cause a remedial action to be taken to maintain power consumption of the processor and the plurality of information handling resources below the power limit.

Abstract: A system for secure processing of intra-processor data comprising firmware configured to operate on a processor. An operating system configured to operate on the processor. Payload configured to operate on the processor. An embedded controller coupled to the firmware, the operating system and the payload, wherein the embedded controller is configured to enable messaging between the firmware, the operating system and the payload.

Abstract: Detecting failures using power consumption profiling, including calibrating, at a first time, a system power profile of an information handling system (IHS), including identifying an initial baseline current value of a backlight power of a display device of the IHS; identifying an initial baseline current value of a timing controller of the IHS; calculating, at a second time, an updated system power profile, including: identifying an updated current value of the backlight power of the display device of the IHS; identifying an updated current value of the timing controller of the IHS; determining whether the updated current value of the backlight power of the display device is within a threshold value of the initial baseline current value of the backlight power of the display device.