Abstract: A management server exposes a web services interface through which managed clients that are not equipped with baseboard management controllers (“BMCs”) can submit management data at boot time. The firmware of the managed clients can receive management commands from the management server during boot time. The management server can also expose a web services interface to management clients through which the management clients can obtain the management data provided by the managed clients as if the management data were being provided through a BMC. The management server can also receive management commands from the management client computers for performance at the managed client computers. The management server queues the management commands for provision to the appropriate managed clients during the next boot of the managed clients.

Abstract: A firmware, such as a unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI)-compliant firmware, provides a network protocol stack in a pre-boot execution environment. A network layer in the network protocol stack receives network packets. A firmware driver executing in the network layer determines whether individual network packets received at the network layer meet one or more pre-defined criteria. If individual network packets meet the pre-defined criteria, the firmware driver provides the network packets to a transport layer in the network protocol stack. If, however, the network packets received at the network layer do not meet the pre-defined criteria, the firmware driver discards the individual network packets.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies for maintaining firmware setting during firmware updates. PLDM data is created prior to a firmware update. In instances of firmware updates, such as during runtime, recovery, or capsule, a flashing tool is used to perform the firmware flashing as well as exporting the setup configuration in a particular or required PLDM format. After the firmware is updated, the PLDM data is imported to preserve the firmware settings.