Abstract: Embodiments are described for operating a device management bus coupled to a remote access controller and a managed device. The remote access controller detects an inoperable state of the bus and determines a FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) memory is accessible on the managed device. A predefined reset indicator is written to the FRU memory. The managed device monitors for the reset indicator being written to a specified location in FRU memory. Upon detecting the reset indicator in FRU memory, the managed device resets a bus controller coupled to the device management bus and transmits a reset notification on the device management bus. The remote access controller may include an I2C shim that controls access to an I2C multiplexer utilized for transmitting I2C commands from a service processor and an I2C coprocessor, preventing certain inoperable bus states due to concurrent operation of the I2C multiplexer by the I2C coprocessor and the service processor.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a memory system communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory system may include one or more persistent memory modules, each of the one or more persistent memory modules comprising a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory and one or more health registers accessible to a host system executing on the processor, the health registers storing health information indicating, for each of a plurality of ranks of the volatile memory, whether the memory system can reliably perform a save operation to a portion of non-volatile memory mapped to volatile memory of the rank.

Abstract: A redundant key management system includes a key management system coupled to a plurality of server devices through a network. A first server device includes a managed device coupled to a first remote access controller device that receive a device locking key from the key management system and uses it to lock the managed device. The first remote access controller device then encrypts the device locking key, broadcasts the encrypted device locking key through the network to a second remote access controller device in a second server device, and erases the device locking key. Subsequently, the first remote access controller device transmits a request to retrieve the encrypted device locking key. When the first remote access controller receives the encrypted device locking key from the second remote access controller device, it decrypts the encrypted device locking key and uses the resulting device locking key to unlock the managed device.

Abstract: On power-up, self-encrypting drives (SEDs, 150) are unlocked one after another in an order based on the SEDs' unlocking priorities. In determining the priorities, one or more of the following factors are taken into account: (1) the content stored on the SEDs; the SEDs storing the OS are given higher priorities; (2) the SEDs' access history on previous power-ups: if a SED was accessed earlier than other SEDs, then this SED is given a higher priority; (3) whether there is an access request pending for a SED. Such prioritization allows the system to reach full functionality faster on power-ups. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for providing configurable video redirection in a data center are discussed. In an embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a Baseband Management Controller (BMC); and a memory coupled to the BMC, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the BMC, cause the BMC to: receive a request from a remote client, where the request follows a first protocol; select one of a plurality of redirection components available to the IHS to populate a framebuffer with video frames using a second protocol; retrieve the video frames from the framebuffer; and transmit a response to the remote client following the first protocol, where the response comprises the video frames.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a persistent memory system communicatively coupled to the processor, the persistent memory system comprising one or more persistent memory modules and a plurality of targeted save registers, each targeted save register associated with a respective portion of the persistent memory system, and each targeted save register having a value indicative of how save operations from volatile memory to non-volatile memory of the persistent memory system are to be performed with respect to the respective portion of the persistent memory system.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for detecting rogue endpoints on a device management bus. A communications controller configured as a bus owner initiates discovery of managed devices coupled to the bus and generate a unique identifier for each managed device. The communications controller transmits a bus configuration message to the managed devices, including the respective unique identifiers. The managed devices are configured as bus endpoints based on the bus configuration message. The managed devices also capture the bus address of the communications controller from the received bus configuration message. Messages received by a managed device are authenticated as originating from the communications controller if the messages include the unique identifier provided to that managed device. The messages may be further authenticated by comparing the bus address of the message sender against the captured bus address of the communications controller.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for operating a device management bus coupled to a remote access controller and a managed device. The remote access controller detects an inoperable state of the bus and determines a FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) memory is accessible on the managed device. A predefined reset indicator is written to the FRU memory. The managed device monitors for the reset indicator being written to a specified location in FRU memory. Upon detecting the reset indicator in FRU memory, the managed device resets a bus controller coupled to the device management bus and transmits a reset notification on the device management bus. The remote access controller may include an I2C shim that controls access to an I2C multiplexer utilized for transmitting I2C commands from a service processor and an I2C coprocessor, preventing certain inoperable bus states due to concurrent operation of the I2C multiplexer by the I2C coprocessor and the service processor.

Abstract: Sideband device management bus messages are filtered using software operations in order to minimize dropped messages and to maintain the bus in an operable state. Redundant sideband device management buses are utilized in order to provide fail-over transmission of messages in scenarios where one of the buses becomes inoperable. Multi-packet messages are transmitted to managed devices via the sideband bus connections. If an inoperable state is detected in a sideband bus connection during transmission of a multi-packet message, the portion of the multi-packet message not received by the managed device is transmitted via a redundant sideband bus connection with the managed device. Software filtering of bus transactions utilizes a circular DMA buffer for storing all incoming transactions. Transactions of interest are copied to buffers associated with specific endpoints for processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a production server using a storage array. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a storage array may include a memory coupled to a processor, the memory having program instructions configured to cause and/or enable the storage array to: receive hardware information from a multipath input/output (MPIO) module of each of a plurality of production servers in communication with the storage array; provide the hardware information to a management server in communication with the storage array; receive a command from the management server targeting a selected production server; and transmit the command to a selected MPIO module of the selected production server.

Abstract: A system for storing data is disclosed that includes a server and a de-duplication signature processor configured to operate on the server and to generate a de-duplication signature for a data block. The server is configured to access a storage array over a network and to transmit the de-duplication signature to the storage array, and to receive a response from the storage as a function of the de-duplication signature.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an information handling system may include a processor, a display that may provide a user interface allowing a user to select one or more system utilities to be accessed, memory that may include a plurality of memory partitions storing a plurality of system utilities, and a management controller. During a configuration of the information handling system, the management controller may receive a request from the user via the user interface to access one or more selected system utilities; identify one or more memory partitions storing the one or more selected system utilities; and cause the display to display one or more user-selectable icons corresponding to the one or more identified memory partitions to provide the user access to the one or more identified memory partitions.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a chassis comprising a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots configured to receive a respective modular information handling system, a shared infrastructure comprising a plurality of components which are shared by modular information handling systems received in the slots, and a controller communicatively coupled to the slots and configured to determine a shared infrastructure power consumption indicative of power consumed by the shared infrastructure, allocate the shared infrastructure power consumption among modular information handling systems received in the slots, and set a respective host-level power limit for each of the modular information handling systems received in the slots, such that each modular information handling system consumes power in accordance with its respective host-level power limit.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor, a peripheral device, and a service processor communicatively coupled to the processor and the peripheral device and configured to perform out-of-band management of the information handling system. The service processor may further configured to communicatively couple to a management controller having executing thereon a virtual service processor, receive a command associated with the peripheral device from the management controller, deliver the command to the peripheral device, receive data from the peripheral device, and communicate the data to the management controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a production server using a storage array. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a storage array may include a memory coupled to a processor, the memory having program instructions configured to cause and/or enable the storage array to: receive hardware information from a multipath input/output (MPIO) module of each of a plurality of production servers in communication with the storage array; provide the hardware information to a management server in communication with the storage array; receive a command from the management server targeting a selected production server; and transmit the command to a selected MPIO module of the selected production server.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a persistent memory system communicatively coupled to the processor, the persistent memory system comprising one or more persistent memory modules and a plurality of targeted save registers, each targeted save register associated with a respective portion of the persistent memory system, and each targeted save register having a value indicative of how save operations from volatile memory to non-volatile memory of the persistent memory system are to be performed with respect to the respective portion of the persistent memory system.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a memory system communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory system may include one or more persistent memory modules, each of the one or more persistent memory modules comprising a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory and one or more health registers accessible to a host system executing on the processor, the health registers storing health information indicating, for each of a plurality of ranks of the volatile memory, whether the memory system can reliably perform a save operation to a portion of non-volatile memory mapped to volatile memory of the rank.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor, a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to provide out-of-band management of the information handling system, and an interface for communicatively coupling the management controller to a second information handling system external to the information handling system for out-of-band management of the information handling system. The management controller may be further configured to serve as a proxy between one or more target management controllers of one or more other information handling systems and the second information handling system to facilitate out-of-band management of the one or more other information handling systems by the second information handling system while communicatively coupled to the interface.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system comprising may include a host system processor and a management controller communicatively coupled to the host system processor and configured to provide management of the information handling system via management traffic communicated between the management controller and a network external to the information handling system. The management controller may be further configured to couple to the external network via a first network interface integral to the management controller, emulate a second network interface to an operating system executing on the host system processor, and bridge the first network interface and the second network interface such that host system traffic may be communicated between the host system processor and the external network via the management controller.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include during boot of the information handling system, in response to one of a system management request received by a management controller or user input indicative of a task received during boot, downloading, by a basic input/output system (BIOS), from a network database communicatively coupled to the network interface, one or more executable modules for completing a system management request or a task. The method may also include executing the one or more downloaded modules.