Abstract: A method and system for allowing a server blade in a blade chassis to use a remote universal serial bus (USB) device. Multiple USB devices are coupled to a management module in the blade chassis. A persona describing only authorized USB devices is sent to a reconfigurable input/output (I/O) device in the server blade in the blade chassis, allowing the server blade to utilize the remote USB device(s).

Abstract: A method and system for allowing nodes in a multi-node computer to be appropriated by a master node in the multi-node computer. The node to be appropriated is suspended into an ACPI S3 Sleep State, causing current system operations state information to be stored in a backup memory in the appropriated node. The master node then populated a primary memory in the appropriated node with OS and other information required to join a partition that includes the master node. When the master node no longer wishes to use the appropriated node, the backup memory in the appropriated node is mirrored back into the primary memory. When the appropriated node “wakes up” from the S3 state, it continues executing software commands where it left off, without knowing anything that had happened after going into the S3 state.

Abstract: An improved method and system for determining the state of an operating system includes an operating system, a USB host controller that is driven by the operating system to send a polling signal to a USB device, and a management module that monitors the polling signal. If the polling signal has stopped, then the management module takes corrective action to restore the operating system. No specialized software or specialized hardware is required to determine the state of the operating system. The state of the operating system can be determined quickly and efficiently without adding to the costs of the system.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing a remote real communication port (“COM port”) from a server blade in a server blade chassis by creating a virtual COM port in the server blade. A basic input/output system (BIOS) controller monitors an internal COM port in the server blade for communication traffic. Upon detecting the communication traffic, the BIOS controller reroutes the traffic to a virtual USB COM port created by the BIOS controller chipset. The virtual USB COM port directs the communication traffic to an internal universal serial bus (USB) device in the server blade. The USB device then forwards the traffic to an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) input/output (I/O) on a sideband channel to a remote system, which passes the communication traffic to a real COM port in the remote system.

Abstract: A method and system for a failover management module for a server blade chassis. A virtual out-of-band network connects management modules in different server blade chassis. Upon a detection of a failure of the management module(s) in a first server blade chassis, a management module in a second server blade chassis takes over control of the first server blade chassis.

Abstract: A method and system for virtually mounting Mass Storage Devices (MSDs) that correspond to physically mounted MSDs remotely booting a server from a client administrator using a dynamically configured mass storage device emulator. One or more Mass Storage Devices (MSDs) are mounted on an administrative computer, according to how many MSDs are required by a remote computer. The MSDs are coupled to a Storage Device Emulator (SDE) via a hyper-secure network. The remote computer then boots up using the SDE, which obtains packet data emulating the MSDs.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically replacing a failing processor in a server system configured with IA-32 architecture without requiring hardware changes to the IA-32 architecture or administrative effort. At least one processor of the multiprocessor system (MP) is initially provided as a reserve (or hot-spare) processor that remains in an idle, off, or low-power mode. While in that mode, the OS is prevented from initially utilizing the hot-spare processor. When a processor failure is detected, SMI code running on a good processor instructs the OS to hold off allocating processes to the failing processor. Contemporaneously, the SMI (and OS) activates and completes an initialization of the hot-spare processor to prepare it to begin receiving the held-off processes. Control is then returned to the OS, which updates the “active” processor list and allocates the threads that were running on the failing processor to the hot-spare processor.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.

Abstract: Aspects of providing computer system software images are described. The aspects include scanning hardware present in a computer system for device identifiers. An image value is then formed from the device identifiers and utilized to ensure provision of an image appropriate for the hardware present. The utilization includes determining whether a matching image value exists for the formed image value, such that a stored image corresponding to the matching image value is downloaded to the computer system when a matching image value exists and a need for a new image to be generated for the formed image value is identified when a matching image value does not exist.

Abstract: A wireless LAN system is provided at its access points with structured data indicating resources, connected and independent (e.g. vending machine) in the connect range of the respective access point. Guest clients, upon connecting, may download “greeting” logic to receive and display the structured data to allow the guest to be quickly at home and productive in an unfamiliar setting.

Abstract: An administrative computer sends keyboard commands over a network to control a remote computer. If the keyboard at the administrative and remote computers are different in key layout or language, a remote console software application permits the administrative computer to emulate the keyboard of the remote computer. The remote console application includes a graphical user interface through which the administrator can select the particular key layout and language to emulate for compatibility with the keyboard at the remote computer. The remote console application converts the key code for the key that was pressed at the administrative keyboard into a USB usage code that corresponds to a key on the remote keyboard. This usage code is encapsulated in an Ethernet packet and transmitted over the network to the remote computer. This Ethernet packet is decoded at the remote location and coupled to the remote computer over a USB bus.

Abstract: A method and system for method of removing a node from a multi-node computer. The node receives a system management interrupt (SMI), resulting in a quiescenting of only that node. The SMI receiving node then polls other nodes in the multi-node computer to determine if the SMI affects an operation of any of the other nodes, and quiescents any other node affected by the SMI. Each quiescent node then transfers all of the contents of its system memory to a backup memory in an unaffected remote node in the multi-node computer. The remote node than assumes the function of the removed node that had received the SMI. The method and system thus allows node removal in the event of a hot-swap request or a predicted failure of a node.

Abstract: A method and system for method of removing a node from a multi-node computer. The node receives a system management interrupt (SMI), resulting in a quiescenting of only that node. The SMI receiving node then polls other nodes in the multi-node computer to determine if the SMI affects an operation of any of the other nodes, and quiescents any other node affected by the SMI. Each quiescent node then transfers all of the contents of its system memory to a backup memory in an unaffected remote node in the multi-node computer. The remote node than assumes the function of the removed node that had received the SMI. The method and system thus allows node removal in the event of a hot-swap request or a predicted failure of a node.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product supporting dynamic configuring of a multi-node computer. The system includes a scalability management module directly coupled to each node in the multi-node computer.

Abstract: A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a microprocessor on each blade server for providing interfaces at the plurality of blade servers for simultaneous connection with a local or remote drive. The microprocessor can also configure the blade server to simultaneously connect with a plurality of local and/or remote drives. The microprocessor routes data packets between a management system and its respective blade server, while a management module in the management system manages the simultaneous access of the drive(s) by the plurality of blade servers or the plurality of drives by a blade server. This increases the efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the addition of a USB device to a host computer system via a hardware hot plug detector that monitors USB ports. The differential signal lines connecting to the USB device are logically OR'ed together, such that logically high D+ or D− signals from the USB device signal a central processing unit's (CPU) system management interrupt (SMI) line to initiate system management mode (SMM). Entering SMM transfers control of the host computer system to an SMI Interrupt Handler BIOS, which resides in the SMM address space of the hose computer system. The SMM BIOS is loaded into the SMM address space during Power On Self Test (POST) and is secured prior to booting the Operating System (OS). The SMM BIOS code contains instructions as to whether or not the connected USB device should be made visible to the operating system of the computer.