Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a representational state transfer (“REST” or “RESTful”) over Intelligent Platform Management Interface (“IPMI”) interface for firmware to baseboard management controller (“BMC”) communication and applications thereof. These applications include, but are not limited to, remote firmware configuration, firmware updates, peripheral device firmware updates, provision of management information such as system inventory data, cloning and batch migration of firmware configuration settings, and firmware integrity monitoring.

Abstract: During boot time of a computing system, a human-readable lookup table is utilized to generate a binary lookup table. At runtime, a hook to a function for reading or setting a firmware variable receives a request in a custom format or a standard format. If the request is in the custom format, the hook locates a mapping identifier (ID) associated with a setup question value to be read or set and a performs a lookup operation in the binary lookup table for the mapping ID. The hook retrieves the offset and bit width associated with the setup question value to be read or set from the binary lookup table. The hook then performs the requested get or set operation using the offset and width for the value and a conventional firmware function for getting or setting a firmware variable.

Abstract: Standard I/O library functions for accessing files stored on mass storage devices are modified to enable access to files stored in firmware volumes. An application can be compiled against the modified standard I/O library functions to generate a pre-boot application. When the pre-boot application is executed within a pre-boot execution environment, it can utilize standard I/O library functions to access files stored in a firmware volume. In response to receiving a request to open a file from a pre-boot application, the called I/O function searches a file cross-reference table to locate the filename for the file. If the filename is in the file cross-reference table, the GUID associated with the filename is retrieved from the file cross-reference table and used to obtain a file handle to the file. The file handle can then be returned to the pre-boot application and used to perform other types of operations on the file.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a representational state transfer (“REST” or “RESTful”) over IPMI interface for firmware to BMC communication and applications thereof. These applications include, but are not limited to, remote firmware configuration, firmware updates, peripheral device firmware updates, provision of management information such as system inventory data, cloning and batch migration of firmware configuration settings, and firmware integrity monitoring. This functionality can be provided in a way that enables communication between BMCs and firmware to utilize modern manageability interfaces while maintaining backward compatibility with previous IPMI implementations.

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: Technologies for receiving and using alternate firmware files of a computer are described herein. In some examples, firmware files to be used instead of currently used firmware files are stored in a firmware volume, which is stored in a UEFI partition. A flag is set indicating the presence of a firmware volume containing the alternate firmware files. At boot time, if it is determined that the flag has been set, the computer will utilize files stored in the firmware volume stored in the UEFI partition rather than corresponding files in a firmware.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a representational state transfer (“REST” or “RESTful”) over Intelligent Platform Management Interface (“IPMI”) interface for firmware to baseboard management controller (“BMC”) communication and applications thereof. These applications include, but are not limited to, remote firmware configuration, firmware updates, peripheral device firmware updates, provision of management information such as system inventory data, cloning and batch migration of firmware configuration settings, and firmware integrity monitoring. This functionality can be provided in a way that enables communication between BMCs and firmware to utilize modern manageability interfaces while maintaining backward compatibility with previous IPMI implementations.

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.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a representational state transfer (“REST” or “RESTful”) over Intelligent Platform Management Interface (“IPMI”) interface for firmware to baseboard management controller (“BMC”) communication and applications thereof. These applications include, but are not limited to, remote firmware configuration, firmware updates, peripheral device firmware updates, provision of management information such as system inventory data, cloning and batch migration of firmware configuration settings, and firmware integrity monitoring. This functionality can be provided in a way that enables communication between BMCs and firmware to utilize modern manageability interfaces while maintaining backward compatibility with previous IPMI implementations.

Abstract: A firmware development tool generates platform-specific firmware images for a multitude of different computing platforms. A multi-platform firmware image creation tool receives the platform-specific firmware images and generates a multi-platform firmware image therefrom. A portion of the multi-platform firmware image includes firmware files that are common across all of the platform-specific firmware images. Other portions of the multi-platform firmware image include firmware files that are specific to each of the platform-specific firmware images. At boot time of a computer system utilizing the multi-platform firmware image, the platform that the computer system uses is detected. The firmware files that are common across the platform-specific firmware images are then loaded into memory. The firmware files that are specific to the detected platform are also loaded into memory.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a representational state transfer (“REST” or “RESTful”) over an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (“IPMI”) interface for firmware to a baseboard management controller (“BMC”) communication and applications thereof. These applications include, but are not limited to, remote firmware configuration, firmware updates, peripheral device firmware updates, provision of management information such as system inventory data, cloning and batch migration of firmware configuration settings, and firmware integrity monitoring. This functionality can be provided in a way that enables communication between BMCs and firmware to utilize modern manageability interfaces while maintaining backward compatibility with previous IPMI implementations.

Abstract: Standard I/O library functions for accessing files stored on mass storage devices are modified to enable access to files stored in firmware volumes. An application can be compiled against the modified standard I/O library functions to generate a pre-boot application. When the pre-boot application is executed within a pre-boot execution environment, it can utilize standard I/O library functions to access files stored in a firmware volume. In response to receiving a request to open a file from a pre-boot application, the called I/O function searches a file cross-reference table to locate the filename for the file. If the filename is in the file cross-reference table, the GUID associated with the filename is retrieved from the file cross-reference table and used to obtain a file handle to the file. The file handle can then be returned to the pre-boot application and used to perform other types of operations on the file.

Abstract: A firmware provides a setup browser that generates a setup menu. An internal forms representation of setup data for rendering the setup menu is converted to markup language (ML) setup data. The ML setup data is provided to an application that provides a GUI for defining a modified setup UI for the firmware. The application provides a graphical, drag-and-drop, WYSIWYG, UI through which a user can edit existing forms and controls, create new forms and controls, and specify default values and other properties. When a user modifies the setup menu using the application, customized ML setup data is generated that defines the modified setup UI. The customized ML setup data is used to create setup data that is stored in a firmware device for use by the setup browser with the internal format representation of setup data to render the modified setup UI.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a representational state transfer (“REST” or “RESTful”) over Intelligent Platform Management Interface (“IPMI”) interface for firmware to BMC communication and applications thereof. These applications include, but are not limited to, remote firmware configuration, firmware updates, peripheral device firmware updates, provision of management information such as system inventory data, cloning and batch migration of firmware configuration settings, and firmware integrity monitoring. This functionality can be provided in a way that enables communication between BMCs and firmware to utilize modern manageability interfaces while maintaining backward compatibility with previous IPMI implementations.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed that allow the firmware of a remotely located target device to be configured. The target device can receive a command to reboot into a special remote setup mode for remote configuration. Once in the remote setup mode, the firmware listens for and can respond to HTTP requests for information on configurable data and instructions to update the configurable data.

Abstract: A system firmware is disclosed that includes a pre-extensible firmware interface initialization (PEI) boot mode module that can determine the presence of a customizable manufacturing mode variable. If the PEI determines that the manufacturing mode variable exists, the computing system may be booted into a manufacturing mode of operation. A computing system booted into a manufacturing mode of operation may be in one of several manufacturing mode states.

Abstract: A computing system firmware is provided that includes functionality for securely authenticating a user of the computing system prior to allowing the user, through an application running on an operating system, to invoke firmware functions and to access and modify firmware variables. The authentication may use the same authentication credentials used to access firmware utilities during the computing system's power-on self-test (POST) phase. Upon receiving requests to access firmware assets, an authentication service determines whether the access has been authenticated for the user. If so, access to the firmware assets is granted. If access has not been authenticated for the user, the authentication service attempts to authenticate the user by verifying the authentication credentials passed along with the request.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed that allow the firmware of a remotely located target device to be configured. The target device can receive a command to reboot into a special remote setup mode for remote configuration. Once in the remote setup mode, the firmware listens for and can respond to HTTP requests for information on configurable data and instructions to update the configurable data.