Abstract: According to certain implementations, a motherboard is provided that enables operation as either multiple independent single-processor systems or a single multiple-processor system. In response to a request to configure the motherboard as multiple independent single-processor systems, a control block is implemented for each processor attached to the motherboard, where the control blocks configure the processors to boot and operate independently of each other, and the processors utilize separate motherboard resources. In response to a request to configure the motherboard as multiple independent single-processor systems, a single control block is implemented all processors attached to the motherboard, where the single control block configures all processors to boot and operate in a connected state, and the processors share all motherboard resources.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques relate to managing power within a power distribution system. Power consumption corresponding to devices (e.g., servers) that receive power from an upstream device (e.g., a bus bar) may be monitored (e.g., by a service) to determine when power consumption corresponding to those devices breaches (or approaches) a budget threshold corresponding to an amount of power allocated to the upstream device. If the budget threshold is breached, or is likely to be breached, the service may initiate operations to distribute power caps for the devices and to initiate a timer. Although distributed, the power caps may be ignored by the devices until they are instructed to enforce the power caps (e.g., upon expiration of the timer). This allows the power consumption of the devices to exceed the budgeted power associated with the upstream device at least until expiration of the timer while avoiding power outage events.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for analytics-based anomaly detection. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to receive measurement data for a component of a device, determine a compression rate of the received measurement data by applying a compression algorithm to the measurement data, and generate an alert indicating a possible anomaly in an operation of the component represented by the measurement data in response to the determined compression rate satisfying a threshold compression rate for the at least one condition of the component.

Abstract: A baseboard management controller (BMC) installed in a server or other hardware device may perform operations to monitor and safeguard metering data for one or more hardware component of a server that includes the BMC. The BMC may periodically transmit a metering data message over a network to an event destination, where the metering data message includes the utilization levels of the hardware component during a period of operation. In response to detecting a loss of communication with the event destination, the BMC may perform lossy compression of the monitored utilization levels for the hardware component, wherein the lossy compression produces a utilization value that is representative of the monitored utilization levels, but uses less data storage capacity. The utilization value may be transmitted to the event destination instead of the monitored utilization levels in response to determining that communication with the event destination has been reestablished.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for unlocking a persistent region in memory are disclosed. An information handling apparatus includes a controller, a memory coupled to the controller, the memory having a persistent region that can either be locked or unlocked, and a firmware configured to determine whether the persistent region of the memory is locked, obtain a stored passphrase from a storage device if the persistent region is locked, and use the passphrase to unlock the persistent region of the memory.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for analytics-based anomaly detection. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to receive measurement data for a component of a device, determine a compression rate of the received measurement data by applying a compression algorithm to the measurement data, and generate an alert indicating a possible anomaly in an operation of the component represented by the measurement data in response to the determined compression rate satisfying a threshold compression rate for the at least one condition of the component.

Abstract: Systems, computing devices, and methods for authenticating privileged subsystem access by policy and by use of a security key generated at boot are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method includes generating a security key upon boot of a host-facing interface for a client. The method also includes communicating the security key to a baseboard management controller. Further, the method includes authenticating, to the host-facing interface commands, based on the security key. The method may also include implementing a policy associated with the security key. Further, in response to determining that a received command is not allowed by policy or the security key is not authenticated, an external server port or debug header may be disabled to prevent execution of the command.

Abstract: A baseboard management controller (BMC) installed in a server or other hardware device may perform operations to monitor and safeguard metering data for one or more hardware component of a server that includes the BMC. The BMC may periodically transmit a metering data message over a network to an event destination, where the metering data message includes the utilization levels of the hardware component during a period of operation. In response to detecting a loss of communication with the event destination, the BMC may perform lossy compression of the monitored utilization levels for the hardware component, wherein the lossy compression produces a utilization value that is representative of the monitored utilization levels, but uses less data storage capacity. The utilization value may be transmitted to the event destination instead of the monitored utilization levels in response to determining that communication with the event destination has been reestablished.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for unlocking a persistent region in memory are disclosed. An information handling apparatus includes a controller, a memory coupled to the controller, the memory having a persistent region that can either be locked or unlocked, and a firmware configured to determine whether the persistent region of the memory is locked, obtain a stored passphrase from a storage device if the persistent region is locked, and use the passphrase to unlock the persistent region of the memory.

Abstract: Systems, computing devices, and methods for authenticating privileged subsystem access by policy and by use of a security key generated at boot are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method includes generating a security key upon boot of a host-facing interface for a client. The method also includes communicating the security key to a baseboard management controller. Further, the method includes authenticating, to the host-facing interface commands, based on the security key. The method may also include implementing a policy associated with the security key. Further, in response to determining that a received command is not allowed by policy or the security key is not authenticated, an external server port or debug header may be disabled to prevent execution of the command.

Abstract: A method includes identifying workload performance requirements of a workload, and identifying an endpoint hardware configuration that satisfies the workload performance requirements, wherein the endpoint hardware configuration includes a selected mode of a multi-mode component. The method further includes configuring selected endpoint hardware with the identified endpoint hardware configuration including applying the selected mode to the multi-mode component included in the endpoint hardware, and placing the workload on the selected endpoint hardware having the identified endpoint hardware configuration including the multi-mode component operating in the selected mode.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for passing a data file from a software utility to a service processor. The method includes loading, using a processor, an interrupt handler and runtime code during initialization of a computer before booting an operating system; requesting, using a processor, that the operating system transfer a data file via an interface; and transferring, using a processor, the data file to an area accessible to the runtime code. The method further includes requesting, using a processor, that the interrupt handler pass the data file to a service processor. Still further, the method includes passing, using a processor, the data file from the accessible area to the service processor via a memory-mapped input/output window of the service processor, wherein the data file is transferred to the service processor without waiting for a system reboot.

Abstract: Effects of a physical memory fault are mitigated. In one example, to facilitate mitigation, memory is allocated to processing entities of a computing environment, such as applications, operating systems, or virtual machines, in a manner that minimizes impact to the computing environment in the event of a memory failure. Allocation includes using memory structure information, including, information regarding fault containment zones, to allocate memory to the processing entities. By allocating memory based on fault containment zones, a fault only affects a minimum number of processing entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing operations on memory of a computing device are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes storing update data on a first memory of a computing device, wherein the update data comprises data for updating a second memory on the computing device. The method also includes initiating an update mode on the second memory. Further, the method includes suspending an I/O operation of the second memory. The method also includes switching the computing device to a system management mode (SMM) while the second memory is in the update mode. Further, the method includes retrieving the update data from the first memory. The method also includes determining whether the update data is valid. The method also includes resuming the I/O operation of the second memory for updating the second memory based on the retrieved update data in response to determining that the update data is valid.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium includes computer code for identifying a first write to a first persistent memory on a first channel and a second write to a second persistent memory on a second channel, computer code for performing a third write to a third persistent memory on a third channel, where the third write includes parity data associated with the first write and the second write, computer code for identifying a failure of the second persistent memory, and computer code for generating recovery data for the second persistent memory, using the first channel, the third channel, and the parity data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for passing a data file from a software utility to a service processor. The method includes loading, using a processor, an interrupt handler and runtime code during initialization of a computer before booting an operating system; requesting, using a processor, that the operating system transfer a data file via an interface; and transferring, using a processor, the data file to an area accessible to the runtime code. The method further includes requesting, using a processor, that the interrupt handler pass the data file to a service processor. Still further, the method includes passing, using a processor, the data file from the accessible area to the service processor via a memory-mapped input/output window of the service processor, wherein the data file is transferred to the service processor without waiting for a system reboot.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing one or more operations on a first computing device are disclosed. A method includes receiving, from a second computing device via a short-range wireless communication, a service session setup request and an identifier of one of the second computing device and an associated user of the second computing device. The method further includes determining whether to authorize the service session setup request based on the identifier. Then in response to determining to authorize the service session setup request, a service session may be established between the first and the second computing devices. The method also includes receiving one or more service instructions that are allowable based on the identifier. The method furthermore includes performing, at the first computing device, the one or more operations based on the service instructions.

Abstract: A method includes running servers to provide computer services to client devices and storing a hardware profile for each of a plurality of server models, wherein each hardware profile identifies hardware components that should be enabled to implement the server model on one of the servers. A request is received from a client device to provide computer services on one or more of the servers using a selected server model and applying the hardware profile for the selected server model to configure the hardware components of the one or more of the servers to use the identified hardware components without manually reconfiguring the one or more of the servers. Still further, the method includes providing computer services to the client device using the one or more of the servers that has been configured using the hardware profile for the selected server model.

Abstract: A method includes identifying workload performance requirements of a workload, and identifying an endpoint hardware configuration that satisfies the workload performance requirements, wherein the endpoint hardware configuration includes a selected mode of a multi-mode component. The method further includes configuring selected endpoint hardware with the identified endpoint hardware configuration including applying the selected mode to the multi-mode component included in the endpoint hardware, and placing the workload on the selected endpoint hardware having the identified endpoint hardware configuration including the multi-mode component operating in the selected mode.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a subset of components of a node that should be loaded during the next boot of the node, storing a list of the identified subset of components in a file outside of a basic input output system, and initiating boot of the node. The method further comprises the basic input output system accessing the file and controlling boot of the node to load only the identified subset of components of the node. Another method stores a plurality of such files, wherein each file is associated with maintenance of a target component of the node. After selecting one of the files, the basic input output system may access the selected file and control boot of the node to load only the subset of components that the selected file indicates should be loaded for purposes of a maintaining or testing the target component.