Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling license management in pre-boot environments are described. In some embodiments, a method may include: loading, by a Basic System Input/Output (BIOS) of an Information Handling System (IHS), prior to the booting of any Operating System (OS) by the IHS, a license manager Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) driver; and executing, by the BIOS, a command received from a component or device coupled to the IHS following a license management protocol provided by the UEFI driver, where the command is to obtain or verify license data.

Abstract: A method, an information handling system (IHS) and a license file generating system for generating a license file. The method includes receiving, via a processor of a first information handling system (IHS), a plurality of input parameters associated with a product and generating license data at least partially based on the input parameters. The license data is transmitted to a hardware security module (HSM). The method further includes triggering the HSM to retrieve a certificate containing allowable use data. The allowable use data at least partially identifies a permitted installation of a license for the product. The HSM is triggered to embed a signer identifier within the certificate and the HSM is triggered to sign the certificate. The method further includes receiving a signed certificate from the HSM and generating a license file including the license data and the signed certificate. The license file is transmitted to a second IHS.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) and a method for a host application to access and verify contents within all non-volatile storage of the IHS. The method utilizes an access controller that has access to non-volatile storage which cannot be directly accessed from a host operating system. The access controller, upon receiving a request from the host application to view contents in a non-volatile storage that is not accessible to the host application, copies the contents of the un-accessible non-volatile storage to a storage medium communicatively coupled to the access controller. The access controller then presents the storage medium as a virtual storage device to the host application, enabling the host application to access the copied contents of the un-accessible non-volatile storage.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a host system comprising 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. The management controller may be further configured to read a features-to-fixes database having one or more entries, each entry of the features-to-fixes database setting forth an association between an information handling resource feature and one or more firmware fixes, read a usage database having one or more entries, each entry of the usage database setting forth usage of information handling resource features by the information handling system, and compare entries of the features-to-fixes database and the usage database to determine at least one of a criticality and an applicability of the one or more firmware fixes to the information handling system.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a host system comprising 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. The management controller may be further configured to read a features-to-fixes database having one or more entries, each entry of the features-to-fixes database setting forth an association between an information handling resource feature and one or more firmware fixes, read a usage database having one or more entries, each entry of the usage database setting forth usage of information handling resource features by the information handling system, and compare entries of the features-to-fixes database and the usage database to determine at least one of a criticality and an applicability of the one or more firmware fixes to the information handling system.

Abstract: A method, an information handling system (IHS) and a license file generating system for generating a license file. The method includes receiving, via a processor of a first information handling system (IHS), a plurality of input parameters associated with a product and generating license data at least partially based on the input parameters. The license data is transmitted to a hardware security module (HSM). The method further includes triggering the HSM to retrieve a certificate containing allowable use data. The allowable use data at least partially identifies a permitted installation of a license for the product. The HSM is triggered to embed a signer identifier within the certificate and the HSM is triggered to sign the certificate. The method further includes receiving a signed certificate from the HSM and generating a license file including the license data and the signed certificate. The license file is transmitted to a second IHS.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) and a method for a host application to access and verify contents within all non-volatile storage of the IHS. The method utilizes an access controller that has access to non-volatile storage which cannot be directly accessed from a host operating system. The access controller, upon receiving a request from the host application to view contents in a non-volatile storage that is not accessible to the host application, copies the contents of the un-accessible non-volatile storage to a storage medium communicatively coupled to the access controller. The access controller then presents the storage medium as a virtual storage device to the host application, enabling the host application to access the copied contents of the un-accessible non-volatile storage.

Abstract: A method includes a service processor of an information handling system downloading code, including device drivers, and transferring the code to an operating system of the information handling system without rebooting the operating system. In some embodiments, a daemon of the operating system may request device drivers for newly-inserted devices and the service processor may make the device drivers available to the operating system in response to the requests. In some embodiments, the service processor may download updated device drivers and may inform the daemon. The updated device drivers may be automatically provided to the operating system or made available upon a request of a user. The service processor may make code available to the operating system by exposing a portion of its non-volatile memory to the operating system as a virtual device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling license management in pre-boot environments are described. In some embodiments, a method may include: loading, by a Basic System Input/Output (BIOS) of an Information Handling System (IHS), prior to the booting of any Operating System (OS) by the IHS, a license manager Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) driver; and executing, by the BIOS, a command received from a component or device coupled to the IHS following a license management protocol provided by the UEFI driver, where the command is to obtain or verify license data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for provisioning the infrastructure of modular information handling systems, such as modular blade server chassis systems, using one or more pre-defined templates. IT service templates may be initially loaded and present in local memory or storage of a modular information handling system to define the system infrastructure configuration that ship with the modular chassis platform, or may be later downloaded or otherwise received in local memory or storage later from an external source after system installation to specify the desired end-state of the system infrastructure configuration.

Abstract: A method includes a service processor of an information handling system downloading code, including device drivers, and transferring the code to an operating system of the information handling system without rebooting the operating system. In some embodiments, a daemon of the operating system may request device drivers for newly-inserted devices and the service processor may make the device drivers available to the operating system in response to the requests. In some embodiments, the service processor may download updated device drivers and may inform the daemon. The updated device drivers may be automatically provided to the operating system or made available upon a request of a user. The service processor may make code available to the operating system by exposing a portion of its non-volatile memory to the operating system as a virtual device.

Abstract: A server chassis includes an uninterruptible power supply, and a server including a controller. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide a reserve power when a primary power is lost, and to send a power loss signal when the primary power is lost. The controller is configured to receive a desired server uptime, to receive an indication that a power limit for the server is fixed or decreasing over the desired server, to receive the power loss signal from the uninterruptible power supply, to send a power capacity query to the uninterruptible power supply, to receive a reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply in response to the power capacity query, to calculate the power limit for the server based on the reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply and on the desired server uptime, and to enforce the power limit on the server.

Abstract: A method includes a service processor of an information handling system downloading code, including device drivers, and transferring the code to an operating system of the information handling system without rebooting the operating system. In some embodiments, a daemon of the operating system may request device drivers for newly-inserted devices and the service processor may make the device drivers available to the operating system in response to the requests. In some embodiments, the service processor may download updated device drivers and may inform the daemon. The updated device drivers may be automatically provided to the operating system or made available upon a request of a user. The service processor may make code available to the operating system by exposing a portion of its non-volatile memory to the operating system as a virtual device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for provisioning the infrastructure of modular information handling systems, such as modular blade server chassis systems, using one or more pre-defined templates. IT service templates may be initially loaded and present in local memory or storage of a modular information handling system to define the system infrastructure configuration that ship with the modular chassis platform, or may be later downloaded or otherwise received in local memory or storage later from an external source after system installation to specify the desired end-state of the system infrastructure configuration.

Abstract: A method includes a service processor of an information handling system downloading code, including device drivers, and transferring the code to an operating system of the information handling system without rebooting the operating system. In some embodiments, a daemon of the operating system may request device drivers for newly-inserted devices and the service processor may make the device drivers available to the operating system in response to the requests. In some embodiments, the service processor may download updated device drivers and may inform the daemon. The updated device drivers may be automatically provided to the operating system or made available upon a request of a user. The service processor may make code available to the operating system by exposing a portion of its non-volatile memory to the operating system as a virtual device.

Abstract: A system and method of delaying power-up of an information handling system is disclosed. According to an aspect, a method of powering an information handling system can include detecting a delay power-up setting within a basic input output system (BIOS) of a particular information handling system using a management controller. The management controller can be configured to delay power-up of the particular information handling system. The method can further include enabling a power-up of the particular information handling system in response to the delay power-up setting using the management controller.

Abstract: A communication system includes a storage operable to host an operating system and a management controller configured to directly communicate with the operating system. The management controller directly communicates with the operating system through a communication channel free of an intermediate agent. The management controller is operable to asynchronously send management information to the operating system over the communication channel. The management controller is also operable to asynchronously receive management information from the operating system over the communication channel.

Abstract: A server chassis includes an uninterruptible power supply, and a server including a controller. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide a reserve power when a primary power is lost, and to send a power loss signal when the primary power is lost. The controller is configured to receive a desired server uptime, to receive an indication that a power limit for the server is fixed or decreasing over the desired server, to receive the power loss signal from the uninterruptible power supply, to send a power capacity query to the uninterruptible power supply, to receive a reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply in response to the power capacity query, to calculate the power limit for the server based on the reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply and on the desired server uptime, and to enforce the power limit on the server.

Abstract: A server chassis includes an uninterruptible power supply, and a server including a controller. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide a reserve power when a primary power is lost, and to send a power loss signal when the primary power is lost. The controller is configured to receive a desired server uptime, to receive an indication that a power limit for the server is fixed or decreasing over the desired server, to receive the power loss signal from the uninterruptible power supply, to send a power capacity query to the uninterruptible power supply, to receive a reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply in response to the power capacity query, to calculate the power limit for the server based on the reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply and on the desired server uptime, and to enforce the power limit on the server.

Abstract: A communication system includes a storage operable to host an operating system and a management controller configured to directly communicate with the operating system. The management controller directly communicates with the operating system through a communication channel free of an intermediate agent. The management controller is operable to asynchronously send management information to the operating system over the communication channel. The management controller is also operable to asynchronously receive management information from the operating system over the communication channel.