Computer hardware attestation

A hardware component, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory;
• wherein the hardware component is configured to be coupled to a motherboard of a computing device that includes a plurality of components connected to the motherboard, the plurality of components including a processor operable to function as a central processing unit of the computing device;
• and wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor of the hardware component, causes the processor of the hardware component to perform operations including:
• determining whether a particular component connected to the motherboard includes an identification code, wherein the identification code is used to attest to an identity of the particular component, and wherein the identification code is read from a memory location on the particular component, the identification code having been stored on the particular component during a configuration process performed prior to connecting the particular component to the motherboard, wherein determining whether the particular component includes the identification code includes determining that a valid value is stored at the memory location;
• upon determining that the particular component includes the identification code, determining whether the identification code matches an expected value;
• and
• configuring the particular component based on whether the identification code matches the expected value.

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• determining, by a hardware component in a computing device, whether a particular component connected to a motherboard of the computing device includes an identification code, wherein the identification code is used to attest to an identity of the particular component, and wherein the identification code is read from a memory location on the particular component, the identification code having been stored on the particular component during a configuration process performed prior to connecting the particular component to the motherboard, wherein determining whether the particular component includes the identification code includes determining that a valid value is stored at the memory location;
• upon determining that the particular component includes the identification code, determining whether the identification code matches an expected value;
• and
• configuring the particular component based on whether the identification code matches the expected value.