US 11,113,046 B1Granted

Integration and remote control of a pre-assembled computer system into a server for a virtualization service

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsPeter Zachary Bowen, Darin Lee Frink, Eric Robert Northup, David A Skirmont, Manish Singh Rathaur

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Abstract

A branded fleet server system includes a pre-assembled third-party computer system integrated into a chassis of the branded fleet server system. The pre-assembled third-party computer system is configured to execute proprietary software that is only licensed for use on branded hardware. A baseboard management controller (BMC) included in the server chassis couples with the pre-assembled computer system via one or more cables coupled to ports of the pre-assembled computer system. The BMC enables remote control of the pre-assembled computer system, such as remote power on and power off. Also the BMC may enable automatic and remote software and/or firmware updates to be performed at the pre-assembled computer system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A server system, comprising:

a server chassis;
a pre-assembled computer system mounted in the server chassis, wherein the pre-assembled computer system is pre-assembled and pre-installed in a computer case of the pre-assembled computer system prior to being installed in the server chassis;
a baseboard management controller mounted in the server chassis external to the pre-assembled computer system;
one or more cables coupled at respective first ends to one or more connectors of the baseboard management controller and coupled at respective second ends to one or more ports in the computer case of the pre-assembled computer system,
wherein the baseboard management controller is configured to:
receive request messages from a virtualization offloading component of a cloud computing service that provides virtualization control for a plurality of servers;
receive status information or data from one or more system management components included in the server chassis;
receive status information or data from the pre-assembled computer system via the one or more cables coupled to the one or more ports of the pre-assembled computer system;
and
generate, based on the request messages, the status information, or the data, output commands to take one or more control actions at the pre-assembled computer system or the one or more system management components included in the server chassis;
wherein the baseboard management controller enables the cloud computing service to remotely control the pre-assembled computer system.

8 more elements

A device, comprising:

a server chassis;
a mounting device configured to secure a pre-assembled computer system in the server chassis, wherein the pre-assembled computer system is pre-assembled and pre-installed in a computer case of the pre-assembled computer system prior to being mounted in the mounting device;
a system management processor mounted in the server chassis external to the pre-assembled computer system, wherein the system management processor is configured to:
receive request messages from a virtualization offloading component of a cloud computing service that provides virtualization control for a plurality of servers in a data center;
receive status information or data from one or more system management components included in the server chassis;
receive status information or data from the pre-assembled computer system;
and
generate, based on the received request messages, status information, or data, output commands to cause one or more control actions to be taken at the pre-assembled computer system or at the system management components,
wherein the system management processor enables the cloud computing service to remotely control the pre-assembled computer system.

6 more elements

A baseboard management controller comprising:

a system management processor configured to:
receive request messages from a virtualization computer service that provides virtualization control for a plurality of servers in a data center;
receive status information or data from one or more system management components;
receive status information or data from a pre-assembled computer system;
and
generate, based on the request messages, status information, or data, output commands to take one or more control actions at the pre-assembled computer system,
wherein the baseboard management processor is configured to:
mount external to the pre-assembled computer system;
and
couple with the pre-assembled computer system via one or more cables coupled to one or more ports in a computer-case of the pre-assembled computer system,
wherein the baseboard management controller enables the virtualization computer service to remotely control the pre-assembled computer system.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.