Memory module authentication extension

A method comprising:

• performing, by a management controller, a first authentication of an identification component of a hardware module over a management interface, the hardware module connected to a computing platform;
• in response to the first authentication being successful, writing, by the management controller over the management interface, a key based on a random value to a register of the identification component of the hardware module, the register in the hardware module being accessible over the management interface and over a data interface separate from the management interface, wherein the key provides a unique identifier for the hardware module;
• receiving, at a hardware module controller from a program executing on the computing platform, a request to access the hardware module, the request including an identifier key identifying the hardware module and an address to access, wherein the request is to access the hardware module over the data interface;
• reading, by the hardware module controller as part of performing a second authentication, the key from the register of the hardware module over the data interface;
• comparing, by the hardware module controller, the key from the register of the hardware module to the identifier key in the request;
• in response to the identifier key matching the key from the register:
• determining, by the hardware module controller, that the hardware module is authenticated as part of the second authentication over the data interface, and
• allowing, by the hardware module controller, access to the hardware module at the address in the request.

A computing platform comprising:

• a hardware module comprising a register;
• a management controller to:
• perform a first authentication of the hardware module over a management interface, and
• in response to the first authentication being successful, write, over the management interface, a key based on a random value to the register of the hardware module, the register in the hardware module being accessible over the management interface and over a data interface separate from the management interface, wherein the key provides a unique identifier for the hardware module;
• and
• a hardware module controller to control access of the hardware module over the data interface, the hardware module controller to:
• receive, from a program executing in the computing platform, a request to access the hardware module, the request including an identifier key identifying the hardware module and an address to access, wherein the request is to access the hardware module over the data interface,
• read, as part of performing a second authentication by the hardware module controller, the key from the register of the hardware module over the data interface,
• compare the key from the register of the hardware module to the identifier key in the request,
• in response to the identifier key matching the key from the register:
• determine that the hardware module is authenticated as part of the second authentication over the data interface, and
• allow, by the hardware module controller, access to the hardware module at the address in the request.