Systems and methods for error recovery in rebootless firmware updates

A method for error recovery in updating firmware used by a managed hardware component of an Information Handling System (IHS), the method comprising:

• initiating, by a remote access controller of the IHS that operates separate from one or more CPUs of the IHS and that provides remote management of the IHS, an update of firmware used to operate the managed hardware component of the IHS, wherein a firmware image is transmitted to the managed hardware component via a first signaling pathway connecting the remote access controller to the managed hardware component;
• detecting a failure in transmission of the firmware image to the managed hardware component via the first signaling pathway;
• upon detecting the failure in transmission of the firmware image to the first of the hardware components via the first signaling pathway, monitoring for broadcast notifications from the first of the hardware components, wherein broadcast notifications received from the first of the hardware components indicate whether the failure in transmission of the firmware image results in an error condition requiring a reboot of the first of the hardware components;
• based on the monitoring for broadcast notifications, identifying a second signaling pathway connecting the remote access controller to the managed hardware component;
• resuming transmission of the firmware image to the managed hardware component via the second signaling pathway used by the remote access controller;
• and
• updating firmware used to operate the managed hardware component using the firmware image transmitted in part over the first signaling pathway and using the resumed transmission of the firmware image via the second signaling pathway.

A remote access controller supporting remote management of a plurality of managed hardware components of an Information Handling System (IHS), the remote access controller comprising:

• a logic unit and a memory device having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the logic unit, cause the remote access controller to:
• initiate an update of firmware used to operate a first of the plurality of hardware components of the IHS, wherein a firmware image is transmitted to the first of the hardware components via a first signaling pathway connecting the remote access controller to the first of the hardware components;
• detect a failure in transmission of the firmware image to the first of the hardware components via the first signaling pathway;
• upon detecting the failure in transmission of the firmware image to the first of the hardware components via the first signaling pathway, monitor for broadcast notifications from the first of the hardware components, wherein broadcast notifications received from the first of the hardware components indicate whether the failure in transmission of the firmware image results in an error condition requiring a reboot of the first of the hardware components;
• based on the monitoring for broadcast notifications, identify a second signaling pathway connecting the remote access controller to the first of the hardware components;
• resume transmission of the firmware image to the first of the hardware components via the second signaling pathway used by the remote access controller;
• and
• update firmware used to operate the first of the hardware components using the transmitted firmware image.