Method and apparatus for creating a secure embedded I/O processor for a remote server management controller
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsTheodore F. Emerson, Robert L. Noonan, David Heinrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to providing a secure computing environment in a remote server management controller. The exemplary embodiment includes a hierarchy of register security levels restricting register access by communications interfaces shared by the remote server management controller and a managed server associated therewith. Failsafe protection is provided to override register security under certain conditions.
Claims20
A remote server management controller, comprising:
- an IOP that is adapted to communicate with a managed server via a communication interface;
- a failsafe register that is adapted to receive an IOP reset request via the communication interface;
- a failsafe boot timer adapted to initiate a countdown when the failsafe register receives an IOP reset request;
- and
- wherein the IOP is adapted to be placed in a reset condition if the IOP does not clear the IOP reset request from the failsafe register and disable the failsafe boot timer before the countdown expires.
A managed server, comprising:
- a communication interface;
- a device adapted to communicate via the communication interface;
- a remote server management controller, comprising:
- an IOP that is adapted to communicate via the communication interface;
- a failsafe register that is adapted to receive an IOP reset request via the communication interface;
- a failsafe boot timer adapted to initiate a countdown when the failsafe register receives an IOP reset request;
- and
- wherein the IOP is adapted to be placed in a reset condition if the IOP does not clear the IOP reset request from the failsafe register and disable the failsafe boot timer before the countdown expires.
A method of authorizing access to a register, comprising the acts of:
- receiving a reset request via a failsafe register;
- initiating a countdown of predetermined duration in response to the reset request;
- permitting access to the register if the reset request is not cleared and the countdown is not halted before expiration of the predetermined duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.