US 2012/0084420 A1Published application

System and method for managing computer network interfaces

AssigneeAmerican Megatrends, Inc.

InventorsVaradachari Sudan Ayanam, Baskar Parthiban

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method for managing at least one network interface of a computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of executing of a boot loader to initialize a dedicated network interface and a side-band network interface, determining if a boot loader priority setting designates a preference to use one of a detected dedicated network interface or side-band network interface, determining if preferred network interface is available for use, then passing the priority setting to an operating system to use for network communications during run time.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for managing at least one network interface of a computer system, comprising:

(a) initiating the execution of a boot loader operative to initialize at least one of a dedicated network interface and a side-band network interface of a computer system, each of the dedicated network interface and side-band network interface operative to communicatively connect a management controller of the computer system to at least one hardware component of the computer system via at least one network connection;
(b) determining if a boot loader environment priority setting is present, the priority setting indicating a priority for use of a dedicated network interface or a side-band network interface;
(c) if a priority setting is present that indicates a priority for use of a dedicated network interface:
(i) determining if an operable dedicated network interface is available;
and
(ii) if an operable dedicated network interface is available, booting an operating system of the computer system with a configuration to use the dedicated network interface for network communications;
and
(d) if a priority setting is present that indicates a priority for use of a side-band network interface:
(i) determining if an operable side-band network interface is available;
and
(ii) if an operable side-band network interface is available, booting an operating system of the computer system with a configuration to use the side-band network interface for network communications.

8 more elements

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computer to perform functions for managing at least one network interface of a computer system, the functions comprising:

(a) initiating the execution of a boot loader operative to initialize at least one of a dedicated network interface and a side-band network interface of a computer system, each of the dedicated network interface and side-band network interface operative to communicatively connect a management controller of the computer system to at least one hardware component of the computer system via at least one network connection;
(b) determining if a boot loader environment priority setting is present, the priority setting indicating a priority for use of a dedicated network interface or a side-band network interface;
(c) if a priority setting is present that indicates a priority for use of a dedicated network interface:
(i) determining if an operable dedicated network interface is available;
and
(ii) if an operable dedicated network interface is available, booting an operating system of the computer system with a configuration to use the dedicated network interface for network communications;
and
(d) if a priority setting is present that indicates a priority for use of a side-band network interface:
(i) determining if an operable side-band network interface is available;
and
(ii) if an operable side-band network interface is available, booting an operating system of the computer system with a configuration to use the side-band network interface for network communications.

8 more elements

A computer system for managing at least one network interface, comprising:

(a) a management controller;
(b) at least one hardware component;
(c) at least one of a dedicated network interface and a side-band network interface, each operative to communicatively connect the management controller to the at least one hardware component via at least one network connection;
(d) a programmable processor that is programmed to:
(i) initiate the execution of a boot loader operative to initialize the at least one of the dedicated network interface and side-band network interface;
(ii) determine if a boot loader environment priority setting is present, the priority setting indicating a priority for use of a dedicated network interface or a side-band network interface;
(iii) if a priority setting is present that indicates a priority for use of a dedicated network interface:
(1) determine if an operable dedicated network interface is available;
and
(2) if an operable dedicated network interface is available, boot an operating system of the computer system with a configuration to use the dedicated network interface for network communications;
and
(iv) if a priority setting is present that indicates a priority for use of a side-band network interface:
(1) determine if an operable side-band network interface is available;
and
(2) if an operable side-band network interface is available, boot an operating system of the computer system with a configuration to use the side-band network interface for network communications.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.