Method and apparatus for performing host based diagnostics using a service processor

An integrated diagnostic system, comprising:

• a host system, comprising a processor and a southbridge connected to the processor, wherein the southbridge is configured to communicate with peripheral devices;
• a service processor, configured to communicate with the host system using the south bridge, and comprising an internal storage, a virtual device driver and a loop driver;
• the internal storage, configured to store a disk image, diagnostics flags, and diagnostic scripts,
• wherein the disk image comprises a set of diagnostics to be run on the host system, and
• wherein the diagnostic flags and diagnostics scripts comprise information for executing a set of diagnostics on the host system;
• a disk image reader, configured to mount the disk image within the service processor to obtain a mounted disk image;
• a loop driver configured to make the disk image accessible to the service processor as a file system;
• a virtual device driver, configured to make the disk image appear to the host system as a device;
• and
• a user interface, configured to allow a user to interact with the system.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for performing a set of diagnostics, comprising:

• recognize a power-on event;
• check a diagnostic flag, wherein the diagnostic flag indicates the set of diagnostics to be performed;
• retrieve, from internal storage of a service processor, a disk image comprising the set of diagnostics to be performed;
• mount, using a disk image reader, the disk image to obtain a mounted disk image;
• make the mounted disk image accessible as a device using a virtual device driver;
• mount, using a connection between the service processor and the host system, the device within the host system;
• and
• perform, after the mounting of the device, the set of diagnostics on the host system.