Redundant baseboard management controller (bmc) system and method
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsAustin P. Bolen, Komal Dhote, Manjunath AM
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) includes at least one storage unit that conforms to an NVMe specification and first and second BMCs. The BMCs are in communication with the storage unit and each configured with computer-executable instructions to negotiate with the second BMC, whether first or second BMC is to be an active BMC such that the other of the first or second BMCs becomes a passive BMC. When the first BMC is the active BMC, allow shared commands to be issued to a storage unit conforming to a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) specification; otherwise, inhibit the shared commands from being issued to the storage unit.
Claims20
An Information Handling System (IHS) comprising:
- first and second Baseboard Management Controllers (BMCs) coupled to a storage unit conforming to a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) specification, the first and second BMCs each comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the first BMC to:
- negotiate with the second BMC, whether first or second BMC is to be an active BMC, the other of the first or second BMC becoming a passive BMC;
- when the first BMC is the active BMC, allow shared commands to be issued to the storage unit, the shared commands comprising a type that changes a state of the storage unit when issued to the storage unit;
- when the first BMC is the passive BMC, inhibit the shared commands from being issued to the storage unit;
- assign a first command slot of the storage unit for use by the first BMC to the exclusion of the second BMC;
- and
- assign a second command slot of the storage unit for use by the second BMC to the exclusion of the first BMC,
- wherein the first and second command slots conform to a Non-Volatile Memory Express Management Interface (NVMe-MI) specification.
(canceled)
A method comprising:
- negotiating, by a first Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) with a second BMC, whether the first or second BMC is to be an active BMC, the other of the first or second BMC becoming a passive BMC;
- when the first BMC is the active BMC, allowing shared commands to be issued to a storage unit conforming to a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) specification, the shared commands comprising a type that changes a state of the storage unit when issued to the storage unit;
- when the first BMC is the passive BMC, inhibiting the shared commands from being issued to the storage unit;
- assigning a first command slot of the storage unit for use by the first BMC to the exclusion of the second BMC;
- and
- assigning a second command slot of the storage unit for use by the second BMC to the exclusion of the first BMC,
- wherein the first and second command slots conform to a Non-Volatile Memory Express Management Interface (NVMe-MI) specification.
(canceled)
A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by each of first and second Baseboard Management Controllers (BMCs), cause the first BMC to:
- negotiate with the second BMC, whether first or second BMC is to be an active BMC, the other of the first or second BMC becoming a passive BMC;
- when the first BMC is the active BMC, allow shared commands to be issued to a storage unit conforming to a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) specification, the shared commands comprising a type that changes a state of the storage unit when issued to the storage unit;
- and
- when the first BMC is the passive BMC, inhibit the shared commands from being issued to the storage unit;
- assign a first command slot of the storage unit for use by the first BMC to the exclusion of the second BMC;
- and
- assign a second command slot of the storage unit for use by the second BMC to the exclusion of the first BMC,
- wherein the first and second command slots conform to a Non-Volatile Memory Express Management Interface (NVMe-MI) specification.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.