Preventing hosts from using network interface controller adapters assigned to management controllers
AssigneeHewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
InventorsDavid F. Heinrich, Mark I. Bain, Kevin G. Depew
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A management controller of a computer platform manages a host of the computer platform. The management includes communicating, by the management controller and using a sideband channel interface of a network interface controller adapter, network traffic with a remote management service. The network interface controller adapter includes a host interface. The computer platform is configured to assign the network interface controller adapter to the management controller. Assigning the network interface controller to the management controller includes preventing the host from using the host interface.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- managing, by a baseboard management controller of a computer platform, a host of the computer platform, wherein:
- the managing comprises communicating, by the baseboard management controller and using a sideband channel interface of a network interface controller adapter, network traffic with a remote management service;
- and
- the network interface controller adapter comprises a host interface;
- and
- configuring the computer platform to assign the network interface controller adapter to the baseboard management controller, wherein assigning the network interface controller adapter to the baseboard management controller comprises preventing the host from using the host interface.
A computer platform comprising:
- a host;
- a network interface controller adapter comprising:
- a sideband channel interface to receive first management messages to send over a network to a remote management service and provide second management messages sent by the remote management service over the network;
- and
- a host interface;
- a management controller to manage the host, wherein the management controller to send the first management messages to the sideband channel interface and receive the second management messages from the sideband channel interface;
- and
- a concealment engine to prevent the host from using the host interface.
A computer platform comprising:
- a host;
- a network interface controller adapter comprising:
- a sideband channel interface to receive first management messages to send over a network to a remote management service and provide second management messages sent by the remote management service over the network;
- and
- a host interface to communicate with the network;
- a management controller to manage the host, wherein the management controller to send the first management messages to the sideband channel interface and receive the second management messages from the sideband channel interface;
- a physical bus infrastructure coupled to the host;
- and
- a physical communication barrier to isolate the physical bus infrastructure from the host interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.