Method and apparatus for locking/unlocking via platform management bus

A computer system, comprising:

• one or more microprocessors, a user input device which is operatively connected to provide inputs to at least some ones of said microprocessors, memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by at least some ones of said microprocessors, and an output device connected to receive outputs from at least some ones of said microprocessors;
• an internal power supply connected to provide power to said microprocessors and said memory, said microprocessors, said memory, and said power supply all being enclosed in a case;
• a plurality of system devices including
• a power supply connected to provide power to an internal power rail common to said system devices;
• and
• a cooling device connected to cool the interior of said system;
• wherein said system devices, communicate with each other over said power rail;
• and
• wherein access to said case is controlled by an electrically controlled device and said device can be commanded to allow access to said case by command and control signals received over said power rail.

A system of hardware management in a computer system, comprising:

• computer system components connected to a power rail, including, a user input device, a microprocessor which is operatively connected to detect inputs from said input device, random-access memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor, and an output device operatively connected to receive outputs from said microprocessor, non-volatile random-access storage which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor and at least one cooling device;
• and
• a power supply connected to a power mains to provide power to said computer system components over said power rail, all said components being enclosed in a case;
• wherein said power mains facilitates command and control communications between said computer system components and between said computer system components and said power supply;
• and
• wherein access to said case is controlled by an electrically controlled device and said device can be commanded to allow access to said case by command and control signals received over said power rail.

A method of hardware security management in a computer network, comprising:

• operating a plurality of computer systems connected to a high-speed network and a common power mains system;
• allowing communication between said computer systems across said network and over said common power mains;
• and
• controlling access to said computer systems by command and control signals received over said power mains.

A method of hardware security management in a computer, comprising:

• allowing system devices of a computer to communicate with a power supply and each other over a common power rail;
• controlling access to said power supply and said system devices by an electrically controlled access device;
• and
• electrically controlling said access device by command and control signals received over said power rail.

A computer, comprising:

• a processor;
• a case which encloses said processor;
• an electronically controlled hoodlock which can be used to lock and unlock said case, and
• control logic which receives signals via a power rail internal to said computer and which causes said hoodlock to lock and unlock.

A computer, comprising:

• a processor;
• a housing which encloses said processor;
• an electronically controlled hoodlock which can be used to lock and unlock said housing,
• a power supply which supplies power to said processor and which connects to a power mains;
• and
• a power communications controller coupled to the power supply;
• wherein said power communications controller receives a command via the power mains from a device external to said computer, said command causing the hoodlock to lock or unlock.