Seamless computer system remote control

A remotely managed data processing system permitting remote control from a remote console, said remotely managed data processing system comprising:

• a main processor;
• a service processor separate from the main processor;
• and
• data storage including a remote control application executable by said service processor;
• wherein said service processor, prior to initiation of execution of power-on self-test (POST) code by a main processor of a remotely managed data processing system, initiates execution of the remote control application and establishes communication over a network connection with the remote console;
• and
• wherein the remote control application, upon initiation of execution of POST code by the main processor, enables remote control of the remotely managed data processing system from the remote console by:
• getting video data from video hardware within the remotely managed data processing system;
• transmitting the video data to the remote console over the network connection;
• receiving keyboard/mouse signals from the remote console over the network connection;
• and
• forcing the received keyboard/mouse signals into a keyboard/mouse controller within the remotely managed data processing system as if the received keyboard/mouse signals had originated with locally attached peripherals.

A computer program product within a computer usable medium for remote control of a remotely managed data processing system from a remote console, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium and a remote control application executable on a service processor of the remotely managed system separate from a main processor within the remotely managed data processing system, wherein, when executed by the service processor, the remote control application:

• prior to initiation of execution of power-on self-test (POST) code by a main processor of a remotely managed data processing system, executes to establish communication over a network connection with a remote console;
• from initiation of execution of POST code by the main processor enables remote control of the remotely managed data processing system by;
• getting video data from video hardware within the remotely managed data processing system;
• transmitting the video data to a remote console over a network connection coupling the remotely controlled system to the remote console;
• receiving keyboard/mouse signals from the remote console over the network connection;
• and
• forcing the received keyboard/mouse signals into a keyboard/mouse controller within the remotely managed data processing system as if the received keyboard/mouse signals had originated with locally attached peripherals.