In-system memory personalization

A system for personalizing a given supply of electronic modules, all of the given supply of electronic modules having the same part number and a plurality of programmable functions, and each of the modules being installed in one of a plurality of specified products, the system comprising:

• a database of microcode for personalizing the electronic modules;
• and
• a service processor including an in-system personalization function to determine, for each of the electronic modules, if microcode from the database is needed to personalize said each electronic module for the product in which the electronic module is installed, and based on the microcode is needed to personalize the electronic module, to identify the microcode needed for personalizing the electronic module for the product in which the electronic module is installed, to obtain said identified microcode from the database, and to install the obtained microcode on the electronic module to enable one or more of the programmable functions thereon without changing the part number of the electronic module, wherein the specified products are sent to customers from a manufacturer and the customers are enabled to use the programmable functions, without being able to use the in-system personalization function to re-personalize said each electronic module;
• and wherein:
• each of said electronic modules includes Vital Product Data (VPD) for identifying a system for which said each electronic module is personalizable;
• the specified products are computer servers;
• and
• the service processor uses the in-system personalization function to personalize each of the electronic modules by:
• installing said each electronic module on one of the computer servers, said one of the computer server systems including asset protection code,
• disabling the asset protection code,
• using said VPD of said each electronic module to identify a type of server for which said each electronic module is personalizable,
• determining if said each electronic module is personalized for said type of server, and based on said each electronic module not being personalized for said type of server, retrieving microcode and VPD images and installing the microcode and VPD images on said each electronic module to personalize said each electronic module for said type of server,
• enabling the asset protection code, and
• disabling the in-system personalization function.

A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for personalizing a plurality of parts, all of said parts having an identical part number and one or more programmable functions, and wherein a manufacturer manufactures a first product employing a first of the parts, and a second product employing a second of the parts, the first product is sent to a first customer and the second product is sent to a second customer, the method comprising the steps of:

• prior to the first product being sent to the first customer, the manufacturer using the first product to determine if personalization of the first part is required for the first customer, and based on said personalization being required, using the personalization function of the first product to personalize the first part for the first customer by setting a first code in the first part, said first code causing said first part to provide a first programmable function and disabling the personalization function of the first product, without disabling said one or more of the enabled programmable functions, wherein the first customer is enabled to use the first programmable function of the first part without being able to use the personalization function of the first product to re-personalize said first part;
• and
• before the second product is sent to the second customer, said manufacturer using the second product to determine if personalization of the second part is required for the second customer, and when said personalization is required, using the personalization function of the second product to personalize the second part for the second customer by setting a second code in the second part, said second code causing the second part to provide a second programmable function, and disabling the personalization function of the second product, without disabling said second programmable function of the second part, wherein the second customer is enabled to use the second programmable function without being able to use the personalization function of the second product to re-personalize said second part;
• wherein said second programmable function is different from the first programmable function;
• and wherein:
• each of said parts includes Vital Product Data (VPD) for identifying a system for which said each part is personalizable;
• the first product is a computer server system;
• and
• the manufacturer using the personalization function of the first product to personalize the first part includes:
• installing the first part on the computer server system, said computer server system including asset protection code,
• disabling the asset protection code
• using said VPD to identify a type of server for which said first part is personalizable,
• determining if the first part is personalized for said type of server, and
• based on the first part not being personalized for said type of server, retrieving microcode and VPD images and installing the microcode and VPD images on the first part to personalize said first part for said type of server,
• enabling the asset protection code, and
• disabling the personalization function on said computer server system.