Techniques to initialize from a remotely accessible storage device

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a network input/output (I/O) device, one or more parameters to enable the network I/O device to connect to a remote server via a network communication link;
• connecting to the remote server using the one or more parameters;
• establishing a control path to a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) controller maintained at the remote server using a remote direct memory access (RDMA) protocol;
• receiving an RDMA service tag (STag) from the NVMe controller to access an operating system (OS) kernel and one or more device drivers;
• storing the RDMA STag in a non-volatile memory at the network I/O device that is accessible to a system basic input/output system (BIOS) for a host device coupled to the network I/O device to enable the system BIOS to use the RDMA STag to access a storage device controlled by the NVMe controller and load the OS kernel and the one or more device drivers to remotely boot the host device
• discovering one or more properties for the storage device controlled by the NVMe controller by identifying access rights to the storage device, the identified access rights to include read only access rights or read/write access rights;
• and
• registering the storage device and the one or more properties with the system BIOS.

An apparatus comprising:

• circuitry for a network input/output (I/O) device;
• a parameter module for execution by the circuitry to receive one or more parameters associated with connecting to a remote client via a network communication link;
• a connect module for execution by the circuitry to connect to the remote client via the network communication link using the one or more parameters;
• a path module for execution by the circuitry to establish a control path between the remote client and a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) controller maintained at a server coupled to the network I/O device, the control path established using a remote direct memory access (RDMA) protocol;
• a forward module for execution by the circuitry to forward one or more properties for a storage device controlled by the NVMe controller to the remote client and to forward an RDMA service tag (STag) generated by the NVMe controller that represents an allocated portion of the storage device that is accessible using the RDMA STag, the allocated portion to include an operating system (OS) kernel and one or more device drivers;
• a receive module for execution by the circuitry to receive the RDMA STag from the remote client and forward the RDMA STag to the NVMe controller to enable the remote client to access a storage device controlled by the NVMe controller and load the OS kernel and the one or more device drivers to remotely boot the remote client;
• a store module for execution by the circuitry to store the RDMA STag in a non-volatile memory at the network I/O device that is accessible to a system basic input/output system (BIOS) for a host device coupled to the network I/O device to enable the system BIOS to use the RDMA STag to access the storage device and load the OS kernel and the one or more device drivers to remotely boot the host device;
• a property module for execution by the circuitry to discover one or more properties for the storage device controlled by the NVMe controller, the one or more properties including identified access rights to the storage device, the identified access rights to include read only access rights or read/write access rights;
• and
• a register module for execution by the circuitry to register the storage device and the one or more properties with the system BIOS.

At least one machine readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that in response to being executed on a network input/output (I/O) device coupled to a server causes the network EO device to:

• receive one or more parameters associated with connecting to a remote client via a network communication link;
• connect to the remote client via the network communication link using the one or more parameters;
• establish a control path between the remote client and a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) controller maintained at the server, the control path established using a remote direct memory access (RDMA) protocol;
• forward one or more properties for a storage device controlled by the NVMe controller to the remote client and send an RDMA service tag (STag) generated by the NVMe controller that represents an allocated portion of a storage device controlled by the NVMe controller that is accessible using the RDMA STag, the allocated portion to include an operating system (OS) kernel and one or more device drivers;
• receive the RDMA STag from the remote client and forwarding the RDMA STag to the NVMe controller to enable the remote client to access the storage device and load the OS kernel and the one or more device drivers to remotely boot the remote client;
• a store module for execution by the circuitry to store the RDMA STag in a nonvolatile memory at the network I/O device that is accessible to a system basic input/output system (BIOS) for a host device coupled to the network I/O device to enable the system BIOS to use the RDMA STag to access the storage device and load the OS kernel and the one or more device drivers to remotely boot the host device;
• a property module for execution by the circuitry to discover one or more properties for the storage device controlled by the NVMe controller, the one or more properties including identified access rights to the storage device, the identified access rights to include read only access rights or read/write access rights;
• and
• a register module for execution by the circuitry to register the storage device and the one or more properties with the system BIOS.