Baseboard management controller (BMC) to host communication through device independent universal serial bus (USB) interface

A method for performing communications between a management device and a host computer, the method comprising:

• emulating, by the management device, a mass storage device to a computing device through a first communication link, wherein the computing device functions as the host computer of the management device;
• identifying, by the management device, the emulated mass storage device as an unsupported mass storage device to the computing device, such that the emulated mass storage device is accessible by the computing device as a bulk-only device;
• and
• in response to receiving, at the management device, a first message from the computing device directed toward the bulk-only device through the first communication link,
• determining, by the management device, whether the first message is an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) message intended for communication with the management device, or a non-IPMI message;
• and
• when the first message is the IPMI message, processing, at the management device, the IPMI message,
• wherein the computing device comprises:
• a mass storage processing module, configured to identify the emulated mass storage device to be the unsupported mass storage device, and
• an IPMI processing module, configured to recognize the emulated mass storage device as an accessible bulk-only device, generate the IPMI message to be directed to the bulk-only device and transmit the IPMI message to the bulk-only device through the first communication link.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code, wherein the computer executable code, when executed at a processor of a management device, is configured to

• emulate the management device as a mass storage device to a computing device through a first communication link, wherein the management device is communicatively connected to the computing device through the first communication link;
• identify the emulated mass storage device as an unsupported mass storage device to the computing device, such that the emulated mass storage device is accessible by the computing device as a bulk-only device;
• and
• in response to receiving a first message from the computing device directed toward the bulk-only device through the first communication link,
• determine whether the first message is an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) message intended for communication with the management device, or a non-IPMI message;
• and
• when the first message is the IPMI message, process the IPMI message,
• wherein the computing device comprises:
• a mass storage processing module, configured to identify the emulated mass storage device to be the unsupported mass storage device, and
• an IPMI processing module, configured to recognize the emulated mass storage device as an accessible bulk-only device, generate the IPMI message to be directed to the bulk-only device and transmit the IPMI message to the bulk-only device through the first communication link.