US-12621207-B2 - Managing use of non-standard features of components of data processing systems using third-party software

US12621207B2US 12621207 B2US12621207 B2US 12621207B2US-12621207-B2

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing operation of a data processing system are disclosed. Hardware resources of the data processing system may issue a command for execution by a channel card of the data processing system. The channel card may be manufactured by a vendor different to a manufacturer of the data processing system. A management controller of the data processing system may identify and screen the command based on vendor software for the channel card (e.g., proprietary software of the vendor). The vendor software may be usable to facilitate use of a non-standard feature of the channel card. When the vendor software indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature, the command may be modified by the management controller. The modified command may be used to initiate execution of the non-standard feature by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service.

Inventors

Deepaganesh Paulraj
Vinod Parackal Saby

Assignees

DELL PRODUCTS L.P.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240726

Claims (20)

1 . A method for managing operation of a data processing system, the method comprising: making an identification, by a management controller of the data processing system, that hardware resources of the data processing system have issued a command, wherein the hardware resources of the data processing system comprise a channel card and a processor that issued the command based on execution of a program thereon, the management controller is physically installed within the data processing system and is separate from and tasked with managing operations of the hardware resources, and the command being for execution by the channel card, the channel card being manufactured by a vendor different to a manufacturer of the data processing system; and based on the identification: screening, by the management controller and using vendor software for the channel card, the command, the vendor software being proprietary software of the vendor and the vendor software being usable for facilitating use of a non-standard feature of the channel card, and in a first instance of the screening where the vendor software indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature: modifying, by the management controller and using the vendor software, the command to obtain a non-standard feature customized command; and initiating, by the management controller, execution of the non-standard feature customized command by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein to perform the screening, the management controller monitors the processor to identify and intercept issued commands transparently to the processor.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vendor software is adapted to obtain user input indicating whether the non-standard feature is to be utilized during processing by the channel card.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the user input is based on an interaction between the management controller and a user of the data processing system, the user desiring the computer-implemented service to be provided.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-standard feature of the channel card is based on standard features of a type of channel card, and the standard features of the type of the channel card are based on an industry standard with which the channel card is compliant.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the non-standard feature is a capability of the channel card that is additional to those of the industry standard, and is not natively invokable by the hardware resources and software hosted thereon.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: prior to making the identification and by the management controller: obtaining the vendor software for the channel card from a remote system via out-of-band channels; performing, using the vendor software for the channel card, a feature identification process for the channel card to identify the non-standard feature; obtaining, using the vendor software for the channel card, user input regarding the use of the non-standard feature; and configuring the vendor software for the channel card based on the user input.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the vendor software is adapted to translate commands to modified commands.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the vendor software is further adapted to facilitate updating of firmware of the channel card.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein obtaining the vendor software comprises: providing the vendor software to other management controllers of other data processing systems that host similar channel cards to the channel card to facilitate use of similar non-standard features.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the management controller manages the operations of the hardware resources via out-of-band channels that are separate from in-band channels of the hardware resources.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the data processing system has a single network module, a traffic manager of the single network module separately advertises network endpoints for the management controller and for the hardware resources.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the management controller and the single network module are on separate power domains from the hardware resources so that the management controller and the single network module are operable while the hardware resources are inoperable.
14 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a management controller of a data processing system, cause the management controller to perform operations for managing operation of the data processing system, the operations comprising: making an identification, by the management controller of the data processing system, that hardware resources of the data processing system have issued a command, wherein the hardware resources of the data processing system comprise a channel card and a processor that issued the command based on execution of a program thereon, the management controller is physically installed within the data processing system and is separate from and tasked with managing operation of the hardware resources, and the command being for execution by the channel card, the channel card being manufactured by a vendor different to a manufacturer of the data processing system; and based on the identification: screening, by the management controller and using vendor software for the channel card, the command, the vendor software being proprietary software of the vendor and the vendor software being usable for facilitating use of a non-standard feature of the channel card, and in a first instance of the screening where the vendor software indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature: modifying, by the management controller and using the vendor software, the command to obtain a non-standard feature customized command; and initiating, by the management controller, execution of the non-standard feature customized command by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service.
15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein to perform the screening, the management controller monitors the processor to identify and intercept issued commands transparently to the processor.
16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the vendor software is adapted to obtain user input indicating whether the non-standard feature is to be utilized during processing by the channel card.
17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the user input is based on an interaction between the management controller and a user of the data processing system, the user desiring the computer-implemented service to be provided.
18 . A data processing system, comprising: a management controller; and a memory coupled to the management controller to store instructions, which when executed by the management controller, cause the management controller to perform operations, the operations comprising: making an identification, by the management controller of the data processing system, that hardware resources of the data processing system have issued a command, wherein the hardware resources of the data processing system comprise a channel card and a processor that issued the command based on execution of a program thereon, the management controller is physically installed within the data processing system and is separate from and tasked with managing operation of the hardware resources, and the command being for execution by the channel card, the channel card being manufactured by a vendor different to a manufacturer of the data processing system, and based on the identification: screening, by the management controller and using vendor software for the channel card, the command, the vendor software being proprietary software of the vendor and the vendor software being usable for facilitating use of a non-standard feature of the channel card; and in a first instance of the screening where the vendor software indicates that the command implicates use of the non-standard feature: modifying, by the management controller and using the vendor software, the command to obtain a non-standard feature customized command, and initiating, by the management controller, execution of the non-standard feature customized command by the channel card to facilitate provisioning of a computer-implemented service.
19 . The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein to perform the screening, the management controller monitors the processor to identify and intercept issued commands transparently to the processor.
20 . The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the vendor software is adapted to obtain user input indicating whether the non-standard feature is to be utilized during processing by the channel card.

Description

FIELD Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to managing operation of data processing systems. More particularly, embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods to manage use of non-standard features of components of the data processing systems. BACKGROUND Computing devices may provide computer-implemented services. The computer-implemented services may be used by users of the computing devices and/or devices operably connected to the computing devices. The computer-implemented services may be performed with hardware components such as processors, memory modules, storage devices, and communication devices. The operation of these components and the components of other devices may impact the performance of the computer-implemented services. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. FIG. 1A shows a block diagram illustrating a system in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 1B shows a block diagram illustrating components of a data processing system in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 2A-2B show interaction diagrams in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating a data processing system in accordance with an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Various embodiments will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments disclosed herein. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” and “an embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. References to an “operable connection” or “operably connected” means that a particular device is able to communicate with one or more other devices. The devices themselves may be directly connected to one another or may be indirectly connected to one another through any number of intermediary devices, such as in a network topology. In general, embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for managing operation of a data processing system. The data processing system may provide computer-implemented services. To provide the computer-implemented services, hardware resources of the data processing system such as memory, processors, channel cards, etc., may operate in cooperation with one another. To do so, during manufacturing of the data processing system, the manufacturer may prepare the data processing system with firmware, drivers, and/or configuration settings that support the cooperative operation of the hardware resources included in the data processing system at its time of manufacturing (e.g., stock hardware components). For example, a processor of the data processing system may interact with a channel card of the data processing system to facilitate provision of the computer-implemented services. The channel card may include, for example, a graphics card, a sound card, a storage card, and/or other types of hardware components of the data processing system that may be added, removed and/or replaced. To interact with the channel card, the processor may issue native commands (e.g., commands designed specifically for the processor that may be recognized by the channel card) that invoke known functionality of the channel card. Over time (e.g., after an end user obtains the data processing system from the manufacturer), stock hardware components of the data processing system may be modified. For example, portions of the stock hardware components may be replaced, added, removed, and/or otherwise modified to improve performance of the data processing system. However, if a stock hardware component is modified, then any firmware, drivers, and/or configuration settings associated with the modified hardware component may be required to be updated so that the hardware resources may continue to operate cooperatively. For example, the user may replace a stock channel card of the data processing system with an aftermarket channel card. The aftermarket channel card may include a channel card with different (e.g., additional) functionality from the stock channel card. For example, the aftermarket channel card may include standard features (e.g., known functionality, based on a current or preceding in