US-12621376-B2 - Method for managing information of field replaceable units

Abstract

A method for managing information of FRUs is implemented by a BMC that connects to multiple electronic devices and a user-end device. The method includes: sending a query to each electronic device requesting information datasets therefrom, each of which includes header information; for each information dataset, when determining that the electronic device corresponding to the information dataset is an FRU based on the header information, generating an identification code that corresponds to the information dataset, and storing the information dataset and the identification code; when receiving, from the user-end device, an OEM command requesting for all identification codes, sending the identification codes to the user-end device; and when receiving a command set that includes one of the identification codes stored in the BMC, sending the information dataset that corresponds to the one of the identification codes to the user-end device.

Inventors

• Ming-I KUO

Assignees

• MITAC COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20241114

Priority Date

20240402

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method for managing information of field replaceable units (FRUs) to be implemented by a baseboard management controller (BMC), the BMC being electrically connected to a plurality of electronic devices and being connected to a user-end device through a communication network, the method comprising steps: A) sending a query to each of the electronic devices requesting information datasets respectively from the electronic devices, where each of the information datasets includes header information; B) for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices, determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the header information included in the information dataset, and in response to determining that the electronic device corresponding to the information dataset is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the information dataset and that conforms to specifications of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), and storing the information dataset and the identification code, wherein the identification code generated for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices is unique; C) in response to receiving, from the user-end device, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) command requesting for all identification codes that correspond respectively to the electronic devices determined to be an FRU, sending the identification codes stored in the BMC to the user-end device; and D) in response to receiving a command set that includes one of the identification codes stored in the BMC, sending the information dataset that corresponds to said one of the identification codes to the user-end device.
2. 2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in step B), determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU includes: determining whether a zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset has a value equal to a predetermined value, and in response to determining that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to the predetermined value, determining that the electronic device is an FRU.
3. 3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, in step B), determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU further includes: determining whether a sum of values respectively of all bytes except for a last byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to a value of the last byte; and in response to determining that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to the predetermined value, and that the sum of the values of all bytes except for the last byte of the header information is equal to the value of the last byte, determining that the electronic device is an FRU.
4. 4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , the BMC storing an FRU device table, wherein, in step B), storing the information dataset and the identification code includes storing the information dataset and the identification code that corresponds to the information dataset into the FRU device table.
5. 5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step B) includes: assigning an initial value to a controller counter (i), where the initial value corresponds to a first one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC; for an i th one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC, implementing a management process including determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the i th one of the information datasets is an FRU, in response to determining that the electronic device corresponding to the i th one of the information datasets is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the i th one of the information datasets and that conforms to the specifications of IPMI, and storing the i th one of the information datasets and the identification code corresponding to the i th one of the information datasets, determining whether the i th one of the information datasets is a last one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC, and in response to determining that the i th one of the information datasets is not the last one of the information datasets, increasing the controller counter (i) by one, and repeating the management process until it is determined that the i th one of the information datasets is the last one of the information datasets.
6. 6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the information datasets further includes address information, wherein step B) further includes, for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices, confirming whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the address information included in the information dataset.
7. 7 . A method for managing information of field replaceable units (FRUs) to be implemented by a host system, the host system including a plurality of nodes, each of which includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) and a plurality of electronic devices that are connected to the BMC, the BMC being connected to a user-end device through a communication network, the method comprising steps of, by the BMC of each of the nodes: A) sending a query to each of the electronic devices of the node requesting information datasets respectively from the electronic devices, where each of the information datasets includes header information; B) for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node, determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the header information included in the information dataset, and in response to determining that the electronic device corresponding to the information dataset is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the information dataset and that conforms to specifications of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), and storing the information dataset and the identification code, wherein the identification code generated for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node is unique; C) in response to receiving, from the user-end device, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) command requesting for all identification codes that correspond respectively to the electronic devices of the node determined to be an FRU, sending the identification codes stored in the BMC of the node to the user-end device; and D) in response to receiving a command set that includes one of the identification codes stored in the BMC of the node, sending the information dataset that corresponds to said one of the identification codes to the user-end device.
8. 8 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein, in step B), determining, for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node, whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU includes: determining whether a zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset has a value equal to a predetermined value, and in response to determining that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to the predetermined value, determining that the electronic device is an FRU.
9. 9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein, in step B), determining, for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node, whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU further includes: determining whether a sum of values respectively of all bytes except for a last byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to a value of the last byte, and in response to determining that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to the predetermined value, and that the sum of the values of all bytes except for the last byte of the header information is equal to the value of the last byte, determining that the electronic device is an FRU.
10. 10 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , the BMC of each of the nodes storing an FRU device table, wherein, in step B), storing the information dataset and the identification code includes storing the information dataset and the identification code that corresponds to the information dataset into the FRU device table that is stored in the BMC of the node.
11. 11 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein step B) includes, by the BMC of each of the nodes: assigning an initial value to a controller counter (i) that corresponds to the BMC of the node, where the initial value corresponds to a first one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC of the node; for an i th one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC of the node, implementing a management process including determining, for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node, whether the electronic device that corresponds to the i th one of the information datasets is an FRU, in response to determining that the electronic device corresponding to the i th one of the information datasets is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the i th one of the information datasets and that conforms to the specifications of IPMI, and storing the i th one of the information datasets and the identification code corresponding to the i th one of the information datasets, determining whether the i th one of the information datasets is a last one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC of the node; and in response to determining that the i th one of the information datasets is not the last one of the information datasets, increasing the controller counter (i) by one, and repeating the management process until it is determined that the i th one of the information datasets is the last one of the information datasets.
12. 12 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein each of the information datasets further includes address information, wherein step B) further includes, for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node, confirming whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the address information included in the information dataset.
13. 13 . A host system comprising a plurality of nodes, each of which includes: a baseboard management controller (BMC) configured to be connected to a user-end device through a communication network; and a plurality of electronic devices connected to said BMC; wherein said BMC of each of said nodes is configured to, send a query to each of said electronic devices of said node requesting information datasets respectively from said electronic devices, where each of the information datasets includes header information, for each of the information datasets received from said electronic devices of said node, determine whether said electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the header information included in the information dataset, and in response to determining that said electronic device corresponding to the information dataset is an FRU, generate an identification code that corresponds to the information dataset and that conforms to specifications of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), and store the information dataset and the identification code in said BMC of said node, wherein the identification code generated for each of the information datasets received from said electronic devices of said node is unique; in response to receiving, from the user-end device, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) command requesting for all identification codes that correspond respectively to said electronic devices of said node determined to be an FRU, send the identification codes stored in said BMC of said node to the user-end device; and in response to receiving a command set that includes one of the identification codes stored in said BMC of said node, send the information dataset that corresponds to said one of the identification codes to the user-end device.
14. 14 . The host system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said BMC of each of said nodes is configured to determine, for each of the information datasets received from said electronic devices of said node, whether said electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU by: determining whether a zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset has a value equal to a predetermined value, and in response to determining that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to the predetermined value, determining that said electronic device is an FRU.
15. 15 . The host system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said BMC of each of said nodes is configured to determine, for each of the information datasets received from said electronic devices of said node, whether said electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU by: determining whether a sum of values respectively of all bytes except for a last byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to a value of the last byte, and in response to determining that the value of the zeroth byte of the header information included in the information dataset is equal to the predetermined value, and that the sum of the values of all bytes except for the last byte of the header information is equal to the value of the last byte, determining that said electronic device is an FRU.
16. 16 . The host system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said BMC of each of said nodes stores an FRU device table, wherein said BMC of each of said nodes is configured to store the information dataset and the identification code by storing the information dataset and the identification code that corresponds to the information dataset into the FRU device table that is stored in said BMC of said node.
17. 17 . The host system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said BMC of each of said nodes is configured to: assign an initial value to a controller counter (i) that corresponds to said BMC of said node, where the initial value corresponds to a first one of the information datasets that is to be processed by said BMC of said node; for an i th one of the information datasets that is to be processed by the BMC, implement a management process including determining, for each of the information datasets received from said electronic devices of said node, whether said electronic device that corresponds to the i th one of the information datasets is an FRU, in response to determining that said electronic device corresponding to the i th one of the information datasets is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the i th one of the information datasets and that conforms to the specifications of IPMI, and storing the i th one of the information datasets and the identification code corresponding to the i th one of the information datasets, determining whether the i th one of the information datasets is a last one of the information datasets that is to be processed by said BMC of said node; and in response to determining that the i th one of the information datasets is not the last one of the information datasets, increasing the controller counter (i) by one, and repeating the management process until it is determined that the i th one of the information datasets is the last one of the information datasets.
18. 18 . The host system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each of the information datasets further includes address information, wherein said BMC of each of said nodes is configured to, for each of the information datasets received from said electronic devices of said node, confirm whether said electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the address information included in the information dataset.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention patent application No. 113112479, filed on Apr. 2, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The disclosure relates to a method for managing information, and more particularly to a method for managing information of field replaceable units. BACKGROUND Field replaceable unit (FRU) refers to a component of a server that may be replaced on-site when a portion of the component is damaged or requires repair. Such a design can reduce repair costs and time, thereby making server repair more efficient and convenient. The physical memory of the FRU may store information of the FRU, including product name, product serial number, production date, hardware version number, etc. As such, a maintenance personnel may use the information to troubleshoot and repair the FRU. However, when there are multiple FRUs to be repaired, the information of each of the FRUs needs to be obtained according to a method provided by the original manufacturer of that FRU, which usually requires the maintenance personnel to look up various tables provided by the original manufacturers of the FRUs to know what kind of FRUs are in the server and what software tools should be used for repairing the FRUs, respectively. The maintenance personnel needs to be next to the server to obtain the information of each of the FRUs using the software tools. That is to say, the maintenance personnel is unable to obtain the information of each of the FRUs remotely. Moreover, if a user of the server inserts or removes certain FRUs in the server and thereby changes the original configuration of the server, the maintenance personnel may not know the latest configuration of the server and may thus be unable to manage maintenance operation remotely. SUMMARY Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a method for managing information of FRUs that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method for managing information of FRUs is to be implemented by a baseboard management controller (BMC), the BMC is electrically connected to a plurality of electronic devices and is connected to a user-end device through a communication network. The method includes steps: A) sending a query to each of the electronic devices requesting information datasets respectively from the electronic devices, where each of the information datasets includes header information; B) for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices, determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the header information included in the information dataset, and in response to determining that the electronic device corresponding to the information dataset is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the information dataset and that conforms to specifications of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), and storing the information dataset and the identification code, wherein the identification code generated for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices is unique; C) in response to receiving, from the user-end device, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) command requesting for all identification codes that correspond respectively to the electronic devices determined to be an FRU, sending the identification codes stored in the BMC to the user-end device; and D) in response to receiving a command set that includes one of the identification codes stored in the BMC, sending the information dataset that corresponds to said one of the identification codes to the user-end device. According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for managing information of FRUs is to be implemented by a host system, the host system includes a plurality of nodes, each of which includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) and a plurality of electronic devices that are connected to the BMC, the BMC is connected to a user-end device through a communication network, the method comprising steps of, by the BMC of each of the nodes: A) sending a query to each of the electronic devices of the node requesting information datasets respectively from the electronic devices, where each of the information datasets includes header information; B) for each of the information datasets received from the electronic devices of the node, determining whether the electronic device that corresponds to the information dataset is an FRU based on the header information included in the information dataset, and in response to determining that the electronic device corresponding to the information dataset is an FRU, generating an identification code that corresponds to the information dataset and that conforms to specifications of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), and storing the information dataset and the