TWI665561B - Server and remote control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a server and a remote control method thereof. The method includes: outputting a standby power for a power management unit and a substrate management controller via a standby power output terminal of a power supply unit in a standby mode of a server, and generating a power according to the standby power through the power management unit The signal is for a platform path controller to operate in standby, the baseboard management controller controls the power management unit to stop generating a power signal to turn off the platform path controller in standby operation, and the board management control according to a cold reset signal from a remote device. The controller controls the power management unit to generate a power signal again when the platform path controller is turned off for a preset period of time to restart the platform path controller to trigger a cold reset procedure of the server.

Description

Server and remote control method thereof

This case is about a server and its remote control method.

Cloud computing has risen rapidly in recent years, and a variety of cloud services and cloud applications have appeared in daily life. In order to cope with the rising number of users and service demands, vendors providing cloud services have set up large data centers. The data center is equipped with multiple server hosts. Users of cloud services can connect to the server hosts through the network for data storage. In addition, vendors that provide cloud services can also remotely monitor and manage the server host through remote connection, such as the switch control of the server host, to provide the best cloud services. Therefore, how to control the server host well at the remote end is one of the most important topics at present.

In the current remote control of the server, at most, the server can only be controlled to shut down to a soft-off mode (G2 / S5, Soft-off mode) that conforms to one of the global system states in the advanced configuration and power interface specifications. ), If the server is down, the server will be out of control, that is, the remote server manager cannot control the server to enter the soft shutdown mode to restore its system to normal operation; or, The error cannot be resolved by a warm reset, that is, an error that cannot be resolved even if the server is warm reset, and the server must be reset by a cold reset. At this time, the remote manager must go to the server and press the reset button of the server to allow the server to perform a cold reset, that is, to enter the mechanical shutdown (G3, Mechanical Off) mode and then reset. , And then restore the normal operation of its system, if it is not possible to perform a cold reset on the remote control server, it will cause difficulties in remote control, which is really inconvenient.

In view of this, the present invention provides a server and a remote control method thereof.

In one embodiment, a server includes a power supply unit, a power management unit, a platform path controller, and a substrate management controller. The power supply unit includes a standby power output terminal, and the standby power output terminal is used to provide a standby power in a standby mode of the server. The power management unit is coupled to the standby power output terminal of the power supply unit, and is configured to receive the standby power from the standby power output terminal and generate a power signal according to the standby power. The platform path controller is coupled to the power management unit and is used for standby operation according to the power signal. The baseboard management controller is coupled to the standby power output terminal and the power supply unit of the power management unit, and is configured to receive the standby power from the standby power output terminal and operate according to the standby power. A cold reset signal on a remote device controls the power management unit to stop generating a power signal to turn off the platform path controller in standby operation, and the length of time that the baseboard management controller turns off the platform path controller reaches a preset time When the length is reached, the power management unit is controlled to generate a power signal again to restart the platform path controller to trigger a cold reset procedure of the server.

In one embodiment, a method for remotely controlling a server includes: outputting a standby power supply in a standby mode of a server via a standby power output terminal of a power supply unit for a power management unit and a substrate management controller to operate A power signal is generated by the power management unit according to the standby power for a platform path controller to operate in standby. The baseboard management controller controls the power management unit to stop generating a power signal to turn off the standby operation according to a cold reset signal from a remote device. The platform path controller and the baseboard management controller control the power management unit to generate a power signal to restart the platform path controller to trigger a cold reset of the server when the platform path controller is turned off for a preset length of time. program.

In summary, according to an embodiment of the server and its remote control method in this case, when the user of the server wants to cold reset the server, he can remotely operate the remote device and control the board management controller. Trigger the cold reset procedure of the server. The user of the server does not need to go to the location of the server. The server is triggered by pressing the power button of the server or by replugging the server to the AC power line. The cold reset procedure is quite convenient in operation.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a server according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the server 1 is connected to a remote device 2. The server 1 includes a power supply unit 10, a power management unit 11, a platform controller hub (PCH) 12, and a baseboard management controller 13. The power supply unit 10 is coupled to the power management unit 11 and the substrate management controller 13. The power management unit 11 is coupled between the power supply unit 10 and the platform path controller 12. The substrate management controller 13 is coupled to the power management unit 11. . The power supply unit 10 includes a standby power output terminal 101 and a working power output terminal 102. The power management unit 11 and the substrate management controller 13 are coupled to the standby power output terminal 101 and the working power output terminal of the power supply unit 10. 102.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a remote control method according to the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together. First, the server 1 enters the standby mode from the working mode. In the working mode, the power supply unit 10 first outputs the working power P2 to the power management unit 11 through its working power output terminal 102. The power management The unit 11 supplies power to the platform path controller 12 to work in the working mode according to the working power P2. After the server 1 enters the standby mode, the power supply unit 10 outputs the standby power P1 through its standby power output terminal 101 (step S01). The power management unit 11 and the substrate management controller 13 receive the standby power P1 from the standby power output terminal 101. The substrate management controller 13 operates according to the standby power P1. The power management unit 11 generates a power signal S1 for the platform path controller 12 to operate in standby according to the standby power P1 (step S02). The power management unit 11 can stop generating the power signal S1 according to the control of the substrate management controller 13. In detail, when the remote device 2 sends a cold reset signal S2, the baseboard management controller 13 controls the power management unit 11 to stop generating the power signal S1 according to the cold reset signal S2 (step S03), so that the platform path controller 12 is not Receiving the power signal S1, the platform path controller 12 in the standby operation stops the standby operation (ie, is turned off). Then, the baseboard management controller 13 can calculate the length of time when the platform path controller 12 is turned off (hereinafter referred to as the shutdown time), and control the power management unit 11 when the platform path controller 12 has been turned off for a preset time length. The power signal S1 is regenerated (step S04) to restart the platform path controller 12 to trigger a cold reset procedure of the server 1.

Based on this, the user of server 1 can remotely operate the remote device 2 and control the baseboard management controller 13 to trigger the cold reset procedure of server 1 when the server 1 is to be cold reset. The user does not need to go to the place where the server 1 is installed, trigger the cold reset of the server 1 by pressing the power button of the server 1 or by re-plugging the line connected to the AC power supply of the server 1 The procedure is quite convenient in operation. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the aforementioned preset time length may be 1 second. The preset time length is included in a firmware program executed by the baseboard management controller 13, and the user of the server 1 wants to adjust In the preset time length, the preset time length can be modified by modifying the aforementioned firmware program, which has considerable flexibility in the design of the server 1.

In an embodiment, after the platform path controller 12 stops receiving the standby signal without receiving the power signal S1, the server 1 enters a machine conforming to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification. Mechanical off (G3) mode. After the baseboard management controller 13 controls the power management unit 11 to regenerate the power signal S1 (step S04), the platform path controller 12 is restarted to cause the server 1 to leave the aforementioned mechanical shutdown mode and trigger a cold reset of the server 1 program.

In practice, the baseboard management controller 13 has a network module. The baseboard management controller 13 can directly receive the cold reset signal S2 from the remote device 2 through its network module, or indirectly from the server. The other network units included in 1 receive the cold reset signal S2 from the remote device 2 to control the power management unit 11 to stop supplying power to the platform path controller 12. In addition, the power management unit 11 has a consistent energy terminal 111, and the enabling terminal 111 is connected to one of the general purpose input / output (GPIO) pins 131 of the substrate management controller 13. The substrate management controller 13 can borrow The GPIO pin 131 sends control signals S3 with corresponding logic levels to the enable terminal 111 of the power management unit 11 under different conditions to control the power management unit 11 to generate or not generate the power signal S1. In an embodiment, before receiving the cold reset signal S2, the substrate management controller 13 may send a control signal S3 having a first logic level, such as a high logic level, to the power management unit 11 in step S02. The energy terminal 111 is configured to control the power management unit 11 to generate a power signal S1, and after receiving the cold reset signal S2, it is sent from the aforementioned first logic level to having a second logic level such as low logic in step S03. The level control signal S3 is sent to the enable terminal 111 of the power management unit 11 to control the power management unit 11 to stop generating the power signal S1; and the substrate management controller 13 can reach a preset length of time when the platform path controller 12 is turned off. In step S04, the control signal S3 from the aforementioned low logic level to the high logic level is sent to the enabling terminal 111 of the power management unit 11 in step S04 to control the power management unit 11 to regenerate the power signal S1.

In an embodiment, in step S04, the baseboard management controller 13 further controls the power management unit 11 to stop generating the power signal S1 to determine whether the power management unit 11 has stopped outputting the power signal S1. If the baseboard management controller 13 determines that The power management unit 11 has stopped outputting the power signal S1, which indicates that the server 1 has entered the aforementioned mechanical shutdown mode. The baseboard management controller 13 starts to control the power when the length of the time when the platform path controller 12 is turned off reaches the preset time. The management unit 11 regenerates the power signal S1, and causes the server 1 to exit the mechanical shutdown mode and restart. In practice, the substrate management controller 13 can detect whether the potential on the line where the power management unit 11 outputs the power signal S1 is less than a preset potential through an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Taking the potential of the power signal S1 as 5 V as an example, the aforementioned preset potential can be 5 V. If the substrate management controller 13 determines that the potential on the line where the power management unit 11 outputs the power signal S1 is less than 5 V, it indicates that the servo The controller 1 has entered the mechanical shutdown mode, and the baseboard management controller 13 controls the power management unit 11 to regenerate a power signal S1 with a voltage of 5 V when it calculates that the platform path controller 12 has been turned off for a preset length of time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the remote control method according to the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 together. In an embodiment, before the baseboard management controller 13 receives the cold reset signal S2, the baseboard management controller 13 may first control the platform path controller 12 to trigger the server according to the warm reset signal S4 from the remote device 2. 1 is a warm reset procedure to reset the server 1 in advance through the warm reset procedure. However, if the platform path controller 12 crashes uncontrolled and does not respond to the baseboard management controller 13, that is, after the baseboard management controller 13 sends a warm reset signal S4 from the remote device 2, the platform path controller 12 does not respond. When the warm reset procedure of the server 1 is triggered according to the warm reset signal S4, the baseboard management controller 13 controls the power management unit 11 to stop generating the power signal S1 according to the cold reset signal S2. Based on this, the substrate management controller 13 can determine whether the platform path controller 12 has no response to the warm reset control before receiving the cold reset signal S2 (step S05). If the platform path controller 12 does not respond, the substrate management The controller 13 then controls the power management unit 11 to stop generating the power signal S1 according to the cold reset signal S2 (step S03). In other words, the user of the server 1 can remotely attempt to perform a warm reset by using the remote device 2 The server 1 is reset. If it is invalid, the remote device 2 is operated to perform a cold reset to reset the server 1.

In an embodiment, if the server 1 first operates in the working mode and receives the cold reset signal S2 from the remote device 2 in the working mode, the server 1 will switch from the working mode to the standby mode according to the cold reset signal S2. mode. In this case, the baseboard management controller 13 will receive the cold reset signal S2 when the server 1 is in the working mode, and the baseboard management controller 13 will use the GPIO pin after the server 1 switches from the working mode to the standby mode. 131 first outputs the aforementioned control signal S3 with the first logic level to the enable terminal 111 of the power management unit 11 so that the power management unit 11 outputs the power signal S1 according to the standby power P1 in the standby mode. Then, the substrate management controller 13 uses the GPIO pin 131 to output the aforementioned control signal S3 with the second logic level to the enable terminal 111 of the power management unit 11 to stop the platform path controller 12; in another embodiment, if the servo Before the server 1 receives the cold reset signal S2, the user directly operated the server 1 at the location of the server 1 and switched from the working mode to the standby mode. The server 1 is a remote device when it is in the standby mode. 2 A cold reset signal S2 is received. In this case, before receiving the cold reset signal S2, the baseboard management controller 13 first outputs the control signal S3 with the first logic level to the enable of the power management unit 11 through the GPIO pin 131 in the standby mode. Terminal 111, so that the power management unit 11 outputs the power signal S1 according to the standby power P1 in the standby mode, and after the substrate management controller 13 receives the cold reset signal S2 in the standby mode, the substrate management controller 13 again in the standby mode By outputting the control signal S3 with the second logic level to the enable terminal 111 of the power management unit 11 through the GPIO pin 131, the platform path controller 12 is stopped.

In summary, according to an embodiment of the server and its remote control method in this case, when the user of the server wants to cold reset the server, he can remotely operate the remote device and control the board management controller. Trigger the cold reset procedure of the server. The user of the server does not need to go to the location of the server. The server is triggered by pressing the power button of the server or by replugging the server to the AC power line. The cold reset procedure is quite convenient in operation.

Although this case has been disclosed with examples as above, it is not intended to limit this case. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of this case. Therefore, the scope of protection of this case Subject to the scope of the attached patent application.

1‧‧‧Server

10‧‧‧ Power Supply Unit

101‧‧‧ Standby power output

102‧‧‧Working power output

11‧‧‧Power Management Unit

111‧‧‧Enable

12‧‧‧platform path controller

13‧‧‧ substrate management controller

131‧‧‧GPIO pins

2‧‧‧ remote device

P1‧‧‧Standby Power

P2‧‧‧Working Power

S1‧‧‧ Power Signal

S2‧‧‧ Cold reset signal

S3‧‧‧Control signal

S4‧‧‧ Warm reset signal

S01-S05‧‧‧step

[Figure 1] A block diagram of an embodiment of a server according to the present invention. [Figure 2] A flowchart of an embodiment of a remote control method according to the present invention. [Figure 3] A flowchart of still another embodiment of the remote control method according to the present invention.

Claims (10)

A server includes: a power supply unit including a standby power output terminal for providing a standby power in a standby mode of the server; a power management unit coupled to the standby power An output terminal for receiving the standby power from the standby power output and generating a power signal according to the standby power; a platform path controller coupled to the power management unit for standby operation according to the power signal; and A baseboard management controller, coupled to the standby power output terminal and the power supply unit of the power management unit, for receiving the standby power from the standby power output terminal and operating according to the standby power to the platform path controller According to the power signal during standby operation, the power management unit is controlled to stop generating the power signal according to a cold reset signal from a remote device, so as to turn off the platform path controller in standby operation, and the baseboard management controller is in When the platform path controller is turned off for a preset length of time, the power management order is controlled. Yuan re-generates the power signal to restart the platform path controller to trigger a cold reset procedure of the server. The server according to claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller is configured to control the platform path controller to trigger a warm reset procedure of the server and the platform path according to a warm reset signal from the remote device. When the controller does not respond, it controls the power management unit to stop generating the power signal according to the cold reset signal. The server according to claim 1, wherein after the platform path controller is turned off, the server is in a mechanical shutdown mode that conforms to one of the advanced configuration and power interface specifications, and is to be restarted by the substrate management controller. After the platform path controller triggers the cold reset procedure of the server, the server leaves the mechanical shutdown mode. The server according to claim 1, wherein the power management unit includes a uniform energy terminal, the enabling terminal is used for receiving a control signal, and when the enabling terminal receives the control signal having a first logic level, The power management unit outputs the power signal according to the standby power. When the enabler receives the control signal having a second logic level, the power management unit stops outputting the power signal according to the standby power; wherein the substrate management The controller includes a universal I / O pin coupled to the enable end of the power management unit. When the baseboard management controller receives the cold reset signal, the substrate management controller controls the universal I / O pin The bit output changes from the first logic level to the control signal with the second logic level, and the baseboard management controller controls the universal type when the platform path controller is turned off for a preset length of time The input / output pin output changes from the second logic level to the control signal having the first logic level. The server according to claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller determines whether the power management unit has stopped outputting the power signal after controlling the power management unit to stop generating the power signal, and if the power management unit has stopped outputting When the power signal is calculated, when the length of time when the platform path controller is turned off reaches the preset time length, the baseboard management controller starts to control the power management unit to regenerate the power signal. A method for remotely controlling a server includes: outputting a standby power for a power management unit and a substrate management controller through a standby power output terminal of a power supply unit in a standby mode of the server; and via the power supply The management unit generates a power signal for a platform path controller to operate in standby according to the standby power; the baseboard management controller controls the power management unit to stop generating the power signal to turn off standby according to a cold reset signal from a remote device The platform path controller in operation; and the baseboard management controller controlling the power management unit to regenerate the power signal to restart the platform path controller when the platform path controller is turned off for a preset length of time Trigger a cold reset procedure on this server. The method for remotely controlling a server as described in claim 6, wherein before the substrate management controller controls the power management unit to stop generating the power signal, the method for remotely controlling the server further includes: the substrate management control The controller controls the platform path controller to trigger a warm reset procedure of the server according to a warm reset signal from the remote device and judges whether the platform path controller has no response; and when the platform path controller has no response When the warm reset procedure is not triggered, the baseboard management controller starts to control the power management unit to stop generating the power signal according to the cold reset signal. The method for remotely controlling a server as described in claim 6, wherein the server is in a mechanical shutdown mode in compliance with advanced configuration and power interface specifications after the platform path controller is turned off, and is to be managed and controlled by the substrate After the server restarts the platform path controller and triggers the cold reset procedure of the server, the server leaves the mechanical shutdown mode. The method for remotely controlling a server as described in claim 6, wherein the baseboard management controller calculates the time when the platform path controller is turned off to reach the preset time length, and controls the power management unit to regenerate the power signal. The steps include: the baseboard management controller determining whether the power management unit has stopped outputting the power signal; and when determining that the power management unit has stopped outputting the power signal, the baseboard management controller calculates when the platform path controller is turned off Length, when the length of time that the platform path controller is turned off reaches the preset time length, the power management unit is controlled to regenerate the power signal. The method for remotely controlling a server as described in claim 6, wherein the step of the power management unit generating the power signal according to the standby power comprises: controlling a universal input / output pin output via the baseboard management controller to have A control signal of one of the first logic levels is given to the uniform end of the power management unit, so that the enable end of the power management unit receives the control signal having the first logic level and outputs the power according to the standby power Signal; wherein, in the step of the baseboard management controller controlling the power management unit to stop generating the power signal, the baseboard management controller controls the general-purpose input / output pin output from the first logic level to have a The control signal of the second logic level is given to the enabling end of the power management unit, so that the power management unit stops generating the power signal; wherein, the substrate management controller controls the power management unit to regenerate the power signal. In the step, the substrate management controller controls the universal input / output pin output to change from the second logic level. Having the first logic level of the control signal to the power management unit of the enable terminal, so that the power management unit to re-generate the signal based on the standby power supply.