KR20010073535A - Apparatus and method for interfacing between server baseboard and lan in order to manage the server baseboard remotely - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An interface device and method between a LAN(Local Area Network) and a server baseboard for remote management of the server baseboard are provided to manage the server baseboard in a remote place, and to manage the server board at a speed over the speed supported in a serial communication system. CONSTITUTION: A server baseboard has a BMC(Baseboard Management Controller), which detects operation states from detection results by sensors. A network device(220) supplies a connection function with a LAN(Local Area Network). A CPU(210) obtains information on the detected operation states by the BMC, if information is requested from a remote place through the LAN. And the CPU(210) converts the obtained information into information for transmission through the LAN, and drives the network device(220) to transmit the converted information to the remote place through the LAN.

Description

Interface device and method between LAN and server baseboard for remote management of server baseboard {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING BETWEEN SERVER BASEBOARD AND LAN IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE SERVER BASEBOARD REMOTELY}

The present invention relates to a network system including a server, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for managing a baseboard of the server.

In general, a network system such as a local area network (LAN) includes a server. In the baseboard of the server, sensors for sensing voltage or temperature are installed in each part, and a microcontroller called a baseboard management controller (BMC) is installed. The baseboard here is also called the motherboard. The baseboard management controller is a management-only processor that obtains information to grasp the operation state of the baseboard, such as voltage or temperature, from the sensors installed in each part of the baseboard and delivers it to the user. There are two ways to make the server's baseboard information available to users. One method is to connect the serial port attached to the baseboard management controller of the server baseboard and the serial port of the system for the console, and then obtain necessary data through serial communication. Another way is to run the operating system on the server baseboard and use the specified program within that operating system to get the data you need.

There are the following problems in obtaining the baseboard information of the server by the two methods as described above.

According to the first method, as described above, after connecting the serial port attached to the server baseboard and the serial port of the console system, information indicating the operating state of the baseboard is obtained by serial communication. Therefore, there is a physical limitation (a few tens of meters) in the distance that can be communicated by connecting the serial cable between the system and the server baseboard installed console system. In addition, since the serial communication method is used, the data transmission / reception speed cannot be faster than the speed supported by the serial communication method. Since only one administrator uses the one-to-one communication method, only one administrator can use the baseboard of the server baseboard. There is a problem that the information provided by the management controller can only be used.

According to the second method, the method of starting the operating system on the server baseboard and obtaining the necessary data using a specific program in the operating system uses a program that operates in the operating system. Therefore, a program supporting multiple operating systems must be supported. Unless the operating system is operating correctly, you may run into a problem where you can't run the program at all. Furthermore, there are limitations on the performance of additional functions such as system reset or power off.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for remotely managing a server baseboard of a network system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for managing a server baseboard of a network system at a speed higher than that supported by a serial communication method.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for allowing a plurality of administrators to manage a server baseboard of a network system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for removing the burden of having a server baseboard having a program supporting various operating systems in order to manage a server baseboard of a network system.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for removing a restriction on performing additional functions such as system reset or power off when managing a server baseboard of a network system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a server baseboard having a plurality of sensors and a controller for identifying various operating states from detection results of the plurality of sensors. An apparatus for interfacing between a server baseboard and the LAN is proposed. The network device of the interface apparatus provides a connection function with the LAN. The central processing unit of the interface device obtains information on the operation state grasped by the controller when requesting information from a remote place through the LAN, converts the information into information for transmission through the LAN, and converts the network. A device is driven to transmit the converted information to the remote site through the LAN.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a server baseboard remote management system according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the interface device between the LAN and the server baseboard shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the interface device between the LAN and the server baseboard shown in FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same reference numerals and the same elements among the drawings are represented by the same reference numerals and symbols as much as possible even though they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a server baseboard remote management system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the remote management system according to the present invention allows a server manager 100 to manage a server baseboard 100 from a remote location through a local area network (LAN). It features. Inside the server baseboard 100, a sensor unit 110 including a plurality of sensors for detecting each operation state such as a voltage or a temperature of the server baseboard is installed, and the server baseboard from the result detected by the sensor unit 110. A baseboard management controller (BMC) (Micro-Contorller) 120 is installed to determine the operation status of the controller. The baseboard management controller 120 is a processor provided to manage the server baseboard 100 exclusively, and is usually a processor provided separately from the main processor. Here, the server baseboard 100 is managed and managed through only one remote manager 300, but the remote manager 300 may be a plurality of remote managers. The system configured as described above allows the server baseboard to be managed remotely and at a speed higher than that supported by the serial communication method. In addition, the server baseboard can be managed by a plurality of administrators rather than by one administrator, and the burden of having a server baseboard having a program supporting multiple operating systems is removed.

In order to operate according to the present invention, in order to access a server baseboard through a network (LAN), an administrator at a remote place must have a device capable of performing a LAN function in addition to the server baseboard. In addition, in order to operate the network device and perform various other tasks, a central processing unit (CPU) capable of controlling the baseboard management controller (BMC) while executing a pre-written program is required. For this operation is the interface device 200.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the interface device 200 connected between the LAN and the server baseboard 100 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the interface device 200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 210, a network device 220, a LAN connector 230, and a read only memory (ROM). 240 and random access memory (RAM) 250. The network device 220 provides a connection function with a LAN, and may be connected to the LAN through a LAN connector 230. The CPU 210 may be connected to the BMC 120 of the server baseboard 100 and may also be connected to other components (not shown) of the server baseboard 100 through a system bus. The system bus may be a parallel communication interface (PCI) bus, through which power may be supplied from the server baseboard 100 to other components including the CPU 210 of the interface device 200. The CPU 210 obtains information on an operation state identified by the BMC 120 when requesting information from a remote place through the LAN, converts the information into information for transmission through the LAN, and converts the network device 220 into a network. And transmits the converted information to the remote place of the information request through the LAN. The ROM 210 and the RAM 250 constituting the memory unit are connected to the CPU 210. Program data for the driving operation of the CPU 210 is stored in the ROM 240, and data processed during the operation of the present invention is temporarily stored in the RAM 250.

The configuration as shown in FIG. 2 enables the independent operation to be performed separately from the operation of the operating system on the baseboard 100. Approximate hardware operation is that the CPU 210 is driven by a program in the ROM 240, and when the network device 220 is driven to request information from a remote location, specific information is obtained from the BMC 120 through an interface with the BMC 120. It is processed into a form that can be sent back to the LAN, and then the network device 220 is driven to send the necessary information to the remote administrator 300 again.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the interface device 200 between the LAN and the server baseboard 100 shown in FIG. 1. This block diagram is a software configuration for supporting the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the interface device 200 includes a network device driver 22, a network control routine 24, a main control routine 26, and a BMC interface routine 28. The main control routine 26 is for driving the CPU 210. The network device driver 22 is for controlling the network device 220. The network control routine 24 processes the data on the network device driver 22 to transmit and receive data in a specific format. The BMC Interface Routine 28 interfaces with the BMC 120.

As described above and described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention focuses on allowing the remote manager 300 to use information and functions provided by the BMC 120, and to operate the remote manager 300 to use the BMC 120. Is performed step by step as follows:

1. Network Device Driver Operation Steps

The remote manager 300 sends a command via the LAN requesting specific data of the BMC 120 according to a previously promised format. When the network device 220 receives a command transmitted remotely through the network, it is processed by the network device driver 22 and then passed to a new network control routine 24.

2. Network Control Routine Operation Steps

The network control routine 24, which receives the data from the network device driver 22, performs more precise processing to determine what the command is actually and where it came from. Next, the remote administrator 300 analyzes the contents requested and prepares to execute them. After the preparation is completed, the remote administrator 300 sends the request to the main control routine 26 for execution.

3. Main Control Routine Operation Steps

The network control routine 24 makes all preparations to execute the requested command. Since the remote manager 300 is requesting information from the BMC 120, it prepares to run the BMC interface routine 28, and transmits the information required for the interface to the BMC interface routine 28.

4. BMC Interface Routine Operation Steps

Interface with the BMC 120 based on the information passed by the master control routine 26. The BMC 120 requests the necessary information, and when the BMC 120 responds to the request, it cleans up the data and returns it to the main control routine 26. If the BMC 120 stops responding or an error occurs, this fact is also passed on to the main control routine 26 for processing.

5. Main Control Routine Operation Steps

If a response to the requested information is returned from the BMC interface routine 28, the data is passed back to the network control routine 24 to send this information to the remote administrator 300. If the data is not received from the BMC interface routine 28 due to an error or any other reason, it is determined whether to try again or to inform the remote administrator 300 of the error status according to the predetermined criteria.

6. New Control Routine Operation Steps

When the BMC 120 receives the data from the main control routine 26, it converts the data into a format that can be received by the remote administrator 300 through the network. After the conversion is completed, the network device driver 22 is driven so that the converted data can be actually transmitted through the network device 220.

7. Network Device Driver Operation Steps

Under the control of the network control routine 24, data can be transmitted through the network device 220. If an error occurs during the data transfer, retry or perform other operations according to the previously agreed criteria.

Meanwhile, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the scope of the following claims, but also by those equivalent to the scope of the claims.

As described above, the present invention is a hardware and software that can overcome the limitations of the BMC use of the server baseboard (physical distance from the console system, multi-manager not supported, slow transmission speed, operating system-dependent environment, etc.) Enable implementation The present invention has the advantage that the system management efficiency can be improved by performing the management function of the server baseboard in a remote location. It also has the advantage that a larger number of systems can be managed remotely. In addition, according to the smooth system management, it is possible to increase system availability and to significantly reduce the cost of maintenance.

Claims (5)

Between the server baseboard and the LAN to remotely manage a server baseboard having a plurality of sensors and a controller for identifying various operating states from the detection results by the plurality of sensors through a LAN. In the device for interfacing: A network device providing a connection function with the LAN; Obtaining information on the operation state grasped by the controller upon requesting information from a remote location via the LAN, converting this information into information for transmission via the LAN, and driving the network device to convert the converted information. Apparatus comprising a central processing unit for transmitting to the remote through the LAN. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing a program for driving the network device and the CPU. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a LAN connector for connecting the network device to the LAN. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network device and the CPU receive operating power from the server baseboard. An apparatus for interfacing between the server baseboard and the LAN to remotely manage, via a LAN, a server baseboard having a plurality of sensors and a controller for identifying various operating states from detection results by the plurality of sensors. A control method for remotely managing the server baseboard in a system comprising: a network device providing a connection function with the LAN and a central processing unit for connection with the controller; Obtaining, by the central processing unit, information regarding an operating state grasped by the controller when requesting information from a remote place through the LAN; Converting, by the central processing unit, information about the operation state into information for transmission through the LAN; And the central processing unit driving the network device to transmit the converted information to the remote site via the LAN.