TW201416882A - Network server system and firmware updating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A network server system and firmware updating method thereof are provided. The network server system includes a plurality of servers, at least one distribution unit and a main controller. The servers are divided into groups which are respectively connected with each of the distribution unit, and each of the servers includes at least one function unit. The main controller is connected with each of the distribution unit and configured to manage the servers through each of the distribution unit. When the main controller determines a firmware of one of the function unit is needed to be updated, the main controller sends a firmware updating command and an updated firmware address to the distribution unit corresponding to the function unit. The distribution unit notifies a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the server corresponding to the function unit, such that the BMC may perform a firmware updating operation to the function unit.

Description

Network servo system and method for updating firmware thereof

The present invention relates to a network servo system, and more particularly to a network servo system for managing a firmware update operation of a server through a distribution unit.

With the rapid development of computer technology and the Internet, cloud computing applications are becoming more common. In a cloud computing network, the user does not need to know the location of the infrastructure used for the calculation and other details, that is, the resources provided for computing, data access, and storage provided by the cloud computing. By using other computer resources located in the cloud network, devices with lower computing power, such as mobile phones, can use these resources to process data, enabling them to use high-performance computers (such as servers) to perform functions. . In addition, users can access services provided by other service providers (such as audio and video) through the server to obtain more diverse services.

Generally speaking, in the cloud computing network, the Rack Management Controller (RMC) and the server can communicate through the network connection, so that the server can directly access the updated firmware on the RMC. However, in order to facilitate the management of the server, the RMC only communicates with the Power Distribution Unit (PDU), which makes the operation of the server update firmware must be adjusted.

In view of the foregoing problems, the present invention provides a network servo system and a method for updating the firmware thereof, so that the controller only needs to send the updated firmware network address to the allocation unit, that is, the management of the server can be controlled through the allocation unit. The server performs firmware update operations.

The invention provides a network servo system comprising a plurality of servers, at least one distribution unit and a total controller. The plurality of servers are divided into at least one group, wherein each server includes at least one functional unit. Each allocation unit is connected to a group of servers. The controller is coupled to at least one of the distribution units for managing the server through the distribution unit. Wherein, when the controller determines that the firmware of the functional unit of one of the servers needs to be updated, the controller sends a firmware update command and updates the firmware network address to the allocation unit corresponding to the group of the server, so that the allocation is performed. The unit notifies the firmware that the baseboard management controller in the server needs to be updated to update the firmware network address to obtain the updated firmware, and the baseboard management controller performs a firmware update operation on the functional unit whose firmware needs to be updated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the allocating unit determines whether the server where the functional unit that the firmware needs to be updated includes the baseboard management controller, and if it is determined that the baseboard management controller is not included, the allocating unit notifies the total controller of the error. message.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the determining unit, if it is determined that the server where the functional unit that the firmware needs to be updated includes the baseboard management controller, notifies the overall controller to start the firmware data service, and notifies the baseboard management controller. Update the firmware to the firmware network address.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the determining unit, if it is determined that the server where the functional unit that the firmware needs to be updated includes the baseboard management controller, notifies the overall controller to start the firmware data service, and notifies the baseboard management controller. Update the firmware to the firmware network address.

In an embodiment of the invention, the overall controller is a rack management controller.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of updating a firmware suitable for a general controller in a network servo system. The method includes determining whether a firmware of a functional unit of one of the servers requires an update. Then, when the firmware of the functional unit of one of the servers needs to be updated, the firmware update command is sent and the firmware network address is updated to the allocation unit corresponding to the server group, so that the allocation unit notifies the firmware that the firmware needs to be updated. The baseboard management controller in the server updates the firmware network address to obtain the updated firmware. After that, the baseboard management controller performs a firmware update operation on the functional unit whose firmware needs to be updated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after determining whether the firmware of the functional unit of one of the servers needs to be updated, the method further includes: determining whether the server where the functional unit that the firmware needs to be updated includes the substrate management control If it is determined that the baseboard management controller is not included, the allocating unit notifies the overall controller of the error message.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after determining that the server where the functional unit that the firmware needs to be updated includes the baseboard management controller, the base management controller is further notified and updated to obtain the updated toughness of the firmware network address. body.

In an embodiment of the invention, the updated firmware network address is a file transfer protocol server network address of the controller.

In an embodiment of the invention, the updated firmware server corresponding to the updated firmware network address includes at least one class of updated firmware.

Based on the above, in the network servo system and the firmware update method thereof, the server manages the server through the allocation unit, so that the controller only needs to update the firmware network bit in the operation of updating the firmware of the server. The address can be sent to the distribution unit. Then, after the allocating unit forwards the updated firmware network address to the server, the component located in the server can obtain the updated firmware according to the updated firmware network address, so that the firmware needs to be updated. Firmware update operations are available.

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments embodiments In addition, wherever possible, the elements and/

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network servo system according to an embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, the network servo system 100 includes a general controller 110, allocation units 120_1 and 120_2, and servers 130_1_1~130_1_P and 130_2_1~130_2_Q (P, Q are positive integers). The allocation units 120_1 and 120_2 are respectively connected to a group of servers, that is, The distribution unit 120_1 is connected to the servers 130_1_1~130_1_P, and the distribution unit 120_2 is connected to 130_2_1~130_2_Q. The overall controller 110 is connected to the distribution units 120_1 and 120_2 for managing the servers 130_1_1~130_1_P and 130_2_1~130_2_Q through the distribution units 120_1 and 120_2. The servers 130_1_1~130_1_P and 130_2_1~130_2_Q respectively include functional units for performing specific functions.

In this embodiment, the overall controller 110 can periodically or irregularly view the server providing the updated firmware to obtain information for updating the firmware. In addition, after obtaining the information of the updated firmware, the total controller 110 can compare the version of the updated firmware with the firmware version on the functional unit currently managed by the overall controller 110.

The overall controller 110 may be a Rack Management Controller (RMC), and the allocation units 120_1 and 120_2 may be Power Distribution Units (PDUs). For example, when the overall controller 110 determines that, for example, the function unit firmware in the server 130_1_1 needs to be updated, the overall controller 110 sends the firmware update command FUC and updates the firmware network address ADR to the allocation unit 120_1, and The control allocation unit 120_1 forwards to, for example, a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) in the server 130_1_1 so that the updated firmware can be obtained according to the updated firmware network address ADR. Then, the baseboard management controller can perform a firmware update operation on the functional unit whose firmware needs to be updated.

In an embodiment, the master controller 110 may store the updated firmware to its own file transfer protocol (File) after obtaining the firmware. Transfer Protocol, FTP) on the server and generate an updated firmware network address ADR. In this way, the baseboard management controller on the server 130_1_1 can obtain the updated firmware according to the updated firmware network address ADR. In addition, since the firmware types and versions of the components in the servers 130_1_1~130_1_P may be different, the update firmware server corresponding to the firmware network address ADR may include at least one type of update firmware to supply The firmware type requirements for different components on different servers.

In an embodiment of the invention, the baseboard management controller can be used to manage functional units such as Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs). For example, when the overall controller 110 determines that the firmware of the CPLD on the server 130_1_1 needs to be updated, the overall controller 110 may update the firmware network address ADR (eg, the FTP server network in the overall controller 110). The path address is sent to the allocation unit 120_1, which is then forwarded by the allocation unit 120_1 to the BMC on the server 130_1_1. After the BMC receives the updated firmware network address ADR, the firmware can be obtained (ie, downloaded), and can be fed through, for example, a General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pin. The Test Action Action Group (JTAG) specification is used to perform firmware update on the CPLD.

In an embodiment of the invention, the allocating unit may determine whether the firmware that needs to be updated according to the updated firmware network address ADR is included in the server whose firmware needs to be updated. For example, when the controller 110 determines that the firmware of the server 130_1_2 needs to be updated, and sends the updated firmware network address ADR to the allocating unit 120_1, the allocating unit 120_1 may It is determined whether or not the BMC component is included in the server 130_1_2, for example. When the allocating unit 120_1 determines that the BMC component is not included in the server 130_1_2, since the server 130_1_2 cannot obtain the updated firmware according to the updated firmware network address ADR through the BMC at this time, the allocating unit 120_1 uses an error message. The firmware update operation of the notification controller 110 cannot be performed. When the allocating unit 120_1 determines that the server 130_1_2 includes the BMC component, the allocating unit 120_1 may notify the overall controller 110 to start the firmware data service, and notify the baseboard management controller to update the firmware network address to obtain the updated firmware.

2 is a flow chart of a method for updating a firmware according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the method for updating the firmware in the embodiment is applicable to the network servo system 100 of FIG. 1. The following is a detailed step of updating the firmware method with the devices in FIG. 1. First, the controller 110 determines. Whether the functional unit firmware of the servers 130_1_1~130_1_P and 130_2_1~130_2_Q needs to be updated (step S210). Then, when the functional unit firmware of one of the servers 130_1_1~130_1_P and 130_2_1~130_2_Q (for example, the server 130_1_1) is determined by the overall controller 110 to be updated, the total controller 110 sends the firmware update command FUC and the update. The firmware network address ADR is to the allocation unit 120_1 corresponding to the server 130_1_1. Thereafter, the overall controller 110 causes the allocation unit 120_1 to notify the baseboard management controller in the server (ie, the server 130_1_1) whose firmware needs to be updated to obtain the updated firmware according to the updated firmware network address ADR (step S220). After the baseboard management controller obtains the updated firmware, it can enter the functional unit that the firmware needs to be updated. The firmware update operation is performed (step S230).

In summary, in the network servo system and the firmware update method provided by the present invention, the server is managed by the distribution unit, so that the controller only needs to update the firmware in the operation of updating the firmware of the server. The network address can be sent to the distribution unit. Then, after the allocating unit forwards the updated firmware network address to the server, the component (such as the BMC) located in the server can obtain the updated firmware according to the updated firmware network address, so that the update is required. The functional unit of the firmware can perform firmware update operations.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Network Servo System

110‧‧‧Total controller

120_1, 120_2‧‧‧ allocation unit

130_1_1~130_1_P, 130_2_1~130_2_Q‧‧‧Server

ADR‧‧‧Update Firmware Network Address

FUC‧‧‧ Firmware Update Directive

S210~S230‧‧‧Steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network servo system according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a flow chart of a method for updating a firmware according to an embodiment of the invention.

100‧‧‧Network Servo System

110‧‧‧Total controller

120_1, 120_2‧‧‧ allocation unit

130_1_1~130_1_P, 130_2_1~130_2_Q‧‧‧Server

ADR‧‧‧Update Firmware Network Address

FUC‧‧‧ Firmware Update Directive

Claims (12)

A network servo system comprising: a plurality of servers, divided into at least one group, wherein each server comprises at least one functional unit; at least one allocation unit, each of the distribution units respectively connecting a set of the servers; a total controller, connected to the at least one allocation unit, for managing the servers through the distribution unit; wherein, when the master controller determines that the firmware of the functional unit of one of the servers needs to be updated The controller sends a firmware update command and an updated firmware network address to the distribution unit corresponding to the server group, so that the distribution unit notifies the firmware that a substrate in the server needs to be updated. The management controller obtains an updated firmware to the updated firmware network address, and the base management controller performs a firmware update operation on the functional unit that the firmware needs to update. The network servo system of claim 1, wherein the updated firmware network address is a file transfer protocol server network address of the total controller. The network servo system of claim 1, wherein the allocation unit determines whether the server where the functional unit needs to be updated in the firmware includes the baseboard management controller, and if it is determined that the baseboard management controller is not included , the allocation unit notifies the overall controller of an error message. The network servo system of claim 3, wherein the allocation unit determines that the functional unit in the firmware needs to be updated The server includes the baseboard management controller, and notifies the general controller to start the firmware data service, and notifies the baseboard management controller to obtain an updated firmware to the updated firmware network address. The network servo system of claim 1, wherein the updated firmware server corresponding to the updated firmware network address comprises at least one class of updated firmware. The network servo system of claim 1, wherein the total controller is a rack management controller. A method for updating a firmware, suitable for a network servo system, the network servo system comprising a plurality of servers, divided into at least one group, wherein each server comprises at least one functional unit; at least one allocation unit, each The distribution unit is respectively connected to a set of the servers; and a total controller is connected to the at least one allocation unit for managing the servers through the distribution unit. The method comprises: determining: Whether the firmware of the functional unit needs to be updated; when the firmware of the functional unit of one of the servers needs to be updated, a firmware update command is sent and an updated firmware network address is sent to the server. Corresponding to the allocation unit, the distribution unit is configured to notify a firmware management controller in the server that the firmware needs to be updated to obtain an updated firmware to the updated firmware network address; The baseboard management controller performs a firmware update operation on the functional unit whose firmware needs to be updated. The method of claim 7, wherein the updated firmware network address is a file transfer protocol server network address of the total controller. The method of claim 7, wherein after determining whether the firmware of the functional unit of one of the servers needs to be updated, the method further comprises: determining that the functional unit needs to be updated in the firmware Whether the server includes the baseboard management controller, and if it is determined that the baseboard management controller is not included, the allocating unit notifies the overall controller of an error message. The method of claim 9, wherein after determining that the server where the functional unit of the firmware needs to be updated includes the baseboard management controller, the method further includes: notifying the baseboard management controller to update the toughness The body network address gets an updated firmware. The method of claim 7, wherein the updated firmware server corresponding to the updated firmware network address comprises at least one class of updated firmware. The method of claim 7, wherein the total controller is a rack management controller.