TW201926035A - Firmware update method and baseboard management controller for firmware update - Google Patents

Abstract

A firmware update method configured for a BMC (baseboard management controller) in a server comprises sending an inquiry command to a second BMC by a first BMC, sending a status signal to the first BMC by the second BMC after receiving the inquiry command wherein the status signal comprises the version number of a second firmware data in the second BMC, executing a firmware status decision procedure according to the status signal by the first BMC, sending a first firmware data to the second BMC by the first BMC when the firmware status decision procedure gives an abnormal indication, replacing the second firmware data of the second BMC with the first firmware data by the second BMC.

Description

Firmware update method and substrate management controller for updateable firmware

The present invention relates to a method for firmware update in a computer system, and more particularly to a method for firmware update via a network using a substrate management controller.

The server is a computer platform connected to the network system. Unlike a normal personal computer, the server must be able to provide services without interruption, and at the same time have self-management or self-healing functions. After the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) standardizes the management interface and introduces the concept of the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), the server administrator can easily monitor the hard disk from the remote end. Body health status, such as temperature, voltage, fan speed and power supply, with the remote control command provided by IPMI to repair the stalled server, reducing the time and labor costs for the server administrator to repair the on-site computer room.

Most of today's servers use BMC for management and monitoring. The BMC is a self-powered microcontroller and operates independently of the main system. In general, in the test phase, if the firmware of the BMC is found to be abnormal, the firmware can be updated by offline burning. Or when the BMC is running the firmware normally, the firmware that was originally running can also be updated through the network download. However, when the server is in the shipping phase, the storage component (such as read-only memory or flash memory) used to store the firmware of the BMC operation has been soldered to the motherboard, so it is no longer possible to remove the storage component separately. Perform offline burning on it to update the damaged firmware. Or, when the server has been delivered to the client to start operation, the firmware may be shut down due to the abnormality of the firmware caused by the BMC running firmware, and the firmware update cannot be performed by offline burning. At present, in the above situation, only the maintenance personnel can go to the place where the server is located to perform the firmware update work, thereby increasing the time and labor cost of the follow-up support.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a firmware update method, which can be managed through another normal operation of a substrate when a substrate management controller cannot operate the firmware normally through the network mode and the basic settings stored in the boot boot program. The abnormal firmware is updated to restore the normal operation of the baseboard management controller.

A firmware update method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a first substrate management controller and a second substrate management controller in a network system, wherein the first substrate management controller and the second substrate management control The firmware update method includes: the first substrate management controller sends a query command to the second substrate management controller, wherein the query command is used to obtain the second substrate management controller a firmware version number; after receiving the query command, the second substrate management controller sends a status signal to the first substrate management controller, wherein the status signal includes a firmware version corresponding to the second firmware information of the second substrate management controller The first substrate management controller executes the firmware state determination program according to the status signal, and when the firmware state determination program indicates the abnormal state, the first substrate management controller sends the first firmware information to the second substrate management controller; And the second substrate management controller replaces the second substrate management control according to the first firmware information sent by the first substrate management controller The second firmware information.

A substrate management controller for an updateable firmware according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a network transceiver unit and a control unit. The network transceiver unit is configured to receive query commands, send status signals, and receive updated firmware information through the network. The control unit is electrically connected to the network transceiver unit, the control unit is configured to run a firmware and a booting program, and the control unit further comprises: generating a status signal according to the query command and transmitting the status signal through the network transceiver unit, wherein the status signal includes The firmware version of the firmware running on the baseboard management controller, and the control unit further includes a firmware for replacing the originally operated firmware according to the updated firmware information.

With the above architecture, a firmware update method disclosed in the present invention sends a query command to a second baseboard management controller located in the same network system through the first baseboard management controller, and according to the state of the second baseboard management controller replying The message (including the firmware version number) determines whether the firmware on the second baseboard management controller can be updated. When the firmware version and other related information indicate that the firmware on the second substrate management controller is updatable, the first substrate management controller sends the first firmware information that can be normally operated through the network for the second substrate management control. Replaces the second firmware information that it is operating abnormally. In this way, if the firmware of the original server is damaged, the firmware is updated through the network to return to the normal working state of the server.

The above description of the disclosure and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the spirit and principles of the invention, and to provide further explanation of the scope of the invention.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the Detailed Description of the Detailed Description of the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> <RTIgt; The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to describe the present invention in further detail, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a firmware updating method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the described firmware update method includes the following main processes: step S1 to step S2: querying the firmware state; step S3 to step S4: executing the firmware state determination program; and step S5 to step S7 The firmware is updated; it should be noted that if the status of the firmware update method described in one embodiment of the present invention occurs in the operation flow of steps S2 to S4, the termination procedure is entered. Specific embodiments of the various steps in Figure 1 are detailed below.

The firmware update method is applicable to a first substrate management controller and a second substrate management controller in a network system. In practice, the first baseboard management controller and the second baseboard management controller are located in the same subnet, and can exchange data through the network. It should be particularly noted that the actual positions of the first substrate manager and the second substrate management controller are respectively located on two different motherboards, and the different two hosts may be located in the same cabinet or different cabinets. This is not limited.

It should be noted that the foregoing first substrate management controller and the second substrate management controller are a substrate management controller capable of updating firmware, including a network transceiver unit and a control unit. The network transceiver unit is configured to receive query commands, send status signals, receive updated firmware information, and receive firmware replacement commands through the network. The control unit is electrically connected to the network transceiver unit. The control unit is configured to run a firmware, generate a status signal according to the query command, and send the status signal through the network transceiver unit, where the status signal includes the firmware run by the baseboard management controller. The firmware version number and the boot program version number of the boot program run by the baseboard management controller, and the control unit further includes a firmware for replacing the originally run firmware according to the firmware replacement command and the updated firmware information.

Please refer to step S1 of FIG. 1 , which is related to querying the firmware state. In detail, the first substrate management controller sends a query command to the second substrate management controller. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the first substrate management controller has a normal running firmware, and the second substrate management controller has a firmware that cannot operate normally, so the first substrate management controller must pass the foregoing query. The command is used to learn the firmware related information of the second substrate management controller. However, in the actual scenario, it is also possible that the firmware of the first substrate management controller cannot operate normally. At this time, the second substrate management controller sends a query command to the first substrate management controller. The query command is, for example, an "Original Equipment Manufacturer command (OEM command)", and the OEM command conforms to the specification of the Intelligent Platform Management Interfaec (IPMI). The query command is used to obtain the firmware version number of the second baseboard management controller. In another embodiment of the present invention, the query command is used to obtain the boot program version number of the second baseboard management controller in addition to the firmware version number. In practice, the first substrate management controller can be configured to send an inquiry command every time interval to grasp the status of other substrate management controllers that are in communication with the first substrate management controller.

Please refer to step S2 of FIG. 1 , which is associated with querying the firmware state. In detail, after the second baseboard management controller receives the query command, if the second baseboard management controller cannot run the firmware normally, and the boot loader of the second baseboard management controller fails to operate normally, the representative The second substrate management controller has been unable to update the second substrate management controller itself through the firmware update code included in the boot program. In this case, the second substrate management controller cannot reply any signal to the query command, thus terminating the process of the firmware update.

Please refer to step S3 of FIG. 1 , which is associated with executing the firmware state determination program. In detail, after the second baseboard management controller receives the query command, if the second baseboard management controller can normally run the firmware, it is obvious that the booting process of the second baseboard management controller can also operate normally, in this case, The second substrate management controller sends a status signal to the first substrate management controller. The status signal includes a firmware version number corresponding to the second firmware information run by the second substrate management controller and the firmware version number is within a normal range. In general, the firmware version number is a value that is not zero. Therefore, when the first substrate management controller receives the status signal and the firmware version number is a non-zero value, the firmware representing the second baseboard management controller operates normally, so that a normal range can be returned. The firmware version number (that is, a value that is not zero), thus terminating the process of firmware update.

It should be additionally noted that, in practice, the foregoing status signal sent by the second baseboard management controller may further include a boot program version number of the second baseboard management controller.

Please refer to step S4 of FIG. 1 , which is associated with executing the firmware state determination program. In detail, after the first baseboard management controller receives the status signal, if the firmware version number included therein is not within a normal range, in other words, when the firmware version number is within an abnormal range, the status signal is sent. The second substrate management controller does not function properly with the firmware. In this case, the first baseboard management controller checks the bootloader version number included in the status signal, if the bootloader version number (ie, the bootloader version number of the second baseboard management controller) and the first baseboard management controller When the bootstrap version number is different, the code for the firmware update in the boot program representing the first baseboard management controller may be different from the code for the firmware update in the bootloader of the second baseboard management controller. Therefore, it is impossible to ensure that the second substrate management controller can perform the same firmware update procedure as the first substrate management controller, thereby terminating the flow of the firmware update.

Please refer to step S5 of FIG. 1 , which is associated with the updated firmware. After the first baseboard management controller receives the status signal, if the firmware version number included therein is within an abnormal range and the boot program version number included therein is the same as the boot program version number of the first baseboard management controller, The two baseboard management controllers cannot operate the firmware normally, and the second baseboard management controller can perform firmware update through the same firmware update code as that of the first baseboard management controller. In this case, the firmware state determination program run by the first substrate management controller indicates an abnormal state, and sends a firmware replacement command to the second substrate management controller, the purpose of which is to notify the second substrate management control Based on this firmware replacement command, a bootloader is instructed to perform subsequent firmware update operations. In practice, the firmware replacement command is also an OEM command conforming to the IPMI specification. However, the firmware replacement command may be omitted, and step S6 is directly executed.

Please refer to step S6 to step S7 of FIG. 1 , which is associated with the updated firmware. After the first substrate management controller executes the firmware state detection program and obtains an indication of the abnormal state, the first substrate management controller transmits the first firmware information to the second substrate management controller. The first firmware information is copied from the firmware image file that the first substrate management controller can operate normally, and transmitted to the second substrate management controller through the network. After the second substrate management controller receives the first firmware information, the second substrate management controller may instruct the boot program to execute the firmware update code to display the first firmware information according to the firmware replacement command received in step S5. Replace the second firmware information that was not working properly. In other words, the boot program updates the second firmware information based on the first firmware information.

Referring to step S7 to step S1 of FIG. 1 , after the booting process of the second substrate management controller completes the firmware update procedure, the first substrate management controller sends the query command to the second substrate management control after a predetermined time interval. In this way, it is checked whether the firmware of the second substrate management controller is restored to normal operation.

In summary, in the firmware updating method described in one embodiment of the present invention, the firmware of a substrate management controller cannot be operated normally by querying the firmware state, executing the firmware state determination program, and updating the firmware. The firmware information is sent through another baseboard management controller in the network to update the damaged firmware. Therefore, the number of times the firmware must be manually offline burned after the server is shipped is effectively saved. At the same time, the self-updating firmware-based substrate management controller disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention can perform the foregoing firmware update method for another substrate management server located in the same sub-network to assist another substrate management server. The firmware is updated, or in the event of a firmware failure, receiving other normally functioning firmware to update the failed firmware.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

S1 to S7‧‧‧ steps

1 is a flow chart of a firmware update method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims (10)

A firmware update method is applicable to a first baseboard management controller and a second baseboard management controller in a network system, wherein the first baseboard management controller and the second baseboard management controller are respectively different The method for updating the firmware includes: sending, by the first baseboard management controller, a query command to the second baseboard management controller, wherein the query command is used to obtain the second baseboard management controller. a firmware version number; after the second substrate management controller receives the query command, the second substrate management controller sends a status signal to the first substrate management controller, wherein the status signal includes a firmware version number of the second firmware information of the second substrate management controller; the first substrate management controller executes a firmware state determination program according to the status signal, when the firmware state determination program indicates an abnormal state The first substrate management controller sends a first firmware information to the second substrate management controller; and the second substrate management controller is configured according to the first The first board management controller firmware information transmitted by the second substituent of the second BMC firmware information. The firmware update method of claim 1, wherein the network system is a subnet. The firmware update method of claim 1, wherein the query command is used to obtain a bootloader version number of the second baseboard management controller, and the status signal further includes the bootloader of the second baseboard management controller. version number. The firmware update method of claim 1, wherein the firmware state determination program comprises: when the first substrate management controller does not obtain the status signal, the firmware state determination program is terminated; when the firmware version number is introduced In a normal range, the firmware state determination program is terminated; and when the firmware version number is within an abnormal range, the firmware state determination program indicates an abnormal state. The firmware update method of claim 3, wherein the firmware state determination program comprises: when the first substrate management controller does not obtain the status signal, the firmware state determination program is terminated; when the firmware version number is introduced In a normal range, the firmware state determination program is terminated; when the firmware version number is within an abnormal range and the boot program version number of the first baseboard management controller and the second baseboard management controller are different Terminating the firmware state determination program; and when the firmware version number is within an abnormal range and the boot device version number of the first baseboard management controller and the second baseboard management controller are the same, the firmware The status determination program indicates an abnormal status. The firmware update method of claim 1, wherein the first substrate management controller sends a firmware replacement command to the second substrate management before the first substrate management controller sends the first firmware information. Controller. The firmware updating method of claim 6, wherein the second substrate management controller instructs a booting program to replace the second firmware information with the first firmware information according to the firmware replacement command. A substrate management controller capable of updating a firmware, comprising: a network transceiver unit, configured to receive a query command through the network, send a status signal, and receive an updated firmware information; and a control unit electrically connected to the a network transceiver unit, the control unit is configured to run a firmware and a booting program, the control unit further comprising: generating the status signal according to the query command and transmitting the status signal through the network transceiver unit, wherein the status signal is The firmware includes a firmware version number of the firmware running by the baseboard management controller, and the control unit further includes a firmware for replacing the firmware according to the updated firmware information. The substrate management controller of the updateable firmware of claim 9, wherein the network transceiver unit further comprises: receiving a firmware replacement command and indicating a boot procedure according to the firmware replacement command. The substrate management controller of the updateable firmware of claim 10, wherein the status signal further comprises a boot program version number of the boot program run by the baseboard management controller.