Mechanism to improve authentication for remote management of a computer system

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a network is disclosed. The network includes a server computer and a client computer. The client computer accesses an authentication stack during power on self test (POST) that enables authentication of boot code that is to be downloaded from the server computer prior to control being passed to the operating system.

1 . A method comprising: 
 commencing a power on self-test a computer system;    authenticating a boot server by receiving a request from the boot server to access an authentication stack at the computer system; and    downloading boot code from the boot server at the computer system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 authenticating the boot code; and    executing the boot code at the computer system.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising passing control of the computer system to a local operating system.  
   
   
       4 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a request at a boot server from a computer system to download boot code to the computer system;    accessing an authentication stack at the computer system; and    authenticating the boot server at a service provider server.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein authenticating the boot server at a service provider server comprises accessing a remote plug-in at the service provider server.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising downloading the boot code to the computer system.  
   
   
       7 . A method comprising: 
 awakening at a computer system;    authenticating a management server by receiving a request from the management server to access an authentication stack at the computer system; and    downloading boot code from the boot server at the computer system.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 receiving wake-up packets at the computer system from the management server prior to the computer system being awakened; and    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 receiving management services at the computer system from the management server; and    passing control of the computer system to a local operating system.    
   
   
       10 . A method comprising: 
 transmitting wake up packets to a computer system from a management server;    receiving an authentication response at the management server from the computer system;    accessing an authentication stack at the computer system; and    authenticating the management server at a service provider server.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein authenticating the management server at a service provider server comprises accessing a remote plug-in at the service provider server.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  10  further comprising executing management services at the computer system.  
   
   
       13 . An article of manufacture including one or more computer readable media that embody a program of instructions, wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit to: 
 commence a power on self-test a computer system;    authenticate a boot server by receiving a request from the boot server to access an authentication stack at the computer system; and    download boot code from the boot server at the computer system.    
   
   
       14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processing unit, further causes the processing unit to: 
 authenticate the boot code; and    execute the boot code at the computer system.    
   
   
       15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13  wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processing unit, further causes the processing unit to pass control of the computer system to a local operating system.  
   
   
       16 . An article of manufacture including one or more computer readable media that embody a program of instructions, wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit to: 
 receive a request at a boot server from a computer system to download boot code to the computer system;    access an authentication stack at the computer system; and    authenticate the boot server at a service provider server.    
   
   
       17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16  wherein causing the processing unit to authenticate the boot server at a service provider server further causes the processing unit to access a remote plug-in at the service provider server.  
   
   
       18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16  wherein the program of instructions, when executed by a processing unit, further causes the processing unit to download the boot code to the computer system.