System and Method for Out-of-Band Communication Between a Remote User and a Local User of Server

Abstract

A server chassis includes a server, a chassis management controller, and a local interface card. The server includes a controller that is configured to provide a remote user with access to a controller communication portal of the server via a remote access controller graphical user interface, and to send a message from the controller communication portal to a chassis management controller. The chassis management controller is configured to receive the message, to determine that the message is for a local interface card, and to send the message to the local interface card. The local interface card is configured to display the message on a screen connected to the local interface card, to detect a communication request, to display a communication interface at the screen, to receive a reply message via the communication interface, and to send the reply message to the chassis management controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server chassis comprising:
 a server including a controller configured to provide a remote user with access to a controller communication portal of the server via a remote access controller graphical user interface, and to send a message from the controller communication portal to a chassis management controller;   the chassis management controller in communication with the controller of the server, the chassis management controller configured to receive the message, to determine that the message is for a local interface card, and to send the message to the local interface card; and   the local interface card configured to display the message on a screen connected to the local interface card, to display a communication interface at the screen, to receive a reply message via the communication interface, and to send the reply message to the chassis management controller, wherein the local interface card and the chassis management controller each provide individuals with separate access to the server via the controller of the server.   
     
     
         2 . The server chassis of  claim 1  wherein the chassis management controller is further configured to send the reply message to the controller communication portal. 
     
     
         3 . The server chassis of  claim 1  wherein controller is further configured to display the reply message on the remote access controller graphical user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The server chassis of  claim 1  wherein the message indicates that the server is to be powered off in a specific amount of time. 
     
     
         5 . The server chassis of  claim 1  wherein the local interface card is an integrated keyboard, video, and mouse interface. 
     
     
         6 . The server chassis of  claim 1  wherein the message is displayed in any server state. 
     
     
         7 . The server chassis of  claim 6  wherein the server state is selecting from a group consisting of when the server is in power-on self-test, when the server is running an operating system, and when the server is powered off. 
     
     
         8 . The server chassis of  claim 1  wherein the local interface card is further configured to receive a communication request in response to a user pressing a hotkey on a keyboard connected to the local interface card, and to display the communication interface at the screen in response to the communication request. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 providing access to a chassis management controller of a server chassis via a remote access graphical user interface;   broadcasting a message from the chassis management controller of the server chassis to a controller of a first server in the server chassis and to a local interface card connected to a second server in the server chassis, wherein the local interface card and the chassis management controller each provide individuals with separate access to the second server via a controller of the second server;   displaying the message on a first screen associated with the controller of the first server;   displaying the message on a second screen connected to the local interface card;   receiving a reply message at the local interface card;   sending the reply message from the local interface card to the chassis management controller; and   displaying the reply message on the remote access graphical user interface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 detecting a communication request at the local interface card; and 
 displaying a communication interface at the screen of the local interface card. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the communication request is in response to a user pressing a hotkey on a keyboard connected to the local interface card. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the message indicates that the server is to be powered off in a specific amount of time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the message is displayed in any server state. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the server state is selecting from a group consisting of when the server is in power-on self-test, when the server is running an operating system, and when the server is powered off. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing access to a controller communication portal of a server via a remote access controller graphical user interface;   sending a message from the controller communication portal to a chassis management controller of a server chassis;   sending the message from the chassis management controller to a local interface card of the server, wherein the local interface card and the chassis management controller each provide separate access to the server via a controller of the server;   displaying the message on a screen in communication with the local interface card;   receiving a reply message at the local interface card;   sending the reply message from the local interface card to the chassis management controller;   sending the reply message from the chassis management controller to the controller communication portal; and   displaying the reply message on the remote access controller graphical user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the message indicates that the server is to be powered off in a specific amount of time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 detecting a communication request at the local interface card; 
 displaying a communication interface at the screen of the local interface card in response to the communication request. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the message is displayed in any server state. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the server state is selecting from a group consisting of when the server is in power-on self-test, when the server is running an operating system, and when the server is powered off. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the communication request is in response to a user pressing a hotkey on a keyboard connected to the local interface card.