Self-configuring baseboard management controller (bmc)

Abstract

A Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) that may configure itself is disclosed. The BMC may include an access logic to determine a configuration of a chassis that includes the BMC. The BMC may also include a built-in self-configuration logic to configure the BMC responsive to the configuration of the chassis. The BMC may self-configure without using any BIOS, device drivers, or operating systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 an access logic to determine a configuration of a system from a component included in the system, the component separate from the device; and   a logic to configure the device based at least in part on the configuration of the system,   wherein the device is configured to select a configuration from a first configuration and a second configuration based at least in part on the configuration read from the component, the first configuration including a first driver and the second configuration including a second driver.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein using the second driver enables the device to determine the configuration of at least one device included in the system. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the access logic includes a Vital Product Data (VPD) reading logic to read the configuration of the system from a VPD. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the access logic includes a pin reading logic to determine the configuration of the system from a signal on at least one pin on the device. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the logic includes a driver loader to load the first driver or the second driver based at least in part on the configuration of the system. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the access logic is configured to determine whether the configuration of the system includes a High Availability (HA) chassis. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the logic is configured to load an HA driver. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the logic is configured to load the HA driver independent of whether a pairing partner is available. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a device, a configuration of a system including the device from a component included in the system;   selecting a driver based at least in part on the configuration of the system; and   loading the selected driver,   wherein the device is configured to select a configuration from a first configuration and a second configuration based at least in part on the configuration read from the component, the first configuration including a first driver and the second configuration including a second driver.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein selecting a driver based at least in part on the configuration of the chassis includes selecting one of the first driver and the second driver for the device according to the configuration of the system. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein determining by a device a configuration of the system including the device includes reading the configuration of the system from a Vital Product Data (VPD). 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein determining by a device a configuration of the system including the device includes accessing a signal from at least one pin on the device to determine the configuration of the system. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein determining by a device a configuration of the system includes determining by the device that the system includes a High Availability (HA) chassis. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein selecting a driver for the device according to the configuration of the system includes selecting an HA driver. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising reporting an error if the HA driver is not available. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising attempting to communicate with a pairing partner for the device. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising reporting an error if the device is not configured to communicate with the pairing partner. 
     
     
         18 . An article, comprising a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, the tangible, non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine, result in:
 determining, by a device, a configuration of a system including the device from a component included in the system;   selecting a driver based at least in part on the configuration of the system; and   loading the selected driver,   wherein the device is configured to select a configuration from a first configuration and a second configuration based at least in part on the configuration read from the component, the first configuration including a first driver and the second configuration including a second driver.   
     
     
         19 . An article according to  claim 18 , wherein selecting a driver based at least in part on the configuration of the system includes selecting one of the first driver and the second driver for the device according to the configuration of the system. 
     
     
         20 . An article according to  claim 19 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, when executed by the machine, result in determining, by the device, the configuration of at least one device in the system including the device.