Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Christopher J Frantz

E David Neufeld

Andrew Brown

Theodore F Emerson

Robert L Noonan

Andrew C Cartes

David F Heinrich

Sze Hau Loh

Richard Wei Chieh Yu

John M Cagle

Kevin Mark Jones

Gregory T Noren

Kenneth C Avery

John R Carpenter

Michael B Reed

Luis Luciani

Doug Hascall

Various examples described herein provide for a management controller that includes a virtual universal serial bus (USB) host controller that can emulate an actual USB host controller to a central processor. A particular endpoint from a number of endpoints is associated with a virtual USB device that is coupled to the virtual USB host controller. The particular endpoint is to refer to a location in a management memory.

Management controller including virtual USB host controller

There is provided a system and method for remote management of a computer. The method includes establishing a connection between a remote console and a managed server. Additionally, the method includes detecting a change in the status of the connection and issuing commands to lock the managed server if a change in status of the connection is detected.

System and method for remote management of a computer

In one embodiment, a first client device establishes a remote session between a remote computing device and the first client device. One or more subsequent client devices that attempt to establish a remote session with the remote computing device are re-directed to another computing device that serves as a host for the remote session.

Methods and systems for sharing remote access

In at least some embodiments, a method comprises emulating a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller at a computer system. The method further comprises using the emulated USB host controller to interface a remote management console with the computer system.

Emulating a USB host controller

A method and apparatus of remotely accessing a computer system by a remote console includes receiving, by an emulation device, pointer position data representing a position of a first pointing device of the remote console. The emulation device emulates a second pointing device that is of a different type than the first pointing device. The emulation device generates data representing a position of the second pointing device based on the received pointer position data representing the position of the first pointing device.

Generating pointer position data from position data of a pointing device of a remote console

In at least some embodiments, a computer system may comprise a CPU and a system memory coupled to the CPU. The computer system may further comprise a management device coupled to the CPU and the system memory. The management device is operable to permit remote control of the computer system by other computer systems. The management device is configured to receive a signal when the computer system malfunctions and, in response to receiving the signal, perform a data dump of at least some of the data in the system memory without involvement of the CPU.

Management device configured to perform a data dump

The disclosed embodiments relate to the field of remote server management. More particularly, the disclosed embodiments relate to providing secure communications in the context of remote server management. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a client computer uses an established encrypted communication channel to request secret data from a managed server. The managed server provides the requested secret data, which is used by both the managed server and the client computer to encrypt communications across a second communications link.

Method and apparatus for initiating strong encryption using existing SSL connection for secure key exchange

A technique is provided for identifying the write protect status of a removable storage media, such as a computer diskette, prior to normal interaction with the media. The present technique interacts with the removable storage media and identifies the write protect status as write protected if the interaction produces a failure code indicative of write protection. For example, data storage may be attempted at a non-storage location, thereby producing a write protect error if the media is write protected or an invalid write error if the media is not write protected. Alternatively, the present technique may attempt to read and rewrite data back to the media, thereby producing the write protect error if the media is write protected.

Method for identifying the write protect status of a diskette

A method for resetting a password in a computer system is provided. A remote reset signal is received. A local reset verification signal is received at the computer system. An elapsed period of time between receipt of the remote reset signal and the local reset verification signal is determined. The password is reset in response to the elapsed period of time being less than a predetermined time period.

Method and apparatus for resetting passwords in a computer system

A disk cache writing system that substantially improves disk drive caching. A cache disk drive, or a reserved portion of a standard disk drive, is provided that is dedicated to cache data. Any of the current data of the disk drive or cache portion is temporary cache data that may be overwritten at any time. Cache data is written to a write section, including one or more sequential sectors, where the write section has a minimal write access time. The write section begins at a first offset sector associated with a minimal write access time, or at any one of several potential start sectors including the first offset sector. One or more potential start sectors are determined, where each corresponds with a first start sector in a current track to avoid moving the R/W heads from the current track. The only initial delay that is encountered is the delay to switch the R/W heads from read to write. The potential start sectors are aligned within the same current cylinder of the disk drive since all the R/W heads are aligned. The only other delay(s) that may be encountered are the characteristic delays associated with writing to sequential sectors of the chosen disk drive that are otherwise unavoidable, such as delays associated with switching sequential tracks, heads, surfaces, platters, etc.

Fast disk cache writing system

A management sub-system is associated with a host computer system. The host system includes a network interface controller to facilitate transmissions between the host system and a distributed computer network. In addition, the management sub-system and host computer share an Ethernet network interface controller (NIC), which is assigned at least two different addresses. The management NIC includes decode logic that detects either of the addresses assigned to it, and routes the associated data packet to the management processor, or to the host processor. As a result, all management operations to either the management sub-system or the host system may be routed through the management NIC, while other standard operations may be routed through the host NIC. In addition, the management NIC may be used as a back-up or spare for the host NIC in the event it fails, or becomes overly busy.

Sharing an ethernet NIC between two sub-systems

A management sub-system connects via a USB bus to a server or computer being managed. The management sub-system also couples to a management console, which has a number of conventional peripherals, including CD-ROM, floppy drive, hard disk, keyboard, mouse, and the like. These peripherals are emulated as USB peripherals coupled to the server by the management sub-system. The management sub-system includes a Composite USB function logic device that connects to the USB controller in the server. The Composite USB function logic device emulates the various peripherals available at the management console, and provides configuration data to the USB controller consistent with the emulation. Consequently, the server sends and receives data from these peripherals at the management console, as if the peripherals were locally connected by the USB bus to the server. The management sub-system monitors the operation of the server and publishes a web page that can be viewed by a web browser at the management console. In addition to viewing this status information, the management console can operate as a virtual terminal, capable of downloading files and programs from any of the emulated peripherals to the server, and of receiving input signals from the emulated input devices.

USB virtual devices

A computer system is implemented according to the invention when priority information is included with a bus transaction. Instead of processing bus transactions on a first-come-first-served basis, a computer peripheral device can make decisions about the relative importance of a transaction and process the most important ones first. The priority scheme can be based upon the priority of the process that generates the transaction or on any other scheme. Included in the invention is logic to ensure that transactions of low relative priority do not get completely ignored during periods of high activity.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Christopher J Frantz