Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Kuo-Shu Huang

James George Cavalaris

Neeraj Ladkani

A computer system is configured to manage a value of a variable via firmware. Managing the value of the variable includes detecting a system management interrupt (SMI), causing the computer system to enter a system management mode, in which a request associated with the SMI is handled by the firmware. In response to determining that the SMI is generated by a baseboard management controller (BMC) and that a cause thereof is associated with reading or writing a value of a variable, one or more parameters associated with the variable are obtained from the BMC. Based on the cause of the request and the one or more parameters, the value of the variable is read or overwritten with a new value. The value or the new value is then sent to the BMC, which in turn passes the value or new value to a second computer system over a network.

Out of band method to change boot firmware configuration

A computer system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) configured to manage values of a plurality of variables stored in a flash via firmware. Managing the values of the plurality of variables includes generating a capsule containing a request for reading a value of a variable among the plurality of variables or overwriting the value of the variable with a new value. The capsule is then sent to the firmware, causing the firmware to access the flash to read the value of the variable or overwrite the value of the variable with the new value, and cause the value or the new value to be transmitted to the BMC. In response to receiving the value or new value of the variable, the BMC passes the value or the new value of the variable to a second computer system over an out-of-band network.

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Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Kuo-Shu Huang