Patent•
Automated intra-system persistent memory updates
02 Mar 2021-
TL;DR: In this article, the processor selectively replaces the first firmware image on the first memory device with the second firmware image, in response to the first image being different from the second image, the processor associates the device type identifying information with device type information for a second memory device.
Abstract: An Information Handling System (IHS) has persistent memory device(s) coupled to a processor. Each memory device includes a first firmware image, version identifying information associated with the first firmware image, and device type identifying information. A firmware interface suite coupled to the processor has a firmware interface that is executed by the processor. The processor responds to identifying a trigger condition for automatic intra-system firmware update of a persistent memory device. The processor accesses the version identifying information and the device type identifying information for a first memory device containing the first firmware image of the persistent memory device(s). The processor associates the device type identifying information with device type information for a second memory device. In response to the first firmware image being different from the second firmware image, the processor selectively replaces the first firmware image on the first memory device with the second firmware image.
Citations
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Patent•
27 Feb 2018TL;DR: In this article, the optimal storage of data structures across different memory devices is associated with physically disparate network nodes, and a process of the technology can include steps for receiving a first retrieval request for a first object, searching a local PMEM device for the first object based on the first retrieval requests, in response to a failure to find the first item on the local MPEM device, transmitting a second retrieval request to a remote node, wherein the second retrieval requests is configured to cause the remote node to retrieve the first device from a remote PMEM devices.
Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to ways to determine the optimal storage of data structures across different memory device is associated with physically disparate network nodes. In some aspects, a process of the technology can include steps for receiving a first retrieval request for a first object, searching a local PMEM device for the first object based on the first retrieval request, in response to a failure to find the first object on the local PMEM device, transmitting a second retrieval request to a remote node, wherein the second retrieval request is configured to cause the remote node to retrieve the first object from a remote PMEM device. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
10 citations
Patent•
22 Oct 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the availability of an update for the firmware can be determined prior to execution of the firmware, and when the update is available, a processor that executes the firmware as part of the boot-up process can retrieve an updated version of one or more components of a firmware from a virtual drive device provided by the controller device.
Abstract: Non-destructive update of discrete firmware components of a firmware is provided. During a boot-up process, the availability of an update for the firmware can be determined prior to execution thereof. To that end, a controller device can be queried for availability of the update and, when the update is available, a processor that executes the firmware as part of the boot-up process can retrieve an updated version of one or more components of the firmware from a virtual drive device provided by the controller device. The processor can retain such component(s) in a main memory device. The processor can then execute the component(s) from the main memory and can execute other non-updated component(s) of the firmware from a non-volatile memory device that retains the firmware. Therefore, the firmware can be updated during the boot-up process, without changing the contents of the non-volatile memory device.
1 citations
Patent•
30 May 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, a system and method for performing sleep state enhancements in a computing device using firmware and NVDIMMs that include DRAM and flash memory is discussed, where flash-backed DRAM covers all of platform memory.
Abstract: A system and method for performing sleep state enhancements in a computing device using firmware and NVDIMMs that include DRAM and flash memory is discussed. The flash-backed DRAM covers all of platform memory. All writes to DRAM during system operation are propagated to the flash. Sleep state requests trigger a System Management Interrupt and a firmware a SMI handler handles the sleep state request so as to enable power savings during the sleep state and facilitate faster resume times when exiting the sleep state.
1 citations
Patent•
07 Feb 2019TL;DR: In this paper, an in-memory database is mirrored in persistent memory in nodes in a computer cluster for redundancy, and data can be recovered from persistent memory through the use of out-of-band techniques.
Abstract: An in-memory database is mirrored in persistent memory in nodes in a computer cluster for redundancy. Data can be recovered from persistent memory in a node that is powered down through the use of out-of-band techniques.
Patent•
13 Nov 2017TL;DR: In this article, the optimal storage of data structures in a hierarchy of memory types has been studied in terms of the latency cost for each of a plurality of fields in an object, and determining whether to store the at least one field to a first memory device or a second memory device based on this latency cost.
Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to ways to determine the optimal storage of data structures in a hierarchy of memory types. In some aspects, a process of the technology can include steps for determining a latency cost for each of a plurality of fields in an object, identifying at least one field having a latency cost that exceeds a predetermined threshold, and determining whether to store the at least one field to a first memory device or a second memory device based on the latency cost. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
References
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Patent•
19 May 2004TL;DR: In this paper, the storage control system reads out new-version firmware from a newly installed new disk type storage device to a region in the cache memory, shared memory, or a maintenance terminal.
Abstract: The storage control system reads out new-version firmware from a newly installed new disk type storage device to a region in the cache memory, shared memory, or a maintenance terminal. Old-version firmware of one or more disk type storage devices selected from a plurality of in-operation disk type storage devices that were installed prior to the new disk type storage device is then updated to the read-out new-version firmware.
51 citations
Patent•
14 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a system that can deliver firmware for pre-boot updates of targeted information handling system device/devices using custom update capsules (e.g., such as custom unified extensible firmware interface capsules) and a separately-stored firmware update package that is remotely or locally stored.
Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to deliver firmware for pre-boot updates of targeted information handling system device/devices using custom update capsules (e.g., such as custom unified extensible firmware interface capsules) and a separately-stored firmware update package that is remotely or locally stored. The custom update capsules may contain instruction payload information that may be used to determine location and desired components of the separately-stored firmware update package, and that also may be used to determine whether existing driver/drivers are to be retained in a firmware module in system memory or to be unloaded and replaced with a new (e.g., upgraded or downgraded) driver version in a firmware module in system memory as part of the firmware update.
36 citations
26 May 2014
TL;DR: The architecture of firmware software update infrastructure is presented, which uses a centralized server to distribute adequate firmware updates to a large number of embedded devices, which enable transparent proactive management of everyday bugs and other vulnerabilities inherent in software-based systems.
Abstract: In this work, we present the architecture of firmware software update infrastructure, which uses a centralized server to distribute adequate firmware updates to a large number of embedded devices. These updates enable transparent proactive management of everyday bugs and other vulnerabilities inherent in software-based systems, as well as embedded system evolution. Presented firmware update mechanism utilizes a network connectivity nowadays already presented in a wide range of embedded systems.
28 citations
Patent•
30 Nov 2015TL;DR: In this paper, a data structure is defined to associate each updateable resource with a corresponding identifier to enumerate the updateable resources to the firmware update system, which can be configured to handle firmware updates in a consistent manner across different computing platforms/architectures.
Abstract: A firmware update system is described that collectively handles firmware updates for hardware resources of a computing device. The firmware update system may be configured to handle firmware updates in a consistent manner across different computing platforms/architectures. A data structure is defined to associate each updateable resource with a corresponding identifier to enumerate the updateable resources to the firmware update system. The firmware update system may reference the data structure to produce representations of the each individual resource that provide an operating system level abstraction through which detection, analysis, acquisition, deployment, installation, and tracking of firmware updates is managed. Using the representations, the firmware update system operates to discover available firmware updates collectively for the enumerated resources, match the updates to appropriate resources, and initiate installation of the updates.
27 citations
Patent•
02 Nov 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, a system and method for automatic enforcement of firmware revision in an information handling system are disclosed, which includes checking, verifying, and flagging a revision status of the firmware for each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection.
Abstract: A system and method for automatic enforcement of firmware revision in an information handling system are disclosed. The method includes scanning an interconnection for hardware devices attached to the interconnection in an information handling system and determining an interconnection compatibility of each hardware device attached to the interconnection based on checking, verifying, and flagging a revision status of the firmware for each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection. The method also includes displaying a warning to a user about possible compatibility issues, based on determining the interconnection compatibility of each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection and determining whether a supported revision of firmware for each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection is locally stored as a single uniform release, based on determining the interconnection compatibility of each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection. The method also includes prompting the user whether to proceed with a firmware upgrade for each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection using the locally stored supported revision of the firmware for each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection in the single uniform release, based on determining the interconnection compatibility of each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection and upgrading automatically the firmware for each of the hardware devices attached to the interconnection based on prompting the user.
27 citations