TWI582699B - Boot Status Notification Method and Server System Using the Same - Google Patents

Description

Method of notifying the boot phase and server system

The invention relates to a method and a system for executing when a server is booted, in particular to a method for notifying a booting phase and a server system capable of notifying a booting phase.

The server (server) goes through the stage of performing a power-on self test (POST) from the power-on to the running of the server to initialize various hardware components in the server. The operating system provides a basic operating environment.

In general, the basic I/O unit in the server performs a self-boot detection program to check various hardware components and send a self-boot detection message, such as a POST code, which is collected by the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). The self-power-on detection message sent by the basic input/output unit, and it is known whether the self-power-on detection is successfully executed. However, when the baseboard management controller (BMC) performs power-on or reset, for example, it cannot receive self-power-on detection. Message, not Knowing the self-boot detection phase of the basic input/output unit may further cause, for example, the substrate management controller to erroneously determine that the power-on failed, and the server restarts.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of informing a boot phase.

Therefore, the method for notifying the booting phase of the present invention is performed by a server system, the server system including a basic input/output unit adapted to perform a power-on detection, an electrical connection to the basic input/output unit, and including a plurality of output pins. Controlling a chipset, and a substrate management controller adapted to monitor operation of the server system, the substrate management controller electrically connecting a plurality of output pins of the control chip set, and the plurality of output pins The potential is related to indicating a plurality of power-on detection phases, and the method of notifying the power-on detection phase includes a step (A) and a step (B).

The step (A) is that the basic input/output unit sets the potentials of the plurality of output pins of the control chip set to an initial level, wherein the potentials of the plurality of output pins are related to indicating a plurality of power-on detection stages, and Each initial level indication is not in the corresponding power-on detection phase.

The step (B) is that the basic input/output unit converts the potential of one of the control chip groups related to the output pin that is started to be detected into a working level, The power-on detection is indicated at a beginning detection phase, and the potential of the output pin associated with the start of detection is monitored by the baseboard management controller.

Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a server system that can notify the boot phase.

Thus, the server system of the present invention comprises a basic input/output unit, a control chip set, and a substrate management controller.

The basic input output unit is adapted to perform a power on detection.

The control chip set is electrically coupled to the basic input and output unit and includes a plurality of output pins, and wherein the potentials of the plurality of output pins are related to indicating a plurality of power-on detection stages.

The substrate management controller is adapted to monitor the operation of the server system and electrically connect the plurality of output pins of the control chip set.

The basic input/output unit converts the potential of one of the control chip groups related to the output pin that is started to be detected into a working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in a start detection phase, and the correlation is started in the detection. The potential of the output pin is monitored by the substrate management controller.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide another method of notifying the boot phase.

Thus, the method of the present invention for notifying the boot phase is performed by a server system including a basic input and output suitable for performing a boot detection a unit, a control chip set electrically connected to the basic input/output unit and including a plurality of output pins, and a substrate management controller adapted to monitor operation of the server system, the substrate management controller electrically connecting the control chip a plurality of output pins of the group, and the potentials of the plurality of output pins are related to indicating a plurality of power-on detection phases, and the method for notifying the power-on detection phase comprises a step (A), a step (X), and a step ( Y), and one step (Z).

The step (A) is that the basic input/output unit sets the potentials of the plurality of output pins of the control chip set to an initial level, wherein the potentials of the plurality of output pins are related to indicating a plurality of power-on detection stages, and Each initial level indication is not in the corresponding power-on detection phase.

The step (X) is that the basic input/output unit receives an entry menu request, and the entry menu request indicates entering a user setting menu.

The step (Y) is that the basic input/output unit converts the potential of one of the control chip sets related to the output pin of the entry menu to a working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in an entry menu stage, and the correlation is The potential of the output pin entering the menu is monitored by the substrate management controller.

The step (Z) is that the basic input/output unit enters the user setting menu.

The effect of the present invention is that the basic input/output unit sets one of the control chip sets when the power-on detection is performed by the basic input/output unit. The base management controller can be notified of the potential of the output pin that starts detecting, and the power-on detection is in the start detection phase. When the basic input/output unit receives the entry menu request during the execution of the power-on detection, it can also notify the potential by setting the potential of one of the control chip groups related to the output pin of the entry menu. The baseboard management controller is in the entry menu phase.

11‧‧‧Basic input and output unit

111‧‧‧Output pin function table

12‧‧‧Control chipset

121‧‧‧Output pin

122‧‧‧Output pin

123‧‧‧Output pin

13‧‧‧Base Management Controller

A~J‧‧‧ steps

X~Z‧‧‧ steps

The other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the server system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating A first embodiment of the method for notifying the booting phase of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment of the method for notifying the booting phase of the present invention.

Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that in the following description, similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a server system of the present invention includes a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) 11, a control chipset 12, and a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). 13.

The control chip set 12 includes a plurality of output pins (only three of which are shown in the figure), each of which functions as a different function, such as a state detection pin, a board ID (board ID) detection pin, and a SATA. a pin or the like, and in the present invention, the potentials of the three output pins 121, 122, 123 of the control chip group are respectively related to the three start-up phases indicating the basic input-output unit 11, respectively, which are related to the indication An output pin 121 of the Start of POST phase, an output pin 122 associated with the phase indicating the Enter Setup Menu, and an output pin 123 associated with the POST complete phase. The control chip set 12 is, for example, a platform controller hub, and each output pin is, for example, a general purpose input/output pin (GPIO pin).

The basic input/output unit 11 is adapted to perform a power-on detection, such as a power-on self test (POST), to test or initialize various hardware components in the server system, such as a central processing unit, a main memory, GPIO initialization, keyboard, mouse, display card, etc., detect the existence of these hardware components and whether they are working properly, and perform initialization settings such as register value, etc., to provide a basic operating environment for the operating system. The basic input/output unit 11 is electrically connected to the control chip set 12 and stores an output pin function table 111. The output pin function table 111 records all the output pins of the control chip set 12 (the number is not shown in FIG. 1). The potential of the limit should be set at an initial level (such as logic 1) and a working level (such as logic 0). One of them can be set by the basic input/output unit 11 when performing the power-on detection.

The baseboard management controller 13 is adapted to monitor the operation of the server system, such as temperature, fan speed, power supply status, operating system status, etc., and in the embodiment, the baseboard management controller 13 is electrically connected to the The three output pins 121, 122, and 123 of the chip set 12 are controlled to read the potentials of the three output pins 121, 122, and 123 to know which startup stage the basic input/output unit 11 is in. .

Referring to Figure 2, a first embodiment of the method of informing the boot phase of the present invention is performed in the server system as shown in Figure 1. And the method includes the following steps.

In step (S), the basic input output unit 11 receives a power-on trigger. For example, the basic input/output unit 11 receives the power-on trigger when the server is powered on, reset, cold start, warm start, or the like.

In step (A), the basic input-output unit 11 sets the potentials of the three output pins 121, 122, 123 of the control chip group 12 to the initial level. The potentials of the three output pins 121, 122, and 123 are related to the three start detection stages indicating the start detection, the entry menu, and the end detection, and each initial level indication is not in the corresponding startup detection stage.

In step (B), the basic input-output unit 11 converts one of the control chip groups to the potential of the output pin 121 that is started to be detected. a bit to indicate that the power-on detection is in a start detection phase, and the potential of the output pin 121 associated with the start of detection is monitored by the baseboard management controller, thereby being able to notify the baseboard management controller 13.

In detail, the basic input-output unit 11 changes the potential of the output-detected output pin 121 to the initial level by filling in the logic value of the register (not shown) of the control chip group 12. For example, logic 1, the boot detection has not yet started. When entering the start detection phase, the basic input output unit 11 changes the logic value of the register filled in the control chip group 12, and changes the potential of the output pin 121 to the operating level, for example, logic 0. Since the potentials of the three output pins 121, 122, and 123 respectively continue for a period of time greater than the reset of the substrate management controller 13, the substrate management controller 13 can be restarted when the substrate management controller 13 is restarted. After the startup is completed, the potential of the output pin 121 of the start detection of the control chip group 12 is read. For example, when the logic 0 is read, the substrate management controller 13 knows that the basic input/output unit 11 is in the start detection. stage.

In step (C), the basic input/output unit 11 reads the output pin function table 111, and sequentially sets the potential for each output pin to be set.

In step (D), the basic input/output unit 11 determines, based on the output pin function table 111, whether the output pin to be set is the output pin 121 associated with the start of detection. If yes, proceed to step (E); if not, proceed to step (F).

In the step (E), if the result of the determination in the step (D) is YES, the basic input/output unit 11 does not set the potential of the output pin 121 related to the start of detection, and proceeds to the step (G). In this way, the basic input/output unit 11 can be prevented from repeatedly setting the output pin 121 associated with the start of detection.

In the step (F), if the result of the determination in the step (D) is NO, the basic input/output unit 11 sets the potential of the output pin to be set. That is, according to the output pin function table 111, the output pin is set to one of the initial level and the working level. For example, if the output pin is a SATA pin, the level is determined according to the function between the control chip set and the SATA hard disk.

In step (G), the basic input/output unit 11 determines whether all the output pins have been set according to the output pin function table 111, and if the result of the determination is no, returns to step (C) to continue other settings. The potential setting of the output pin. If the result of the determination is yes, proceed to step (I).

In step (I), the basic input/output unit 11 continues to perform the power-on detection, and performs initialization related to the server system, such as detecting and initializing a central processing unit, a memory, a display card, and a dynamic random access memory ( DRAM), high-speed peripheral component interconnect (PCIe) interface, USB interface, SATA interface, etc.

In step (J), the basic input-output unit 11 converts the potential of the output pin 123 associated with the end detection of one of the control chip sets 12 to the work. The level is determined to indicate that the power-on detection is in a completion detection phase, thereby notifying the baseboard management controller 13.

It should be noted that, in general, the baseboard management controller 13 completes the booting process earlier than the basic input/output unit 11, so that the booting state of the basic input/output unit 11 can be monitored. However, the present invention is particularly applicable to a case where the substrate management controller 13 itself is restarted, for example, by performing a reset, but the basic input/output unit 11 is not restarted, in which case the substrate of the prior art is used. The management controller 13 often has no way of knowing the startup phase in which the basic input/output unit 11 is located, but in the server system of the present invention, the substrate management controller 13 reads the start detection of the control chip set 12 by reading When the potential of the output pin 121 is the working level, the baseboard management controller 13 knows that the basic input/output unit 11 is in the start detection phase, immediately starts a watchdog timer and starts the countdown. When the substrate management controller 13 reads the potential of the end detecting output pin 123 of the control chip group 12 to the operating level, the substrate management controller 13 stops the watchdog timer, thereby enabling The server system continues the boot process. Therefore, in the prior art, the baseboard management controller 13 does not receive the command sent from the basic input/output unit 11, but does not stop the watchdog timer, thereby causing a misjudgment to the server system. A boot error occurs and causes the baseboard management controller 13 to reset the server system.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the method for notifying the booting phase of the present invention, when the basic input/output unit 11 receives an incoming menu request from the user, notifies the operation of the baseboard management controller 13, wherein the The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the step (D) becomes a step (D'), and further includes a step (X), a step (Y), and a step (Z). The following description will be started from the step (C) following the step (B).

In step (C), the basic input/output unit 11 reads the output pin function table 111, determines the potential of each output pin to be set, and sets the potential of each output pin accordingly.

In step (D'), the basic input/output unit 11 determines, based on the output pin function table 111, whether the output pin to be set is the output pin 122 associated with the entry menu. If yes, proceed to step (E). If no, go to step (F).

In the step (E), if the result of the step (D') is YES, the basic input/output unit 11 does not set the potential of the output pin, and proceeds to step (G).

In the step (F), if the result of the step (D') is NO, the basic input/output unit 11 sets the potential of the output pin to be set. That is, according to the output pin function table 111, the output pin is set to the initial level or the working level.

In step (G), the basic input/output unit 11 determines whether all the output pins have been set according to the output pin function table 111, and if the result of the determination If no, return to step (C) to continue the potential setting of the other output pins to be set. If the result of the determination is yes, proceed to step (X).

In step (X), the basic input/output unit 11 receives an entry menu request for the user to press a quick key to instruct to enter a setup menu or a setup utility menu.

In step (Y), the basic input-output unit 11 converts the potential of the control chip group 12 related to the output pin 122 of the entry menu to the working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in an entry menu stage, and The baseboard management controller 13 is thereby notified.

In step (Z), the basic input/output unit 11 enters the user setting menu.

As can be seen from the above description, when the basic input/output unit 11 performs the power-on detection, the basic input/output unit 11 sets the potentials of the three output pins 121, 122, and 123 of the control chip group 12. The substrate management controller 13 monitors the potential of the output pin to determine whether the current startup detection of the basic input/output unit 11 is in the start detection phase, the entry menu phase, and the end detection phase, because the three The potentials of the output pins 121, 122, and 123 respectively continue for a period of time greater than the reset of the substrate management controller 13 and restarted, even if the substrate management controller 13 performs booting or resetting and cannot temporarily monitor, It may happen that the power-off self-test from the basic input-output unit 11 is received as in the prior art. The condition of the message is measured, and the substrate management controller 13 can be surely monitored the operation of the server system, so that the object of the present invention can be achieved.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and all the equivalent equivalent changes and modifications according to the scope of the patent application and the patent specification of the present invention are still The scope of the invention is covered.

11‧‧‧Basic input and output unit

111‧‧‧Output pin function table

12‧‧‧Control chipset

121‧‧‧Output pin

122‧‧‧Output pin

123‧‧‧Output pin

13‧‧‧Base Management Controller

Claims (9)

A method for notifying a booting phase is performed by a server system including a basic input/output unit adapted to perform a boot detection, a control chip set electrically coupled to the basic input output unit and including a plurality of output pins And a substrate management controller adapted to monitor operation of the server system, the substrate management controller electrically connecting a plurality of output pins of the control chip set, the basic input output unit storing an output pin function The output pin function table records one of the potentials of each output pin of the control chip set to be set at the initial level and the working level, and the method for notifying the boot detection phase includes: (A) The basic input/output unit sets the potentials of the plurality of output pins of the control chip set to an initial level, wherein the potentials of the plurality of output pins are each related to indicating one of a plurality of power-on detection stages, and each The initial level indication is not in the corresponding power-on detection phase; (B) the basic input-output unit correlates one of the control chip groups with The potential of the detected output pin is converted to a working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in a beginning detection phase, and the potential of the output pin associated with the start of detection is monitored by the substrate management controller; (C) The basic input/output unit determines the potential of each output pin to be set according to the output pin function table; (D) the basic input/output unit determines, according to the output pin function table, whether the output pin to be set is the relevant The output pin at the beginning of the test; and (E) If the result of the determination in the step (D) is YES, the basic input/output unit does not set the potential of the output pin. The method for notifying the booting phase as recited in claim 1 further includes the step following the step (B): (I) the basic input/output unit performs initialization related to the server system at the boot detection; and (J) The basic input/output unit converts the potential of one of the control chip groups associated with the end detecting output pin to the operating level to indicate that the power-on detection is in a completion detection phase, and the output related to the end detection is The potential of the pin is monitored by the substrate management controller. The method for notifying the booting phase as described in claim 1 further includes: (F) if the result of the step (D) is no, the basic input/output unit sets the potential of the output pin to the initial level and the working level. And (G) the basic input/output unit determines whether all the output pins have been set according to the output pin function table, and if the result of the determination is no, returns to step (C). The method for notifying the booting phase as recited in claim 1, further comprising: (X) the basic input/output unit receiving an incoming menu request, the entering the menu request indicating entering a user setting menu; (Y) the basic inputting and outputting unit The potential of one of the control chipsets associated with the output pin of the entry menu is converted to the operational level to indicate that the power-on detection is in an entry menu phase, and the potential of the output pin associated with the entry menu is affected by the substrate Management controller monitoring; and (Z) The basic input/output unit enters the user setting menu. A server system capable of notifying a booting phase, comprising: a basic input/output unit adapted to perform a boot detection; a control chip set electrically connected to the basic input output unit and including a plurality of output pins, wherein the plurality of outputs are connected The potential of the foot is related to indicating a plurality of boot detection stages; and a substrate management controller is adapted to monitor the operation of the server system and electrically connect the plurality of output pins of the control chip set; wherein, the basic The input/output unit sets the potential of the plurality of output pins of the control chip set to an initial level; wherein the basic input/output unit converts the potential of the control chip group to the output pin of the start detection to a working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in a beginning detection phase, and the potential of the output pin related to the start of detection is monitored by the baseboard management controller; the basic input-output unit stores an output pin function table, The output pin function table records that the potential of each output pin of the control chip set is to be set at the initial level and the work One of the levels; the basic input/output unit determines the potential of each output pin to be set according to the output pin function table; the basic input/output unit determines the output to be set according to the output pin function table Whether the pin is the output pin related to the start of detection, if the output pin to be set is the output pin related to the start of detection, the basic input/output unit does not set the potential of the output pin. The server system of claim 5, wherein the basic input/output unit performs initialization related to the server system at the time of power-on detection, and the basic input-output unit correlates one of the control chip groups with the end The potential of the detected output pin is converted to the working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in a completion detection phase, and the potential of the output pin associated with the end detection is monitored by the substrate management controller. The server system of claim 5, wherein the basic input output unit receives an entry menu request, the entry menu request indicates entry into a user setting menu, and the basic input output unit controls the one of the chip sets The potential associated with the output pin of the entry menu is converted to the operational level to indicate that the power-on detection is in an entry menu phase and the potential associated with the output pin of the entry menu is monitored by the baseboard management controller. A method for notifying a booting phase is performed by a server system including a basic input/output unit adapted to perform a boot detection, a control chip set electrically coupled to the basic input output unit and including a plurality of output pins And a substrate management controller adapted to monitor operation of the server system, the substrate management controller electrically connecting a plurality of output pins of the control chip set, the basic input output unit storing an output pin function The output pin function table records one of the potentials of each output pin of the control chip set to be set at the initial level and the working level, and the method for notifying the boot detection phase includes: (A) The basic input/output unit sets the potentials of the plurality of output pins of the control chip set to an initial level, wherein the plurality of output pins The potentials are each related to indicating one of a plurality of power-on detection phases, and each of the initial level indications is not in the corresponding power-on detection phase; (X) the basic input-output unit receives an entry menu request, the entry menu request indicates entry a user setting menu; (Y) the basic input/output unit converts the potential of one of the control chip sets related to the output pin of the entry menu to a working level to indicate that the power-on detection is in an entry menu stage, And the potential of the output pin related to the entry menu is monitored by the baseboard management controller; (Z) the basic input/output unit enters the user setting menu; (C) the basic input/output unit according to the output pin function The table determines the potential of each output pin to be set; (D') the basic input/output unit determines, according to the output pin function table, whether the output pin to be set is the output pin related to the entry menu; (E) If the result of the step (D') is YES, the basic input/output unit does not set the potential of the output pin. The method for notifying the booting phase as described in claim 8 further includes: (F) if the determining result of the step (D') is negative, the basic input/output unit sets the potential of the output pin to the initial level and the working standard. One of the bits; (G) the basic input/output unit determines whether all the output pins have been set according to the output pin function table, and if the result of the determination is no, returns to step (C).