TWI685791B - Method of generating bios-change record - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of generating a bios-change record is provided. The method includes a BMC of a computer storing BIOS setting parameters in a previous value field of a bios change record table, a processor of the computer determining whether the BIOS setting parameters is being changed, the processor setting a flag to a first data format and the BMC storing the changed BIOS setting parameters in a current value field of the bios change record table when the BIOS setting parameters being changed, the computer being reset after the changed BIOS setting parameters being stored, the BMC determining whether the flag is the first data format after the computer being reset, and the BMC comparing the current value field and the previous value field when the flag being the first data format, and the BMC storing a difference between the current value field and the previous value field in the bios change record table when the contents of the current value field being different from the contents of the previous value field.

Description

Method for generating BIOS change record

The invention relates to a method for generating BIOS change records.

Generally speaking, during the design or use phase of electronic systems, the parameters set by the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) are often modified for specific purposes. If the electronic system does not have the modification history of BIOS settings, after the parameters set by the BIOS are modified, users will face many difficulties when using the electronic system. For example, it takes a lot of time for the user to restore the BIOS settings to the parameter settings before the modification, or it is difficult for the user to analyze the effect or impact of previous BIOS setting modifications.

In addition, during the development and testing of electronic systems, different units usually conduct tests together, such as the test department and the R&D department. If the test department modifies the BIOS settings and causes serious problems such as the crash of the electronic system, the R&D department needs to Debugging is performed, but the R&D department has not been informed of the changes made by the testing department to the BIOS settings. The changes may be related to a series of repeated testing actions, so it will be difficult to debug.

Therefore, if the electronic system does not have the revision history of BIOS settings, it will cause great inconvenience in the design stage or use stage of the electronic system.

In view of this, the present invention provides a method for generating a BIOS change record.

A method for generating a BIOS change record includes: a baseboard management controller of a computer device stores a setting value of at least one BIOS setting option through a previous value field of a BIOS change record data table, wherein the aforementioned BIOS change record data table It also includes a current value field; a processor of the computer device detects whether the setting value of at least one BIOS setting option has changed; when the processor detects that the setting value of at least one BIOS setting option has changed, the processor will flag The target is set to a first data format, and the board management controller writes the changed value into the current value field, and the computer device resets after the changed value is written; after the computer device resets, the board management controller reads Take the flag and determine whether the flag is in the first data format; when the board management controller determines that the flag is in the first data format, the board management controller compares the contents of the current value field with the previous value field; and when When the baseboard management controller compares the content of the current value field with the previous value field, the baseboard management controller writes the difference between the current value field and the previous value field in the BIOS change record data table.

In summary, according to one embodiment of the method for generating a BIOS change record in this case, the change record data corresponding to the modification history record of the BIOS settings can be generated, such as the modified BIOS parameter name, the original parameter value before the modification, and the modified The changed value and timestamp are displayed on the BIOS setting menu or the network user interface to display the BIOS change log data, which allows the user to quickly know the modified content of the BIOS setting, and the user can efficiently analyze the BIOS setting modification. Effect or impact, or efficiently restore the BIOS settings to the set values at a specific point in time to improve the efficiency of debugging the computer device. Furthermore, if the electronic system is jointly tested by different units, such as the aforementioned test department and R&D department, the R&D department can learn in detail from the BIOS change log data that the settings of each BIOS setting are changed during the modification process quickly Converge the problem in order to shorten the time for troubleshooting, and then speed up the test development of the product.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computer device implementing a BIOS change recording method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A, the computer device 400 includes a processor 401, a baseboard management controller 402, and a memory unit 403. The baseboard management controller 402 is coupled between the processor 401 and the memory unit 403.

In an embodiment, the processor 401 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a system on chip (SOC) composed of a central processing unit and a platform path controller (PCH), and the memory unit 403 may be non-volatile Memory, such as electronically erasable rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM). In addition, FIG. 1A is for illustration only. As another embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the memory unit 403 may also be a memory inside the baseboard management controller 402, and is not externally connected to the memory unit 403. The substrate management controller 402 is limited.

Generally speaking, the computer device 400 includes multiple BIOS setting options. The user can modify the BIOS setting options in the setup menu when the computer device 400 is operating, so that the processor 401 operates according to the settings of the BIOS setting options, and Accordingly, the corresponding control signal is generated. Based on this, corresponding to the setting values of the BIOS setting options, as shown in FIG. 2, the memory unit 403 stores a BIOS change log data table 100, and the BIOS change log data table 100 includes a previous value field 103 and a previous value field 103 The settings corresponding to each BIOS setting option are recorded. Taking FIG. 2 as an example, the first row in the previous value field 103 stores a setting value corresponding to one of the BIOS setting options (hereinafter referred to as the first BIOS setting option for convenience of description) as “0x01”. In addition, the BIOS change log data table 100 further includes a current value field 104. When the setting value of the BIOS setting option of the computer device 400 changes, for example, the user of the computer device 400 changes the setting value of the BIOS setting option, the baseboard management controller 402 can write a changed value after the change into the current value field 104, and generate a BIOS change record according to the contents of the previous value field 103 and the current value field 104.

In detail, please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 together. The flowchart in the example shown in FIG. 3 is based on the previous value field 103 which has stored the setting value of the BIOS setting option when the computer device 400 is operating. When the computer device 400 is operating, the processor 401 detects the setting value of the BIOS setting option (step S01), and determines whether the setting value of the BIOS setting option is changed (step S02). For example, when the user changes the aforementioned setting value corresponding to the first BIOS setting option to "0x01" to the changing value of "0x00", the processor 401 determines that the setting value of the first BIOS setting option changes (judgment The result is "Yes"). Therefore, after the processor 401 determines that the setting value of any BIOS setting option is changed, the processor 401 sets a flag to have a corresponding preset data format. Taking different first data formats and second data formats as examples of whether the setting values of the BIOS setting options have been changed or not, for example, the processor 401 sets the flag to the aforementioned preset first data format (step S03). Furthermore, the processor 401 notifies the baseboard management controller 402 to access the BIOS change log data table 100, and the baseboard management controller 402 writes the changed value after the BIOS setting option is changed into the current value field 104 (step S04). Taking the aforementioned change value of "0x01" as the change value of "0x00" as an example, the board management controller 402 will write the change value of "0x00" into the current value field 104, as shown in FIG. 2 The first row of column 104.

After the changed value is written into the current value field 104, the computer device 400 is reset (step S05). The substrate management controller 402 reads the flag during the booting process after the computer device 400 is reset, and determines that the flag is the aforementioned first data format or second data format (step S06). When the board management controller 402 determines that the flag is in the first data format (the determination result is "Yes"), it means that the setting value of the BIOS setting option is changed. At this time, the board management controller 402 further compares the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 and determine whether the contents of the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 are different (step S07), when the board management controller 402 determines the difference between the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 When the content is different (the judgment result is "Yes"), the board management controller 402 writes the difference between the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 into the BIOS change record data table 100, and the board management controller 402 can write Any of the fields of the BIOS change log data table 100 written in the foregoing differences, for example, the change log data fields 203 and 204 illustrated in FIG. 4.

Taking the aforementioned board management controller 402 comparing the first row of the current value field 104 with the previous value field 103 based on the first BIOS setting option as an example, the board management controller 402 can determine that "0x01" is different from "0x00" If the first BIOS setting option is changed, the baseboard management controller 402 can record the difference between the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103, namely "0x01" and "0x00", respectively, in the change log data In columns 203, 204.

Based on this, the baseboard management controller 402 can generate the BIOS change log data for the "modified BIOS setting options" in the BIOS settings, so that the user can quickly know the modified contents of the BIOS setting, and the user can analyze the BIOS setting modification. The generated effect or influence improves the efficiency of debugging the computer device 400.

In one embodiment, when the processor 401 determines in step S02 that the setting value of the BIOS setting option has been changed and the computer device 400 is reset, the processor 401 further performs step S06 in the boot process after the computer device 400 is reset Determine whether the flag is in the first data format. If the judgment result of the processor 401 is "Yes", it means that the setting value of the BIOS setting option has been changed before the computer device 400 is reset. At this time, the processor 401 uses the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) in the boot process ; IPMI) sends the smart platform management interface command to the board management controller 402, so that the board management controller 402 executes step S06 according to the smart platform management interface command to determine whether the flag is the first data format or the second data format to determine whether The current value field 104 is compared with the previous value field 103 (step S07).

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the BIOS change log data table 100 further includes a BIOS option index field 101 and a BIOS option name field 102. The BIOS option field 101 contains index values used to represent all BIOS setting options of the computer device 400. Taking four index values as an example, the BIOS option index field 101 may include "0x00", "0x01", and "0x02" "And "0x03" index values. The BIOS option name field 102 contains the BIOS option names of all BIOS setting options, and the BIOS option names correspond one-to-one to the aforementioned index values. Taking four BIOS option names as an example, the BIOS option name field 102 may include BIOS option names of "Quiet Boot", "PCIe Hot Plug", "FRB2 Timer", and "BMC Support", and each BIOS option name is Each one-to-one corresponds to the index values of "0x00", "0x01", "0x02" and "0x03". Based on the BIOS option index field 101 and the BIOS option name field 102, when the baseboard management controller 402 determines in step S07 that the contents of the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 are not completely the same, the baseboard management controller 402 In step S08, the BIOS option names corresponding to the differences can be further written into the BIOS change record data table 100. For example, in the foregoing, it is determined that the current value field 104 is "0x01" based on the first BIOS setting option. When it is different from the change value of "0x00" in the previous value field 103, the corresponding BIOS option name of "Quiet Boot" is written into the change log data field in the BIOS change log data table 100 shown in FIG. 4 202.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the BIOS change log data table 100 further includes a time field 201. When the board management controller 402 determines in step S07 that the contents of the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 are different, The baseboard management controller 402 may further write the time stamp T1 of the comparison time into the time field 201. Therefore, based on the change record data field 202 and the time field 201, the user can more accurately analyze the history modification content of the BIOS settings according to each field 201-204 to debug the computer device 400.

In one embodiment, after the board management controller 402 writes the difference between the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 into the BIOS change record data table 100, the board management controller 402 writes the current value of the difference The content of the field 104 is written in the previous value field 103 (step S09), so that the content of the difference in the current value field 104 overwrites the original content in the previous value field 103. Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 5 at the same time. Taking the aforementioned first BIOS setting option as an example, the baseboard management controller 402 writes the content of the first row "0x00" in the current value field 104 into the previous value field 103. The first column covers the original "0x01". In this way, the baseboard management controller 402 can further compare the content of the current value field 104 according to the changed value "0x00" in the previous value field 103 after the change to determine whether the BIOS setting option is change.

In one embodiment, the processor 401 can preset the flag to have the second data format before setting the flag to have the first data format (step S03). When the processor 401 determines the setting of the BIOS setting option at step S02 After the value is changed, the processor 401 sets the flag to change from the second data format to the first data format. Here, after the board management controller 402 writes the content of the current value field 104 to the previous value field 103 in step S09, the board management controller 402 further sets the flag to restore the flag from the first data format to The preset second data format (step S10) to indicate that the baseboard management controller 402 has completed the update of the BIOS change record data table 100, and in the subsequent booting process of the computer device 400, the baseboard management controller 402 will not be based on The wrong flag compares the current value field 104 with the previous value field 103, causing an additional comparison action. In one embodiment, the aforementioned first data format may be logic "1", and the second data format may be logic "0".

In one embodiment, if the user does not change the BIOS setting option in the boot menu but selects to save the BIOS setting option and leaves the boot menu, the processor 401 determines in step S02 that the setting value of the BIOS setting option has been changed (judgment result "Yes"), and the processor 401 executes step S03 to set the flag to have the first data format. Here, the board management controller 402 determines that the flag is the first data format in step S06, but in step S07, the board management controller 402 determines the contents of the previous value field 103 and the current value field 104 It is exactly the same, because the user has not changed the BIOS setting options. At this time, the baseboard management controller 402 does not execute steps S08 and S09, that is, the baseboard management controller 402 does not update the BIOS change record data table 100, and the baseboard management controller 402 sets a flag to make the flag from the first data The format is restored to the preset second data format (step S10), so as to avoid the additional comparison operation caused by comparing the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 according to the wrong flag in the subsequent boot process.

In one embodiment, after the board management controller 402 writes the difference between the current value field 104 and the previous value field 103 in the BIOS change log data table 100 in step S08, the board management controller 402 can use a BIOS The setup menu or a web user interface (WebUI) displays the fields 201-204 included in the BIOS change log data table 100, making it easier for users to obtain BIOS change log data.

Among them, it is worth explaining that FIG. 2 is only used to illustrate the correspondence between the data in each field 101-104. When the correspondence between the data in each field 101-104 is correct The order of the columns 101-104 can be arranged arbitrarily, and is not used to limit the embodiment. Furthermore, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the processor 401 executes steps S01-S03, S06 by executing the BIOS program, and the baseboard management controller 402 executes step S04- by executing its firmware program S10.

In an embodiment, the aforementioned flag may be stored in a non-volatile memory unit connected to the processor 401, that is, after the processor 401 determines that the setting value of the BIOS setting option has been changed in step S02, in step In S03, the processor 401 accesses the non-volatile memory unit connected thereto, and sets the flag as the first data format. In addition, in step S06 after the computer device 400 is reset, the processor 401 reads the non-volatile memory unit connected to it to read the flag to determine whether to send the smart platform management interface command. If the processor 401 reads the non-volatile memory unit connected to it and determines that the flag is in the first data format, the processor 401 sends a smart platform management interface command to the board management controller 402, causing the board management controller 402 to perform The platform management interface command reads the non-volatile memory unit connected to the processor 401 to read the flag to determine whether to compare the current value field 104 with the previous value field 103 (step S07). Further, after the board management controller 402 writes the contents of the current value field 104 into the previous value field 103 (step S09), the board management controller 402 accesses the non-volatile memory connected to the processor 401 in step S10 The body unit uses the setting flag as the preset second data format.

In another embodiment, the aforementioned flag may also be stored in a non-volatile memory unit connected to the substrate management controller 402, that is, the processor 401 is accessed by the substrate management controller 402 in step S03 (Access) The non-volatile memory unit connected to the baseboard management controller 402 is set by the baseboard management controller 402 as the first data format. Moreover, in step S06 after the computer device 400 is reset, the processor 401 reads the aforementioned non-volatile memory unit connected to the substrate management controller 402 through the substrate management controller 402 to read the flag and then Decide whether to send the smart platform management interface command. If the processor 401 reads the non-volatile memory unit connected to the substrate management controller 402 and determines that the flag is the first data format, the processor 401 sends a smart platform management interface command to the substrate management controller 402 to cause the substrate management The controller 402 reads the non-volatile memory unit connected to it according to the smart platform management interface command to read the flag to determine whether to compare the current value field 104 with the previous value field 103 (step S07). Further, the substrate management controller 402 accesses the non-volatile memory unit connected to it in step S10 to set the flag as the preset second data format.

In summary, according to an embodiment of the method for generating a BIOS change record in this case, the change record data corresponding to the modification history record of the BIOS settings can be generated, such as the modified BIOS parameter name, the original parameter value before the modification, and the modified The changed value and timestamp are displayed on the BIOS setting menu or the network user interface to display the BIOS change log data, which allows the user to quickly know the modified content of the BIOS setting, and the user can efficiently analyze the BIOS setting modification. Effect or impact, or efficiently restore the BIOS settings to the set values at a specific point in time to improve the efficiency of debugging the computer device. Furthermore, if the electronic system is jointly tested by different units, such as the aforementioned test department and R&D department, the R&D department can learn in detail from the BIOS change log data that the settings of each BIOS setting are changed during the modification process quickly Converge the problem in order to shorten the time for troubleshooting, and then speed up the test development of the product.

Although the case has been disclosed as above with examples, it is not intended to limit the case. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the subject can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the case, so the protection of the case The scope shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100‧‧‧ BIOS change record data table 101‧‧‧ BIOS option index field 102‧‧‧ BIOS option name field 103‧‧‧Previous value field 104‧‧‧ Current value field T1‧‧‧Time stamp 201‧‧‧Time column 202‧‧‧Change the record data field 203‧‧‧ Change the record data field 204‧‧‧ Change the record data field 400‧‧‧Computer device 401‧‧‧ processor 402‧‧‧Baseboard management controller 403‧‧‧Memory unit S01-S10‧‧‧Step

[FIG. 1A] It is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer device for implementing a BIOS change recording method according to the present invention. [FIG. 1B] It is a block diagram of another embodiment of a computer device for implementing a BIOS change recording method according to the present invention. [FIG. 2] is a schematic diagram of a BIOS change log data table according to an embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 3] It is a flowchart of one embodiment of the BIOS change recording method according to the present invention. [FIG. 4] It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of other fields of the BIOS change record data table of FIG. 2. [FIG. 5] It is a schematic diagram of one implementation form of the BIOS change record data table of FIG. 2.

400‧‧‧Computer device

401‧‧‧ processor

402‧‧‧Baseboard management controller

403‧‧‧Memory unit

Claims (10)

A method for generating BIOS change records, including: A baseboard management controller of a computer device stores a setting value of at least one BIOS setting option through a previous value field of a BIOS change log data table, wherein the BIOS change log data table further includes a current value field; A processor of the computer device detects whether the setting value of the at least one BIOS setting option has changed; When the processor detects that the setting value of the at least one BIOS setting option has changed, the processor sets a flag to a first data format, and the baseboard management controller changes the at least one BIOS setting option A changed value is written into the current value field, and the computer device is reset after the changed value is written; After the computer device is reset, the substrate management controller reads the flag and determines whether the flag is in the first data format; When the board management controller determines that the flag is the first data format, the board management controller compares the contents of the current value field and the previous value field; and When the board management controller compares that the content of the current value field and the previous value field are different, the board management controller writes the difference between the current value field and the previous value field to the BIOS change record data table. The method for generating a BIOS change record as described in claim 1 further includes: after the baseboard management controller writes the difference between the current value field and the previous value field in the BIOS change record data table, the The baseboard management controller writes the content of the current value field to the previous value field. The method for generating a BIOS change record as described in claim 2 further includes: after the baseboard management controller writes the content of the current value field to the previous value field, the baseboard management controller sets the flag from The first data format is set as a preset second data format, and the second data format is different from the first data format. The method for generating a BIOS change record according to claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller compares the values stored in the current value field and the previous value field at a time point, and the baseboard management controller will In the step of writing the difference between the current value field and the previous value field into the BIOS change record data table, the baseboard management controller further writes the time point into the BIOS change record data table. The method for generating a BIOS change record as described in claim 1, wherein the step of the substrate management controller reading the flag and determining whether the flag is in the first data format includes: The processor determines whether the flag is in the first data format after the computer device is reset, and if the flag is in the first data format, the processor sends a smart platform management interface command; and The baseboard management controller reads the flag according to the smart platform management interface command and determines whether the flag is in the first data format. The method for generating a BIOS change record according to claim 1, wherein the substrate management controller writes the difference between the current value field and the previous value field in the BIOS change record data table, the substrate The management controller further writes the BIOS parameter setting name of the BIOS setting option corresponding to the difference between the current value field and the previous value field into the BIOS change record data table. According to the method for generating a BIOS change record as described in claim 1, in the step that the processor detects that the setting value of the at least one BIOS setting option has changed, the setting value of the at least one BIOS setting option is detected by the processor It is completely the same before detecting that the setting value of the at least one BIOS setting option has changed and after the processor detects that the setting value of the at least one BIOS setting option has changed. The method for generating a BIOS change record as described in claim 7 further includes: when the baseboard management controller compares the contents of the current value field and the previous value field according to the flag ratio of the first data format, And comparing that the content of the current value field and the previous value field are completely the same, the substrate management controller sets the flag from the first data format to a preset second data format, and the substrate The management controller does not update the BIOS change record data table, wherein the second data format is different from the first data format. The method for generating a BIOS change record as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the BIOS change record data table is stored in the baseboard management controller. The method for generating a BIOS change record as described in claim 9 further includes: after the board management controller writes the difference between the current value field and the previous value field in the BIOS change record data table, the The baseboard management controller displays the BIOS change log data table through a BIOS setting menu or a network user interface.

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