System and method for maintaining network connectivity during remote configuration of an information handling system

A network connection of an information handling system is recovered after configuration of network communications components in an incorrect manner by adjusting the configuration of the network communication components. For instance, a network interface card (NIC) configured with an incorrect IP address has the IP addresses of other NICs of the information handling system applied to determine if network communication is supported. If application of each IP address fails to recover communication, the NIC adjusts to a dynamic network address, sends a configuration failure message, receives new configuration information and applies the new configuration information to establish network communication through a static network address.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system remote configuration, and more particularly to a system and method for maintaining network connectivity during remote configuration of an information handling system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Information handling systems are often operated in a remote deployment environment in which a management station monitors and controls the software and firmware configuration of multiple clients. In a typical remote deployment, the information handling system is physically connected to a network through a network communication component, such as a network interface card (NIC), and then provided with power. A Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) client associated with the NIC initiates a boot to a PXE server to download a small program to deploy an operating system with a configuration agent. The configuration agent obtains configuration information from the management system and applies the configuration information to the information handling system. Generally, one of the first tasks for the configuration agent is to configure the NIC with Internet Protocol (IP) address information so that the management station can uniquely identify a NIC in the information handling system with a static IP address. Use of a static versus dynamic address helps to ensure accurate monitoring and configuring of the information handling system by the management station.

One difficulty that sometimes arises with remote deployment of a configuration is that an incorrect configuration of a NIC leads to failure of network communication to the information handling system and an inability to complete the configuration. Failure of a NIC configuration occurs if an IP address is not assigned or if an incorrect IP address is assigned, a not uncommon problem since IP and Media Access Control (MAC) addresses are generally a long series of letters or numbers that are prone to entry errors. Another cause of failure of a NIC configuration occurs if the operating system re-orders NICs of an information handling system from the order provided by the configuration agent. There is no standard way to order multiple NICs in an information handling system. Different operating systems and utilities might list NICS in different order, which in some cases results in configuration assigned to NIC0being actually assigned to NIC1. Whatever the cause, once an incorrect configuration is applied to the NIC interfaced with the network, communication by the static address supported by the NIC typically fails until a technician manually and locally configures the system to recover network communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which maintains or recovers network connectivity during a remote configuration deployment in the event of incorrect configuration of network communication components.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for maintaining or recovering network connectivity. Information handling system network communication component configuration followed by failed network connectivity results in automatic adjustment of the configuration information to re-establish network communication.

More specifically, a configuration agent applies configuration information to network communication components of an information handling system, such as IP address information applied to NICs. A management connection engine tests communication of the configured network communication component by sending a message to a remote deployment management station and checking for a response. If the network connectivity has failed, a configuration adjustment engine adjusts the network communication component configuration to re-establish network connectivity. The configuration adjustment engine attempts to establish static address connectivity by applying configuration information for each network communication component to the component interfaced with the network. For instance, where plural NICs are configured in an information handling system, each IP address for each NIC is applied to the NIC interfaced with the network to determine if a network connection is re-established. If the configuration information of the alternative network communication components fails to re-establish communication by a static address, the configuration adjustment engine re-establishes network connectivity by a dynamic address so that correct configuration information may be sent through the network to the information handling system.

The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that network connectivity between a management station and an information handling system is maintained in the event of incorrect configuration without manual and local reconfiguration of the information handling system. The configuration adjustment engine provides for re-ordering of NICs to support a static address that allows continued deployment of a configuration to information handling system or re-establishes communication through a dynamic address that allows re-configuration of NICs. Automatic re-establishment of network connectivity improves factory work flow in a remote deployment environment for reduced operational expense and greater manufacturing efficiency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, a block diagram depicts a system for maintaining network connectivity during remote configuration of network communication components of information handling systems10. Information handling system10has one or more NICs12that interface through a network14to communicate with a remote deployment management station16. For instance, on initial power up of information handling system10, a PXE client18associated with a NIC12establishes communication with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)/PXE server20through a dynamically assigned Internet address. PXE server20downloads a small program that deploys an operating system with a configuration agent22, which obtains configuration information for information handling system10from a configuration manager24. Configuration agent22configures information handling system10with desired software and firmware through a static Internet address that ensures correct downloads to a selected information handling system where plural systems interface with network14.

In order to support communication over network14at a static address, configuration manager24provides the IP addresses for NICs12from NIC IP address table26for loading by configuration agent22. In the event of an incorrect configuration of NICs12with the IP addresses, failure of network communications occurs. For instance, failed network communications will occur if an erroneous IP address is sent for a NIC12, if an IP address is not sent to an intended NIC or if the operating system alters the assigned NIC number. A management connection engine28checks network communication by sending a message to configuration manager24and receiving a response that confirms network communication at the static address. If management connection engine28determines a failure of the network communication, then configuration adjustment engine30determines an adjusted configuration and adjusts the NIC configuration through configuration agent22. After each configuration adjustment, management connection engine28re-attempts network communication until a response is received from configuration manager24so that a definitive configuration may be set.

Configuration adjustment engine30adjusts the configuration by first assuming that NICs12were incorrectly assigned operating system numbers, such as due to re-ordering by the operating system. Configuration adjustment engine30adjusts the configuration by attempting each IP address for each NIC12on the NIC12that is selected for communication over network14. If network communication is re-established by an adjusted IP address, configuration agent22adopts the appropriate IP address for each NIC12and continues with configuration of information handling system10. If none of the IP addresses re-establish network communication, then configuration adjustment engine30assumes that an incorrect or unassigned IP address has caused failure of the network communication and a switch to use of a dynamic address is made. Although communication by a dynamic address does not support remote configuration of plural information handling systems, it does allow a message to be sent to configuration manager24that a configuration error has occurred. Configuration manager24obtains new configuration information from a management station user interface32and provides the new configuration information to configuration agent22to reattempt configuration of NICs12for support of a static address.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a process is depicted for maintaining network connectivity during remote configuration of network communication components. The process begins at step40with execution of the configuration agent. At step42, the configuration agent sets the NICs to a dynamic address, such as with DHCP or AutoIP. Once the dynamic address network communication is operating, at step44the configuration agent waits for requests to configure from the remote deployment management station. At step46, the management station sends configuration information to the configuration agent which, at step48, applies the configuration information to the NICs, such as the IP addresses that support a static address. At step50a communication attempt is made over the network to the management station using the configured NIC to support a static address. If the communication attempt is successful, the process completes at step60.

If the communication attempt at step50fails, a determination is made of how to adjust the configuration to re-establish network communication without having a physical visit by a technician. At step52, a determination is made of whether the NIC has configuration information, such as the IP address. If the determination is no, the NIC did not receive the proper information at configuration and the process returns to step42for another request for configuration information sent by a dynamic address. If the result at step52is yes, the process continues to step54to determine if the NIC configuration is adjustable. For instance, if only one set of NIC configuration information is found, the configuration is determined as not adjustable and the process returns to step42for a re-configuration request. If the NIC configuration is adjustable, the process continues to step56to apply the adjusted configuration such as by renumbering the NIC order in the operating system or applying another IP address to the active NIC. At step58, communication with the management station is attempted and, if successful, the process completes at step60. If communication with the management station fails, the process returns to step54until all IP addresses have been attempted for the active NIC, after which the process returns to step42to request a reconfiguration.