Securing leased resources on a computer

Embodiments of the invention provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for securing of leased resources on a computer. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer for securing resources may comprise at least one processor, a plurality of resources, wherein each resource is associated with configuration data and a programmable logic device connected to each of the plurality of resources. The programmable logic device may be configured for determining whether a resource is leased, reading un-encoded configuration data from a resource, and sending the configuration data to a first unit, if the resource is not leased. The programmable logic device may further be configured for reading encoded configuration data from a resource, decoding the configuration data, sending the configuration data that was decoded to a first unit, and logging use of the resource by the first unit, if the resource is leased.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of leased computing and more specifically to securing leased resources on a computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Some consumers want to have the ability to use additional computing resources when the need arises but don't want to incur the initial expense of buying the additional resources. Computing resources include hard drives, memory modules, server blades, whole servers, or the like. In order to meet this need, certain vendors offer computing equipment that come with additional resources that are priced based on usage. These vendors allow clients or customers to buy or lease a computer or server with regularly usable resources in addition to a set of leased resources for which the client pays based on use. When a client uses a leased resource, he is billed for what he uses in the same way water and electricity utility customers are. This model is referred to as “demand leased” computing. The computer or server in question is managed by the client and kept at the client's location. Non-leased resources on the computer are used without restriction by the client. When leased resources on the computer are used by the client, the vendor bills the client according to usage on a periodic basis, such as monthly.

Current demand leased computer units can be configured with additional leased resources which can be activated as required by a customer. Thus, additional disabled leased resources can be activated depending on increased resource demand or a need to meet growth patterns of an information technology (IT) infrastructure of a customer. When leased resources are activated the vendor of the leased resources charges the customer accordingly for his use. There currently is no method, however, for securing leased resources in this environment.

One approach to the problem of securing leased resources in a demand leased computer unit is through software measures. Software security measures, however, are much more easily defeated than hardware measures and can't be used at all in many circumstances. It is desirable for a demand leased provider to be able to control its leased resources before the customer activates them. If a vendor's control over leased resources is weak or non-existent, the customer could potentially use the resources without paying to have them activated. Furthermore, without an effective method to tie the operation of a leased resource to a single demand leased computer unit, a customer could possibly remove the leased resource from the demand leased computer unit and use it on another computer, such as a competitor's server, without paying for its use. A leased resource that is “hijacked” in this way can be used as a regular device by another server. Thus, there are currently few precautions for preventing leased resources in a demand leased computer unit from being recognized, configured, enabled and used without any restrictions.

Thus, the need arises to solve the problems with the prior art above and specifically for a more efficient way to secure leased resources in a demand leased computer unit.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to securing of leased resources in a demand leased computing environment and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for securing of leased resources on a computer. In one embodiment of the present invention, a computer for securing resources may comprise at least one processor, a plurality of resources, wherein each resource is associated with configuration data and a programmable logic device connected to each of the plurality of resources. The programmable logic device may be configured for determining whether a resource is leased, reading un-encoded configuration data from a resource, and sending the configuration data to a first unit, if the resource is not leased. The programmable logic device may further be configured for reading encoded configuration data from a resource, decoding the configuration data, sending the configuration data that was decoded to a first unit, and logging use of the resource by the first unit, if the resource is leased.

The plurality of resources of the computer may comprise at least one of a processor, a hard drive, a memory module and a server blade. The programmable logic device may be connected to each of the plurality of resources via an SMBUS and configuration data may comprise serial product data of a resource. Configuration data of a resource may reside on an EEPROM of the resource and the first unit may comprise a BIOS program of another computer.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for securing resources of a computer can include receiving a request from a first unit for configuration data of a resource of the computer and determining whether the resource is leased. The method may further include reading un-encoded configuration data from the resource and sending the configuration data to the first unit, if the resource is not leased. The method may further include reading encoded configuration data from the resource, decoding the configuration data, sending the configuration data that was decoded to the first unit, and logging use of the resource by the first unit, if the resource is leased.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for securing of leased resources on a computer. The present invention provides a method by which a control agent or configuration module encrypts configuration data on a leased resource but provides decrypted configuration data when an authorized request for the data is received. This secures a leased resource such that a separate computer cannot use the leased resource due to the encrypted configuration data. If the leased resource is removed from the computer, the leased resource will remain in an offline state and will not be functional in any other computer system. To force the user of the computer to return the leased resource to its original location, a polling procedure is executed whereby all leased resources are periodically polled for their encrypted configuration data and compared to an original list of leased resources and corresponding encrypted configuration data. If the queried leased resources are not present during polling, the customer is informed that the computer will be shut down unless the leased resource is replaced in a predetermined period of time.

FIG. 1is a flow chart illustrating a conventional process for configuring resources on a computer. A resource may include a processor, a hard drive, a memory module, a server blade or the like. It is assumed forFIG. 1that the manufacturer of the resource at issue has programmed and stored the identification and configuration data of the resource either on the resource itself or on an associated component.

The configuration data for a dual inline memory module (DIMM), for example, consists of Serial Presence Detect (SPD) data that is stored in an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) associated with the DIMM. An EEPROM is a programmable memory that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge but retains its contents even when power to the computer is turned off. The EEPROM can be rewritten or reprogrammed. The SPD data of the DIMM is written to the EEPROM in JEDEC standardized format by the DIMM vendor before it is sold to a computer manufacturer or the general public. The SPD data includes a description of the DIMM's technology, memory size, memory speed, CAS latency, RAS latency, and other defining characteristics.

The flow chart ofFIG. 1uses a DIMM as an example of a resource that is configured for use on a computer. In block110, a user of the computer powers on the machine. In block120, the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) and Power on Self Test (POST) programs of the computer are initiated. BIOS refers to the built-in software that determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk. On PCs, the BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of miscellaneous functions. POST refers to a diagnostic testing sequence run by a computer's BIOS as the computer's power is initially turned on. The POST determines if the computer's RAM, disk drives, peripheral devices and other hardware components are properly working. If the diagnostic determines that everything is in working order, the computer will continue to boot. The BIOS and POST are typically placed in a ROM chip that comes with the computer, and are commonly referred to as POST/BIOS

In block130, it is determined while scanning for resources whether a new DIMM has been found by the POST/BIOS program. If the result of the determination of block130is positive, control flows to block140. If the result of the determination of block130is negative, control flows to block180. In block140, the SPD data is read from the EEPROM of the new DIMM found by the POST/BIOS program. In block150, it is determined whether the new DIMM found by the POST/BIOS program is valid and supported based on the SPD data read from the EEPROM of the DIMM. If the result of the determination of block150is positive, control flows to block160. If the result of the determination of block150is negative, control flows to block170.

In block160, the POST/BIOS program adds the configuration data of the new DIMM to the configuration map of the computer and control flows back to block130. In block170, the POST/BIOS program produces an error message and/or simply excludes the new DIMM from the configuration map of the computer and control flows back to block130. In block180, the POST/BIOS program configures the leased DIMMs that were found by process130, if valid and supported. In block190, the POST/BIOS program enables the operating system to load and the runs the operating system with the leased DIMMs configured above.

FIG. 2is a schematic illustration of a system for securing leased resources on a computer200, according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2shows the central processing unit (CPU)202of the computer200. The CPU202, which may be one or more processors, is connected via chipset elements and an SMBUS controller to a System Management Bus (SMBUS)206to the configuration module210, which substantially performs the method of the present invention. The configuration module210may be a programmable logic device, which is an integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform complex functions. The configuration module210is then connected to an SMBUS207and further to the EEPROMS222,224and226, shown here associated with demand leased devices DIMM's232,234,236. The configuration module210is used to intercept and modify the SMBUS traffic between SMBUS206and SMBUS207, per the present invention

A bus is a collection of wires through which data is internally transmitted from one part of a computer to another. A bus connects all the internal computer components to the CPU and main memory. An inter-integrated circuit bus (I2C) is a type of bus used to connect integrated circuits (ICs). I2C is a multi-master bus, which means that multiple chips can be connected to the same bus and each one can act as a master by initiating a data transfer. An SMBUS is a two-wire interface, which uses an I2C as its backbone, through which a processor can communicate with rest of the computer system. Using an SMBUS, a device or resource can provide manufacturer information, tell the system what its model or part number is, save its state for a suspend event, report different types of errors, accept control parameters and return its status.

In one embodiment (not shown) of the present invention, the CPU202is connected to the SMBUS206via a north bridge203A, south bridge203B, and SMBUS controller205. In north bridge/south bridge chipset architecture designs, the south bridge203B is the device or chipset element that controls all of the I/O functions of the computer, such as USB, audio, serial, the system BIOS, the ISA (industry standard architecture) bus, the interrupt controller and the IDE (intelligent drive electronics) channels. All of the functions of a processor are controlled by the south bridge except memory, PCI (peripheral component interconnect) devices and AGP (accelerated graphics port) devices. The other device or chipset element is the north bridge; the north bridge203A is the device or chipset element that connects a CPU to memory, the PCI bus, Level 2 cache and AGP activities. The north bridge device or chipset element communicates with the CPU through the CPU bus.

A ROM204for storing the BIOS/POST programs of the computer200is connected to the CPU202via chipset elements203A and203B. Further a ROM212and a RAM214are connected to the configuration module210for storing configuration data, as described in more detail below. The SMBUS, as it traverses from SMBUS206to SMBUS207via configuration module210, further connects the configuration module210to the EEPROM222,224and226of each DIMM232,234and236, respectively. The EEPROM222,224and226stores the configuration data, such as the SPD, of each DIMM232,234and236, respectively. It should be noted that althoughFIG. 2shows only DIMMs as resources that may be secured, DIMMs are used by way of example only and the present invention supports the securing of any type of leased resource including hard drives, other memory modules, CPU's, and server blades. Such elements, if connected to SMBUS207and handled per the present invention, could be treated as ‘demand leased’ devices. Further, althoughFIG. 2shows only three DIMMs, the system of the present invention supports any viable number of leased resources that may be secured.

FIG. 3is a flow chart illustrating a process for modifying configuration data of leased resources on a computer, such as computer200, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The process of the flow chart ofFIG. 3describes how the configuration module210configures leased resources before the resources are available for use by a user of computer200. The flow chart ofFIG. 3uses a DIMM as an example of a leased resource that is configured for use by the user of the computer200.

In block310, the leasor, in this case the computer manufacturer or distributor, determines which specific devices are to be leased based upon the sales agreement with the end customer. At this time, a utility program is loaded and executed by CPU202. This utility identifies to configuration module210specific resources that will be leased to the user of computer200. In one embodiment of the present invention, the utility program polls the resources of the computer200and determines which resources are leased based on the configuration data present on each resource. For example, the configuration data present on a resource may include an indicator such as a code or a sequence of bits that is predefined to indicate the leased nature of a resource. In another example, a predefined bit on a resource may indicate, insofar as it is set or not set, that the resource is leased.

In block320, the configuration module210performs a read transaction via the SMBUS of the EEPROM of each DIMM identified as a leased resource in block310above. The configuration module210reads the SPD data from each identified EEPROM and stores it in the RAM214. In block330, the configuration data for the corresponding DIMM is encrypted using a predefined encryption algorithm (encryption key) and the encrypted configuration data is then written back to the EEPROM for that DIMM (or device). In addition, a flag may be stored in the EEPROM to indicate that the particular device is under lease control. In block340, an indicator of the leased state of each device and the encryption key for each leased EEPROM is then stored in the ROM212so as to prevent it from being erased when power is lost.

The encryption of block330may be executed in a variety of ways. The configuration data may be encrypted using either asymmetric encryption, wherein a public key is used to encrypt data and a private key is used to decrypt data, or symmetric encryption wherein the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data. The purpose of the encryption is to save the SPD data on the resource in such a way that it is not immediately readable (identifiable) by a BIOS/POST program in a computer system that does not implement the use of the configuration module210. Thus, if the BIOS/POST program of another system that is not system200attempts to configure the resources232,234,236, it will not be able to complete the configuration because it will read the encrypted data and lack the ability to decrypt it. In this way, the present invention forces the customer to use the configuration module210, which regulates the use of leased resources and enables billing of the customer according to his use of the resource.

The previous discussion outlined how leased devices are identified and activated at the time of manufacture or customer delivery. However, the ‘demand leased’ resources on the computer200may be enabled or disabled by the customer at any time. The act of being enabled indicates that a leased resource is operating and ready for use. The act of being disabled indicates that a leased resource is not ready for use. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fact that configuration data of a leased resource has been encrypted and written back to the leased resource in an encrypted manner indicates that the leased resource is available in the system identified by the lease. Further, the encrypted configuration data may also include an indicator that the leased resource is actively being leased.

The process of the flowchart ofFIG. 3secures a leased resource such that a separate computer cannot use the leased resource due to the encrypted configuration data. If the leased resource is removed from the original computer200, the leased resource will remain in an offline state and will not be functional in any other computer system. This is because the BIOS of the other computer system would not understand the encrypted configuration data on the leased resource and therefore would not be able to configure it properly.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the configuration module210can poll all leased resources periodically for their encrypted configuration data, which is then compared to the list of leased resources hat is stored in ROM212. This process insures that a leased resource present in the computer200when shipped is still installed in the computer. This provides added protection because it detects the presence of leased resources on the computer as well as the type of resources present. If the queried leased resources are not present during polling, the customer may be informed that the computer will be shut down unless the leased resource is replaced in a predetermined period of time

FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating a process for securing leased resources on a computer, such as computer200, according to one embodiment of the present invention. A leased resource may include a processor, a hard drive, a memory module, a server blade or the like. The flow chart ofFIG. 4uses a DIMM as an example of a leased resource that is accessed for use by a user of computer200.

In block410, a user of computer200powers on his machine. In block420, the BIOS and POST programs of the computer are initiated. In block430, it is determined by the computer whether a new DIMM resource on the computer200has been found by the BIOS/POST program. In one embodiment of the present invention, the computer determines the presence or absence of resources by addressing each SMBUS address on the various busses. When resources are not present, the SMBUS controller generates a no-acknowledgement response back to the computer. If the result of the determination of block430is positive, control flows to block440. If the result of the determination of block430is negative, control flows to block480. In block440, the CPU202of the computer200sends a request to read the SPD data from the EEPROM222of the new DIMM232found by the BIOS/POST program. The configuration module210receives this request. In block442, the configuration module210determines whether the DIMM232referred to by the CPU202is a resource that is leased and/or enabled. In one embodiment of the present invention, the configuration module210determines whether the DIMM232is leased and/or enabled by forwarding an SMBUS206read request initiated by CPU202onto SMBUS207. The configuration module210then intercepts the response data from the targeted device (such as DIMM232), and the returned SPD data will include one or more indicators of whether the resource is leased and/or enabled.

If the DIMM232is not leased, in block443the configuration module210reads the un-encrypted configuration data (SPD) from the EEPROM222of the DIMM232and sends it to the CPU202. If the DIMM232is leased but not enabled, in block444the configuration module210reads the encrypted configuration data (SPD) from the EEPROM222of the DIMM232and sends it (in encrypted format) to the CPU202.

If the DIMM232is leased and enabled, in block445the configuration module210reads the encrypted configuration data (SPD) from the EEPROM222of the DIMM232, decrypts the configuration data and sends it to the CPU202. In step446, the computer200logs use of the leased resource (the DIMM232) so as to charge the customer for its use.

In block450, it is determined by the computer200whether the new DIMM found by the BIOS/POST program is valid and supported based on the SPD data received from the configuration module210. If the result of the determination of block450is positive, control flows to block460. If the result of the determination of block450is negative, control flows to block470.

In block460, the BIOS/POST program adds the configuration data of the new DIMM to the configuration map of the computer200and control flows back to block430. In block470, the BIOS/POST program produces a notification message and/or simply excludes the new DIMM from the configuration map of the computer200and control flows back to block430. In block480, the BIOS/POST program configures the computer200to utilize the DIMMs that were added to the configuration map by process480. In block490, the BIOS/POST program enables the operating system to load and the runs the operating system with the DIMMs configured above.

The embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system.