Abstract:
A method may include, responsive to determining that the earlier-generation information handling system includes the information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource: (i) reading from a first thermal table of the first management controller an entry associated with the information handling resource and a second information handling system including thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system; and (ii) communicating from the first management controller to the second management controller the thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system in order to update the second thermal table with the thermal control parameters.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates in general to information handling systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing thermal control support for processor information handling systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0003]    As processors, graphics cards, random access memory (RAM) and other components in information handling systems have increased in clock speed and power consumption, the amount of heat produced by such components as a side-effect of normal operation has also increased. Often, the temperatures of these components need to be kept within a reasonable range to prevent overheating, instability, malfunction and damage leading to a shortened component lifespan. Accordingly, air movers (e.g., cooling fans and blowers) have often been used in information handling systems to cool information handling systems and their components. 
         [0004]    One challenge in the industry is providing power and thermal budget support of third-party information handling resources in an information handling system. In many instances, power and thermal budget support is provided to a handful of “approved” or “verified” information handling resources in power and thermal budget tables stored in a management controller or other information handling resource. However, once a version of management controller firmware is released, additions to the power or thermal budget tables to add support for another information handling resource (e.g., a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Extended or “PCIe” card) may require reconfiguration or recompilation of management controller firmware. Thus, any unsupported “off-the-shelf” information handling resources added by a customer after delivery may be assigned default parameters with respect to power and thermal budgeting rather than having customized parameters, which may lead to suboptimal performance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the disadvantages and problems associated with thermal control in information handling systems may be substantially reduced or eliminated. 
         [0006]    In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor, and having stored thereon a thermal table and firmware. The thermal table may comprise parameters for thermal management of one or more information handling resources of the information handling system and one or more information handling resources of at least one other information handling system. The firmware may comprise instructions executable on the management controller and configured to communicate an inquiry to a second management controller of an earlier-generation information handling system communicatively coupled to the management controller via a network to determine if the earlier-generation information handling system includes an information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource, and responsive to determining that the earlier-generation information handling system includes the information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource: (i) read an entry from the thermal table associated with the information handling resource and a second information handling system including thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system; and (ii) communicate the thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system to the second management controller in order to update the second thermal table with the thermal control parameters. 
         [0007]    In accordance with these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include communicating an inquiry from a first management controller of a later-generation information handling system to a second management controller of an earlier-generation information handling system communicatively coupled to the first management controller via a network to determine if the earlier-generation information handling system includes an information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource. The method may also include, responsive to determining that the earlier-generation information handling system includes the information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource: (i) reading from a first thermal table of the first management controller an entry associated with the information handling resource and a second information handling system including thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system; and (ii) communicating from the first management controller to the second management controller the thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system in order to update the second thermal table with the thermal control parameters. 
         [0008]    In accordance with these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, an article of manufacture may include a non-transitory computer readable medium and computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor. The instructions, when read and executed, may cause the processor to communicate an inquiry from a first management controller of a later-generation information handling system to a second management controller of an earlier-generation information handling system communicatively coupled to the first management controller via a network to determine if the earlier-generation information handling system includes an information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource. The instructions may also cause the processor to, responsive to determining that the earlier-generation information handling system includes the information handling resource for which a second thermal table of the second management controller requires updated thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource: (i) read from a first thermal table of the first management controller an entry associated with the information handling resource and a second information handling system including thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system; and (ii) communicate from the first management controller to the second management controller the thermal control parameters for thermal control of the information handling resource by the second information handling system in order to update the second thermal table with the thermal control parameters. 
         [0009]    Technical advantages of the present disclosure may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures, description and claims included herein. The objects and advantages of the embodiments will be realized and achieved at least by the elements, features, and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
         [0010]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples and explanatory and are not restrictive of the claims set forth in this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example system comprising a plurality of networked information handling systems, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method for providing thermal control support for a predecessor information handling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of another example method for providing thermal control support for a predecessor information handling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example thermal table which may be used in connection with providing thermal control support for a predecessor information handling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts. 
         [0017]    For the purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communication between the various hardware components. 
         [0018]    For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such as wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
         [0019]    For the purposes of this disclosure, information handling resources may broadly refer to any component system, device or apparatus of an information handling system, including without limitation processors, buses, memories, I/O devices and/or interfaces, storage resources, network interfaces, motherboards, integrated circuit packages; electro-mechanical devices (e.g., air movers), displays, and power supplies. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example system  100  comprising a plurality of networked information handling systems  102 , in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  100  may include a plurality of information handling systems  102  networked to one another via a network  128 . For example, information handling systems  102  may reside in one or more enclosures, racks, and/or chassis, located in one or more data centers. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, an information handling system  102  may comprise a server chassis configured to house a plurality of servers or “blades.” In other embodiments, information handling system  102  may comprise a personal computer (e.g., a desktop computer, laptop computer, mobile computer, and/or notebook computer). In yet other embodiments, information handling system  102  may comprise a storage enclosure configured to house a plurality of physical disk drives and/or other computer-readable media for storing data. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an information handling system  102  may comprise a processor  103 , a memory  104  communicatively coupled to processor  103 , an air mover control system  106  communicatively coupled to processor  103 , an air mover  108  communicatively coupled to air mover control system  106 , a temperature sensor  112  communicatively coupled to air mover control system  106 , one or more devices  114  communicatively coupled to processor  103 , and a management controller  116  communicatively coupled to processor  103 . 
         [0022]    Processor  103  may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data, and may include, without limitation a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data. In some embodiments, processor  103  may interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data stored in memory  104  and/or another component of information handling system  102 . Memory  104  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to retain program instructions or data for a period of time. Memory  104  may comprise random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a PCMCIA card, flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage, or any suitable selection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile memory that retains data after power to information handling system  102  is turned off. 
         [0023]    Air mover control system  106  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to receive one or more signals indicative of one or more temperatures within information handling system  102  (e.g., one or more signals from one or more temperature sensors  112 ), receive information regarding thermal parameters of information handling resources (e.g., information from power and/or thermal tables of management controller  116 ) and based on such signals and thermal parameters, calculate an air mover driving signal to maintain an appropriate level of cooling, increase cooling, or decrease cooling, as appropriate, and communicate such air mover driving signal to air mover  108 . Although  FIG. 1  depicts air mover control system  106  external to and independent from management controller  116 , in some embodiments, air mover control system  106  may be integral to management controller  116  (e.g., embodied in firmware  118  of management controller  116 ). 
         [0024]    Air mover  108  may be communicatively coupled to air mover control system  106 , and may include any mechanical or electro-mechanical system, apparatus, or device operable to move air and/or other gases. In some embodiments, air mover  108  may comprise a fan (e.g., a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades which act on the air). In other embodiments, air mover  108  may comprise a blower (e.g., a centrifugal fan that employs rotating impellers to accelerate air received at its intake and change the direction of the airflow). In these and other embodiments, rotating and other moving components of air mover  108  may be driven by a motor  110 . The rotational speed of motor  110  may be controlled by the air mover control signal communicated from air mover control system  106 . In operation, air mover  108  may cool information handling resources of information handling system  102  by drawing cool air into an enclosure housing the information handling resources from outside the chassis, expel warm air from inside the enclosure to the outside of such enclosure, and/or move air across one or more heatsinks (not explicitly shown) internal to the enclosure to cool one or more information handling resources. 
         [0025]    A temperature sensor  112  may be any system, device, or apparatus (e.g., a thermometer, thermistor, etc.) configured to communicate a signal to air mover control system  106  indicative of a temperature within information handling system  102 . 
         [0026]    For ease of exposition,  FIG. 1  depicts only one each of air mover control system  106 , air mover  108 , and temperature sensor  112 . However, it is noted that information handling system  102  may include two or more air movers  108  and each such air mover  108  may have a dedicated respective air mover control system  106 . It is further noted that an air mover control system  106  may receive temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors  112 , and that a single temperature sensor  112  may communicate temperature signals to one or more air mover control systems  106 . 
         [0027]    Device  114  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and may generally include any information handling resource. In some embodiments, device  114  may comprise a PCIe device. 
         [0028]    Management controller  116  may be configured to provide out-of-band management facilities for management of information handling system  102 . Such management may be made by management controller  116  even if information handling system  102  is powered off or powered to a standby state. Management controller  116  may include a processor, memory, out-of-band network interface separate from and physically isolated from an in-band network interface of information handling system  102 , and/or other embedded information handling resources. In certain embodiments, management controller  116  may include or may be an integral part of a baseboard management controller (BMC) or a remote access controller (e.g., a Dell Remote Access Controller or Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller). In other embodiments, management controller  116  may include or may be an integral part of a chassis management controller (CMC). 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , management controller  116  may include firmware  118 , thermal table  122 , and network interface  124 . Firmware  118  may include a program of executable instructions configured to be read and executed by management controller  118  in order to carry out the functionality of management controller  118 , including that functionality described herein. In some embodiments, firmware  118  may be configured to undertake a predecessor thermal control support update process, either as a source for such update process or a target for such update process, as described in greater detail below. 
         [0030]    Thermal table  122  may comprise a map, list, array, table, or other suitable data structure with one or more entries, each entry setting forth thermal parameters (e.g., target temperatures, maximum temperatures, air mover speed curves, power capping curves for power throttling, etc.) regarding an information handling resource of information handling system  102 . In particular, thermal table  122  may set forth thermal parameters for “known” or “supported” information handling resources that may be used in information handling system  102  and may be constructed and stored within a read-only memory of management controller  116  prior to runtime of information handling system  102  (e.g., during factory provisioning) that may only be updated in connection with periodic firmware updates to management controller  116 , and/or in connection with a predecessor thermal control support update process as described in greater detail below. 
         [0031]    For example,  FIG. 4  illustrates an example thermal table  122 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , thermal table  122  may include at least one entry  402  setting forth thermal parameters for “known” or “supported” information handling resources that may be used in information handling system  102 . Thus, with reference to entry  402 , if a GPU with card ID  1111  was present in an information handling system  102 , the management controller  116  of such information handling system may apply thermal parameters set forth in entry  402 . 
         [0032]    Further, thermal table  122  may also include one or more entries  404  setting forth thermal parameters for “known” or “supported” information handling resources that may be used in a predecessor information handling system  102  to the information handling system  102  storing such thermal table  122 . For example, columns  408  of entries  404  may set forth identities of predecessor information handling systems  102  to which entries  404  apply. Thus, in accordance with the methods and systems disclosed herein, an information handling system  102  may communicate information set forth in an entry  404  to a predecessor information handling system  102 . 
         [0033]    Similarly, thermal table  122  may also include one or more entries  406  setting forth thermal parameters communicated from a thermal table  122  of a successor information handling system  102 . For example, column  410  of an entry  406  may set forth identities of a successor information handling system  102  from which thermal parameters in entry  406  were obtained. 
         [0034]    Turning again to  FIG. 1 , network interface  124  may comprise any suitable system, apparatus, or device operable to serve as an interface between management controller  116 , one or more other management controllers  116 , and/or one or more other information handling systems (e.g., via network  128 ). Network interface  124  may enable management controller  116  to communicate using any suitable transmission protocol and/or standard, including without limitation those protocols and standards enumerated below with respect to network  128 . In these and other embodiments, network interface  124  may comprise a network interface card, or “NIC.” 
         [0035]    In addition to processor  103 , memory  104 , air mover control system  106 , air mover  108 , temperature sensor  112 , device  114 , and management controller  116 , information handling system  102  may include one or more other information handling resources. 
         [0036]    Network  128  may be a network and/or fabric configured to couple information handling systems  102  to one another. In these and other embodiments, network  128  may include a communication infrastructure, which provides physical connections, and a management layer, which organizes the physical connections and information handling systems communicatively coupled to network  128 . Network  128  may be implemented as, or may be a part of, a storage area network (SAN), personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an intranet, the Internet or any other appropriate architecture or system that facilitates the communication of signals, data and/or messages (generally referred to as data). Network  128  may transmit data via wireless transmissions and/or wire-line transmissions using any storage and/or communication protocol, including without limitation, Fibre Channel, Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Internet protocol (IP), other packet-based protocol, small computer system interface (SCSI), Internet SCSI (iSCSI), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) or any other transport that operates with the SCSI protocol, advanced technology attachment (ATA), serial ATA (SATA), advanced technology attachment packet interface (ATAPI), serial storage architecture (SSA), integrated drive electronics (IDE), and/or any combination thereof. Network  128  and its various components may be implemented using hardware, software, or any combination thereof. 
         [0037]    In operation, one or more of information handling systems  102  may be of a later-generation than one or more other information handling systems  102 . Being of a “later-generation” means that an information handling system  102 , as compared to another information handling system  102 , has information handling resources (e.g., management controller  116 , processor  103 ) of a more-recent version or design, and/or software and/or firmware (e.g., firmware  118 ) of a newer version. To provide thermal control support for an earlier-generation information handling system  102 , firmware  118  of a later-generation information handling system  102  may discover via communications over network  128  updatable thermal control parameters in thermal table  122  on the earlier-generation information handling system  102 , and communicate updated thermal control parameters to the earlier-generation information handling system  102  to be stored within thermal table  122  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102 . 
         [0038]    For example, a thermal table  122  of an earlier-generation information handling system  102  may have disposed therein a device  114  (e.g., a PCIe device) for which no entry exists in the thermal table  122  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102 . Accordingly, when implementing thermal control of device  114 , default thermal control parameters from thermal table  122  may be applied by air mover control system  106  in order to provide “worst-case” cooling of such unknown, unsupported device  114 . Because such default parameters assume worst-case cooling needs, such cooling may be sub-optimal, such as requiring more power consumption by air mover  108  than would have been the case if more optimal cooling was applied. 
         [0039]    To remedy this disadvantage, firmware  118  of a later-generation information handling system  102  may be able to, via communications over network  128 , determine when an earlier-generation information handling system  102  has installed a device  114  which is unsupported by thermal table  122 , and upon making such determination, communicate an appropriate entry from its own thermal table  122  in order to update the thermal table  122  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102  to include support for the device  114 . 
         [0040]    In addition, in some embodiments, a later-generation information handling system  102  may provide updated thermal control parameters to an earlier-generation information handling system  102  for a device  114  which is already supported by an entry in the thermal table  122  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102 . For instance, the device  114  may be supported via thermal control parameters present in the thermal table  122  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102 , but the later-generation information handling system  102  may have updated thermal control parameters present in its thermal table  122  which may allow for more optimal operation of the device on the earlier-generation information handling system  102 . Accordingly, firmware  118  of a later-generation information handling system  102  may be able to, via communications over network  128 , determine when an earlier-generation information handling system  102  has installed a device  114  which is supported by thermal table  122 , an entry which is updatable to include new thermal control parameters, and upon making such determination, communicate an appropriate entry from its own thermal table  122  in order to update the thermal table  122  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102  to include updated thermal control parameters for the device  114 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  200  for providing thermal control support for a predecessor information handling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. According to certain embodiments, method  200  may begin at step  202 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of information handling systems  102 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  200  and the order of the steps comprising method  200  may depend on the implementation chosen. In these and other embodiments, method  200  may be implemented as firmware, software, applications, functions, libraries, or other instructions. 
         [0042]    At step  202 , a later-generation information handling system  102  may be deployed to a networked system (e.g., system  100 ) including at least one other earlier-generation information handling system  102 . At step  204 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may communicate an inquiry to an earlier-generation information handling system  102  (e.g., via a management command, such as a command via Intelligent Platform Management Interface or other suitable standard or protocol) to determine whether the earlier-generation information handling system  102  includes a device  114  which is unsupported by the power table and/or thermal table  122  of earlier-generation information handling system  102  (e.g., unsupported in the sense that no entry exists for the device  114  in the power table and/or thermal table  122  of earlier-generation information handling system  102 ). If no unsupported devices  114  are found, method  200  may end. Otherwise, if one or more unsupported devices  114  are found, method  200  may proceed to step  206  for each such unsupported device  114 . 
         [0043]    At step  206 , for each unsupported device  114 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may receive from the earlier-generation information handling system  102  identifying information (e.g., manufacturer, device identifier, model number, etc.) for the device  114 . In some embodiments, such identifying information may be stored in a computer-readable medium integral to the device  114 , which may be read by management controller  116  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102  and communicated to management controller  116  of the later-generation information handling system  102  via network  128 . 
         [0044]    At step  208 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may determine if it includes an entry in its own thermal table  122  for thermal management of such device  114  within the earlier-generation information handling system  102  (e.g., an entry including thermal parameters for thermal control of device  114  by information handling systems  102  of the same generation as the earlier-generation information handling system  102 ). If a match for the device  114  is found in the thermal table of the later-generation information handling system  102 , method  200  may proceed to step  210 . Otherwise, method  200  may end. 
         [0045]    At step  210 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may frame a message including such thermal table  122  entry and communicate such message to the earlier-generation information handling system  102 . Firmware  118  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102  may accept the message, extract the entry therefrom, store thermal parameters from the entry in its own thermal table  122 , and apply the thermal parameters set forth in such entry in order to thermally control device  114 . After completion of step  210 , method  200  may end. 
         [0046]    Although  FIG. 2  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , method  200  may be executed with greater or fewer steps than those depicted in  FIG. 2 . In addition, although  FIG. 2  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , the steps comprising method  200  may be completed in any suitable order. 
         [0047]    Method  200  may be implemented using a management controller  116 , components thereof or any other system operable to implement method  200 . In certain embodiments, method  200  may be implemented partially or fully in software and/or firmware embodied in computer-readable media. 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  300  for providing thermal control support for a predecessor information handling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. According to certain embodiments, method  300  may begin at step  302 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of information handling systems  102 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  300  and the order of the steps comprising method  300  may depend on the implementation chosen. In these and other embodiments, method  300  may be implemented as firmware, software, applications, functions, libraries, or other instructions. 
         [0049]    At step  302 , a later-generation information handling system  102  may be deployed to a networked system (e.g., system  100 ) including at least one other earlier-generation information handling system  102 . At step  304 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may communicate an inquiry to an earlier-generation information handling system  102  (e.g., via a management command, such as a command via Intelligent Platform Management Interface or other suitable standard or protocol) to determine which devices  114  exist within earlier-generation information handling system  102 . For each discovered device  114 , steps  306 - 310  below may be executed, as appropriate. 
         [0050]    At step  306 , for each device  114  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may receive from the earlier-generation information handling system  102  identifying information (e.g., manufacturer, device identifier, model number, etc.) for the device  114 . In some embodiments, such identifying information may be stored in a computer-readable medium integral to the device  114 , which may be read by management controller  116  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102  and communicated to management controller  116  of the later-generation information handling system  102  via network  128 . 
         [0051]    At step  308 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may determine if it includes an entry in its own thermal table  122  for thermal management of such device  114  within the earlier-generation information handling system  102  (e.g., an entry including thermal parameters for thermal control of device  114  by information handling systems  102  of the same generation as the earlier-generation information handling system  102 ). If a match for the device  114  is found in the thermal table of the later-generation information handling system  102 , method  300  may proceed to step  310 . Otherwise, method  300  may end. 
         [0052]    At step  310 , firmware  118  of the later-generation information handling system  102  may frame a message including such thermal table  122  entry and communicate such message to the earlier-generation information handling system  102 . Firmware  118  of the earlier-generation information handling system  102  may accept the message, extract the entry therefrom, store thermal parameters from the entry in its own thermal table  122 , and apply the thermal parameters set forth in such entry in order to thermally control device  114 . After completion of step  310 , method  300  may end. 
         [0053]    Although  FIG. 3  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  300 , method  300  may be executed with greater or fewer steps than those depicted in  FIG. 3 . In addition, although  FIG. 3  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  300 , the steps comprising method  300  may be completed in any suitable order. 
         [0054]    Method  300  may be implemented using a management controller  116 , components thereof or any other system operable to implement method  300 . In certain embodiments, method  300  may be implemented partially or fully in software and/or firmware embodied in computer-readable media. 
         [0055]    As used herein, when two or more elements are referred to as “coupled” to one another, such term indicates that such two or more elements are in electronic communication or mechanical communication, as applicable, whether connected indirectly or directly, with or without intervening elements. 
         [0056]    This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Similarly, where appropriate, the appended claims encompass all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Moreover, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, or component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative. 
         [0057]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.