Identifiers for collective management of groups of information handling systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12587370-B2
Application number	US-202418428394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2024
Priority date	Jan 31, 2024
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

Systems and methods include an IHS (Information Handling System) that is a member of a computing cluster and that is configured to participate in collective management of the cluster, including generating a unique identifier for collective use and identification of the cluster. Cluster management functions of the IHS are configured to determine when the addition of another IHS as a member of the computing cluster requires an update to a cluster identifier that is used to task the computing cluster. When an update to the cluster identifier is required, the cluster management functions generate an updated cluster identifier that is amalgamation of identifiers of each member of the computing cluster and the updated cluster identity is transmitted to cluster members.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A first Information Handling System (IHS) that is a member of a compute cluster, the first IHS comprising:
one or more processors; and one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memory devices configured with stored computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the processors, cause cluster management functions of the first IHS to:
determine when addition of a second IHS as a member of the compute cluster requires an update to a cluster identifier that is used to task the compute cluster;
when an update to the cluster identifier is required, generate an updated cluster identifier, wherein the generated update to the cluster identifier comprises an amalgamation of identifiers of each member of the compute cluster; and
transmit the updated cluster identifier to the second IHS.

2 . The first IHS of claim 1 , wherein the cluster identifier used to task the compute cluster is used to collectively identify all members of the compute cluster.

3 . The first IHS of claim 1 , wherein the updated cluster identifier is generated through inputs to a key derivation function, and wherein the inputs comprise the identifiers of each member of the compute cluster.

4 . The first IHS of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of operators specify whether the identifier of each member of the compute cluster is used as an input to the key derivation function.

5 . The first IHS of claim 4 , wherein the operators specify an identifier of a member of the compute cluster as an unconditional input to the key derivation function used to generate the updated cluster identifier.

6 . The first IHS of claim 4 , wherein the operators specify an identifier of a member of the compute cluster as a conditional input to the key derivation function used to generate the updated cluster identifier.

7 . The first IHS of claim 1 , wherein the identifiers of each member of the compute cluster comprise unique identifiers assigned by a manufacturer of each respective member of the compute cluster.

8 . The first IHS of claim 1 , wherein the identifiers of each member of the compute cluster comprise unique identifiers specified in a factory-provisioned certificate that specifies factory-installed hardware of each respective member of the compute cluster.

9 . The first IHS of claim 8 , wherein the identifiers specified in the factory-provisioned certificate that specifies factory-installed hardware of each respective member comprise a digital signature generated based on identifiers of factory-installed hardware of the respective member of the compute cluster.

10 . The first IHS of claim 9 , wherein the digital signature is signed by a manufacturer of the respective member of the compute cluster.

11 . The first IHS of claim 10 , wherein the certificate comprises a public key of a keypair generated by the respective member of the compute cluster, wherein the public key is endorsed by the manufacturer and used to validate the identifiers of each respective member of the compute cluster.

12 . The first IHS of claim 1 , further comprising a remote access controller comprising one or more logic units and further comprising one or more memory devices configured to store computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the logic units, cause the remote access controller to generate an indication of the addition of the second IHS to the compute cluster.

13 . The first IHS of claim 1 , wherein the update to the cluster identifier is required due to upgraded capabilities of the compute cluster due to the addition of the second IHS.

14 . A method for management of a computing cluster by a first Information Handling System (IHS) that is a member of the computing cluster, the method comprising:
determining when addition of a second IHS as a member of the computing cluster requires an update to a cluster identifier that is used to task the computing cluster; when an update to the cluster identifier is required, generating an updated cluster identifier, wherein the generated update to the cluster identifier comprises an amalgamation of identifiers of each member of the computing cluster; and transmitting the updated cluster identifier to the second IHS.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the cluster identifier used to task the computing cluster comprises a unique identifier used to collectively identify all members of the computing cluster.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the updated cluster identifier is generated through inputs to a key derivation function that comprises the identifiers of each member of the computing cluster, and wherein a plurality of operators specify whether the identifier of each member of the computing cluster is used as in input to the key derivation function.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the operators specify an identifier of a member of the computing cluster as an unconditional input to the key derivation function used to generate the updated cluster identifier, and wherein the operators specify an identifier of a member of the computing cluster as a conditional input to the key derivation function used to generate the updated cluster identifier.

18 . A computer-readable storage device configured with instructions stored thereon for management of a compute cluster by a first Information Handling System (IHS) that is a member of the compute cluster, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the first IHS causes the one or more processors to:
determine when addition of a second IHS as a member of the compute cluster requires an update to a cluster identifier that is used to task the compute cluster; when an update to the cluster identifier is required, generate an updated cluster identifier, wherein the generated update to the cluster identifier comprises an amalgamation of identifiers of each member of the compute cluster; and transmit the updated cluster identifier to the second IHS.

19 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 18 , wherein the cluster identifier used to task the compute cluster comprises a unique identifier used to collectively identify all members of the compute cluster.

20 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 18 , wherein the update to the cluster identifier is required due to upgraded capabilities of the compute cluster due to the addition of the second IHS.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Cho Eugene David
• Khatri Mukund P
• Ponnuswamy Senthil

Classifications

• H04L9/0825 Primary

  using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates · CPC title

• G06F11/3006

  where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems (multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50) · CPC title

• H04L9/3234

  involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853) · CPC title

• H04L9/3247

  involving digital signatures · CPC title

• H04L9/3265

  using certificate chains, trees or paths; Hierarchical trust model · CPC title