Patent Application
20090293136
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to security of server blades, and more specifically to preventing unauthorized physical interaction with a server blade.
2. Background of the Related Art
Data processing systems in general and server-class systems in particular are frequently implemented within a server chassis or rack. Each chassis or rack can hold a device (also referred to herein as a blade or server blade) on which one or more general purpose processors and/or memory devices are attached. The chassis or server blades are vertically spaced within the rack according to an industry standard displacement (the “U”). Chassis and racks are characterized in terms of this dimension such that, for example, a 42 U rack is capable of receiving 42 1 U rack-mounted devices, 21 2 U devices, or similar combinations of devices. In some instances, a server chassis may provide shared components, such as power supplies, fans, or media access devices which can be shared among all of the blades in the server blade chassis.
In a server blade environment, the ability to hot plug server blades into a chassis or rack is a standard feature. Hot plugging refers to the ability to install and remove a blade without turning off power to the chassis or rack in which the blade is received. When a new server blade is initially installed into a rack, the blade generally contains no operating system and no persistent data. Making a newly added blade functional requires deployment software that is capable of recognizing that a new blade has been added, determining the blade characteristics to uniquely identify the blade, powering the blade on, and assigning a functional boot image to the blade. For purposes of this disclosure, a boot image refers generally to software stored in persistent storage that is executed following a power-on or system reset event. The boot image may execute a self test (commonly referred to as a power on self test or POST), load a basic I/O system (BIOS) into memory, and install a functional operating system.
While the use of a chassis, rack or both can beneficially facilitate the easy configuration and expansion of server systems, it also allows server blades to be moved about quickly and easily. The mobility of rack-mounted server blades can increase the difficulty of monitoring the exact location of blades within a system or group of systems.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for securing a server against an unauthorized intrusion event. The method comprises detecting an unauthorized physical intrusion event to a data center, rack or chassis including a plurality of servers, communicating the detected unauthorized intrusion event to a management module that manages the plurality of servers, and automatically physically securing one or more of the plurality of servers against manual removal. Optionally, the step of physically securing may include disabling one or more front panel controls on the plurality of servers, such as a physical power switch. In a further option, the step of physically securing may include disabling one or more external ports on the plurality of servers, such as a keyboard-video-mouse port. A preferred method allows the one or more physically secured servers to continue to operate.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, wherein the computer program product including computer usable instructions. The computer program product comprises instructions for detecting an unauthorized physical intrusion event to a data center, rack or chassis housing a plurality of servers, and instructions for automatically physically securing one or more of the plurality of servers against manual removal in response to detecting the unauthorized physical intrusion event. Optionally, the computer program product may further comprise instructions for implementing any one or more steps or aspects of the presently disclosed methods.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a chassis including a plurality of servers, a sensor for detecting an unauthorized intrusion event, an electronically controllable lock secured to the chassis, and a management module. The management module is in communication with the plurality of servers for managing the operation of the plurality of servers, in communication with the sensor for receiving an electronic signal from the sensor in response to detecting the unauthorized intrusion event, and in communication with the electronically controllable lock for selectively locking the at least one of the plurality of servers against physical removal from the chassis in response to receiving an electronic signal from the sensor. Optionally, each of the plurality of servers may include a baseboard management controller in communication with the management module, wherein the management module instructs the baseboard management controller to disable one or more input/output devices of one or more of the plurality of servers in response to detecting the unauthorized intrusion event.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for securing a server against an unauthorized intrusion event. The method comprises detecting an unauthorized physical intrusion event to a data center, rack or chassis including a plurality of servers, communicating the detected unauthorized intrusion event to a management module that manages the plurality of servers, and automatically physically securing one or more of the plurality of servers against manual removal.
Optionally, the step of physically securing may include disabling one or more front panel controls on the plurality of servers, such as a physical power switch. In a further option, the step of physically securing may include disabling one or more external ports on the plurality of servers, such as a keyboard-video-mouse port. These steps may be beneficially used to prevent loss of the server's performance and/or unauthorized electronic access to the server. Although it would be possible to shutdown the server in order to thwart unauthorized access, this would cause an inconvenient or damaging outage to those presently using the server. Physically securing the server and disabling external controls and ports allows the one or more physically secured servers to continue to operate.
In a further option, the step of detecting the unauthorized intrusion event may include receiving an electronic signal from one or more sensor, such as a sensor that is external to the server blade that is being secured. For example, the sensor may be an electronic keypad lock on a door to the data center or rack that can sense tampering or entry of successive incorrect codes. The sensor could also be a motion sensor in the data center. Furthermore, the sensor could be an accelerometer mounted to the rack or chassis that is sensitive to bumping, rocking or general physical manipulation of the rack or chassis.
In another embodiment, a plurality of sensors, sensor types and/or sensor locations are used in order to detect unauthorized intrusion events. These sensors may each send electronic signals that give the management module additional information about the intrusion event. For example, tampering with a data center door lock would indicate a possible intrusion to the data center, but a subsequent detection of motion within the data center would indicate that the intruder had actually entered the data center. Subsequent opening of a rack door would further suggest that the intruder plans to physically or electronically access a server blade. Accordingly, the method may further comprise determining a threat level on the basis of the electronic signals received from the one or more sensors. A different threat level may cause the management module to take different steps to physically secure one or more of the plurality of servers.
Non-limiting examples of sensors that might be used in the present invention include motion sensors, proximity sensors, limit switches, and accelerometers. A motion sensor can detect that something or someone has moved within the environment of the datacenter, at least within a line of sight. Proximity sensors and limit switches can detect whether there has been a change in the physical relationship between two adjacent components, such as the opening of a door. An accelerometer detects sudden movement of the component attached to the accelerometer, such as the bumping of a rack.
In yet another embodiment, the step of physically securing includes locking the plurality of servers in place within a chassis or rack. For example, an electronically controllable lock may be secured to the chassis frame and includes an actuator for moving a pin between a retracted position (server unlocked) and an extended position (server locked). In the extended position, the pin has a first end secured to the actuator and a second end that extends into a hole or indentation in the server blade casing so that the server cannot be removed. The chassis may include an individual lock for one or more server blade or a collective lock that secures each of the servers present in the chassis. However, a lock may be provided for certain critical server blades and not for others. The lock is preferably failsafe in a locked condition so that the lock automatically engages when there is a loss of power to the chassis.
In a still further embodiment, an alert may be sent to a remote user device in response to detecting the unauthorized intrusion event. For example, the alert may include a description of the sensors that detected the intrusion and/or a description of the steps taken to physically secure the one or more servers.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, wherein the computer program product including computer usable instructions. The computer program product comprises instructions for detecting an unauthorized physical intrusion event to a data center, rack or chassis housing a plurality of servers, and instructions for automatically physically securing one or more of the plurality of servers against manual removal in response to detecting the unauthorized physical intrusion event. Optionally, the computer program product may further comprise instructions for implementing any one or more steps or aspects of the presently disclosed methods. For example, the computer program product may further comprise instructions for allowing the plurality of servers to continue operating, even through the servers may be physically locked and the front panel controls and inputs may be disabled. If it is determined that the intrusion event has cleared or that the threat level has been reduced to an acceptable level, then one or more of the steps taken to physically secure the servers may be reversed or reduced.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a chassis including a plurality of servers, a sensor for detecting an unauthorized intrusion event, an electronically controllable lock secured to the chassis, and a management module. The management module is in communication with the plurality of servers for managing the operation of the plurality of servers, in communication with the sensor for receiving an electronic signal from the sensor in response to detecting the unauthorized intrusion event, and in communication with the electronically controllable lock for selectively locking the at least one of the plurality of servers against physical removal from the chassis in response to receiving an electronic signal from the sensor. Optionally, each of the plurality of servers may include a baseboard management controller in communication with the management module, wherein the management module instructs the baseboard management controller to disable one or more input/output devices of one or more of the plurality of servers in response to detecting the unauthorized intrusion event. In one embodiment, the baseboard management controller disables one or more input/output devices, such as a power switch or a KVM port, by instructing the operating system to temporarily ignore input from components on the front panel of the server, such as a USB interface.
Another embodiment of the apparatus further comprises a plurality of sensors, sensor types and/or sensor locations that are used in order to detect unauthorized intrusion events. These sensors may each send electronic signals that give the management module additional information about the intrusion event, as previously described. It should be recognized that the sensors may communicate with the management module indirectly, such as through one or more system input/output cards. Furthermore, the sensors may be coupled to one or more system input/output cards of a remote computer that is networked with the chassis management module or multiple chassis management modules. Optionally, the remote computer may be a system management workstation running system management software that can be user customized to identify the available sensors, associate sensor signals with threat levels, and indicate the security steps that will be taken in response to a given threat level.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in any tangible medium of expression having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.
Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.
Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
The present invention is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The management module 20 is also in communication, for example through a mid-plane 43 with a baseboard management controller (BMC) 44 that forms part of the motherboard 46 within the server blade 16. The management module 20 can provide instructions to the BMC 44, such as using intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) codes. Accordingly, when the management module 20 determines that a sufficient threat level exists, it may instruct the BMC 44 to disable controls on the front panel 47 of the server blade 16, including the power switch 48 and the KVM port 50. For example, the BMC 44 may instruct the operating system that is loaded from memory 54 and running in the processor 52 to ignore any input received from the KVM port 50. Furthermore, the BMC 44 may disable the power switch 48 from communicating with a power supply (not shown) that supplies power to the server blade 16, such as by sending an instruction over a power management bus to a power management controller (not shown).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but it not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
