Question about OpenBMC Remote BIOS configuration proposal

[Chang, Abner (HPS SW/FW Technologist)]

Thanks for the information Deepak,

I am afraid that once some code is contributed to the open source, then that code could become the standard implementation and used by BMC vendors. To support PLDM or other protocols between BIOS<->BMC result in the different implementations from BMC view point. Shall we standardize the spec and the implementation as well? If we would like to give the flexibility to support BIOS <-> BMC protocols for the remote BIOS configurations, shall we abstract some layers based on Remote BIOS configuration proposal? Thus OpenBMC can provide the generic (the base implementation) code for BIOS <-> BMC protocol and OEM provides the implementation of abstract driver/library?

Abner

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Deepak Kodihalli [mailto:dkodihal at linux.vnet.ibm.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2020 5:22 PM
> To: Chang, Abner (HPS SW/FW Technologist) <abner.chang at hpe.com>;
> suryakanth.sekar at linux.intel.com
> Cc: Garrett, Mike (HPE Server Firmware) <mike.garrett at hpe.com>;
> openbmc at lists.ozlabs.org; Wu, Frank (ISS Firmware) <frank.l.wu at hpe.com>
> Subject: Re: Question about OpenBMC Remote BIOS configuration proposal
> 
> On 23/07/20 2:04 pm, Chang, Abner (HPS SW/FW Technologist) wrote:
> > Hi Sekar,
> > This is Abner Chang from HPE Server BIOS team, our team is also
> > working on UEFI/EDK2 Redfish open source solution (just FYI the POC
> > code is almost done).
> >
> > I read through the Remote BIOS configuration proposal and would like
> > to see if we still have chance to make some changes on it to reduce
> > the efforts on both BMC and BIOS. Also get rid of using PLDM BIOS
> > control/Configuration methodology because we can find the equivalent
> > method if use Redfish service.
> 
> The design describes PLDM as one of the alternatives, but it is not the only.
> The design talks about inband IPMI as well. In other words, the design
> doesn't mandate what inband communication protocol BIOS and BMC should
> use. On certain IBM systems, this protocol is PLDM.
> 
> Regards,
> Deepak