Automated firmware voting to enable multi-enclosure federated systems

Abstract

One embodiment provides a method of initializing a federated computer system from a fabric of nodes connected by a federated interface. Each node casts a vote to the federated interface for a candidate firmware version supported by the node casting the vote. The candidate firmware version having received the greatest number of votes is identified, and the computer system is initialized as a federated system of the nodes that support the firmware version identified as having received the greatest number of votes. A process of iterative voting may be used to identify a greater number of nodes supporting a compatible firmware version.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A computer system for self-initializing as a federated system, comprising:
 a plurality of nodes interconnected by a federated interface to form a fabric, the federated interface comprising high-speed links providing functional connections between nodes; and   each node comprising control logic for casting a vote to the federated interface for a candidate firmware version supported by the node casting the vote, identifying the candidate firmware version receiving the greatest number of votes, and initializing the computer system as a federated system including only the nodes that support the firmware version identified as receiving the greatest number of votes.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the high-speed links of the federated interface provide functional connections from each node to every other node in the fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a plurality of server enclosures, with each enclosure configured as a single node, multiple nodes, or part of a node.