Application level and BIOS level disaster recovery

• US 20030200482A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0706 the processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0793 Remedial or corrective actions recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1415 at system level

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a BIOS level and application level recovery of an information handling system. A method for recovering from a failure of an information handling system may include monitoring an information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software. Failure of at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system is detected and an application level component of a recovery utility to correct the detected failure is initiated. The initiated application level component of the recovery utility is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, a BIOS level component of the recovery utility begins a recovery process.

Claims

1. A method for recovering from a failure of an information handling system, comprising:

monitoring an information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software;

detecting failure of at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system;

initiating an application level component of a recovery utility to correct the detected failure, wherein the initiated application level component of the recovery utility is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, a BIOS level component of the recovery utility begins a recovery process.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the failure of the at least one item of software is detected utilizing a BIOS level component of the recovery utility.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the application level component is unavailable, the initiated BIOS level component of the recovery utility initiates a file system rewrite.

4. The method as described in claim 3, wherein the file system rewrite includes a scorched earth recovery.

5. The method as described in claim 4, wherein files are obtained for the file system rewrite from at least one of a network connection and removable medium.

6. The method as described in claim 5, wherein a network connection to obtain the files is initiated by data stored in at least one of a host protected area and semiconductor based memory accessible to the BIOS level component.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the application level component is unsuccessful, the initiated BIOS level component of the recovery utility initiates a file content replacement.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the application level component is suitable for repairing applications including at least one of an operating system and a program designed to assist in performance of a specific task.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the BIOS level component is suitable for functioning in absence of a functioning operating system on the information handling system.

10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein correcting includes at least one of shutting down the failed item of software, reinstalling the item of software, restoring the item of software and restarting the item of software.

11. A system for recovering from a failure of an information handling system, comprising:

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the processor to

monitor the information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software;

detect failure of at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system; and

initiate an application level component of a recovery utility to correct the detected failure, wherein the initiated application level component of the recovery utility is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, a BIOS level component of the recovery utility begins a recovery process.

12. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the failure of the at least one item of software is detected utilizing a BIOS level component of the recovery utility.

13. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the application level component is unavailable, the initiated BIOS level component of the recovery utility initiates a file system rewrite.

14. The system as described in claim 13, wherein the file system rewrite includes a scorched earth recovery.

15. The system as described in claim 14, wherein files are obtained for the file system rewrite from at least one of a network connection and removable medium.

16. The system as described in claim 15, wherein a network connection to obtain the files is initiated by data stored in at least one of a host protected area and semiconductor based memory accessible to the BIOS level component.

17. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the application level component is unsuccessful, the initiated BIOS level component of the recovery utility initiates a file content replacement.

18. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the application level component is suitable for repairing applications including at least one of an operating system and a program designed to assist in performance of a specific task.

19. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the BIOS level component is suitable for functioning in absence of a functioning operating system on the information handling system.

20. The system as described in claim 11, wherein correcting includes at least one of shutting down the failed item of software, reinstalling the item of software, restoring the item of software and restarting the item of software.

21. A system for recovering from a failure of an information handling system, comprising:

means for monitoring an information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software;

means for detecting failure of at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system, wherein when the detecting means detects a failure of at least one item of software, an application level means for software recovery is initiated, wherein the initiated application level software recovery means is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, initiating a BIOS level means for software recovery.

22. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the failure of the at least one item of software is detected utilizing a BIOS level means.

23. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the application level software recovery means is suitable for repairing applications including at least one of an operating system and a program designed to assist in performance of a specific task.

24. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the BIOS level recovery means is suitable for functioning in absence of a functioning operating system.