Method and apparatus for starting up and maintaining of multiple networked computing systems

• US 20050044346A1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schwendiman, Chris Alan, Cronk, Matthew Slade
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

A method for starting up and maintaining multiple networked computing systems by using a common start-up program located in one place within a network is disclosed. Start-up code is partitioned into two sections: common start-up code and unique driver programs. Common start-up code includes instructions causing common components in each networked computing system to start-up resides in one location on networked media. Executing a networked computer'"'"'s boot program instructions causes common start-up code to be retrieved from networked media and executed. Executing common start-up code instructions causes unique driver programs comprising instructions for starting up unique components in each networked computer to be read from networked media by each networked computer. Each networked computing system executes common start-up code instructions and unique driver program instructions to configure and start the networked computing system.

Claims

1. A method for booting and maintaining a plurality of networked computer systems utilizing a common start-up code located at a specified address in networked media and a plurality of unique driver programs, each located at a specified address in networked media, said method comprising:

executing a boot program residing in a networked computer'"'"'s memory;

retrieving common start-up code from said specified address within said networked media;

executing said common start-up code;

determining an identity of said networked computer system executing common start-up code;

reading in unique driver programs from said specified address in said networked media in response to identifying said networked computer system; and

preparing said networked computer system for usage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified addresses of unique driver programs for each networked computer system are embedded in said start-up code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

reading a file from said networked media comprising said specified addresses for unique driver programs for each networked computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified address for its unique driver programs is located within each networked computer system'"'"'s memory.

5. An apparatus for more efficiently booting and maintaining a plurality of networked computer systems utilizing a common start-up code located at a specified address in networked media and a plurality of unique driver programs, each located at a specified address in networked media, said system comprising:

means for executing a boot program residing in a networked computer'"'"'s memory;

means for retrieving common start-up code from said specified address within said networked media;

means for executing said common start-up code;

means for determining an identity of said networked computer system executing common start-up code;

means for reading in unique driver programs from said specified address in said networked media in response to identifying said networked computer system; and

means for preparing said networked computer system for use by a user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said specified addresses of unique driver programs for each networked computer system are embedded in said start-up code.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said system further comprises:

means for reading a file from said networked media comprising said specified addresses for unique driver programs for each networked computer system.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said specified address for its unique driver programs is located within each networked computer system'"'"'s memory.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said specified addresses of unique driver programs for each networked computer system are embedded in said start-up code.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, said computer program product further comprising instruction for:

reading a file from said networked media comprising said specified addresses for unique driver programs for each networked computer system.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said specified address for its unique driver programs is located within each networked computer system'"'"'s memory.

9. A computer program product for more efficiently booting and maintaining a plurality of networked computer systems utilizing a common start-up code located at a specified address in networked media and a plurality of unique driver programs, each located at a specified address in networked media, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for executing a boot program residing in a networked computer'"'"'s memory;

program code means for retrieving common start-up code from said specified address within said networked media;

program code means for executing said common start-up code;

program code means for determining an identity of said networked computer system executing common start-up code;

program code means for reading in unique driver programs from said specified address in said networked media in response to identifying said networked computer system; and

program code means for preparing said networked computer system for use by a user.