Device and method for booting an operating system for a computer from a passive directly attached network device

• US 20050193189A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SynKloud Technologies, LLC (SY Ventures)
• Original Assignee: Zhe Khi Pak
• Inventors: Kim, Han-Gyoo
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,836 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

System, device, method, computer, computer program and computer program product for computer booting devices not coupled to an internal local bus of the computer to be booted. Boot device may be network-attached device directly coupled to computer over network and not through another computer or server process. Method for redirecting booting process to look away from storage devices coupled to internal computer bus, and to look for external devices on network. Method of booting computer with operating system from storage device including executing a boot block loader program in the processor and memory of computer to be booted that before loading an operating system, loads device driver for accessing storage device; loading the operating system from storage device that is not directly coupled to internal local bus of computer using the device driver, to processor accessible memory; and booting computer from loaded operating system. Computer program and computer program product.

Claims

2-1. A method of booting a computer as in claim 1, wherein the monitor program is initially stored in a read-only memory (ROM) of the computer to be booted.

32. A method of booting a computer with an operating system from a storage device, the method comprising:

executing a boot block loader program in the processor and memory of the computer to be booted that before loading an operating system, loads a device driver for accessing a storage device on which an operating system for the computer is stored;

loading the operating system from the storage device that is not directly coupled to an internal local bus of the computer using the device driver, to the processor accessible memory; and

booting the computer from the loaded operating system.

33. A method of booting a computer as in claim 32, further comprising reading the boot loader program from a locally accessible storage device and loading the boot loader program to a processor accessible memory of the computer.

34. A method of booting a computer as in claim 32, wherein the storage device that is not directly coupled to an internal local bus of the computer may be any single or plurality of storage devices capable of storing the operating system in any form or format.

35. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism, comprising:

a program module that directs the computer, to boot a computer with an operating system from a directly attached network storage device, the program module including instructions for;

executing a monitor program in the processor and memory of the computer to be booted that;

(i) reads a boot block loader program from a locally accessible storage device and writes the boot loader program to a first location in a processor accessible memory of the computer; and

(ii) transfers control from the monitor program to the boot block loader program; and

executing the boot block loader program in the processor and memory of the computer to be booted that;

(iii) loads a boot driver program code that includes a network interface driver program code for accessing the directly attached network storage device on which the operating system is stored over the network;

(iv) finds the operating system to be booted in the directly attached network storage device;

(v) loads the operating system from the directly attached network storage device over the network using the network interface driver to a second location in the processor accessible memory of the computer; and

(vi) transfers control from the boot block loader program to the operating system in memory.

36. A computer comprising:

a processor and a random access memory coupled to the processor; and

a non-volatile storage device storing at least one program, the at least one program controlling operation of a boot loader and boot device driver so that the computer can;

(a) send commands and/or data to storage device through a network controller the boot device that stores additional boot or operating system code, and (b) receive the necessary additional boot code or commands and/data from the boot device over the network.

37. A computer as in claim 36, wherein the boot device comprises a network-attached device.

38. A computer as in claim 36, wherein the computer does not include a non-volatile storage device larger than 4 gigabytes.