AUTOMATED FIRMWARE RESTORATION TO A PEER PROGRAMMABLE HARDWARE DEVICE

• US 20080256525A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Holdaway, Kevan D., Morton, David Michael, Ellsworth, Earle, Nguyen, Nhu Thanh, Gee, Lourdes Magally, Graves, Jason James, Olguin, Ivan Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

Provided are techniques for restoring firmware. A first programmable hardware device determines that a second programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image, retrieves a copy of the valid firmware image from an external memory, and sends the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device. The second programmable hardware device restores existing firmware using the valid firmware image.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for restoring firmware, comprising:

under control of a first programmable hardware device,

determining that a second programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image;

retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from an external memory; and

sending the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device; and

under control of the second programmable hardware device,

restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the external memory is dedicated to the first programmable hardware device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the external memory is shared by the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the external memory is dedicated to the second programmable hardware device and accessible by the first programmable hardware device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device are redundant and use a same firmware.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device are not redundant and use different firmware.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image further comprises:

using a heartbeat function, wherein when the second programmable hardware device does not respond to a heartbeat function message from the first programmable hardware device within a predetermined period of time, the first programmable hardware device determines that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image further comprises:

receiving an indication from the second programmable hardware device requesting the valid firmware image, wherein the second programmable hardware device specifies a version of the valid firmware image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the external memory stores multiple versions of the valid firmware image.

10. A computer-implemented method for restoring firmware, comprising:

under control of a first programmable hardware device,

determining that a second programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image;

retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from an external memory; and

directly updating an internal memory of the second programmable hardware device with the valid firmware image by writing directly to a utility that updates the internal memory; and

under control of the second programmable hardware device,

restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the utility comprises a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) interface.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed causes:

under control of a first programmable hardware device,

determining that a second programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image;

retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from an external memory; and

sending the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device, wherein existing firmware at the second programmable hardware device is restored using the valid firmware image.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the external memory is dedicated to the first programmable hardware device.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the external memory is shared by the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the external memory is dedicated to the second programmable hardware device and accessible by the first programmable hardware device.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device are redundant and use a same firmware.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device are not redundant and use different firmware.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program when executed:

uses a heartbeat function, wherein when the second programmable hardware device does not respond to a heartbeat function message from the first programmable hardware device within a predetermined period of time, the first programmable hardware device determines that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program when executed:

receives an indication from the second programmable hardware device requesting the valid firmware image, wherein the second programmable hardware device specifies a version of the valid firmware image.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the external memory stores multiple versions of the valid firmware image.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed causes:

under control of a first programmable hardware device,

determining that a second programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image;

retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from an external memory; and

directly updating an internal memory of the second programmable hardware device with the valid firmware image by writing directly to a utility that updates the internal memory, wherein existing firmware at the second programmable hardware device is restored using the valid firmware image.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the utility comprises a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) interface.