Information Processing Apparatus and Boot Method Thereof

• US 20090327463A1
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Toshimitsu
• Application Number:
  US12/356,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus that is connectable to a server that stores an operating system (OS) includes a data storage module, a setting storage module, a controller, and a boot module. The data storage module stores data. The setting storage module stores setting information indicating either a first mode using the data storage module or a second mode not using the data storage module. The controller retrieves the setting information from the setting storage module before an OS boots up, and, when the setting information indicates the second mode, disables access to the data storage module. The boot module loads, when access to the data storage module is disabled, the OS from the server, and boots up the OS.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that is connectable to a server that stores a first operating system (OS), the information processing apparatus comprising:

a data storage module configured to store a second OS;

a setting storage module configured to store setting information indicating either a first mode enabling access to the data storage module or a second mode disabling access to the data storage module;

a controller configured to retrieve the setting information from the setting storage module before the first OS or the second OS boots up, and, when the setting information indicates the second mode, disable access to the data storage module, and when the setting information indicates the first mode, enable access to the data storage module; and

a boot module configured to load, when the setting information indicates the first mode, the first OS from the server or the second OS from the data storage module in descending order of predetermined priority and boot up the first OS or the second OS after loading the first OS or the second OS, and configured to load, when the setting information indicates the second mode, the first OS from the server regardless of the priority and boot up the first OS.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storing module configured to receive setting information specified by a user, and store the setting information in the setting storage module.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the storing module is configured to determine whether the user has predetermined authorization, and, when the user has the authorization, receive the setting information specified by the user and stores the setting information in the setting storage module.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

7. A boot method applied to an information processing apparatus that is connectable to a server that stores a first operating system (OS), the information processing apparatus comprising a data storage module configured to store a second OS and a setting storage module configured to store setting information indicating either a first mode enabling access to the data storage module or a second mode disabling access to the data storage module, the boot method comprising:

a controller retrieving, before the first OS or the second OS boots up, the setting information that indicates either a first mode enabling access to the data storage module or a second mode disabling access to the data storage module, and, when the setting information indicates the second mode, disabling access to the data storage module, while when the setting information indicates the first mode, enabling access to the data storage module;

a boot module loading, when the setting information indicates the first mode, the first OS from the server or the second OS from the data storage module in descending order of predetermined priority and booting up the first OS or the second OS after loading the first OS or the second OS, and loading, when the setting information indicates the second mode, the first OS from the server regardless of the priority and booting up the first OS.

8. The boot method of claim 7, further comprising a storing module receiving setting information specified by a user, and storing the setting information in the setting storage module.

9. The boot method of claim 8, further comprising the storing module determining whether the user has predetermined authorization, wherein

when the user has the authorization, the storing module receives the setting information specified by the user and stores the setting information in the setting storage module.