TCP SERVER BOOTLOADER

• US 20140282478A1
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics International Corporation (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Huntting, Bradley Enoch
• Application Number:
  US13/897,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282478A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

A bootloader uses a TCP server to install and verify upgrades on a networked computing device such as a storage enclosure. A data management server client may connect to a bootloader on the storage enclosure using TCP. Once the connection is established, an upgrade image (upgrade data) can be provided directly to the bootloader and installed by the bootloader at the storage enclosure. The TCP server allows for the upgrade to be installed with minimal steps and a simple interface.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading a network computing device, the method comprising:

using a bootloader with a TCP server at the network computing device;

receiving upgrade data using a TCP connection with the TCP server; and

installing the upgrade data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the TCP connection is initiated from a remote client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the upgrade data includes a stream of data for installation by the bootloader.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is installed by the bootloader by flashing the data into ROM.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the upgrade data is not installed, but rather checked against images previously installed and a report is sent back through the TCP connection to indicate whether the data sent matches.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network computing device is a storage server.

8. The network computing device of claim 1, wherein the TCP connection is initiated from a remote client.

9. The network computing device of claim 1, wherein the upgrade data includes a stream of data to be installed by the bootloader.

10. The network computing device of claim 1, wherein the data is installed by the bootloader by flashing the data into ROM.

11. The network computing device of claim 1, wherein the upgrade data is not installed, but rather checked against images previously installed and a report is sent back through the TCP connection to indicate whether the data sent matches.

12. The network computing device of claim 1, wherein the network computing device is a storage server.

7. A network computing device for providing an upgrade, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

one or more modules stored in memory and executable by the processor to use a bootloader with a TCP server at the network computing device, receive upgrade data using a TCP connection with the TCP server, and install the upgrade data.