Computer system having at least two boot sequences

• US 5,860,001 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert D., Gibel, Ellen M., Springfield, Randall S., Cromer, Daryl C., Rhoades, David
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US08/858,873
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/712, 395/750.02
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4408 Boot device selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer system which can be powered on by at least a first and a second method wherein the first method is different from the second method. The computer system is operative to allow a user to select which one of at least two different pre-selected ordered lists of initial program load (IPL) devices are to be used depending on whether the system was powered on by the first method or the second method. The system includes a processor coupled to a local bus and an input/output (IO) bus. A non-volatile memory is coupled to the processor and the IO bus. The non-volatile memory has a basic input output system (BIOS) stored therein and the BIOS is effective for responding to the energization of the computer system by initiating a power on self test (POST). The non-volatile memory also stores a first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices and a second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices. The POST is operative to determine whether the system was powered on by the first power on method or the second power on method. If the first power on method was used, POST will attempt to boot from the first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices and if the second power on method was used, POST will attempt to boot from the second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices.

Claims

1. A computer system which can be powered on by at least a first and a second method, said first method being different from said second method, and being operative for allowing a user to select which one of at least two different pre-selected ordered list of initial program load (IPL) devices are to be used depending on whether the system was powered on by the first method or the second method, said computer system comprising:

a processor coupled to a local bus and an input/output (IO) bus,

a direct access storage device (DASD) being electrically coupled to the processor and being capable of storing a plurality of data records,

a non-volatile memory coupled to said CPU and said IO bus, said non-volatile memory having basic input output system (BIOS) stored therein, said BIOS being effective for responding to the energization of the computer system by initiating a power on self test (POST),

said non-volatile memory also storing a first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices and a second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices,

wherein said POST is operative to determine whether said system was powered on by said first power on method or said second power on method and if said first power on method was used, said POST will attempt to IPL from said first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices and if said second power on method was used, said POST will attempt to IPL from said second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

power circuitry in circuit communication with said CPU for selectively changing the state of said computer system between an off state and a normal operating state in response to at least one of a plurality of preselected events,

a ring detect device in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

a timer in circuit communication with said power circuitry and configurable by a user to expire after a predetermined period of time,

a switch, in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

wherein said power circuitry is further characterized by causing said computer system to change from said off state to said normal operating state responsive to a closure event of said switch, a ring detected via said ring detect device, or the expiration of said timer, and

wherein said first power on method is said closure event of said switch and said second power on method is selected from the group consisting of said ring detected via said ring detect device and said expiration of said timer.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein said ring detect device is a modem.

4. The computer system of claim 2, wherein:

said first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) a diskette within a diskette drive electrically coupled to said processor and (2) a fixed disk electrically coupled to said processor, and

said second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) said fixed disk and (2) said diskette.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

power circuitry in circuit communication with said CPU for selectively changing the state of said computer system between an off state and a normal operating state in response to at least one of a plurality of preselected events,

a switch, in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

a network adapter having the capability of enabling initial program load from a location remote from said computer system and in circuit communication with said CPU,

wherein said power circuitry is further characterized by causing said computer system to change from said off state to said normal operating state responsive to a closure event of said switch or a wake up signal detected via said network adapter, and

wherein said first power on method is said closure event of said switch and said second power on method is said wake up signal detected via said network adapter.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein:

said first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) a diskette within a diskette drive electrically coupled to said processor, (2) a fixed disk electrically coupled to said processor, and (3) said remote initial program load via said network adapter, and

said second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) said remote initial program load, (2) said diskette and (3) said fixed disk.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said system is further operative to be powered on by a third power on method, and wherein said POST is operative to determine whether said system was powered on by said first, second or third power on methods and if said third power on method was used, said POST will attempt to IPL from said first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices.

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

power circuitry in circuit communication with said CPU for selectively changing the state of said computer system between an off state and a normal operating state in response to at least one of a plurality of preselected events,

a ring detect device in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

a switch, in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

a network adapter having the capability of enabling initial program load from a location remote from said computer system and operatively interconnected with said CPU,

wherein said power circuitry is further characterized by causing said computer system to change from said off state to said normal operating state responsive to a closure event of said switch, a ring detected via said ring detect device, or said wake up signal detected via said network adapter, and

wherein said first power on method is said closure event of said switch, said second power on method is said ring detected via said ring detect device and said third power on method is said wake up signal detected via said network adapter.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein:

said first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) a diskette within a diskette drive electrically coupled to said processor, (2) a fixed disk electrically coupled to said processor, and (3) said remote initial program load via said network adapter, and

said second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) said remote initial program load, (2) said diskette and (3) said fixed disk.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said system is further operative to be powered on by a third power on method, and wherein said POST is operative to determine whether said system was powered on by said first, second or third power on method and if said third power on method was used, said POST will attempt to IPL from said second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said system further comprises:

power circuitry in circuit communication with said CPU for selectively changing the state of said computer system between an off state and a normal operating state in response to at least one of a plurality of preselected events,

a ring detect device in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

a switch, in circuit communication with said power circuitry,

a network adapter having the capability of enabling initial program load from a location remote from said computer system and in circuit communication with said CPU,

wherein said power circuitry is further characterized by causing said computer system to change from said off state to said normal operating state responsive to a closure event of said switch, a ring detected via said ring detect device, or said wake up signal detected via said network adapter, and

wherein said first power on method is said closure event of said switch, said second power on method is said ring detected via said ring detect device and said third power on method is said wake up signal detected via said network adapter.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein:

said first pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) a diskette within a diskette drive electrically coupled to said processor, (2) a fixed disk electrically coupled to said processor, and (3) said remote initial program load via said network adapter, and

said second pre-selected ordered list of IPL devices is (1) said remote initial program load, (2) said diskette and (3) said fixed disk.