Dynamic boot filesystem selection
First Claim
1. A method of providing a dynamic boot filesystem for a computer which supports an operating system that is loaded onto the computer by a boot sequence using firmware, comprising the steps of:
- loading a first boot image which contains a dynamic boot filesystem, using the computer'"'"'s firmware;
storing the dynamic boot filesystem in a protected space in the computer before a boot sequence;
loading a second boot image which contains the operating system, using the computer'"'"'s firmware, after said storing step;
loading the operating system; and
retrieving the dynamic boot filesystem from the protected space during the boot sequence.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing a dynamic abstraction layer, such as a boot filesystem, for a computer having a particular hardware platform, in order to make a basic operating system more portable. The method includes storing the dynamic boot filesystem in a protected space in the computer before the normal boot sequence, and then retrieving the dynamic boot filesystem from the protected space during the boot sequence and loading the retrieved dynamic boot filesystem. The computer firmware first loads a simulated boot image which contains the dynamic boot filesystem, and then loads an operating system boot image which contains the operating system and instructions for retrieving the dynamic boot filesystem. A default boot filesystem may be used if no previously stored dynamic boot filesystem is found. In a UNIX embodiment, the dynamic boot filesystem includes a hardware-dependent PAL (Portable Assist Layer). The two boot images can be provided on a single media which is scanned twice, or separate media, for example, a floppy diskette and a CD-ROM disk.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing a dynamic boot filesystem for a computer which supports an operating system that is loaded onto the computer by a boot sequence using firmware, comprising the steps of:
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loading a first boot image which contains a dynamic boot filesystem, using the computer'"'"'s firmware; storing the dynamic boot filesystem in a protected space in the computer before a boot sequence; loading a second boot image which contains the operating system, using the computer'"'"'s firmware, after said storing step; loading the operating system; and retrieving the dynamic boot filesystem from the protected space during the boot sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for loading an operating system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory device connected to said processor; one or more input devices connected to said processor; firmware means connected to said processor for seeking a boot image and loading an operating system in said memory device; media adapted to be read by at least one of said input devices, having a first boot image containing a dynamic boot filesystem and instructions for (i) storing said dynamic boot filesystem in said memory device and (ii) thereafter returning control to said firmware means, and having a second boot image containing said operating system and instructions for retrieving said stored dynamic boot filesystem. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification