Boot code verification and recovery
First Claim
1. A method of responding to a computer boot event, comprising:
- executing a first portion of a boot code sequence, wherein the first portion is contained within a first sector of a flash memory device and includes a boot code validity check;
responsive to passing the validity check, executing remaining portions of the boot code sequence including a startup sequence contained within remaining sectors of the flash memory device; and
responsive to failing the validity check, reflashing the remaining sectors of the boot code storage device with a new startup sequence.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A boot code storage device configured with computer instructions for executing a boot code validity check in response to a boot event to facilitate local recovery of a computer such as a network computer. In response to the boot event, such as powering up a computer in which the boot code storage device is located, an image of a boot code is copied from a first storage medium to the boot code storage device if the validity check is negative. Remaining portions of the boot code, including a start up sequence, are executed if the validity check is positive. In one embodiment, the boot code validity check determines the presence or absence of a boot code jumper in a motherboard to which the boot code storage device is connected. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code storage device comprises a flash memory device, preferably including a plurality of sectors. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code validity check is part of a boot block of the boot code residing in a first sector of the flash memory device. The boot block and boot code reside in contiguous memory of the boot code storage device in one implementation. The first storage medium from which the boot code is copied, in one embodiment, is a compact flash card configured with an image of the boot code.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of responding to a computer boot event, comprising:
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executing a first portion of a boot code sequence, wherein the first portion is contained within a first sector of a flash memory device and includes a boot code validity check;
responsive to passing the validity check, executing remaining portions of the boot code sequence including a startup sequence contained within remaining sectors of the flash memory device; and
responsive to failing the validity check, reflashing the remaining sectors of the boot code storage device with a new startup sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of restoring a network computer comprising:
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configuring the computer to fail a boot code validity check stored on a first sector of a flash memory device; and
executing a boot event to initiate the validity check and, in response to failing the validity check, reflashing the remaining sectors of the boot code storage device with a startup sequence. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. A computer readable medium including a first sector containing encoded computer executable instructions for executing a boot code validity check in response to a boot event, reflashing remaining sectors of the medium with a new startup sequence if the validity check fails, and executing a start up sequence encoded in the remaining sectors if the validity check passes.
Specification