System for presetting a first or second remote boot protocol by a computer remotely receiving and storing a boot parameter prior to being powered on

• US 6,282,642 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard J., Gould, Christopher Britton, Ward, James Peter, Rhoades, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park, Ilwoo
• Application Number:
  US09/195,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/300, 713/310, 713/1, 710/11
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

Described is a computer system which can be pre-set over a network to boot to a first or second remote boot protocol prior to being powered on over the network. The system is coupled to a remote computer via a data communication link. The system includes a communication subsystem for communicating data with the computer system. The communication subsystem is supplied with auxiliary power and is operative to communicate with the computer system regardless of whether the computer system is in a normal operating state. The remote computer includes a program for sending a first packet to the computer system via the communication link. The first packet contains a boot parameter which is indicative of the first or second remote boot protocol. The computer system is operative to receive the first packet via the communication subsystem and store the boot parameter in a memory thereof without powering on. The memory is accessed by BIOS during a network boot sequence and the system will boot in accordance with the specified boot protocol stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A computer system which can be pre-set over a network to boot to a first or second remote boot protocol prior to being powered on over the network, said computer system being coupled to a remote computer via a data communication link, said computer system comprising:

said computer system being adapted to transfer data over said communication link,

a communication subsystem for communicating data with said computer system, said communication subsystem being supplied with auxiliary power and being operative to communicate with said computer system regardless of whether said computer system is in a normal operating state,

said remote computer system having means for sending a first packet to said computer system via said communication link, said first packet containing a boot parameter which is indicative of said first or second remote boot protocol, said computer system being operative to receive said first packet via said communication subsystem and store said boot parameter in a memory thereof without powering on, said memory being accessed by BIOS during a boot sequence.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further including a logic circuit coupled to said communication subsystem for storing said boot parameter which can be accessed by BIOS during a boot sequence.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein said means includes a program which sends said first packet to said at least one computer system via said communication link and said remote computer is further operative to send a wake up packet to said computer system after sending said first packet.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein said computer system is further operative to receive said second packet and execute a power on self test wherein said boot parameter is used to determine whether said first or second remote boot protocol is used.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said first remote boot protocol is RPL and said second remote boot protocol is DHCP.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a network connector is a connector selected from the group consisting of a LAN adapter and a LAN subsystem.

7. A method for setting a computer system over a network to boot to a first or second remote boot protocol prior to being powered on over the network comprising,

providing a remote computer which is coupled to said computer system via a data communication link, said computer system having a communication subsystem for communicating data with said computer system, said communication subsystem being supplied with auxiliary power and being operative to communicate with said computer system regardless of whether said computer system is in a normal operating state,

sending a first packet to said computer system via said communication link, said first packet containing a boot parameter which is indicative of said first or second remote boot protocol,

storing said boot parameter in a memory of said computer system without powering on to a normal operating state,

sending a second packet to said computer system to cause said system to enter a normal operating state, and

performing a remote program load in accordance with said boot parameter.