Input/output communication networks and booting protocols

• US 6,691,160 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PMC-Sierra Incorporated (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Adaptec Incorporated (Steel Partners Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Bradley, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/552,289
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220-222, 709/230, 710/10, 710/104, 713/2
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods for booting a computer from logically remote end nodes are provided. In one example, after a computer is powered up, a method validates end nodes that are logically remote from the computer. The method then communicates with a validated end node. The method determines what peripheral devices are attached to the validated end node and ascertains what boot images are available on the peripheral devices. A selection of a boot image from the peripheral device can then be made and the method proceeds to boot the computer. The booting process of the computer does not use a native BIOS/ROM of the computer, thus enabling the booting from any operating system, without regard to the type of hardware associated with the native BIOS/ROM. Further, the described methods enable booting from the storage of any end node on a network fabric.

Claims

1. A method for remotely booting a computer, comprising:

validating end nodes that are logically remote;

communicating with a validated end node;

determining whether the validated end node has a desired boot image to boot the computer; and

booting the computer using the desired boot image obtained from the validated end node, the booting being performed without operationally involving a processor of a remote end node, the booting being performed independent of a BIOS or ROM executable of the computer.

2. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation of validating logically remote end nodes further comprises:

communicating file systemless input/output (I/O) data with the validated end node, the validated end node being coupled to the computer over a network.

3. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 2, wherein the file systemless I/O data communication is message based I/O.

4. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 2, wherein the file systemless I/O data communication enables one of block I/O transactions and non-block I/O transactions.

5. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 4, wherein block I/O transactions include transactions to disk storage media and non-block I/O transactions include transactions to tape storage media.

6. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the BIOS or ROM executable of the computer is not used during the validation.

7. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the desired boot image can be accessed by one or more computers simultaneously desiring to boot using the desired boot image, the desired boot image residing on storage that is logically remote to each of the one or more computers.

8. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation of determining whether the validated end node has a desired boot image to boot the computer further includes:

enumerating the validated end node which is logically remote to determine what type of peripheral devices are connected to the validated end node; and

ascertaining what boot images are available on the peripheral devices.

9. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation of communicating with a validated end node occurs before the computer is booted up.

10. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 1, wherein the method automatically initiates the booting of the computer.

11. A method for booting a computer from a remote source, comprising:

validating logically remote end nodes on a network;

communicating with the validated logically remote end nodes;

ascertaining what boot images are available from the validated logically remote end nodes;

uploading an ascertained boot image from a validated logically remote end node; and

booting the computer with the uploaded boot image without the assistance of a remote end node, the booting being performed without use of a BIOS or ROM executable of the computer.

12. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 11, wherein the operation of communicating with the validated logically remote end nodes is done before the computer is booted up.

13. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 11, wherein the operation of validating logically remote end nodes on a network further includes:

communicating message based, file systemless input/output (I/O) data with the logically remote end nodes.

14. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 13, wherein the file systemless I/O data communication enables one of block I/O transactions and non-block I/O transactions.

15. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 11, wherein a processor of a remote computer is not operationally involved in the booting of the computer.

16. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 11, wherein the BIOS or ROM executable of the computer is not used during the validation operation.

17. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 11, wherein the ascertained boot image is accessible by a number of computers desiring to boot using the ascertained boot image, the ascertained boot image being remotely located with respect to the number of computers.

18. A method for booting a computer from a remote source according to claim 11, wherein the method enables manual initiation of the booting of the computer.

19. A method for remotely booting a computer, comprising:

accessing a boot select option ROM (BSOR), wherein the BSOR allows the computer to boot from one of a logically remote end node or a local storage medium of the computer;

validating logically remote end nodes;

determining whether a validated logically remote end node contains boot images to boot the computer; and

booting the computer with an uploaded boot image from the validated logically remote end node with a microprocessor of the computer, the booting being performed without use of a native BIOS or ROM executable of the computer.

20. A method for remotely booting a computer as recited in claim 19, wherein a native BIOS or ROM executable of the computer is not used during the validation operation.