Method and system for identifying compatibility between firmware images

• US 7,178,141 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Piazza, William Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nahar; Qamrun
• Application Number:
  US09/918,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 719/321
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A method and system for identifying compatibility between firmware images. The method for identifying compatibility between firmware images includes analyzing a control block of each of the firmware images, where each of the control blocks includes a firmware family code and a compatibility table of a firmware image associated with the control block. Next, the method determines if the firmware family codes of the firmware images are the same and whether any of the compatibility table entries pertain to either firmware image. Generally, if the firmware family codes are the same, the firmware images are considered compatible, however, if the firmware family codes are different, the firmware images are considered to be incompatible, unless a compatibility table entry indicates otherwise.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading an installed firmware with a candidate firmware, comprising:

determining if each of said installed and candidate firmwares has a control block, wherein each of said control blocks includes a firmware family code, firmware stepping level and compatibility table of an associated firmware;

acquiring firmware family codes and firmware stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares in response to said determination that both of said installed and candidate firmwares have a control block, wherein each said firmware family code uniquely identifies a product family of a firmware image;

comparing said family codes and said stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares; and

determining if said installed and candidate firmwares are compatible utilizing said compatibility tables in response to said family codes and said stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares not matching; and

in response to determining that said installed firmware does not have a firmware family control block that includes a firmware family code, firmware stepping level and compatibility table for said installed firmware, causing a flash utility to refuse to install said candidate firmware.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising overwriting said installed firmware with said candidate firmware in response to said determination that said installed and candidate firmwares are compatible.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising reporting said installed firmware with said candidate firmware are incompatible in response to said determination that said installed and candidate firmwares are not compatible.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said compatibility table includes at least one table entry, wherein said table entry is associated with a different firmware.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said table entry includes a family code and a stepping level of said different firmware.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said table entry further includes a relationship code that identifies whether a firmware associated with said compatibility table can be utilized to replace a firmware belonging to a firmware family identified in said compatibility table.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said relationship code includes a family relationship code that identifies which firmware family code is compatible with said firmware associated with said compatibility table.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said relationship code includes a stepping level relationship code that identifies which stepping levels can replace or be replaced with said firmware associated with said compatibility table.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that said candidate firmware is desired to replace said installed firmware that does not have said firmware family control block, issuing an override command from said flash utility to override said refuse to install command, wherein said candidate firmware flashes over said installed firmware despite said installed firmware lacking said firmware family control block.

10. A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer executable instructions for implementing a method for upgrading an installed firmware with a candidate firmware, said computer executable instructions when executed perform the steps of:

determining if each of said installed and candidate firmwares has a control block, wherein each of said control blocks includes a firmware family code, firmware stepping level and compatibility table of an associated firmware;

acquiring firmware family codes and firmware stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares in response to said determination that both of said installed and candidate firmwares have a control block, wherein each said firmware family code uniquely identifies a product family of a firmware image, and wherein the product family is defined as a set of products that utilizes a same firmware that allows unrestricted changes from one revision level of said firmware image to another revision level of said firmware image;

comparing said family codes and said stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares;

determining if said installed and candidate firmwares are compatible utilizing said compatibility tables in response to said family codes and said stepping levels of said installed and candidate firmwares not matching; and

in response to determining that said installed firmware does not have a firmware family control block that includes a firmware family code, firmware stepping level and compatibility table for said installed firmware, causing a flash utility to refuse to install said candidate firmware.

11. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 10, wherein said computer executable instructions further comprising utilizing legacy methods for determining if said installed and candidate firmwares are compatible in response to said determination that said installed firmware does not have a control block.

12. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 10, wherein said computer executable instructions further comprising overwriting said installed firmware with said candidate firmware in response to said determination that said installed and candidate firmwares are compatible.

13. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 10, wherein said computer executable instructions further comprising reporting said installed firmwares with said candidate firmware are incompatible in response to said determination that said installed and candidate firmwares are not compatible.

14. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 10, wherein said compatibility table includes at least one table entry, wherein said table entry is associated with a different firmware.

15. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 14, wherein said table entry includes a family code and a stepping level of said different firmware.

16. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein said table entry further includes a relationship code that identifies whether a firmware associated with said compatibility table can be utilized to replace a firmware belonging to a firmware family identified in said compatibility table.

17. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 16, wherein said relationship code includes a family relationship code that identifies which firmware family code is compatible with said firmware associated with said compatibility table.

18. The computer-readable storage device as recited in claim 16, wherein said relationship code includes a stepping level relationship code that identifies which stepping levels can replace or be replaced with said firmware associated with said compatibility table.