Application level and BIOS level disaster recovery

• US 7,203,865 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNCAN, MARC M
• Application Number:
  US10/128,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 714/2, 714/38, 714/25, 714/6, 714/36
• US Class Current: 714/38.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0706 the processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0793 Remedial or corrective actions recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1415 at system level

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a BIOS level and application level recovery of an information handling system. A method for recovering from a failure of an information handling system may include monitoring an information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software. Failure of at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system is detected and an application level component of a recovery utility to correct the detected failure is initiated. The initiated application level component of the recovery utility is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, a BIOS level component of the recovery utility begins a recovery process.

Claims

1. A method for recovering from a failure of an information handling system, comprising:

monitoring an operational information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software;

monitoring the at least one item of software;

detecting failure of the at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system, wherein the failure of the at least one item of software is detected utilizing a BIOS level monitoring component of a recovery utility;

initiating an application level component of the recovery utility to correct the detected failure; and

detecting whether the application level component of the recovery utility failed to correct the detected failure;

wherein if the initiated application level component of the recovery utility is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, initiating a BIOS level recovery component of the recovery utility to begin a recovery process.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein if the application level component is unavailable, the initiated BIOS level recovery component of the recovery utility initiates a file system rewrite.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein the file system rewrite includes a scorched earth recovery.

4. The method as described in claim 3, wherein files are obtained for the file system rewrite from at least one of a network connection and removable medium.

5. The method as described in claim 4, wherein a network connection to obtain the files is initiated by data stored in a host protected area accessible to the BIOS level recovery component.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein if the application level component is unsuccessful, the initiated BIOS level recovery component of the recovery utility initiates a file content replacement.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the application level component is suitable for repairing applications including at least one of an operating system and a program designed to assist in performance of a specific task.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the BIOS level recovery component is suitable for functioning in absence of a functioning operating system on the information handling system.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein correcting includes at least one of shutting down the failed item of software, reinstalling the item of software, restoring the item of software and restarting the item of software.

10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring the at least one item of software is performed by the BIOS level monitoring component of the recovery utility.

11. A system for recovering from a failure of an information handling system, comprising:

a memory suitable for storing a program of instructions; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the program of instructions configures the processor to

monitor the information handling system, the information handling system being operational and utilizing at least one item of software;

monitor the at least one item of software;

detect failure of the at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system, wherein the failure of the at least one item of software is detected utilizing a BIOS level monitoring component of a recovery utility;

initiate an application level component of the recovery utility to correct the detected failure; and

detect whether the application level component of the recovery utility failed to correct the detected failure;

wherein if the initiated application level component of the recovery utility is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable, initiating a BIOS level recovery component of the recovery utility to begin a recovery process.

12. The system as described in claim 11, wherein if the application level component is unavailable, the initiated BIOS level recovery component of the recovery utility initiates a file system rewrite.

13. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the file system rewrite includes a scorched earth recovery.

14. The system as described in claim 13, wherein files are obtained for the file system rewrite from at least one of a network connection and removable medium.

15. The system as described in claim 14, wherein a network connection to obtain the files is initiated by data stored in a host protected area accessible to the BIOS level recovery component.

16. The system as described in claim 11, wherein if the application level component is unsuccessful, the initiated BIOS level recovery component of the recovery utility initiates a file content replacement.

17. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the application level component is suitable for repairing applications including at least one of an operating system and a program designed to assist in performance of a specific task.

18. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the BIOS level recovery component is suitable for functioning in absence of a functioning operating system on the information handling system.

19. The system as described in claim 11, wherein correcting includes at least one of shutting down the failed item of software, reinstalling the item of software, restoring the item of software and restarting the item of software.

20. The system as described in claim 11, wherein the monitoring the at least one item of software is performed by the BIOS level monitoring component of the recovery utility.

21. A system for recovering from a failure of an information handling system, comprising:

means for monitoring an operational information handling system, the information handling system utilizing at least one item of software;

means for monitoring at least one item of software;

means for detecting failure of the at least one item of software utilized by the information handling system, said means for detecting comprising a BIOS level monitoring means;

means for initiating an application level means for software recovery to correct the detected failure;

means for detecting whether the application level means for software recovery utility failed to correct the detected failure; and

means for initiating a BIOS level means for software recovery if the initiated application level software recovery means is at least one of unsuccessful in correcting the detected failure and unavailable.

22. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the application level software recovery means is suitable for repairing applications including at least one of an operating system and a program designed to assist in performance of a specific task.

23. The system as described in claim 21, wherein the BIOS level recovery means is suitable for functioning in absence of a functioning operating system.