Device and method for booting an operation system for a computer from a passive directly attached network device
First Claim
1. A method of booting a computer with an operating system from a directly attached network storage device, the method comprising:
- executing a monitor program in a processor and memory of the computer to be booted that;
(i) reads a boot block loader program from a locally accessible storage device and writes the boot loader program to a first location in a processor accessible memory of the computer; and
(ii) transfers control from the monitor program to the boot block loader program; and
executing the boot block loader program in the processor and memory of the computer to be booted that;
(iii) loads a boot driver program code that includes a network interface driver program code for accessing the directly attached network storage device on which the operating system is stored over a network;
(iv) finds the operating system to be booted in the directly attached network storage device;
(v) loads the operating system from the directly attached network storage device over the network using the network interface driver to a second location in a processor accessible memory of the computer; and
(vi) transfers control from the boot block loader program to the operating system in memory,wherein the directly attached network storage device is not attached to the network through a network server computer having a processor, operating system, and server process executing therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System, device, method, computer, computer program and computer program product for computer booting devices not coupled to an internal local bus of the computer to be booted. Boot device may be network-attached device directly coupled to computer over network and not through another computer or server process. Method for redirecting booting process to look away from storage devices coupled to internal computer bus, and to look for external devices on network. Method of booting computer with operating system from storage device including executing a boot block loader program in the processor and memory of computer to be booted that before loading an operating system, loads device driver for accessing storage device; loading the operating system from storage device that is not directly coupled to internal local bus of computer using the device driver, to processor accessible memory; and booting computer from loaded operating system. Computer program and computer program product.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of booting a computer with an operating system from a directly attached network storage device, the method comprising:
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executing a monitor program in a processor and memory of the computer to be booted that;
(i) reads a boot block loader program from a locally accessible storage device and writes the boot loader program to a first location in a processor accessible memory of the computer; and
(ii) transfers control from the monitor program to the boot block loader program; andexecuting the boot block loader program in the processor and memory of the computer to be booted that; (iii) loads a boot driver program code that includes a network interface driver program code for accessing the directly attached network storage device on which the operating system is stored over a network; (iv) finds the operating system to be booted in the directly attached network storage device; (v) loads the operating system from the directly attached network storage device over the network using the network interface driver to a second location in a processor accessible memory of the computer; and (vi) transfers control from the boot block loader program to the operating system in memory, wherein the directly attached network storage device is not attached to the network through a network server computer having a processor, operating system, and server process executing therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of booting a computer with an operating system from a directly attached network storage device, the method comprising:
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executing a boot block loader program in a processor and memory of the computer to be booted that before loading an operating system, loads a device driver for accessing the directly attached network storage device on which an operating system for the computer is stored; loading the operating system from the directly attached network storage device that is not directly coupled to an internal local bus of the computer using the device driver, to processor accessible memory; and booting the computer from the loaded operating system; wherein the device driver includes a network interface driver program code for accessing the directly attached network storage device on which the operating system is stored over a network and further wherein the directly attached network storage device is not attached to the network through a network server computer having a processor, operating system, and server process executing therein. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism, comprising:
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a program module that directs the computer, to boot a computer with an operating system from a directly attached network storage device, the program module including instructions for; executing a monitor program in a processor and memory of the computer to be booted that;
(i) reads a boot block loader program from a locally accessible storage device and writes the boot loader program to a first location in a processor accessible memory of the computer; and
(ii) transfers control from the monitor program to the boot block loader program; andexecuting the boot block loader program in the processor and memory of the computer to be booted that; (iii) loads a boot driver program code that includes a network interface driver program code for accessing the directly attached network storage device on which the operating system is stored over a network; (iv) finds the operating system to be booted in the directly attached network storage device; (v) loads the operating system from the directly attached network storage device over the network using the network interface driver to a second location in the processor accessible memory of the computer; and (vi) transfers control from the boot block loader program to the operating system in memory, wherein the directly attached network storage device is not attached to the network through a network server computer having a processor, operating system, and server process executing therein.
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36. A computer comprising:
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a processor and a random access memory coupled to the processor; and a non-volatile storage device storing at least one program, the at least one program controlling operation of a boot loader and boot device driver so that the computer can;
(a) send commands and/or data through a network controller to a directly attached network boot device that stores additional boot or operating system code, and (b) receive additional boot code or commands and/or data from the boot device over a network;wherein the boot device driver includes a network interface driver program code for accessing the directly attached network boot device on which the operating system is stored over the network and further wherein the directly attached network boot device is not attached to the network through a network server computer having a processor, operating system, and server process executing therein. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification