Automated firmware restoration to a peer programmable hardware device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for restoring firmware, comprising:
- under control of a first programmable hardware device in a server,periodically determining whether a second programmable hardware device in the server needs a valid firmware image; and
in response to determining that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image,retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the second programmable hardware device; and
sending the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device; and
under control of the second programmable hardware device,in response to receiving the valid firmware image from the first programmable storage device, restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image;
periodically determining whether the first programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image; and
in response to determining that the first programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image,retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the first programmable hardware device; and
sending the valid firmware image to the first programmable hardware device via the private communication link.
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Abstract
Provided are techniques for restoring firmware. A first programmable hardware device determines that a second programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image, retrieves a copy of the valid firmware image from an external memory, and sends the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device. The second programmable hardware device restores existing firmware using the valid firmware image.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for restoring firmware, comprising:
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under control of a first programmable hardware device in a server, periodically determining whether a second programmable hardware device in the server needs a valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the second programmable hardware device; and sending the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device; and under control of the second programmable hardware device, in response to receiving the valid firmware image from the first programmable storage device, restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image; periodically determining whether the first programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the first programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the first programmable hardware device; and sending the valid firmware image to the first programmable hardware device via the private communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method for restoring firmware, comprising:
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under control of a first programmable hardware device in a server, in response to determining that a second programmable hardware device in the server needs a valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from a first memory; and directly updating a second memory of the second programmable hardware device with the valid firmware image; and under control of the second programmable hardware device, in response to the second memory being updated, restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the first programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from the second memory; and directly updating the first memory of the first programmable hardware device with the valid firmware image. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed by a processor of a server causes operations comprising:
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under control of a first programmable hardware device in the server, periodically determining whether a second programmable hardware device in the server needs a valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the second programmable hardware device; and sending the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device; and under control of the second programmable hardware device, in response to receiving the valid firmware image from the first programmable storage device, restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image; periodically determining whether the first programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the first programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the first programmable hardware device; and sending the valid firmware image to the first programmable hardware device via the private communication link. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed by a processor of a server causes operations comprising:
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under control of a first programmable hardware device in a server, in response to determining that a second programmable hardware device in the server needs a valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from a first memory; and directly updating a second memory of the second programmable hardware device with the valid firmware image; and under control of the second programmable hardware device, in response to the second memory being updated, restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the first programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image from the second memory; and directly updating the first memory of the first programmable hardware device with the valid firmware image. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification