Automatic TFTP firmware download

• US 20030177208A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Arthur Edwin IV
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A method of performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download, includes: obtaining, by either a network-connected device (i.e., DHCP) or user (i.e., command file), a configuration file, where the configuration file includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a target device and a file name of a target file in the target device; retrieving a software image from the target file; determining if there is a match between the software image from the target file and another software image currently running on the device; and downloading to the network-connected device the software image from the target file if the software image is compatible and different from the software image currently in the device. An apparatus for performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download, includes: a device including a TFTP module; and a target device coupled to the device via a network, the target device including a TFTP module to permit an automatic TFTP protocol to download a configuration from the target device to the device, where the device obtains a configuration file with an automatic TFTP statement indicating the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target device and a file name of a target file with the configuration.

Claims

1. A method of performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download, the method comprising:

obtaining a configuration file, where the configuration file includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a target device and a file name of a target file in the target device;

retrieving a software image in the target file;

determining if there is a match between the software image from the target file and another software image currently running on a networked-connected device; and

downloading to the networked-connected device the software image from the target file if the software image is compatible and different from the software image currently in the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing the downloaded configuration file from the target file.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-booting the device with the downloaded configuration file.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration file is obtained by the networked-connected device by use of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration file is obtained by a user based upon use of a command line.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloaded software image includes an upgraded firmware.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the upgraded firmware includes an upgraded operating software.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if there is no match between the software image from the target file and a software image currently running in the device, then discontinuing the download of the software image from the target file.

9. A software image installed in a networked-device in accordance with the method of claim 1.

10. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;

obtain a configuration file, where the configuration file includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a target device and a file name of a target file in the target device;

retrieve a software image in the target file;

determining if there is a match between the software image from the target file and another software image currently running on a networked-connected device; and

download to the networked-connected device the software image from the target file if the software image is compatible and different from the software image currently in the device.

11. An apparatus for performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download, the method comprising:

means for obtaining a configuration file, where the configuration file includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a target device and a file name of a target file in the target device;

coupled to the obtaining means, means for retrieving a software image in the target file;

coupled to the retrieving means, means for determining if there is a match between the software image from the target file and another software image currently running on a networked-connected device; and

coupled to the determining means, means for downloading to the networked-connected device the software image from the target file if the software image is compatible and different from the software image currently in the device.

12. A method of performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download to multiple devices in a network via use of a central configuration distributed via script (Simple Networked Management Protocol, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), or any command line scripting language), the method comprising:

obtaining, by a device, a new configuration containing instruction to look for a new software image including TFTP server Internet Protocol (IP) address and target file name;

checking a server for a new software image; and

obtaining the new software image from the server.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

parsing the downloaded configuration.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

re-booting the device with the new configuration.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the new software image includes an upgraded firmware.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the upgraded firmware includes an upgraded operating software.

17. A software image installed in a networked-device in accordance with the method of claim 12.

18. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;

obtain, by a device, a new configuration containing instruction to look for a new software image including TFTP server Internet Protocol (IP) address and target file name;

check a server for a new software image; and

obtain the new software image from the server.

19. An apparatus for performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download to multiple devices in a network via use of a central configuration distributed via script (Simple Networked Management Protocol, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), or any command line scripting language), the method comprising:

means for obtaining, by a device, a new configuration containing instruction to look for a new software image including TFTP server Internet Protocol (IP) address and target file name;

coupled to the obtaining means, means for checking a server for a new software image; and

coupled to the checking means, means for obtaining the new software image from the server.

20. An apparatus for performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download, the apparatus comprising:

a device including a TFTP module; and

a target device coupled to the device via a network, the target device including a TFTP module to permit an automatic TFTP protocol to download a software image from the target device to the device, where the device obtains a configuration file with an automatic TFTP statement indicating the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target device and a file name of a target file with the software image.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the device is configured to parse the downloaded configuration from the target file.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the device is configured to re-booting with the downloaded configuration.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the downloaded software image includes an upgraded firmware.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the upgraded firmware includes an upgraded operating software.

25. An apparatus for performing automatic Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) firmware download for multiple devices in a network, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of devices, each device including a TFTP module; and

a target device coupled to the devices via a network, the target device including a TFTP module to permit an automatic TFTP protocol to download a configuration file from the target device to a first one of the devices, where the first one of the devices obtains the configuration file with an automatic TFTP statement indicating the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target device and a file name of a target file with a software image;

where a second one of the devices is configured to obtain the software image from the first one of the devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first one of the devices is configured to parse the downloaded configuration from the target file.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first one of the devices is configured to re-booting with the downloaded configuration.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the downloaded software image includes an upgraded firmware.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the upgraded firmware includes an upgraded operating software.