Method and apparatus for BIOS determination of network information and diagnostics

• US 20060069906A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David M. Hawkinson, Jeffrey D. Zolnowsky
• Original Assignee: David M. Hawkinson, Jeffrey D. Zolnowsky
• Inventors: Zolnowsky, Jeffrey D., Hawkinson, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4403 Processor initialisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A computer with a network controller has suitable programming for determining the address of the network controller by means of the computer BIOS. Suitable instructions can be provided to obtain the MAC address of an ETHERNET-based system or the UUID of a 1394-based network controller. The BIOS is optionally programmed to obtain information about other characteristics of the network controller and perform diagnostics related to the network controller.

Claims

1. A computer having a display, a network controller, a microprocessor, and a non-volatile memory, the network controller having an address, the non-volatile memory comprising instructions for the computer to obtain the address and display indicia corresponding to the address.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises an EEPROM programmed with a BIOS for the computer.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein the BIOS is operable to display hardware configuration information, and wherein the instructions to obtain the address include instructions to display the address in conjunction with the hardware configuration information.

4. The computer of claim 2, wherein the BIOS is operable in a set-up mode, and wherein the instructions for obtaining and displaying the address are executable by the BIOS during the set-up mode.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the network controller has a plurality of characteristics, and the non-volatile memory further comprises additional instructions for displaying indicia corresponding to the characteristics.

6. The computer of claim 5, wherein the characteristics include the link status and the current line speed.

7. The computer of claim 5, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises an EEPROM programmed with a BIOS for the computer, and the additional instructions comprise a LAN option operable by the BIOS.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the network controller has a plurality of characteristics, and the non-volatile memory further comprises diagnostics for the characteristics.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the diagnostics comprise a UPD echo link test.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is a personal computer adapted to be loaded with an operating system, and wherein the instructions to obtain the address are adapted to be executed without the operating system loaded on the personal computer.

11. A method of obtaining information about a network controller of a computer, the method comprising:

providing a BIOS with instructions for the computer to obtain the information;

executing the instructions to obtain the information; and

communicating the information either to a computer display or another computer program.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the network controller comprises an ETHERNET controller and the address comprises a MAC address, and wherein the step of executing the instructions includes reading the MAC address of the ETHERNET controller.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the network controller comprises a 1394 controller and the address comprises a UUID, and wherein the step of executing the instructions includes reading the UUID of the 1394 controller.

14. The method of claim 11, further including the step of providing suitable instructions in the BIOS to determine characteristics of the network controller.

15. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of providing the BIOS with at least one network diagnostic and executing the diagnostic to obtain the information about the network controller.

16. A method of adding a computer to a network comprising:

reading the address of the network controller of the computer by executing computer instructions stored in non-volatile memory and prior to installation of the operating system on the computer;

associating the address with a port on the network;

applying to the computer a software image associated with at least one other computer in the network, such application occurring through the associated port to add the computer to the network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of reading the address includes the step of retrieving the address from a storage location in non-volatile memory by means of instructions of the BIOS.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the network is an ETHERNET-based LAN, and wherein, the step of reading the address of the network controller comprises reading a MAC address associated with the network controller.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the network is a 1394-based LAN, and wherein the step of reading the address of the network controller comprises reading a UUID associated with 1394-based LAN.

20. A BIOS for use in a computer capable of being networked, the BIOS comprising instructions to obtain network information of the computer and communicate the information for use in networking the computer.

21. The BIOS of claim 20, comprising instructions to obtain the network address of the computer and display the network address.

22. The BIOS of claim 20, comprising a network diagnostic.