Boot code verification and recovery

• US 6,272,628 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gupta, Sanjay, Stafford, James Michael, Aguilar, Maximino
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/211,367
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A boot code storage device configured with computer instructions for executing a boot code validity check in response to a boot event to facilitate local recovery of a computer such as a network computer. In response to the boot event, such as powering up a computer in which the boot code storage device is located, an image of a boot code is copied from a first storage medium to the boot code storage device if the validity check is negative. Remaining portions of the boot code, including a start up sequence, are executed if the validity check is positive. In one embodiment, the boot code validity check determines the presence or absence of a boot code jumper in a motherboard to which the boot code storage device is connected. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code storage device comprises a flash memory device, preferably including a plurality of sectors. In the preferred embodiment, the boot code validity check is part of a boot block of the boot code residing in a first sector of the flash memory device. The boot block and boot code reside in contiguous memory of the boot code storage device in one implementation. The first storage medium from which the boot code is copied, in one embodiment, is a compact flash card configured with an image of the boot code.

Claims

1. A method of responding to a computer boot event, comprising:

executing a first portion of a boot code sequence, wherein the first portion is contained within a first sector of a flash memory device and includes a boot code validity check;

responsive to passing the validity check, executing remaining portions of the boot code sequence including a startup sequence contained within remaining sectors of the flash memory device; and

responsive to failing the validity check, reflashing the remaining sectors of the boot code storage device with a new startup sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the boot event comprises a power up of the computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the validity check comprises determining if a boot code jumper is present on a mother board of the computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein reflashing comprises copying the new startup sequence from a storage medium to the remaining sectors of the boot code storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sector of the flash memory device and the remaining sectors are separately erasable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first storage medium comprises a compact flash card.

7. A method of restoring a network computer comprising:

configuring the computer to fail a boot code validity check stored on a first sector of a flash memory device; and

executing a boot event to initiate the validity check and, in response to failing the validity check, reflashing the remaining sectors of the boot code storage device with a startup sequence.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuring comprises inserting a boot code jumper in a mother board of the network computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the boot event comprises powering up the network computer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the reflashing includes copying the startup sequence from a flash memory card inserted in a motherboard of the network computer.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first sector of the boot code flash memory device and the remaining sectors are separately erasable.

12. A computer readable medium including a first sector containing encoded computer executable instructions for executing a boot code validity check in response to a boot event, reflashing remaining sectors of the medium with a new startup sequence if the validity check fails, and executing a start up sequence encoded in the remaining sectors if the validity check passes.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the boot code validity check determines the presence or absence of a boot code jumper in a mother board to which the boot code storage device is attached.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the boot code storage device comprises a flash memory.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first sector and the remaining sectors of the flash memory device are separately erasable.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the start up sequence of the boot code and the boot block reside in contiguous memory of the boot code storage device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first storage medium comprises a flash memory card configured with the new startup sequence.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the boot event comprises powering up a computer in which the boot code storage device is located.