Dynamic boot filesystem selection
US5933631A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1417
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of providing a dynamic abstraction layer, such as a boot filesystem, for a computer having a particular hardware platform, in order to make a basic operating system more portable. The method includes storing the dynamic boot filesystem in a protected space in the computer before the normal boot sequence, and then retrieving the dynamic boot filesystem from the protected space during the boot sequence and loading the retrieved dynamic boot filesystem. The computer firmware first loads a simulated boot image which contains the dynamic boot filesystem, and then loads an operating system boot image which contains the operating system and instructions for retrieving the dynamic boot filesystem. A default boot filesystem may be used if no previously stored dynamic boot filesystem is found. In a UNIX embodiment, the dynamic boot filesystem includes a hardware-dependent (Portable Assist Layer). The two boot images can be provided on a single media which is scanned twice, or separate media, for example, a floppy diskette and a CD-ROM disk.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.