Network booting using a platform management coprocessor
US7668945B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2006 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 2, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L61/5007
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments of a system and method for enabling a target computer to download a boot image and operating system from a boot server computer over a network are described. The target computer system includes a host processor environment and a platform management coprocessor subsystem that includes a microcontroller for providing manageability of the target computer platform. During a network boot procedure, the platform management coprocessor code employs a network access channel to retrieve the boot server name and a network address for the target computer. The platform management coprocessor code implements security measures to help ensure secure interaction between the boot server and the target computer. Once the secure association is established, the network boot process uses the BIOS code for the successive bulk downloads of the operating system to be loaded onto the target computer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.