System and method to update device driver or firmware using a hypervisor environment without system shutdown
US8201161B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4411
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system, method, and program product is provided that has a virtualized environment provided by a hypervisor. In the virtualized environment, one or more guest operating systems operate simultaneously with a privileged operating system. One of the guest operating systems identifies a device software update, such as a device driver or firmware update, corresponding to a hardware device that is attached to the computer system. The hypervisor is used to notify the privileged operating system of the device software update. When the privileged operating system is notified of the update, the privileged operating system uses one or more techniques to deny the guest operating systems access to the device. The privileged operating system then updates the device software update. After the device software update has been applied, the privileged operating system resumes access between the guest operating systems and the hardware device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.