Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Bradley Gordon Culter

Mark Edward Shaw

Scott Lynn Michaelis

John A Morrison

Mark Robert Watkins

Paul Bouchier

Martin O Nicholes

Richard Dickert Powers

David T Mayo

Matthew L Fischer

Dennis Mazur

Subramanian Ramesh

Jason W Reasor

James D Preston

Greg Albrecht

Marvin Spinhirne

William Sumner

In at least some embodiments, a computer system comprises a processor, a memory coupled to the processor. The computer system also comprises a network interface coupled to the processor. The memory stores a firmware composition tool that, when executed by the processor, is to build a composite image comprising an arbitrary number of firmware update images according to a set of format rules that enables a self-describing aggregation of the arbitrary number of firmware update images.

Systems and methods for composing or decomposing a composite image for firmware update images

According to at least one embodiment, a method comprises partitioning a computer system into a plurality of soft partitions that each run an operating system. The method further comprises instantiating a separate firmware instance for each of the plurality of soft partitions, wherein each of the firmware instances provides a pre-defined firmware interface for the operating system of its respective soft partition.

System and method for soft partitioning a computer system

Techniques for management of target devices are provided. User input for management of a target device may be received. The user input may be converted into a first format. The first format may be encapsulated into a second format and sent over a communications channel. The second format may be un-encapsulated to recover the first format. The first format may be provided to the target devices.

Management of target devices

A system for sharing a device across a plurality of operating systems is provided. The system includes a sharable bit in the namespace for identifying whether the device is sharable. The system further includes one or more operating systems that are adapted to recognize the sharable bit.

System and method for sharing a device across operating systems

In one embodiment, a system, comprises a first computer system comprising at least a first diskless server, at least a first RAID controller coupled to the first diskless server, at least a first storage pool coupled to the RAID controller, and a remote management server coupled to the RAID controller via a an out-of-band communication link. The remote management server comprises a boot management module which, when executed, initiates a command to instruct the RAID controller to create at least a first logical volume in a memory module coupled to the RAID controller, transmits the command to the RAID controller via the out-of-band communication link, and transmits a boot image from the remote management server to the RAID controller via the out-of-band communication link. The RAID controller creates the first logical volume for the boot image in response to the command, and stores the boot image in the first logical volume.

Systems and methods for deployment of boot images in diskless servers

In one embodiment a computer system comprises a processor, a basic input/output system (BIOS) including logic instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to create a virtual AML device data structure, the data structure comprising a plurality of fields to hold arguments to a native firmware function, store at least one argument for the native firmware function in a register of the AML device data structure, store an entry point and a pointer value in a register of the virtual AML device data structure, and initiate an access request to a firmware access register in the AML device data structure.

ACPI to firmware interface

A system includes a plurality of partitions having respective operating systems, and a resource shared by the partitions. The resource has plural segments, where a first one of the segments is accessed to invoke a first interrupt. An operating system of a first one of the plurality of partitions invokes, in response to the first interrupt, a routine to cause generation of a second interrupt to a second one of the plurality of partitions.

Generating an interrupt in a system having plural partitions that share a resource

An ACPI-compatible system is provided that comprises a database for storing a device-specific descriptor for a hardware device. The system further comprises an ACPI agent operable to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for the hardware device using the device-specific descriptor. Also, a method for an ACPI-compatible system autonomously constructing an ACPI table entry for a hardware device is provided. The method comprises receiving from firmware associated with the hardware device, a device-specific descriptor for such hardware device, and an ACPI agent executing on the ACPI-compatible system using the device-specific descriptor to autonomously construct an ACPI table entry for the hardware device.

System and method for generating ACPI machine language tables

A method, memory system, and program product is described for providing extended functions in a digital device conforming to an intercompartment language specification. The method involves preparing a list of unused opcodes according to a version of the language of one compartment, and publishing the list of unused opcodes to code of a second compartment. Code of the second compartment then assigns opcodes to extended functions such that the opcodes assigned are unused opcodes in the version of language of both compartments. The assigned opcodes are used in generating code in the intercompartmental language, and published as a table of assigned opcodes with associated function names to the first compartment.

Method and apparatus providing for extendable interaction between firmware and operating systems on digital devices

A method for providing a firmware developer user interface in a multi-nodal computer system comprises polling for a break command during boot of a multi-nodal computer system and invoking a firmware developer user interface when the break command is encountered.

Firmware developer user interface with break command polling

Embodiments include writing a first data value to a validation variable through a fixed programming interface, where the validation variable includes multiple fields that correspond to multiple fields within a persistent variable. Contents of the validation variable are subsequently read through the fixed programming interface. When the validation variable contents include one or more differences from the first data value, one or more errors are identified.

Variable writing through a fixed programming interface

Methods and systems for developing firmware are provided. In certain embodiments, a method comprises defining a framework for firmware to be developed by firmware developers at different design centers. The method further comprises at least one of the firmware developers developing firmware as at least one component within the framework, and depositing the at least one component within a repository that is accessible from all of the design centers, wherein the repository includes contextual information about the at least one component deposited therein.

Firmware development within a framework from different design centers depositing component(s) with related contextual and genealogy information in an accessible repository

A system comprises at least one processor, and supporting firmware for supporting at least one function of the at least one processor. The system further comprises logic operable to expand the functionality of the at least one function in a fashion that is not natively supported by the supporting firmware, and an interposer for supporting the expanded functionality of the at least one function. A method for expanding the functionality of an execution unit of a system comprises implementing an execution unit in a system, and implementing pre-existing support firmware for the execution unit in the system, wherein the pre-existing support firmware supports at least one function of the execution unit. The method further comprises implementing logic expanding the at least one function in a manner not supported by the pre-existing support firmware, and implementing an interposer to support the expansion of the at least one function.

System and method for expanding processor functionality

A cellular computer system is constructed of a plurality of cells. Each cell has a memory system, a plurality of processors capable of accessing the memory system, a system communication interface coupled to processors, and a cell error queue maintained by a processor within the memory system. The system communication interface of each cell is coupled to other cells of the system. A first cell of the plurality of cells is a master cell that maintains a partition error queue and is capable of receiving into the partition error queue error descriptors from the cell error queue of a second cell of the plurality of cells.

High performance computer system having a firmware error queue and automatic error handling

A system and method for implementing a fast reset of a computer system is described. In one implementation, the fast reset is implemented by adding a new ResetType to the EFIResetSystem( ) function. In particular, a third ResetType, i.e., 'EfiResetFast' (FAST option), is added, which is passed as a parameter when calling the EFIResetSystem( ) function. In another implementation, the fast reset is implemented using a new EFI function, referred to herein as 'EFIResetFast( )'. In either implementation, in response to a fast reset, the firmware skips several steps typically performed, including some of the core firmware construction, single cell initialization, memory testing, memory re-initialization, and partition creation, and proceeds directly to transfer of control of the platform to a software interface disposed between an OS and firmware.

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Dallas, TX, United States of America

Bradley Gordon Culter