Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Company

George David Wisecup

Michael F Angelo

David L Collins

Michael R Garrett

Sompong Paul Olarig

Darren John Cepulis

Darren J Ceuplis

A method and apparatus for booting a system are provided. The apparatus may comprise a boot block and a baseboard management controller coupled together in the system. The baseboard management controller may be configured to receive a request from the boot block for a basic input/output system image; determine at least one location to access the basic input/output system image; and obtain the basic input/output system image from the at least one location.

Apparatus and method for booting a system

A method and apparatus for protecting a computer system. Specifically, a method and system for validating portions of memory at each power-on cycle is described. A Boot Block is used to validate the BIOS, CMOS and NVRAM of a system. The BIOS may also be used to validate the Boot Block, CMOS and NVRAM.

Method and apparatus to provide enhanced computer protection

Computer system having security features for authenticating different components

System for validating a bios program and memory coupled therewith by using a boot block program having a validation routine

A computer system includes system memory, containing BIOS instructions, having multiple bootable partitions and the ability to enable Automatic System Recovery (ASR) protection during an early phase of the boot process. Early ASR allows errors occurring during the boot process to be handled by established ASR techniques. Multiple BIOS partitions allows a user to upgrade and/or test new system routines without the potential of losing the functionality of their existing system.

Automatic system recovery

In a computer system having a receiving computer and a source computer, a method for the remote flashing of the BIOS in the receiving computer including the steps of transferring the flash information from the source computer to the receiving computer, with the flash information including the flash code, the flash code instructions and an encrypted digital signature corresponding to the flash code. The receiving computer is operably placed in a secure mode. A hash value corresponding to the flash information is calculated, and the hash value from the flash information is decrypted. The flash code is validated by comparing the decrypted hash value of the flash information to the calculated hash value, and if validated, the BIOS if flashed with the new flash code.

Method for the secure remote flashing of the BIOS of a computer

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

George David Wisecup