Dell Products Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Roger M Blood

Anil Venkatasubba Rao

Frank L Wu

Armando Jaime Martinez

Paul W Vancil

Truc M Nguyen

Herbert A Hollinger

A system and method for remotely updating a system BIOS. The method includes the steps of providing an updated BIOS to the remote computer system, storing the updated BIOS in a storage device of the remote computer system, setting a BIOS update indicator, rebooting the remote computer system and determining that the BIOS update indicator has been set, replacing the system BIOS with the updated BIOS, and rebooting the remote computer system again. The storage device may be hard drive, with the updated BIOS being stored in an EFI partition of the hard drive.

System and method for performing remote BIOS updates

A virtual disk subsystem and method for providing a virtual local drive are disclosed. The virtual disk subsystem includes a channel bridge, such as an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) bridge, that receives disk commands from a disk controller, as well as a disk emulator in communication with the channel bridge and a network interface. The disk emulator includes control logic that receives disk commands from the disk controller via the channel bridge and, in response, retrieves data from a remote data storage device and forwards the data to the disk controller, such that the disk controller perceives the remote data storage device as a local device. In an exemplary embodiment, the virtual disk subsystem allows a standard operating system (OS) in a data processing system to function as if the data processing system included the emulated drive.

Distributed computer system including a virtual disk subsystem and method for providing a virtual local drive

A computer peripheral apparatus includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. The second portion is pivotable between a first position nested with the first portion and a second position extended from the first portion. The first portion includes computer mouse input members and a telephony handset. The second portion includes a telephony microphone.

Combination computer mouse and telephony handset

A docketing bracket ( ) for rack-mounted computing devices ( ). The docking bracket ( ) is designed to fit inside one or more shelves of a rack ( ). It may contain circuitry that would otherwise be contained in the computing equipment, such as a systems management unit ( ) when the computing equipment is a server ( ). The bracket ( ) has an inner size and shape that generally conforms to the outer sides and back of the computing device ( ). It has grooves ( ) or other means for holding the computing device ( ) while the computing device ( ) is installed in the rack ( ).

Docking bracket for rack-mounted computing modules

A method and system for modifying an identification associated with and stored internally in a computer system. Software can distinguish one computer system from another based upon an identification which is typically associated with the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the computer system. Problems arise, however, when the CPU or other component containing the identification fail, and are replaced with components having a new identification. These problems are alleviated via the use of modifiable memory by the replacement component for storing its associated identification, and a modifying unit which can reside in the replacement component, operating system, or take the form of an application program. The modifying unit is invoked and passed an encrypted key value comprising the failed identification and the replacement identification. The modifying unit verifies that the current identification of the computer system matches that of the replacement identification, and then modifies the current identification to equal the failed identification.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Roger M Blood