EP0358292A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote boot
Assignee: Digital Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1989-03-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of down loading, over a network, operating systems or other executable programs to a computer which does not have a boot device or other device containing the executable program. Down loading is accomplished without modification of the loadable image. The computer has a network interface which requests a minimum-boot program be transferred from a host computer on the network. The minimum-boot program, when executed, establishes a logical connection to a disk server on the network and allows the requesting computer to treat the disk server as a local boot device.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Flaherty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/40; G06F8/54; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4416; G06F13/00; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/06; H04L9/00; H04L9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for downline loading an executable image from a host computer to a node on a network comprising the steps of: A. issuing of a boot request by a node over said communications line; B. loading of a minimum-boot program into low memory of said node by said host; C. executing said minimum-boot by said node; D. copying of said minimum-boot in said high memory of said node; E. chaining said minimum-boot to interrupt-19 of said node; F. completing a system selftest by said node; G. returning control to said minimum-boot by said system selftest; H. initializing a plurality of functions by said node; I. establishing a connection said node and said host; J. reading a boot sector on said host by said node; K. loading said executable image; L. releasing said LAD interrupt handling.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for downline loading an executable image from a host computer to a node on a network comprising the steps of: A. issuing of a boot request by a node over said communications line; B. loading of a minimum-boot program into low memory of said node by said host; C. executing said minimum-boot by said node; D. copying of said minimum-boot in said high memory of said node; E. chaining said minimum-boot to interrupt-19 of said node; F. completing a system selftest by said node; G. returning control to said minimum-boot by said system selftest; H. initializing a plurality of functions by said node; I. establishing a connection said node and said host; J. reading a boot sector on said host by said node; K. loading said executable image; L. releasing said LAD interrupt handling.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of downline loading an executable image from a host computer over a communications link to a node, said node having an interface through which it communicates over said communications link, comprising the steps of: A. initiating execution by said node of a node initialization program, said initialization program initiating execution of an interface initialization program to initialize said interface; B. execution by said node of said interface initialization program to enable said node to retrieve a remote image retrieval program over said communications link and to link said remote image retrieval program to a local image retrieval interrupt service routine, said node thereafter completing execution of said node initialization program; C. execution by said node, in response to a local image retrieval interrupt service request generated by said node, of said remote image retrieval program to initiate retrieval of an executable image from said host; and D. execution by said node of said executable image.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of downline loading an executable image from a host computer over a communications link to a node, said node having an interface through which it communicates over said communications link, comprising the steps of: A. initiating execution by said node of a node initialization program, said initialization program initiating execution of an interface initialization program to initialize said interface; B. execution by said node of said interface initialization program to enable said node to retrieve a remote image retrieval program over said communications link and to link said remote image retrieval program to a local image retrieval interrupt service routine, said node thereafter completing execution of said node initialization program; C. execution by said node, in response to a local image retrieval interrupt service request generated by said node, of said remote image retrieval program to initiate retrieval of an executable image from said host; and D. execution by said node of said executable image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 2 in which said node, following retrieval of said executable image, thereafter removes the remote image retrieval program from said local image retrieval interrupt service routine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the execution of said interface initialization program comprises the steps of: A. determining that said interface is configured to receive said remote image retrieval program over said communications link; and B. requesting said remote image retrieval program over said communications link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said node has a memory having an address space which extends from a low address value to a high address value and in which said node, following the request of said remote image retrieval program, thereafter: A. loads said remote image retrieval program into said memory at a portion of said address space proximate said low address space; B. determines the size of said memory on said node; C. loads in a memory size interrupt service location a new memory size value equal to the memory size minus the size of the remote image retrieval program; and D. copies said remote image retrieval program into said memory at a portion of said address space proximate said high address value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the determining of the amount of memory on said node comprises the steps of: A. generating a request memory size interrupt service request; and B. reading a value returned in said memory size interrupt service location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said generation of said local image retrieval interrupt service request is in response to the completion of the execution of said node initialization program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said execution of said remote image retrieval program comprises the steps of: A. linking, by said node, of a local storage simulation program, which treats a storage device on the host computer as a local storage device, to a local storage device interrupt service routine; B. establishing by said node of communication with said host; and C. reading by said node of said executable image located on a storage device on said host.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the establishing of communication with said host by said node comprises the steps of: A. reading an address register of said interface to determine said address of said node; B. generating a local storage device interrupt service request; C. intercepting of said local storage device interrupt service request during processing of said local storage simulation program; and D. using of said address during processing of said local storage simulation program to send a message to said host to establish a connection to said host storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said node following said execution of said remote image retrieval program, thereafter removes said local storage simulation program from said local storage device interrupt service routine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A node for connection in a system including a host computer, a communications link connecting said host and said node, and an interface through which the node communicates over said communications link, said node comprising a processor and a set of programs comprising: A. a node initialization program to initiate execution of an interface initialization program; B. an interface initialization program, to enable said node to retrieve a remote image retrieval program over said communications link and to link said remote image retrieval program to a local image retrieval interrupt service routine; C. a remote image retrieval program to initiate retrieval of an executable image from said host; and D. an executable image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
A node for connection in a system including a host computer, a communications link connecting said host and said node, and an interface through which the node communicates over said communications link, said node comprising a processor and a set of programs comprising: A. a node initialization program to initiate execution of an interface initialization program; B. an interface initialization program, to enable said node to retrieve a remote image retrieval program over said communications link and to link said remote image retrieval program to a local image retrieval interrupt service routine; C. a remote image retrieval program to initiate retrieval of an executable image from said host; and D. an executable image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
A node for connection in a system including a host computer, a communications link connecting said host to said node, and an interface through which the node communicates over said communications link, said node comprising; A. a means for executing on said node a node initialization program including an interface initialization program; B. a means for executing said interface initialization program, to enable said node to retrieve a remote image retrieval program over said communications link and to link said remote image retrieval program to a local image retrieval interrupt service routine; C. a means for executing, following the linking of said remote image retrieval program to said local image retrieval interrupt service routine and in response to a local image retrieval interrupt service request, said remote image retrieval program to initiate retrieval of an executable image from said host; and D. a means for executing said executable image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
A node for connection in a system including a host computer, a communications link connecting said host to said node, and an interface through which the node communicates over said communications link, said node comprising; A. a means for executing on said node a node initialization program including an interface initialization program; B. a means for executing said interface initialization program, to enable said node to retrieve a remote image retrieval program over said communications link and to link said remote image retrieval program to a local image retrieval interrupt service routine; C. a means for executing, following the linking of said remote image retrieval program to said local image retrieval interrupt service routine and in response to a local image retrieval interrupt service request, said remote image retrieval program to initiate retrieval of an executable image from said host; and D. a means for executing said executable image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The node in claim 11, said node further comprising a means for removing said remote image retrieval program from said local image retrieval interrupt service routine following the retrieval of said executable image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
14 The node in claim 11 wherein said processor for executing said interface initialization program comprises: A. a means for determining said interface is configured to receive said remote image retrieval program over said communications link, and B. a means for requesting said remote image retrieval program over said communications link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
The node in claim 13 further comprising: A. a memory having an address space which extends from a low address value to a high address value; B. a means for loading said remote image retrieval program into said memory at a portion of said address space proximate said low address value following said request of said remote image retrieval program; C. a means for determining the size of said memory; D. a means for loading into a memory size interrupt service location a new memory size value equal to the memory size minus the size of the remote image retrieval program; and E. a means for copying said remote image retrieval program into memory of a portion of said address space proximate said high address value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The node in claim 14 wherein said means for determining the size of said memory comprises: A. a means for generating a request memory size interrupt service request; and B. a means for reading a value returned in said memory size interrupt service location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The node in claim 11 further comprising a means for generating said local image retrieval interrupt service request in response to the completion of the execution of said node initialization program.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
The node in claim 11 wherein said processor for executing said remote image retrieval program comprises: A. a means for linking a local storage simulation program which treats a storage device on the host computer as a local storage device to a local storage device interrupt service routine; B. a means for establishing communication with said host; and C. a means for reading said executable image located on a storage device on said host.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
The node of claim 17 wherein said means for establishing communications with said host comprises: A. a means for reading an address register of said interface to determine said address of said node; B. a means for generating a local storage device interrupt service request; and C. a means for sending a message including said address of said node to said host to establish a connection to said host storage device in response to a local storage device interrupt service request.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The node of claim 17 further comprising a means for removing said local storage simulation program from said local storage device interrupt service routine following said execution of said remote image retrieval program.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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