Multi-user remote firmware development and debugging system

A multi-user remote firmware development and debugging system, comprising:

• a first plurality of computing systems under test (“SUTs”), the first plurality of SUTs comprising first serial data communication interfaces and first serial peripheral interface (“SPI”) flash emulators;
• a first multi-user firmware development and debugging host communicatively coupled to the first SPI flash emulators and the first serial data communication interfaces of the first plurality of SUTs;
• a second plurality of SUTs, the second plurality of SUTs comprising second serial data communication interfaces and second SPI flash emulators;
• a second multi-user firmware development and debugging host communicatively coupled to the second SPI flash emulators and the second serial data communication interfaces of the second plurality of SUTs;
• and
• a host computer communicatively coupled to the first multi-user firmware development and debugging host and the second multi-user firmware development and debugging host, the host computer configured to
• establish a communications session with a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the host computer by way of a network connection,
• establish a communications session with the first multi-user firmware development and debugging host,
• receive firmware debugging messages from the first multi-user firmware development and debugging host, the firmware debugging messages generated by one of the first plurality of SUTs at least in part during a pre-operating-system phase of the one of the first plurality of SUTs,
• transmit the firmware debugging messages to the remote computing device by way of the network connection,
• receive a command from the remote computing device to update the firmware of the one of the first plurality of SUTs,
• responsive to receiving the command, transmit a request to the first multi-user firmware development and debugging host to update the firmware of the one of the plurality of SUTs, and
• responsive to the request, causing the first SPI flash emulators to update the firmware, wherein the multi-user firmware development and debugging host, by being communicatively coupled to both the first serial data communication interface and the first SPI flash emulators of the one of the first plurality of the SUTs and performing the foregoing acts, provides:
• remote visibility via the first serial data communication interface during the pre-operating-system phase of the one of the first plurality of the SUTs.

A multi-user remote firmware development and debugging system, comprising:

• a first host computer communicatively coupled to a first multi-user firmware development and debugging host and a second multi-user firmware development and debugging host, the first multi-user firmware development and debugging host communicatively coupled to first serial data communication interfaces and first serial peripheral interface (“SPI”) flash emulators of a first plurality of computing systems under test (“SUTs”) and the second multi-user firmware development and debugging host communicatively coupled to second serial data communication interfaces and second SPI flash emulators of a second plurality of SUTs;
• and
• a second host computer communicatively coupled to a third multi-user firmware development and debugging host and a fourth multi-user firmware development and debugging host;
• the third multi-user firmware development and debugging host communicatively coupled to third serial data communication interfaces and third SPI flash emulators of a third plurality of SUTs and the fourth multi-user firmware development and debugging host communicatively coupled to fourth serial data communication interfaces and fourth serial SPI flash emulators of a fourth plurality of SUTs, wherein
• the first host computer is configured to receive first firmware debugging messages generated by one of the first or second plurality of SUTs from the first multi-user firmware development and debugging host and to provide the first firmware debugging messages to a first remote computing device communicatively coupled to the first host computer, the generation occurring at least in part during a pre-operating-system phase of the one of the first or second plurality of SUTs, and
• the second host computer is configured to receive second firmware debugging messages generated by one of the third or fourth plurality of SUTs from the second multi-user firmware development and debugging host and to provide the second firmware debugging messages to a second remote computing device communicatively coupled to the second host computer, the generation occurring at least in part during a pre-operating-system phase of the one of the third or fourth plurality of SUTs, wherein:
• the first host computer is configured to receive a first command from the first remote computing device to update a first firmware stored by the first or second SPI flash emulator of one of the first or second plurality of SUTs;
• in response thereto, to cause the first or second SPI flash emulator to update the first firmware;
• the second host computer is configured to receive a second command from the second remote computing device to update a second firmware stored by the third or fourth SPI flash emulator of one of the third or fourth plurality of SUTs;
• in response thereto, to cause the third or fourth SPI flash emulator to update the second firmware;
• and
• the multi-user firmware development and debugging system, by being communicatively coupled to the serial data communication interfaces of the one of the first or second or third or fourth plurality of SUTs and performing the foregoing acts, provides:
• remote visibility via the serial data communication interfaces during the pre-operating-system phase of the one of the first or second or third or fourth plurality of SUTs.