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US 2003/0084337 A1Published application
Remotely controlled failsafe boot mechanism and manager for a network device
OwnerDan C. Simionescu, Liviu G. Ionescuinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Increased availability, reliability and security are enabled in a network device by providing remote control over the boot mechanism of a host machine. Methods for providing secure operation of a network device are also described.
Claims47
A method for providing a secure operation of a host computer that comprises the steps of:
- connecting to the host computer a master device having a CPU configured to execute a monitor program and to manage one or more host images and the host computer;
- bypassing a bootstrap code native to the host computer and executing a master-device supplied bootstrap code instead;
- establishing a communication channel between the master device and the host computer, communications between the master device and the host computer being governed by the CPU of the master device;
- transferring from the master device a selected one of the host images over the communication channel to the host computer;
- instructing the host computer to execute the transferred host image;
- actively monitoring the functionality of the host computer via the monitor program of the master device by comparing a set of operational parameters obtained from the host computer against a prescribed set of values within a prescribed period of time;
- and
- on the basis of the monitored comparison, selectively restarting the host computer to thereby maintain the secure operation of the host computer.
5 more elements
A method for providing a secure operation of one or more active processes executing on a host computer, comprising the steps of:
- connecting to the host computer a master device having a CPU configured to execute a monitor program and to manage one or more host images and the host computer;
- bypassing a bootstrap code native to the host computer and executing a master-device supplied bootstrap code instead;
- establishing a communication channel between the master device and the host computer, communications between the master device and the host computer being governed by the CPU of the master device;
- transferring from the master device a selected one of the host images over the communication channel to the host computer;
- instructing the host computer to execute the transferred host image;
- executing one or more active processes on the host computer;
- determining if any of the active processes is operating outside of prescribed parameters;
- and
- on the basis of the determining step, selectively restarting one or more of the active processes to thereby maintain the secure operation of the host computer.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.