Method and system for booting a client computer system over a network
OwnerSen-Ta Chan, Chien-Shan Huang +3inventors
InventorsSen-Ta Chan, Chien-Shan Huang, Wen-Pin Huang, Li-We Pan, Chang Che Jung
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Abstract
A method and system are provided herein to boot a client computer system over a network. Under the proposed method, a client computer system can commence network connection immediately upon power-on by using a pre-boot module constructed therein so as to request boot data from a server. The boot data is then transmitted to the client computer system and is executed by the client computer system for booting the latter. Furthermore, a data processing system is also provided for enabling a control computer system to boot a client computer system from a distance.
Claims36
A method for booting a client computer system over a network, the method being performed upon power-on of the client computer system and comprising the steps of:
- (a) enabling the client computer system to perform an early power-on self-test to detect a component;
- (b) initializing a pre-boot module in the component so as to enable the client computer system to transmit a message over the network to a remote computer system;
- (c) enabling the remote computer system to transmit boot data to the client computer system in response to the message;
- and
- (d) enabling the client computer system to execute the boot data received from the remote computer system to complete booting process of the client computer system.
A client computer system capable of being booted by boot data transmitted from a remote server, said client computer system comprising:
- a test module for detecting a component of the client computer system upon power-on of the client computer system;
- a pre-boot module associated with the test module and initialized after the component of the client computer system has been detected, the pre-boot module being adapted to send a message over a network for reception by the remote server;
- a communications module adapted to receive the boot data transmitted by the remote server in stages over the network in response to the message;
- and
- an execution module associated with the communications module for enabling the client computer system to execute the boot data, thereby booting the client computer system.
A method for booting a remote computer system over a network using a control computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
- enabling the remote computer system to detect a component upon power-on;
- executing a pre-boot module in the component of the remote computer system after detection so as to transmit a message over the network for reception by the control computer system;
- enabling the control computer system to transmit boot data in stages for reception by the remote computer system in response to the message;
- and
- enabling the remote computer system to execute the boot data for activating the remote computer system upon receipt of the boot data.
A computer system capable of being remotely booted over a network, the computer system utilizing BIOS that resides therein to receive boot data transmitted by a remote computer system, the computer system comprising:
- a central processing unit initialized upon power-on of the computer system;
- a peripheral component;
- a pre-boot module associated with the central processing unit, the pre-boot module being built into the BIOS and including a set of program codes executed by the central processing unit upon initialization of the central processing unit for sending a message over the network that is to be received by the remote computer system;
- a power-on self-test module for detecting the central processing unit and the peripheral component of the computer system;
- a communications module adapted to receive the boot data transmitted by the remote computer system in stages over the network in response to the message via the peripheral component;
- and
- an execution module associated with the communications module for enabling the computer system to execute the boot data, thereby booting the computer system.
A data processing system comprising:
- a client computer system;
- a control computer system for remote management of the client computer system, the control computer system having boot data for the client computer system stored therein;
- a storage medium provided in the client computer system for storing a set of program instructions;
- initialization means associated with the storage medium for executing the set of program instructions so as to initialize a component of the client computer system upon power-on of the client computer system;
- a pre-boot module associated with and executed by the component of the client computer system that was initialized by the initialization means for sending a message to the control computer system;
- a communications module for enabling the client computer system to receive the boot data transmitted by the control computer system in stages in response to the message that was sent via the pre-boot module;
- and
- an execution module associated with the communications module for enabling the client computer system to execute the boot data, thereby booting the client computer system.
A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that includes:
- an initialization module for directing a client computer system to initialize a component upon power-on of the client computer system;
- a test module for directing the client computer system to detect the component;
- a pre-boot module for directing the detected and initialized component of the client computer system to send a message over a network to a control computer system;
- a communications module for enabling the client computer system to receive boot data transmitted by the control computer system in stages over the network in response to the message that was received thereby;
- and
- an execution module for directing the client computer system to execute the boot data, thereby booting the client computer system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.