Option ROM code acquisition

A method, comprising:

• determining an amount of a memory mapped input/output (MMIO) memory available to a computer with a cellular architecture;
• accessing a data store configured to store, in a tree data structure, information concerning I/O devices operably connected to the computer;
• searching for I/O devices operably connected to the computer;
• upon discovering an I/O device that is operably connected to the computer:
• logically representing the I/O device in the tree data structure;
• determining an MMIO memory requirement for the I/O device by examining a data value stored on the I/O device;
• and
• upon determining that the I/O device includes an option ROM:
• mapping the option ROM into the computer;
• opening an MMIO aperture for the I/O device to a maximum possible size;
• reading a device driver for the I/O device from the option ROM;
• storing the device driver in non-MMIO memory available to the computer;
• unmapping the option ROM from the computer;
• and
• linking the device driver stored in the non-MMIO memory to an I/O device logically represented in the tree data structure;
• for I/O devices for which MMIO apertures were opened, closing the MMIO apertures;
• determining a total amount of MMIO memory required by I/O devices logically represented in the tree data structure;
• selectively partitioning the MMIO memory available to the computer based, at least in part, on the total amount of MMIO memory required by the I/O devices logically represented in the tree data structure;
• selectively allocating a portion of the MMIO memory available to the computer to an I/O device logically represented in the tree data structure;
• and
• selectively mapping the portion of the MMIO memory to the I/O device logically represented in the tree data structure.

A computer-readable medium storing processor executable instructions operable to perform a method, the method comprising:

• determining an amount of a memory mapped input/output (MMIO) memory available to a computer;
• accessing a data store configured to store information concerning devices operably connected to the computer;
• searching for devices operably connected to the computer;
• upon discovering a device that is operably connected to the computer:
• logically representing the device in the data store;
• determining an MMIO memory requirement for the device;
• and
• upon determining that the device includes an option ROM:
• mapping the option ROM into the computer;
• opening an MMIO aperture for the device;
• reading a device driver for the device from the option ROM;
• storing the device driver in non-MMIO memory available to the computer;
• unmapping the option ROM from the computer;
• and
• linking the device driver stored in the non-MMIO memory to one or more devices logically represented in the data store;
• and
• for devices for which MMIO apertures were opened, closing the MMIO apertures.

A method, comprising:

• selectively acquiring system data concerning one or more components in a hierarchy of components operably connected to a processor;
• for a component for which system data is acquired, where the component includes an option ROM:
• determining an MMIO memory requirement for the component;
• selectively acquiring a processor executable instruction from the option ROM;
• storing the processor executable instruction in non-MMIO memory available to the processor;
• and
• storing the location of the processor executable instruction in non-MMIO memory in a memory location available to the processor;
• determining a total amount of MMIO memory required by components for which system data was acquired;
• and
• allocating and mapping MMIO memory available to the processor to components for which system data was acquired.

A system, comprising:

• a device discovery logic configured to discover a device operably connected to a processor having available a finite amount of memory mapped input/output (MMIO) memory for interacting with the device, the processor also having available a finite amount of non-MMIO memory;
• an option ROM logic configured to read a processor executable instruction from an option ROM associated with a device discovered by the device discovery logic and to store the processor executable instruction in the non-MMIO memory;
• and
• an MMIO allocation logic operably connected to the processor, the MMIO allocation logic being configured to determine an MMIO memory requirement for devices discovered by the device discovery logic and to selectively allocate MMIO memory to the devices.

A system, comprising:

• means for discovering an input/output device that is physically connected to a processor and for updating a data structure with information concerning the input/output device;
• means for obtaining a device driver from an option ROM associated with the input/output device;
• and
• means for storing the device driver in non-MMIO memory available to the processor and for making the device driver in non-MMIO memory available to one or more input/output devices for which information is stored in the data structure.

A set of application programming interfaces embodied on a computer-readable medium for execution by a processor in conjunction with acquiring a device driver from an option ROM and storing the device driver in non-MMIO memory, comprising:

• a first interface for communicating an MMIO configuration data;
• a second interface for communicating an aperture data;
• and
• a third interface for communicating a device driver data.

A method, comprising:

• discovering input/output devices operably connected to a processor;
• updating a data structure with information concerning the input/output devices;
• obtaining a device driver from an option ROM associated with an input/output device;
• storing the device driver in non-MMIO memory;
• and
• making the device driver available to input/output devices physically connected to the processor and for which information is stored in the data structure.