Method and apparatus for BIOS determination of network information and diagnostics
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Zolnowsky, David Hawkinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer with a network controller has suitable programming for determining the address of the network controller by means of the computer BIOS. Suitable instructions can be provided to obtain the MAC address of an ETHERNET-based system or the UUID of a 1394-based network controller. The BIOS is optionally programmed to obtain information about other characteristics of the network controller and perform diagnostics related to the network controller.
Claims22
A computer having a display, a network controller, a microprocessor, and a non-volatile memory, the network controller having an address, the non-volatile memory comprising instructions for the computer to obtain the address and display indicia corresponding to the address.
A method of obtaining information about a network controller of a computer, the method comprising:
- providing a BIOS with instructions for the computer to obtain the information;
- executing the instructions to obtain the information;
- and
- communicating the information either to a computer display or another computer program.
A method of adding a computer to a network comprising:
- reading the address of the network controller of the computer by executing computer instructions stored in non-volatile memory and prior to installation of the operating system on the computer;
- associating the address with a port on the network;
- applying to the computer a software image associated with at least one other computer in the network, such application occurring through the associated port to add the computer to the network.
A BIOS for use in a computer capable of being networked, the BIOS comprising instructions to obtain network information of the computer and communicate the information for use in networking the computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.