Flash mirroring
OwnerMatthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno +3inventors
InventorsMatthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Qiu, Andrew Seidel
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Abstract
A firmware update system includes a high-level management device implementing high-level management software application that selects a redundant embedded processor as a master sub-system. Firmware update images are transmitted to the master sub-system over a primary communication path. The master sub-system re-distributes the firmware update images to other associated redundant embedded processors over secondary communication paths. This reduces communication-bandwidth utilization over direct communication paths between the high-level management system and the other associated redundant embedded processors.
Claims15
A firmware-image update system, comprising:
- a high-level management device including a high-level management software application for transmitting a firmware image over a primary communication path;
- a first embedded processor adapted to receive said firmware image over said primary communication path, re-transmit said firmware image over a secondary communication path, and load said firmware image as a logical construct;
- and
- a redundant embedded processor adapted to receive said firmware image over said secondary communication path and load said firmware image as said logical construct.
A method of updating firmware images, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a master sub-system including a first embedded processor;
- preparing the master sub-system for a firmware image download;
- preparing a redundant embedded processor for a firmware image download;
- downloading a new firmware image from a high-level management device to the master sub-system;
- re-distributing the new firmware image from the master sub-system to the redundant embedded processor;
- and
- loading the new firmware image into the first embedded processor and the redundant embedded processor as a logical construct.
An article of manufacture including a data storage medium, said data storage medium including a set of machine-readable instructions that are executable by a processing device to implement an algorithm, said algorithm comprising the steps of:
- selecting a master sub-system including a first embedded processor;
- preparing the master sub-system for a firmware image download;
- preparing a redundant embedded processor for a firmware image download;
- downloading a new firmware image from a high-level management device to the master sub-system;
- re-distributing the new firmware image from the master sub-system to the redundant embedded processor;
- and
- loading the new firmware image into the first embedded processor and the redundant embedded processor as a logical construct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.