# US 2013/0159686 A1 · Managing configuration and operation of an adapter as a virtual peripheral component interconnect root to expansion read-only memory emulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0159686 A1 - Document ID: US20130159686A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/328,671 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Charles S. Graham; Gregory M. Nordstrom; John R. Oberly, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130159686A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/5077: {Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources (specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455)} - G06F 2009/45579: {I/O management, e.g. providing access to device drivers or storage} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method of managing an adapter includes identifying a firmware image configured to enable configuration firmware of a logical partition, where the firmware image is associated an expansion read-only memory (ROM). Access to the firmware image may be enabled by the logical partition, and the firmware image may be used to control of an operation of the adapter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of managing an adapter, the method comprising: identifying a firmware image configured to enable configuration firmware of a logical partition, wherein the firmware image is associated an expansion read-only memory (ROM); enabling access to the firmware image by the logical partition; and using the firmware image to control of an operation of the adapter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the firmware image in a virtualization intermediary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising accessing the firmware image via the virtualization intermediary. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one of a size and an address associated with the firmware image to the logical partition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising mapping the address into memory space of the logical partition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a virtualization intermediary call configured to allow the logical partition to read the firmware image from a virtual function associated with a physical function of the adapter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising selectively determining whether the virtualization intermediary call is needed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the virtualization intermediary call enables the logical partition to determine a size of the firmware image without using an address of the firmware image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the firmware image is associated with a physical function of the adapter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the firmware image using a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) firmware image of a physical function of the adapter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising filtering out a portion of the PCI firmware image from the firmware image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising locating a physical function associated with the adapter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the physical function is single root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) capable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating memory to store the firmware image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising copying the firmware image from a physical function manager to a virtualization intermediary. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a header to match vendor identification data and storing the header in connection with the firmware image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the adapter includes a boot operation. ### Claim 18 An apparatus, comprising: an adapter; a processor; a memory storing program code, the program code executable by the processor to: identify a firmware image configured to enable configuration firmware of a logical partition, wherein the firmware image is associated an expansion read-only memory (ROM); enable access to the firmware image by the logical partition; and use the firmware image to control of an operation of the adapter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the access to the firmware image is enabled via a virtualization intermediary. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the program code is executed to provide at least one of a size and an address associated with the firmware image to the logical partition. ### Claim 21 A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code executable by a processor to: identify a firmware image configured to enable configuration firmware of a logical partition, wherein the firmware image is associated an expansion read-only memory (ROM); enable access to the firmware image by the logical partition; and use the firmware image to control of an operation of the adapter.