Processor independent network operating system loadable modules
AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorsJames W. Osborne, Michael D. McDaniel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A PowerPC based Network Operating System Loadable Module (NOSLM) is concatenated onto an Intel-based NOSLM and offsets are adjusted to account for the size of the Intel-based NOSLM. The resulting enlarged NOSLM appears as a typical Intel-based NOSLM to Intel-based servers. When the enlarged NOSLM is loaded by PowerPC-based servers, the offsets are used to point the server to the beginning of the PowerPC-based NOSLM code and the Intel-based NOSLM is interpreted as a machine-specific header.
Claims14
A method for making a software module, said method comprising the steps of:
- combining a Network Operating System Loadable Module (NOSLM) suitable for loading by a PowerPC-based computer system having a first length with a NOSLM suitable for loading by an Intel-based computer system having a second length to produce a single file, said single file capable of being loaded by said PowerPC-based computer system and said Intel-based computer system.
A method for making a software module, said method comprising the steps of:
- concatenating a Network Operating System Loadable Module (NOSLM) suitable for loading by a PowerPC-based computer system having a first length with a NOSLM suitable for loading by an Intel-based computer system having a second length to produce a single file said single file capable of being loaded by said PowerPC-based computer system and said Intel-based computer system;
- and
- storing said second length of said NOSLM suitable for loading by said Intel-based computer system in an otherwise unused field within said single file, said second length to be used as an offset by said PowerPC-based computer system when loading said single file.
A method of loading a software module onto a PowerPC-based computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
- reading a Network Operating System Loadable Module (NOSLM) signature string included within said software module;
- determining whether said NOSLM signature string corresponds to a NOSLM suitable for loading by said PowerPC-based computer system and, if so, loading said NOSLM;
- determining whether said NOSLM signature string corresponds to a NOSLM suitable for loading by an Intel-based computer system and, if so, determining whether said NOSLM is an enlarged file, said enlarged file including said NOSLM suitable for loading by said PowerPC based computer system having a first length and said NOSLM suitable for loading by said Intel-based computer system having a second length;
- and
- loading said NOSLM if said NOSLM is an enlarged file by using said second length as an offset or, otherwise, not loading said NOSLM.
A computer readable medium containing a computer program having executable code for a first processor and having executable code for a second processor, said computer program comprising:
- a first Network Operating System Loadable Module (NOSLM) having a first length, said first NOSLM suitable for loading by a PowerPC-based processor;
- and
- a second NOSLM having a second length and being concatenated with said first NOSLM in a single file, said second NOSLM suitable for loading by an Intel-based processor said single file capable of being loaded by said PowerPC-based processor and said Intel-based processor.
A network server comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory coupled to said processor through a bus;
- a computer readable medium coupled to said memory, said computer readable medium storing a computer program having executable code for a first processor and having executable code for a second processor, said computer program comprising:
- a first Network Loadable Module (NOSLM) for a network operating system, said first NOSLM suitable for loading by a PowerPC-based processor;
- and
- a second NOSLM for said network operating system, said second NOSLM being concatenated with said first NOSLM in a single file, said second NOSLM suitable for loading by an Intel-based processor, said single file capable of being loaded by said PowerPC-based processor and said Intel-based processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.