Method and apparatus for swapping a computer operating system

An apparatus comprising:

• a first storage area for storing a first operating system program;
• a second storage area for storing a second operating system program;
• an identification mechanism for selectively identifying one of the first storage area or the second storage area, the identification mechanism identifying the first storage area in a first state;
• a processor for executing an operating system program resident in one of the first storage area or second storage area;
• and
• a communication port;
• wherein the identification mechanism is automatically modified in a second state to identify the second storage area in response to receiving the second operating system through the communication port.

A method of operating a computer system having a processor, comprising:

• storing a first operating system program in a first storage area;
• storing a second operating system program in a second storage area;
• storing a pointer to the first storage area;
• executing instructions according to the first operating system program;
• automatically replacing the pointer to the first storage area with a pointer to the second storage area in response to the storage of the second operating system program;
• rebooting the computer system;
• and
• executing instructions according to the second operating system program.

An apparatus for processing data communications, comprising:

• a first nonvolatile storage area for storing a first sequence of operating instructions;
• a second nonvolatile storage area for storing a second sequence of operating instructions;
• an identifier for identifying one of the first storage area or the second storage area, the identifier being selectively switchable;
• a processor for executing the sequence of operating instructions stored in the storage area identified by the identifier;
• and
• a communication port electrically coupled to a manager;
• wherein the identifier is automatically switched from identifying the first storage area in a first state, to identifying the second storage in a second state, in response to a command received from the manager through the communication port.

A method of configuring a computer system, comprising:

• receiving a request to replace a first operating system program stored on the computer system with a second operating system program;
• retrieving the second operating system program;
• examining a single pointer configured to identify, among a plurality of operating system program storage areas, a first storage area in which the first operating system program is stored;
• transmitting the second operating system program to the computer system;
• receiving verification that the second operating system program has replaced the first operating system program;
• automatically changing the single pointer to identify, among the plurality of operating system program storage areas, a second storage area in which the second operating system program is stored;
• and
• rebooting the computer system.