Network enhanced bios enabling remote management of a computer without a functioning operating system

A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a timer for providing a timer interrupt, said CPU operating in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said method comprising:

• loading and executing a first basic input/output system (BIOS) on said CPU in real mode, said first BIOS having an initial portion and a subsequent portion, said first BIOS performing a power on system test of said computer;
• and
• loading and executing a second BIOS on said CPU in protected mode after execution of said initial portion of said first BIOS,
• said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS being executed on said CPU in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously by:
• (a) vectoring said timer interrupt to a jump program which executes in real mode,
• when executed, said jump program saves the current state of the real mode first BIOS and transfers control of the CPU to a portion of code which restores the state of the protected mode second BIOS and switches said CPU to protected mode;
• (b) executing a portion of said protected mode second BIOS;
• (c) switching said CPU to real mode and saving the current state of the protected mode second BIOS;
• (d) restoring said real mode first BIOS to said saved state;
• and
• (e) executing said real mode first BIOS until interrupted by said timer interrupt, said real mode first BIOS will execute until interrupted by said timer interrupt at which point said protected mode second BIOS will be restored to a saved state and given CPU control.

An apparatus for operating a computer, comprising:

• a first basic input/output system (BIOS) that includes an initial portion and a subsequent portion;
• a second BIOS;
• and
• a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the first BIOS and the second BIOS, and can operate in at least two modes including a real mode and a protected mode, said CPU to load and execute the first BIOS in real mode, said CPU to load and execute the second BIOS in protected mode after execution of the initial portion of the first BIOS, said CPU to execute said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS in alternate portions such that said second BIOS and said subsequent portion of said first BIOS appear to execute simultaneously.