Multiple chip single image BIOS
AssigneeAdaptec, Inc.
InventorsWendy Q. Leung, Sau Ken Eng, Felix Chinn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single BIOS image generating option ROM code, and method for initializing controller chips of a computer system are provided. The method includes the operations of integrating a set of controller chips to a motherboard, and generating a table that identifies the set of controller chips and PCI device function addresses of the set of controller chips. The method then includes identifying one of the set of controller chips to be a master controlling chip and those other than the master controlling chip to be non-controlling chips. Then a single generic option ROM code is generated for the set of controller chips. Once generated, the table and the generic option ROM code is stored in a system BIOS ROM of the computer system during boot-up.
Claims19
A method for initializing controller chips of a computer system, comprising:
- integrating a set of controller chips to a motherboard;
- generating a table identifying the set of controller chips and PCI device function addresses of the set of controller chips;
- identifying one of the set of controller chips to be a master controlling chip and those other than the master controlling chip to be non-controlling chips;
- generating a single generic option ROM code for the set of controller chips;
- and
- storing the table and the generic option ROM code in a system BIOS ROM of the computer system.
A method for generating a single image BIOS that functions with a plurality of controller chips, comprising:
- providing a motherboard with the plurality of controller chips;
- generating a generic option ROM code that is configured to operate with each of the plurality of controller chips;
- generating a table that identifies each of the plurality of controller chips, and a PCI device function address for each of the plurality of controller chips, the table also having information as to which one of the plurality of controller chips is a master controlling chip and which are non-controlling chips, the generating of the generic option ROM code and the table defines an option ROM code;
- and
- storing the option ROM code to a system BIOS ROM that is part of the motherboard.
A motherboard, comprising:
- a system RAM chip;
- a set of controller chips;
- and
- a system BIOS ROM chip, the system BIOS chip including generic option ROM code and a table identifying each of the controller chips and associated PCI device function addresses for the controller chips, and a selected one of the set of controller chips being defined as a master controlling chip that will communicate with the generic option ROM code for initialization each one of the set of controller chips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.