System and method for system initializating a data processing system by selecting parameters from one of a user-defined input, a serial non-volatile memory and a parallel non-volatile memory

A data processing system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory, coupled to said processor;
• and
• a system for initializing the data processing system, including:
• a plurality of parameter registers;
• a hardware initialization port capable of receiving a first set of user-definable initialization data utilized for initializing said data processing system;
• a serial non-volatile memory, coupled to said plurality of parameter registers, said serial non-volatile memory utilized for storing a second set of initialization data utilized for initializing said data processing system;
• a parallel non-volatile memory, coupled to said plurality of parameter registers, said parallel non-volatile memory utilized for storing a third set of initialization data utilized for initializing said data processing system;
• and
• a multiplexor interposed between said parameter registers and said hardware initialization port, said serial non-volatile memory, and said parallel non-volatile memory, wherein said multiplexor selects a selected set of initialization data from among said first, second and third sets of initialization data, and relays said selected set of initialization data to said plurality of parameter registers, in response to a control signal;
• wherein said data processing system initializes from an uninitialized state to a minimal level of operation utilizing said selected set of initialization data.

A method of initializing a data processing system, said method comprising:

• sending a control signal to a multiplexor, said control signal designating one of a plurality of sets of initialization data as a preferred set of initialization data for initializing said data processing system, said plurality of sets of initialization data including:
• a first set of user-definable initialization data accessible at a hardware initialization port of the data processing system;
• a second set of initialization data accessible in a serial non-volatile memory;
• and
• a third set of initialization data accessible in a parallel non-volatile memory;
• in response to the control signal, the multiplexor relaying said preferred set of initialization data to a plurality of parameter registers;
• and
• utilizing said preferred sot of initialization data stored in said plurality of parameter registers to initialize said data processing system from an uninitialized state to a minimal level of operation.