Option ROM virtualization

A method, comprising:

• shadowing option ROM images into a physical address space of system memory for a computer system, each option ROM image that is shadowed having a respective physical entry point and being shadowed from an option ROM hosted by a respective peripheral card;
• logically storing the option ROM images that are shadowed in a common virtual address space, wherein at least a portion of the option ROM images in the common virtual address space are overlapping;
• and
• mapping a virtual address comprising a logical entry point to each option ROM image to a corresponding physical address comprising the physical entry point for that option ROM image.

An article of manufacture, comprising a machine-accessible medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed perform operations including:

• shadowing a plurality of option ROM images into portions of a physical address space;
• and
• mapping a physical entry point for each of the plurality of option ROM images to a logical entry point corresponding to a virtual address in a common virtual address space such that the plurality of option ROM images logically reside in the common virtual address space,
• wherein an aggregated size of the plurality of option ROM images is greater than a size of the common virtual address space.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• system memory, operatively coupled to the processor and defining a physical address space;
• a plurality of expansion slots, operatively coupled to the processor, each expansion slot configured to accept an add-on peripheral card;
• and
• a firmware storage device, having firmware instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one of the processor or a virtual machine hosted by the processor perform operations, comprising:
• shadowing a plurality of option ROM images into portions of the physical address space, the option ROM images being stored on respective add-on peripheral cards that were installed in at least a portion of the plurality of expansion slots;
• and
• for each of the plurality of option ROM images,
• mapping a physical page or pages at which that option ROM image is shadowed to a corresponding virtual page or pages in a common virtual address space such that the plurality of option ROM images logically reside in the common virtual address space,
• wherein a portion of the option ROM images are logically stored on overlapping virtual pages.