iSCSI computer boot system and method

A networked computerized system comprising:

• a network interface card;
• a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) boot extension providing a TCP/IP interface via the network interface card, wherein the PXE boot extension comprises a ROM extension loaded from a network attached server via PXE;
• a first iSCSI driver operable to transport SCSI commands over the TCP/IP connection to provide access to a bootable operating system stored on a second networked computerized system;
• a software module operable to boot the networked computerized system from the bootable operating system stored on the second networked computerized system via the SCSI commands transported over the TCP/IP connection;
• and
• a second iSCSI driver within the bootable operating system, the second iSCSI driver loaded as an operating system driver upon booting the operating system.

A method of booting a networked computerized system comprising:

• loading a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) boot extension from a networked server comprising:
• a software module that intercepts INT13 calls and converts them to SCSI read and write commands;
• a micro-iSCSI driver operable to send SCSI read and write commands over a TCP/IP connection;
• and
• a micro-TCP stack providing a TCP implementation for the micro-iSCSI driver;
• transporting SCSI commands over the TCP/IP connection to provider access to a bootable operating system stored on a second networked computerized system via the micro-iSCSI driver and micro-TCP stack;
• booting the networked computerized system from the bootable operating system stored on the second networked computerized system via the SCSI commands transported over the TCP/IP connection;
• loading an operating system-specific iSCSI driver and a network stack within the bootable operating system;
• and
• transferring network interface and SCSI control of the networked computerized system from the PXE boot extension to the operating system.

A networked computerized system, comprising:

• a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) boot extension loaded from a networked server comprising:
• a software module that intercepts INT13 calls and converts them to SCSI read and write commands;
• a micro-iSCSI driver operable to send SCSI read and write commands over a TCP/IP connection;
• and
• a micro-TCP stack providing a TCP implementation for the micro-iSCSI driver;
• the PXE boot extension operable to transport SCSI commands over the TCP/IP connection to provide access to a bootable operating system stored on a second networked computerized system via the micro-iSCSI driver and micro-TCP stack;
• and
• a software module operable to boot the networked computerized system from the bootable operating system stored on the second networked computerized system via the SCSI commands transported over the TCP/IP connection, booting the networked computerized system comprising:
• loading an operating system-specific iSCSI driver and a network stack within the bootable operating system;
• and
• transferring network interface and SCSI control of the networked computerized system from the PXE boot extension to the operating system.