Method of selectively loading a pre-boot execution extension determined based on an identifier
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorFrank W. O'Neal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A PXE boot extension is requested from a PXE boot extension server from a computer. A BIOS identifier corresponding to a desired PXE boot extension is stored on the computer, and is provided to a PXE boot extension server. The PXE boot extension server determines from the BIOS identifier which of a plurality of PXE boot extensions to provide to the computer, and provides the determined PXE boot extension to the computer.
Claims15
A method of loading a PXE boot extension in a computer, comprising:
- storing a BIOS identifier corresponding to a desired PXE boot extension as a part of a BIOS code of said computer;
- providing the BIOS identifier to a PXE boot extension server during execution of said BIOS code at a startup of said computer;
- determining, in the PXE boot extension server, based on the BIOS identifier which of a plurality of PXE boot extensions to provide to the computer;
- and
- providing from the PXE boot extension server to the computer the determined PXE boot extension.
A computerized system, comprising:
- a BIOS identifier that identifies a desired PXE boot extension, said BIOS identifier being part of a BIOS code of said computerized system;
- a BIOS program code element operable to pass the BIOS identifier to a PXE boot extension server during execution of said BIOS code at a startup of said computer, such that said PXE boot extension server determines which of a plurality of PXE boot extensions to provide based on the BIOS identifier;
- and
- a PXE operable to execute a PXE boot extension received from the PXE boot extension server.
A method of loading an operating system image that is preconfigured for a specific hardware and software specification of a computer system in a manufacturing environment wherein multiple types of computer systems are being built and configured, said method comprising:
- executing BIOS code during performance of initial boot functions of said computer system, said BIOS code containing a BIOS identifier that corresponds to a desired PXE boot extension;
- sending said BIOS identifier to a PXE boot extension server containing a plurality of different PXE boot extensions for different hardware and software specifications so that the PXE boot extension server can identify and output the desired PXE boot extension based on said BIOS identifier;
- receiving said desired PXE boot extension from said PXE boot extension server;
- and
- executing said PXE boot extension to load, from a networked computer onto a hard disk drive of said computer system, an operating system image that is preconfigured for said computer system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.