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US 7,610,478 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for improving a computer boot sequence
AssigneeSymantec Operating Corporation
InventorMichael Root
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for improving the boot sequence of a computer clone. The kernel within an operating system is designed to always access special devices within the computer's memory using a mount path that is hard coded into the kernel for each of the special devices. When the computer is cloned, the special devices are copied to a second computer without the need for subsequent alteration of the filesystem.
Claims16
Apparatus for improving a boot sequence comprising:
- a kernel;
- a plurality of real devices that are grouped together;
- a special device that is accessible by the kernel for a path to at least one real device in said plurality of grouped real devices;
- wherein subsequent accesses to the special device provide access to each of the plurality of grouped real devices.
1 more element
A method of cloning a computer comprising:
- providing, with a first computer, a kernel, a special device and a group of real devices, where the special device is accessible to the kernel to provide device parameters and establishes a minor number for at least one real device in said group of real devices;
- copying the kernel and the special device from the first computer to a second computer;
- and
- booting the second computer to have the copy of the kernel access at least one real device in the group of real devices using the copy of the special device;
- wherein subsequent accesses to the special device provide access to each of the plurality of grouped real devices.
2 more elements
A method of booting a computer comprising:
- executing a kernel from a first real device;
- accessing, during a boot sequence of the kernel, at least one special device that is associated with a second real device, where the first real device and the second real device are grouped together;
- wherein subsequent accesses to the special device provide access to each of the real devices grouped together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.