# US 7,610,478 B1 · Method and apparatus for improving a computer boot sequence

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- Number: US 7,610,478 B1
- Document ID: US7610478B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 10/968,298
- Filed: 2004-10-19
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-10-19
- Assignees: Symantec Operating Corporation
- Inventors: Michael Root
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610478B1

## CPC

- G06F 9/4408: {Boot device selection}
- G06F 8/63: {Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 where said special device is at least one of /swap, /var, /usrvol and /root.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of real devices are grouped within a subdirectory.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the boot sequence is performed on a computer clone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the kernel is a kernel of a UNIX operating system.

### Claim 6

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 where said special device is at least one of /swap, /var, /usrvol and /root.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of real devices are grouped within a subdirectory.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the booting step further comprises accessing the real devices without altering a filesystem of the second computer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the kernel is a kernel of a UNIX operating system.

### Claim 11

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 where said special device is at least one of /swap, /var, /usrvol and /root.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of real devices are grouped within a subdirectory.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the computer is a computer clone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the accessing step further comprises accessing the second real device without altering a filesystem of the computer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the kernel is a kernel of a UNIX operating system.