Method to enable infiniband network bootstrap

An InfiniBand (IB) host device configured to retrieve a boot image comprising:

• means for coupling to a host channel adapter (HCA) of an IB network;
• means for receiving a set of boot arguments including a command keyword;
• means for determining whether the command keyword is a first keyword, wherein the first keyword triggers utilization of a corresponding first support package that enables communication with a first boot server via an SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) protocol;
• and
• when the command keyword is the first keyword, means for automatically forwarding first-type boot arguments to the first support package, which is configured to respond to receipt of the first-type boot arguments by dynamically initiating access to a first storage device to retrieve the boot image from the first storage device utilizing the SCSI protocol;
• wherein the first keyword is srp, which specifies the SCSI RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) Protocol --SRP-- support package. which utilizes SCSI communication methods to access the first boot server across the IB network.

An IB network having an IB host device configured to retrieve a boot image comprising:

• means for coupling to a host channel adapter (HCA) of an IB network;
• means for receiving a set of boot arguments including a command keyword;
• means for determining whether the command keyword is a first keyword, wherein the first keyword triggers utilization of a corresponding first support package that enables communication with a first boot server via an SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) protocol;
• and
• when the command keyword is the first keyword, means for automatically forwarding first-type boot arguments to the first support package, which is configured to respond to receipt of the first-type boot arguments by dynamically initiating access to a first storage device to retrieve the boot image from the first storage device utilizing the SCSI protocol;
• wherein the first keyword is srp, which specifies the SCSI RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) Protocol --SRP-- support package. which utilizes SCSI communication methods to access the first boot server across the IB network;
• wherein IB host device further comprises:
• a switch having links for connecting components within the IB network;
• an end node connected to the switch via one of said links;
• and
• a boot device connected to the end node via one of a direct SCSI connection or a storage area network (SAN) coupled to the end node of the IB network.

A computer program product for retrieving a boot image for an InfiniBand (IB) host device comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium;
• and
• program code on the computer readable storage medium that when executed provides the functions of:
• receiving a set of boot arguments including a command keyword;
• determining whether the command keyword is a first keyword, wherein the first keyword triggers utilization of a corresponding first support package that enables communication with a first boot server via an SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) protocol;
• and
• when the command keyword is the first keyword, automatically forwarding first-type boot arguments to the first support package, which is configured to respond to receipt of the first-type boot arguments by dynamically initiating access to a first storage device to retrieve the boot image from the first storage device utilizing the SCSI protocol;
• wherein the first keyword is srp, which specifies the SCSI RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) Protocol --SRP-- support package, which utilizes SCSI communication methods to access the first boot server across an IB network;
• and
• when the command keyword is the first keyword, said program code further comprises code for:
• on determining that the first keyword is within the set of boot arguments, generating a corresponding string of boot arguments and parameters for accessing a respective first storage device, said arguments utilized by the first support package identified by the first keyword;
• and
• forwarding the corresponding string of boot arguments and parameters to the first support package.