Firmware supporting multiple boot paths
AssigneeAmerican Megatrends, Inc.
InventorsSubramonian Shankar, Jacob Narey, Will Gysin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Technologies for a basic input/output system (BIOS) firmware that can take different boot paths depending on the operating system that a user selects to boot within a computer system are described herein. Each boot path can handle initialization differently based upon the needs of the operating system and overall project design. A method for supporting multiple boot paths on a computer includes receiving a boot path indicator that indicates a boot path to be executed. Once the boot path indicator is received, the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator is executed and an operating system corresponding to the boot path indicator is booted.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for supporting multiple boot paths on a computer including Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) firmware, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:
- receiving a boot path indicator indicating a booth path, among the multiple boot paths, to be executed by the BIOS firmware;
- responsive to receiving the boot path indicator, executing, by the BIOS firmware, the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator, wherein executing the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator comprises:
- retrieving configuration information associated with the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator;
- generating a configuration of the firmware that is associated with the boot path based on the retrieved configuration information;
- and
- performing the configuration of the firmware, including initializing at least one firmware module that is specified by the retrieved configuration information associated with the boot path;
- and
- launching, by the BIOS firmware, an operating system, among a plurality of operating systems, that is supported by the boot path that corresponds to the boot path indicator.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer including Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) firmware, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a boot path indicator indicating a boot path, among multiple boot paths, to be executed by the BIOS firmware;
- responsive to receiving the boot path indicator, executing, by the BIOS firmware, the boot path indicated by the boot path indicator, wherein executing the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator comprises:
- retrieving configuration information associated with the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator;
- generating a configuration of the firmware that is associated with the boot path based on the retrieved configuration information;
- and
- performing the configuration of the firmware, including initializing at least one firmware module that is specified by the retrieved configuration information associated with the boot path;
- and
- launching, by the BIOS firmware, an operating system, among a plurality of operating systems, that is supported by the boot path that corresponds to the boot path indicator.
A computer system for supporting multiple boot paths, comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU);
- and
- a non-volatile memory having at least one operating system and a including Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) firmware executable by the CPU stored therein, the BIOS firmware comprising-instructions which, when executed by the CPU, cause the CPU to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a boot path indicator indicating a boot path, among the multiple boot paths, to be executed by the BIOS firmware,
- responsive to receiving the boot path indicator, causing the BIOS firmware to execute the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator, wherein executing the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator comprises:
- retrieving configuration information associated with the boot path corresponding to the boot path indicator;
- generating a configuration of the firmware that is associated with the boot path based on the retrieved configuration information;
- and
- performing the configuration of the firmware, including initializing at least one firmware module that is specified by the retrieved configuration information associated with the boot path, and
- causing the BIOS firmware to launch the at least one operating system, among a plurality of operating systems, that is supported by the boot path that corresponds to the boot path indicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.