Abstract: A method for running diagnostic utilities so as to prevent system disruptions. During initialization of a diagnostic utility, a resource monitoring thread is spawned as a background process to monitor system resource conditions, such as CPU and memory availability and loads. In one embodiment, the resource conditions are continuously monitored by querying performance data written to the system's registry on a periodic basis. In response to user requests to perform diagnostics, the resource monitoring thread (or files written thereby) is/are queried to determined the current resource conditions. If enough resources are available to run the utility's diagnostic routine(s), they are allowed to run. If it is determined that not enough resources are available, the running of the diagnostics is delayed until it is determined that enough resources are available. Alternately, a subset of the diagnostics may be run based on the current resource conditions determined by the resource monitoring thread.

Abstract: A method for accessing a main resource descriptor for a hardware device. A device driver accesses a hardware device's partial resource descriptor of a translated main resource descriptor stored in an operating system registry. The device driver accesses raw BIOS-assigned configuration information for the hardware device. The device driver compares the memory address in base address register 0 of the partial resource descriptor to the memory address in base address register 0 of the BIOS-assigned configuration information. The device driver selects the translated main resource descriptor that contains the partial resource descriptor with the memory address in base address register 0 that matches the memory address in base address register 0 for the raw BIOS-assigned configuration information.

Abstract: A method of updating a device driver is disclosed.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes techniques of detecting a network attack. The method includes receiving at least one packet at a device; and determining whether the at least one received packet has at least one characteristic of a denial of service attack. Based on the determining, the packet may not be processed by a transport layer protocol.

Abstract: Described are a system and method of forwarding data packets from a network interface controller (NIC) to one or more media decoding devices. The NIC may comprise an I/O interface to transmit to communicate with either a host processing system and the one or more media decoding devices. Data packets received at the NIC may be forwarded to the one or more media decoding devices independently of the host processing system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating with a plug and play device, for example, a network adapter comprising, searching a system registry for an identity corresponding with a plug and play device; obtaining a symbolic link list corresponding with the identity obtained from the registry; obtaining a pointer to a device object corresponding with a symbolic link in the symbolic link list; and using the device object to obtain information about the plug and play device. The information obtained may then be used to communicate with the plug and play device.

Abstract: An apparatus and system, in one embodiment to be used in a network controller, may include a driver module, a monitoring module, and an adjustment module. The monitoring module may be used to compare a value associated with a throughput indication for the driver module to a corresponding reference value. The adjustment module may then automatically adjust a parameter value associated with the driver module to provide a new parameter value that serves to increase the throughput performance of the driver module. An article may include data, which when accessed, results in a machine performing a method including comparing the value associated with a throughput indication for the driver module to a corresponding reference value, determining that the value associated with the throughput indication is less than the reference value, and then automatically adjusting a parameter value associated with the driver module to increase performance of the driver module.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and signal-bearing medium for compressing a boot ROM image into a network adapter's boot ROM and then decompressing the boot ROM image into the memory of an electronic device before executing it. In addition to the compressed boot ROM image, the boot ROM may also contain a decompressor for decompressing the boot ROM image and a loader for loading the decompressor.

Abstract: A method for running diagnostic utilities so as to prevent system disruptions. During initialization of a diagnostic utility, a resource monitoring thread is spawned as a background process to monitor system resource conditions, such as CPU and memory availability and loads. In one embodiment, the resource conditions are continuously monitored by querying performance data written to the system's registry on a periodic basis. In response to user requests to perform diagnostics, the resource monitoring thread (or files written thereby) is/are queried to determined the current resource conditions. If enough resources are available to run the utility's diagnostic routine(s), they are allowed to run. If it is determined that not enough resources are available, the running of the diagnostics is delayed until it is determined that enough resources are available. Alternately, a subset of the diagnostics may be run based on the current resource conditions determined by the resource monitoring thread.

Abstract: A hardware authenticity verification system includes a hardware element having a hardware address. A digital signature generator is included to create a digital signature of the hardware address of the hardware element. A memory element stores the digital signature of the hardware element. A software program is included to compare the digital signature of the hardware element to a known value.

Abstract: A method for accessing a main resource descriptor for a hardware device. A device driver accesses a hardware device's partial resource descriptor of a translated main resource descriptor stored in an operating system registry. The device driver accesses raw BIOS-assigned configuration information for the hardware device. The device driver compares the memory address in base address register 0 of the partial resource descriptor to the memory address in base address register 0 of the BIOS-assigned configuration information. The device driver selects the translated main resource descriptor that contains the partial resource descriptor with the memory address in base address register 0 that matches the memory address in base address register 0 for the raw BIOS-assigned configuration information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating with a plug and play device, for example, a network adapter comprising, searching a system registry for an identity corresponding with a plug and play device; obtaining a symbolic link list corresponding with the identity obtained from the registry; obtaining a pointer to a device object corresponding with a symbolic link in the symbolic link list; and using the device object to obtain information about the plug and play device. The information obtained may then be used to communicate with the plug and play device.