Abstract: A bridge module bridges communications between computing systems using the UDP (user datagram protocol) communication protocol and computing systems using the TCP (transmission control protocol) communication protocol. Communications between the bridge and the computing system having UDP communication drivers are handled with the UDP protocol. Communications between the bridge and the computing system having TCP communication drivers are handled with TCP protocol. The UDP computing system sends data packets to the bridge module. The bridge module converts these packets from UDP protocol to packets in TCP protocol and sends them to the TCP computing system. The TCP computing system can send data back to the UDP computing system by sending packets to the bridge module using the TCP protocol. The bridge module will convert the TCP data packets from the TCP computing system to data packets in UDP protocol and forward them on to the UDP computing system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for updating and recovering firmware within computers over a distributed network. While a computer is in an operating system independent state, a determination is made as to whether the firmware within the computer is valid. The firmware may be the BIOS for the computer. If it is determined that the current firmware is invalid, a recovery request is sent to a manager computer monitoring for recovery requests. The manager computer sends a new firmware image over the network to the computer. The invalid firmware is then updated with the new firmware image. An instruction to update the firmware of the computer may also be sent from a manager computer to computers monitoring for instructions. When the instruction is received, the computer transitions to an operating system independent recovery state, receives a new firmware image over the network, and updates with the new firmware image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for updating firmware on a plurality of networked computing devices via a distributed network. An instruction to update the firmware on a plurality of networked computing devices, such as nodes in a computer cluster, is sent from a manager computer to the computing devices monitoring for instructions. When the instruction is received, the computing devices transition to an operating system independent recovery state, receive a new firmware image over the distributed network, and update the firmware with the new firmware image.

Abstract: These systems and methods make use of operating system dependent applications that allow remote updates to firmware stored on network attached remote computers. Updates to the remote computers may occur on any computer in the network despite diverse hardware architectures and various operating systems executing between the computers. A command to update the firmware on the remote computers is initiated from a manager utility application operating on a network attached manager computer. The command is then received at an agent application operating on each remote computer. Each agent application monitors command activity via a communication port. Upon determining that the command is valid, each agent application receives an update application and a new firmware file from a network attached computer or data storage and utilizes the update application and the new firmware file to update the firmware of each network attached computer.

Abstract: A bridge module is bridging communications between computing systems using UDP (user datagram protocol) communication protocol and computing systems using TCP (transmission control protocol) communication protocol. Communications between the bridge and the computing system having UDP communication drivers are handled with the UDP protocol. Communications between the bridge and the computing system having TCP communication drivers are handled with TCP protocol. The UDP computing system, i.e. the computing system using UDP protocol, opens communications by performing a handshake routine with the bridge module. Once the UDP communication between the UDP computing system and the bridge module is established, the UDP computing system sends data packets to the bridge module. The bridge module converts these packets from UDP protocol to packets in TCP protocol and sends them to the TCP computing system, i.e. the computing system using TCP protocol.