Abstract: A method and system for emulating a hardware Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Host Bus Adapter (HBA) without risking an interruption of communication between a computer and a remote secondary storage device is presented. During normal operations, a (hardware emulating) software HBA drives a Network Interface Card (NIC) to afford communication between the computer and the remote secondary storage. If an operating system (OS) anomaly occurs in the computer, the NIC is normally disconnected by the OS. To maintain communication between the computer and the secondary storage device if such an event occurs, a failover network device is called up by the computer's System Management Memory (SMM) Basic Input Output System (BIOS), which allows uninterrupted communication to continue between the computer and remote secondary storage device.

Abstract: A method and system for emulating a hardware Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Host Bus Adapter (HBA) without risking an interruption of communication between a computer and a remote secondary storage device is presented. During normal operations, a (hardware emulating) software iSCSI HBA drives a Network Interface Card (NIC) to afford communication between the computer and the remote secondary storage. If an operating system (OS) anomaly occurs in the computer, the NIC is normally disconnected by the OS. To maintain communication between the computer and the secondary storage device if such an event occurs, a failover network device is called up by the computer's System Management Memory (SMM) Basic Input Output System (BIOS), which allows uninterrupted communication to continue between the computer and remote secondary storage device.

Abstract: A method and system for emulating a hardware Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Host Bus Adapter (HBA) without risking an interruption of communication between a computer and a remote secondary storage device is presented. During normal operations, a (hardware emulating) software iSCSI HBA drives a Network Interface Card (NIC) to afford communication between the computer and the remote secondary storage. If an operating system (OS) anomaly occurs in the computer, the NIC is normally disconnected by the OS. To maintain communication between the computer and the secondary storage device if such an event occurs, a failover network device is called up by the computer's System Management Memory (SMM) Basic Input Output System (BIOS), which allows uninterrupted communication to continue between the computer and remote secondary storage device.

Abstract: A method and system in a computer having a primary video controller for dynamically selecting an alternative video controller present within the computer. Initially, a diagnostic is performed to determine if alternative video controllers are connected to the computer system. A user is thereafter prompted to select an alternative video controller, if at least one alternative video controller is detected. The primary video controller is then temporarily disabled, in response to a selection of an alternative video controller. The alternative video controller is then automatically designated as the primary video controller, in response to the disabling of the primary video controller, such that the alternative video controller may be temporarily utilized as a primary video controller without altering internal computer system hardware settings or power cycling the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for configuring PnP devices for a computer operating system by initiating a power on self test (POST) within a computer system for configuring PnP and PCI devices. During the process of configuring PnP and PCI devices, a list is composed of devices that are not absolutely necessary for booting the system (e.g. modem or ethernet controller). While the PCI devices are configured, if the system has no usable IRQ's, POST takes one from a nonessential PnP ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) device in the list, and gives it to the PCI device. The POST operation searches for the presence of a PnP operating system option while progressing through the startup sequence (of bootable media), and activates or deactivates all devices, depending on the type of media being attempted. If the medium is the hard disk (where the PnP operating system option resides), all of the PnP devices in the list are deactivated.

Abstract: A method and system for managing resources required by peripheral devices present within a computer system, the resources selected from a group of resources required for audio, video, pointing device, input, output, memory, and modem devices. A nominal selection of resources is initially associated with a peripheral device present within the computer system. Next, a minimal amount of resources required by the peripheral device to function normally within the computer system is determined, in response to associating the nominal selection of resources with the peripheral device.