Abstract: Fixed patching protocols waste memory resources and increase boot-up latency. In contrast, example implementations include a patch controller that receives a stream of multiple patch units from a non-volatile patch memory. The patch controller parses a descriptor patch unit, which precedes a set of patch units in the stream. From the descriptor patch unit, the patch controller extracts a ROM-patch type and a count. The type indicates whether the succeeding set of patch units includes fully associative patch units, direct-mapped patch units, or a combination. The count indicates the quantity of patch units of each type following the descriptor. Based on the extracted type and count, the patch controller processes the stream by routing the patch units to a fully associative memory or a direct-mapped memory. This streaming protocol enables flexible allocation of patch resources, reduces storage overhead in non-volatile memory, and shortens boot-up time by supporting an end-of-stream marker.

Abstract: This document describes apparatuses and techniques for enabling a user to authorize access to early boot debugging of hardware issues in a computing system. In general, responsive to a user consenting to early boot debugging, a debug reenable signal is set in nonvolatile storage. Upon reinitialization of the computing system and receipt of an early debugging request, if the debug reenable signal is detected and the early debugging request is authenticated, an early boot debugging system is enabled. The user consent to early boot debugging may circumvent the setting of a fuse that otherwise would prevent performance of early boot debugging.

Abstract: This document describes apparatuses and techniques for enabling a user to authorize access to early boot debugging of hardware issues in a computing system. In general, responsive to a user consenting to early boot debugging, a debug reenable signal is set in nonvolatile storage. Upon reinitialization of the computing system and receipt of an early debugging request, if the debug reenable signal is detected and the early debugging request is authenticated, an early boot debugging system is enabled. The user consent to early boot debugging may circumvent the setting of a fuse that otherwise would prevent performance of early boot debugging.