Abstract: A client device includes a flash chip for storing firmware and a microcontroller for storing an image in read-only memory. The image corresponds to an accurate representation of firmware. When the client device is powered on but before the firmware is executed to boot the client device, the firmware stored on the flash chip is compared to the image. In the event that the firmware does not correspond to the image, the client device is not booted and the firmware is overwritten with the image. The client device may then be booted using the flashed firmware. To update the firmware, the client device may receive a new image from a server. The new image is stored in the read-only memory of the microcontroller. The firmware may then be re-flashed using the new image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to enable the remote management of software that is otherwise limited to using local input/output (I/O) only. According to the method and apparatus, a microcontroller is installed on a system board of a server and configured to listen to write requests directed to a first I/O interface. When such requests are detected, data that is part of such requests is intercepted and transmitted over a second I/O interface that is different from the first I/O interface.