Abstract: The present invention provides a network enabled multi-user configurable optical storage server. The device is easy to install and does not require client or server software. The server can be configured across a network through a series of HTML based web pages, or graphical user interfaces (GUI) provided by the server. The server can be accessed across a network by one or more users, terminals, or other network attached devices for substantially concurrent read/write access to one or more optical storage media. The server supports a comprehensive set of networking protocols and operating systems simultaneously. The server may support from one to hundreds of CD/DVD-ROMS. In an embodiment of the invention the server includes two stages of writing prior to committing to a write to the physical medium. This speeds both read and write access to the disk, allows concurrent user access to the disk, and greatly simplifies the mapping and file structures on the disk.

Abstract: A method for upgrading firmware in an embedded system and an embedded system (110) provided with means for upgrading firmware received over a network (30) are disclosed. The method for upgrading firmware is performed from a client computer (10) to the embedded system (110) via a network connection by letting a virtual file system (122) of the embedded system (110) being shared with a client computer (10). The embedded system (110) is provided with means for upgrading firmware received over a network (30), and comprises a volatile memory (150), a persistent memory (160), a protocol stack (180) for communication over a network (30). Further it comprises a virtual file system (122), which is shareable with an operating system of a client computer (10) via the network (30), and a control means (128) for controlling a file intended for the virtual file system. Further the control means (128) comprises means for checking the characteristics of the file, and means for storing a file in the volatile memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network enabled multi-user configurable optical storage server. The device is easy to install and does not require client or server software. The server can be configured across a network through a series of HTML based web pages, or graphical user interfaces (GUI) provided by the server. The server can be accessed across a network by one or more users, terminals, or other network attached devices for substantially concurrent read/write access to one or more optical storage media. The server supports a comprehensive set of networking protocols and operating systems simultaneously. The server may support from one to hundreds of CD/DVD-ROMS. In an embodiment of the invention the server includes two stages of writing prior to committing to a write to the physical medium. This speeds both read and write access to the disk, allows concurrent user access to the disk, and greatly simplifies the mapping and file structures on the disk.