Abstract: A technique for providing communication between two computers through a network in a way to allow one computer to control the other.

Abstract: A flash memory has an interleaved boot block compatible with multiple processor architectures. The interleaved boot block may include one boot block compatible with a first CPU architecture and another boot block compatible with a second CPU architecture. These two boot blocks may be combined in an interleaved manner in the flash memory so that during a boot process only one of the two boot blocks executes, although both are stored in the flash memory. By interleaving different boot blocks, a common socket computer system capable of supporting multiple processor architectures may be achieved without fully replacing an incompatible basic input/output system (BIOS). Further, the flash memory may contain an updatable portion in which any BIOS segments incompatible with a processor architecture may be updated via a recovery, or update, process.

Abstract: A method for authenticating clients and boot server hosts to provide a secure network boot environment. Messages are exchanged between a client and a boot server or authentication server proxy for the boot server during pre-boot operations of the client to authentic the boot server and the client. In one embodiment, authentication is performed by comparing shared secrets stored on each of the client and the boot server or authentication proxy. The shared secret comprises authentication credentials that may be provisioned by an administrator, user, or by the client itself via a trusted platform module. Authentication provisioning schemes include an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) exchange. In one embodiment, authentication is performed during the pre-boot via an authenticated Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) process.

Abstract: A method for representing root busses and their subordinate bus configurations using an object oriented abstraction scheme that enables various system components to communication with peripheral devices attached to the root busses and their subordinate busses without requiring specific knowledge of the access mechanisms of those devices. During the initialization process of a platform, a core dispatcher loads a PCI bus plug-in (PPI) for each entity that can create a root bus. When the plug-in for an entity is loaded, it produces a GUIDed object called a GRB (GUID of PPI for Root Bus) that provides an abstracted representation of the root buss's configuration and resources. The GRB includes a plurality of components including driver methods that are registered with the core authority, which then publishes the GRB to enable access to the methods and resources. An enumeration process is performed on each root bus in a system to determine its configuration and resources through use of the methods.

Abstract: A technique for providing communication between two computers through a network in a way to allow one computer to control the other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to apparatuses, methods, and systems for a computing system feature activation mechanism. In an embodiment, a computing system receives a remotely generated feature activation information. The computing system compares the remotely generated feature activation information with a built-in feature activation mechanism. In an embodiment, a feature of the computing system is activated if the remotely generated feature activation information matches the built-in feature activation mechanism. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Training of a link is performed, wherein the link is an interconnect between two devices of a computer system. A built-in self-test (BIST) of the link is performed. A result from the link training is compared to a result from the BIST. A link status of the link is posted, wherein the link status is based at least in part on the result from the link training and the result from the BIST.

Abstract: A method for managing a memory system includes comparing one or more conditions of a memory with historical memory data that predicts a future state of the memory. According to one embodiment, updating the historical memory data includes accumulating operation data on the memory during its operation, generating updated historical memory data with the operation data, and updating the historical memory data with the updated historical memory data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing devices through use of an abstraction layer interface that “hides” the access methods from components accessing the devices, such as device drivers and OPROMs. The abstraction layer interface includes a set of resource access methods and a database containing bus, device, function and resource information for various devices in a system. During an initialization process, bus and device configuration information is determined and stored in the database. When an application or operating system requests access to a device, the application or OS uses the device's device driver or OPROM to pass identification information, resource information and one or more resource access commands to the abstraction layer interface, which then verifies the identification information against the database, and converts the resource access request into appropriate resource access methods that are used to access the device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enable console redirection in a multiple execution environment are disclosed. In an example method, at least one periodic interrupt in a first basic input/output system (BIOS) execution environment of a local console is initiated. Data associated with a second BIOS execution environment of the local console is retrieved. The data associated with the second BIOS execution environment is communicated to a remote terminal.

Abstract: A technique for providing communication between two computers through a network in a way to allow one computer to control the other.

Abstract: A technique for providing communication between two computers through a network in a way to allow one computer to control the other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide dual-mode drivers in a processor system are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises including operating system (OS) agnostic mode services that are available during an OS agnostic mode to allow a single set of drivers to be used during boot mode and the OS agnostic mode. The example method further comprises including a dual-mode library that is capable of determining the current operating mode of the processor system and binding the drivers to available services accordingly.

Abstract: A flash memory has an interleaved boot block compatible with multiple processor architectures. The interleaved boot block may include one boot block compatible with a first CPU architecture and another boot block compatible with a second CPU architecture. These two boot blocks may be combined in an interleaved manner in the flash memory so that during a boot process only one of the two boot blocks executes, although both are stored in the flash memory. By interleaving different boot blocks, a common socket computer system capable of supporting multiple processor architectures may be achieved without fully replacing an incompatible basic input/output system (BIOS). Further, the flash memory may contain an updatable portion in which any BIOS segments incompatible with a processor architecture may be updated via a recovery, or update, process.

Abstract: A BIOS system and method to initialize the platform hardware components of a computer system. An object oriented abstraction of each hardware component, the features of the hardware component to be initialized, and the initialization setting for each feature according to a common syntax is input into a BIOS database. An order of initialization is determined based on the initialization dependencies of each component. At initialization, the abstraction for each component is passed to the driver of the component wherein it is interpreted by the driver.

Abstract: A technique for providing communication between two computers through a network in a way to allow one computer to control the other.

Abstract: BIOS framework for accommodating multiple service processors on a single server to facilitate distributed/scalable server management. During a pre-boot phase for a server, information is collected pertaining to service capabilities supported by each of a plurality of service processors used to service server management requests for a server, wherein the services supported by each service processor are performed via execution of service code associated with that service processor. The service capabilities are aggregated across all of the service processors, and a corresponding unified presentation of service capabilities is provided to a service consumer. End-users are enabled to provide preferences that define a usage order for like services hosted by different service processors within the same system.

Abstract: A method for authenticating clients and boot server hosts to provide a secure network boot environment. Messages are exchanged between a client and a boot server or authentication server proxy for the boot server during pre-boot operations of the client to authentic the boot server and the client. In one embodiment, authentication is performed by comparing shared secrets stored on each of the client and the boot server or authentication proxy. The shared secret comprises authentication credentials that may be provisioned by an administrator, user, or by the client itself via a trusted platform module. Authentication provisioning schemes include an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) exchange. In one embodiment, authentication is performed during the pre-boot via an authenticated Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enable console redirection in a multiple execution environment are disclosed. In an example method, at least one periodic interrupt in a first basic input/output system (BIOS) execution environment of a local console is initiated. Data associated with a second BIOS execution environment of the local console is retrieved. The data associated with the second BIOS execution environment is communicated to a remote terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing network port authentication without requiring any operating system (OS) complicity are disclosed. Under one method, port authentication instructions are loaded into a protected memory space during a pre-boot of a supplicant system. In response to a port authentication request, the supplicant system's processor is switched to a hidden execution mode and executes the port authentication instructions to authenticate a network port hosted by an authenticator system to which the supplicant system is linked. One authentication process employs an authentication server that authenticates the supplicant via one of various authentication schemes, including an access challenge. Port authentication may also be performed via an out-of-band base management controller that operates independently from an operating system running on the supplicant.