Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatus and method to allocate ports of host bus adapters in computer systems to multiple operating systems in the computer systems. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing data read operations of a read command such as a read command packaged in an Internet Small Computer System Interface packet. In one embodiment, a network adapter has a microengine which obtains read target data from a cache coupled to the network adapter to respond to a read command packaged in a packet sent by an initiator over a network. If the network adapter cache does not have the target data addressed by the read command, the read command is forwarded to a target controller coupled to a storage unit to process the read command.

Abstract: Processor-based systems may be initialized through a network connection so that the systems may be booted using the latest available software. A description of a client processor-based system may be developed and provided to a remote server. The remote server may then develop the necessary firmware for initializing the system, given the latest, updates for example. The firmware may initialize the system in an operating system independent fashion. The server may provide that software to the client to enable the client to efficiently boot, for example without unnecessarily tying up storage on the client. In addition, because the boot initialization routines were acquired from the server, which may be periodically updated, the client may have immediate access to the most up-to-date initialization routines.

Abstract: A BIOS includes a core and multiple modules. The modules include both those that are platform specific and those that are not platform specific. Each module has a standard interface that allows the core (or other module) to call the module. A platform vendor constructs a BIOS by selecting modules from one or more vendors, which when executed can select modules that are suitable for the platform the BIOS resides in.

Abstract: A method for recognizing an overcurrent event in a universal serial bus is described. The method comprises the step of monitoring communication between a first layer and a second layer of the software layers of the universal serial bus. The method further comprises the step of generating a data structure configured to store the communication between the first layer and the second layer. The method also comprises the step of parsing the data structure to locate a data transition indicating the overcurrent event.

Abstract: A method and system of transparently supporting functionalities on different versions of an operating system (O/S). An application is provided that determines if an O/S executing on a processor provides an O/S service layer. If the O/S service layer is provided, the application loads the O/S service layer. If no O/S service layer is provided, the O/S loads an alternative service layer which emulates a subset of the service provided by the O/S service layer. Regardless of the service layer loaded, the application follows the same flow path after the service layer is loaded.