Abstract: This invention is useful in a networked system with densely packaged servers or server blades. The servers are connected to a system management network, a communication network and an image server. A management module attached to the system management network and a network switch monitors and controls network booting from an image server on the communication network to prevent over commitment of network and image server resources in order to avoid a boot storm. The management module collects system information and calculates the number of servers or clients the networked system can boot at any one instant of time without burdening the system. The management module logic controls booting via the system management network and service processor elements, which can block server booting and release servers to boot when other servers have completed their boot process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for directing a network boot. The method includes obtaining a bootstrap by a client, the client residing in a subnet; obtaining a configuration file by the bootstrap, where the configuration file comprises a map of subnets and their corresponding file servers; determining from the configuration file a file server corresponding to the client's subnet; and obtaining an operating system (OS) image from the corresponding local file server. The method and system provides a bootstrap which, when loaded onto a client, obtains a configuration file from the remote file server. The configuration file contains a map of the network's subnets and their corresponding local file servers. Using this configuration file, the bootstrap obtains an OS image from the local file server which services the subnet in which the client resides.

Abstract: A method and system for erasing a drive of a computer system is disclosed. The method and system include scrubbing the drive and writing a message to a portion of the drive such that the message will be provided to a user in response to the drive being booted after scrubbing. The message indicates that the drive has been scrubbed.

Abstract: This invention is useful in a networked system with densely packaged servers or server blades. The servers are connected to a system management network, a communication network and an image server. A management module attached to the system management network and a network switch monitors and controls network booting from an image server on the communication network to prevent over commitment of network and image server resources in order to avoid a boot storm. The management module collects system information and calculates the number of servers or clients the networked system can boot at any one instant of time without burdening the system. The management module logic controls booting via the system management network and service processor elements, which can block server booting and release servers to boot when other servers have completed their boot process.

Abstract: A method and system for erasing a drive of a computer system is disclosed. The method and system include scrubbing the drive and writing a message to a portion of the drive such that the message will be provided to a user in response to the drive being booted after scrubbing. The message indicates that the drive has been scrubbed.