Abstract: A single BIOS image generating option ROM code, and method for initializing controller chips of a computer system are provided. The method includes the operations of integrating a set of controller chips to a motherboard, and generating a table that identifies the set of controller chips and PCI device function addresses of the set of controller chips. The method then includes identifying one of the set of controller chips to be a master controlling chip and those other than the master controlling chip to be non-controlling chips. Then a single generic option ROM code is generated for the set of controller chips. Once generated, the table and the generic option ROM code is stored in a system BIOS ROM of the computer system during boot-up.

Abstract: A programming method for flashing a read only memory (ROM) chip of a host adapter with an updated BIOS code is provided. The host adapter is connected to a host computer system. The method includes building a table having start address information and memory size information of memory space occupied in the random access memory (RAM) of the host computer system by one or more PCI host adapters which are connected to the computer system via a PCI bus. The method then moves to identifying a selected PCI host adapter having a ROM chip. A desired amount of memory space for an updated option ROM code is then mapped between the RAM of the host computer system and the ROM chip. A start address in RAM of an additional PCI host adapter that is determined to lie within the desired amount of memory space is redirected. Preferably, the redirection is temporarily made to zero.