摘要:
Methods and apparatus to update a basic input/output system (BIOS) are described herein. In an example method, a processor determines a storing characteristic associated with a BIOS component stored in a non-volatile memory, and determines an operating characteristic associated with the BIOS component. Based on the storing characteristic and the operating characteristic associated with the BIOS component, the processor determines boundaries of the BIOS component within the non-volatile memory.
摘要:
Various characteristics of a hard drive may be analyzed in order to determine the nature of an operating system stored thereon. For example, an operating system indicator and/or a boot record may be identified which may enable operating system identification. Alternatively, checksums may be used to disambiguate the stored operating system. Other disk characteristics may be utilized to enable a determination of operating system and operating system version. This information may be provided to the user in a graphical user interface indicating the correspondence between operating systems and drives, or a desired operating system, once identified, may be automatically used without analyzing all drives.
摘要:
In one embodiment, a method is provided that may include encrypting, based least in part upon at least one key, one or more respective portions of input data to generate one or more respective portions of output data to be stored in one or more locations in storage. The method of this embodiment also may include generating, based at least in part upon the one or more respective portions of the output data, check data to be stored in the storage, and/or selecting the one or more locations in the storage so as to permit the one or more respective portions of the output data to be distributed among two or more storage devices comprised in the storage. Many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment.
摘要:
Power consumption may be reduced by imbalancing the loads handled by interchangeable components. Interchangeable components, such as memory devices, processors, servers, or other entities, may be imbalanced to reduce power consumption as circumstances allow. As a result, interchangeable components that are used to implement effectively the same function may be powered down or hot-removed and their duties transferred to other components. As a result, the deactivated component may be powered down to a reduced power consumption state, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the system.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
Reducing memory fragmentation. Memory is allocated during a preboot phase of a computer system, wherein the memory is allocated based on a plurality of memory types. Fragmentation of memory is determined, wherein a fragment includes a contiguous block of memory of the same type. At least a portion of memory allocated to a firmware module is coalesced based on the plurality of memory types if the fragmentation is greater than a threshold. An operating system is booted by the computer system.
摘要:
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. The BIOS framework can detect the addition or removal of hot-swap cards hosting one or more service processors and associated service code, and update the unified presentation of service capabilities to reflect new added service capabilities or remove previously existing service capabilities.
摘要:
A mechanism to support reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) flows in a peer monitor is disclosed. A method of the disclosure includes receiving, by a processing device, a system management interrupt (SMI) event. The method further includes invoking, in response to the SMI event, a privilege manager to execute from a read-only memory (ROM) entry point to handle the SMI event, the privilege manager comprising a hot plug service module to provide support for memory hot plug functionality and processor hot plug functionality.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for cross validation of data using multiple subsystems are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a computer comprises a first subsystem and a second subsystem; and a memory, the memory comprising a first memory region and a second memory region, the first memory region being associated with the first subsystem and a second memory region being associated with the second subsystem; upon start up of the computer, the first subsystem to validate the second memory region and the second subsystem to validate the first memory region.
摘要:
In some embodiments, the invention involves protecting a platform using locality-based data and, more specifically, to using the locality-based data to ensure that the platform has not been stolen or subject to unauthorized access. In some embodiments, a second level of security, such as a key fob, badge or other source device having an identifying RFID is used for added security. Other embodiments are described and claimed.