摘要:
A method and system for booting up a computer system in a secure fashion is disclosed. The method and system comprise determining the presence of a security feature element during an initialization of the computer system wherein the security feature element includes a public key and a corresponding private key, storing a portion of the public key in a nonvolatile memory within the computer system if the security feature element is present and utilizing an algorithm to determine the presence of the security feature element prior to a subsequent boot-up of the computer system. Through the use of the present invention, a computer system is capable of being booted up whereby the computer system determines if a security feature element was previously present in the system. If a security feature element was previously present in the computer system, any stored keys, along with the secrets that they protect, are prevented from being compromised. It is also an object of the present invention to preclude the system from compromising any keys and associated secrets if a security feature element in the system was not previously present in the system.
摘要:
A secure write blocking circuit and method of operation thereof. The secure write blocking circuit includes enable and disable block input terminals coupled to a blocking circuit. The blocking circuit, such as a set/reset latch in a preferred embodiment, generates a block signal to prevent write access to a nonvolatile memory device, such as flash memory, in response to signals provided to the enable and disable input terminals. The secure write blocking circuit also includes an interrupt generator, coupled to the disable block input terminal, that generates an interrupt signal in response to a signal at the disable input terminal. In a related embodiment the secure write blocking circuit also includes a logic circuit, coupled to the blocking circuit, that receives the block signal and a write enable signal and in response thereto generates a control signal to a write enable input of the nonvolatile memory device.
摘要:
Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.
摘要:
Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.
摘要:
Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.
摘要:
A method and system for enabling security attestation for a computing device during a return from an S4 sleep state. When the computing device enters into the S4 state following a successful boot up, the attestation log is appended to the TPM tick count and the log is signed (with a security signature). When the device is awaken from S4 state, the BIOS obtains and verifies the log created during the previous boot. The CRTM maintains a set of virtual PCRs and references these virtual PCRs against the log. If the values do not match, the return from S4 state fails and the device is rebooted.
摘要:
Authentication of an entity remotely managing a data processing system is enabled to allow changes by the remote entity to hard-locked critical security information normally accessible only during the POST and only to trusted entities such as the system BIOS. The remote entity builds a change request and generates a hash from the change request with a current password appended. The change request and the hash are stored in a lockable non-volatile buffer which, once locked, requires a system reset to access. During the next POST, a trusted entity such as the system BIOS reads the change request, generates an authentication hash from the change request and the current password within the hard-locked security information, and compares the buffered hash with the generated hash. If a match is determined, the security information is updated; otherwise a tamper error is reported.
摘要:
A system, computer program product and method for booting to a partition in a non-volatile storage unit without a local operator. In one embodiment, one or more bits in a BOOT register may be set by an operating system indicating if the BIOS should boot to the partition. The BIOS may then read the BOOT register to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition. In another embodiment, a network interface card may insert directive information received from a packet in a register within the network interface card. The BIOS may then read the register within the network interface card to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition.
摘要:
A system, computer program product and method for booting to a partition in a non-volatile storage unit without a local operator. In one embodiment, one or more bits in a BOOT register may be set by an operating system indicating if the BIOS should boot to the partition. The BIOS may then read the BOOT register to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition. In another embodiment, a network interface card may insert directive information received from a packet in a register within the network interface card. The BIOS may then read the register within the network interface card to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition.
摘要:
A method, system, and program for selecting and implementing a basic input/output system (“BIOS”) configuration among various BIOS configurations for a data processing system are disclosed. Different BIOS configurations are defined for various types of users, such as a home user, a commercial user, and a network user. Each of the BIOS configurations includes a different set of BIOS characteristics, such as program setup features security features, and network server features, under which the data processing system is able to run. The different BIOS configurations are stored into a memory device for the data processing system. A designation is set within the memory device that directs a processor of the data processing system to select and execute a desired one of the BIOS configurations for a particular type of user.