초록 ▼

A method and system of communicating with a computer through a network prior to booting the computer's operating system or after operating system failure is provided. A multitasking kernel is implemented in a network enhanced BIOS. External references in a NIC device driver are resolved to reference

A method and system of communicating with a computer through a network prior to booting the computer's operating system or after operating system failure is provided. A multitasking kernel is implemented in a network enhanced BIOS. External references in a NIC device driver are resolved to reference services provided by the network enhanced BIOS. A workstation coupled to the computer through a network may be used to access and set status on the computer prior to loading the operating system or after operating system failure. The multitasking kernel may be operated simultaneously with a conventional BIOS. The computer may be further provided with a means for alerting the workstation in the event of a POST failure or operating system crash.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a network interface coupling said computer to a network, said method comprising:automatically executing an initial start-up software on said CPU upon CPU system start-up;loading

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of operating a computer, said computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a network interface coupling said computer to a network, said method comprising:automatically executing an initial start-up software on said CPU upon CPU system start-up;loading and executing a network enhanced software on said CPU on completion of at least a first portion of said start-up software, said network enhanced software supporting a protocol for communicating with workstations coupled to said computer network via said network interface; andloading and executing an operating system software on said CPU after said loading of said network enhanced software, said operating system software being accessible by user-level application software programs executing on said CPU.