초록 ▼

A firmware updating method for updating firmware for an information processing apparatus that includes setting a communications device as a boot device according to an instruction from a remote management server, resetting the information processing apparatus in system reset according to a system re

A firmware updating method for updating firmware for an information processing apparatus that includes setting a communications device as a boot device according to an instruction from a remote management server, resetting the information processing apparatus in system reset according to a system reset instruction from the remote management server under an environment of an operating system of the information processing system operating, booting the information processing apparatus by the communications device thereby to update the firmware stored in the storage via the network, setting the storage as a boot device thereby to control off a power supply of the information processing apparatus in response to a request from the remote management server, controlling on the power supply in response to another request from the remote management server, and reading and executing the firmware updated in the storage of the information processing apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A firmware updating method, for use in an information processing apparatus having a storage storing a firmware and a power controller controlling a first power supply which is separate from a second power supply of said information processing apparatus and a communications de

What is claimed is: 1. A firmware updating method, for use in an information processing apparatus having a storage storing a firmware and a power controller controlling a first power supply which is separate from a second power supply of said information processing apparatus and a communications device for communicating via a network with a remote management server which is connected to a console, for updating the firmware for said information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: showing a list of a plurality of firmware versions mounted on said information processing apparatus on said console; receiving an operator's selection of a firmware from among said list in said console; and sending a request for a pseudo firmware update program from said remote management server to machines connected to said network, wherein said remote management server sends an error to said console when a reply to the request is received, otherwise said method further executes the steps of: setting said communications device as a boot device according to an instruction from said remote management server; resetting said information processing apparatus in system reset according to a system reset instruction from said remote management server under an environment of an operating system of said information processing apparatus operating; booting said information processing apparatus by said communications device, thereby to update in accordance with said operator's selection said firmware stored in said storage via said network; setting said storage as a boot device; sending a notice of execution completion of updating said firmware to said remote management server; receiving a first request from said remote management server; controlling "off" said second power supply in said power controller in response to the first request from said remote management server; receiving a second request from said second remote management server after a predetermined period since receiving the first request; controlling "on" said second power supply in said power controller in response to the second request from said remote management server; and reading and executing said firmware updated in said storage of said information processing apparatus. 2. A firmware updating method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: acquiring identification information, which is used to obtain a maintenance program by said information processing apparatus, by said remote management subsystem to send said request to obtain said pseudo firmware update program by said identification information. 3. A firmware updating method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: previously registering identification information of an information processing apparatus subjected to maintenance into said remote management subsystem; receiving input of identification information for specifying said information processing apparatus prior to the instruction to set said boot device; and judging whether the received identification information is included in the registered identification information. 4. An information processing apparatus comprising: a communications device which is to be connected via a network with a server; a storage device for storing therein a firmware; a setting component setting one of said communications device and said storage as a boot device in response to a request form said server; a power controller controlled by a first power supply which is separate from a second power supply of said information processing apparatus; and a system reset component for resetting said information processing apparatus in system reset according to a request from said remote management server under an environment of an operating system of said information processing apparatus operating; wherein, said communications device is set as a boot device according to an instruction from said server which sent a request for a pseudo firmware update program to machines connected to said network when said server has not received any reply to said request, otherwise said information processing apparatus further comprise entities; wherein said power controller controls "off" and "on" said information processing apparatus according to a request from said server; wherein said communications device obtains a program decided in accordance with an operator's selection from said server after resetting said information processing apparatus; and wherein said information processing apparatus updates said firmware by use of said program, stores said firmware updated by said information processing apparatus in said storage, and sends a notice of completing said updating of said firmware to said management server; wherein said power controller turns "off" the second power supply of said information processing apparatus according to a first request from said server, and turns "on" the second power supply of said information processing apparatus according to a second request from said server after a lapse of predetermined time since said second power supply of said information processing apparatus has been turned off. 5. A system comprising: an information processing apparatus coupled to a network and having a storage storing a firmware and a power controller controlling a first power supply which is separate from a second power supply of said information processing apparatus; and a server connected to a console and coupled to said network; wherein said information processing apparatus comprises: a communication device which is to be connected with said server via said network to communicate with said server; a storage for storing therein a firmware; a system reset component for resetting said information processing apparatus in system reset according to a request from said server under an environment of an operating system of said information processing apparatus operating; a setting component setting one of said communications device and said storage as a boot device in response to a request from said server; and a power controller controlled by a first power supply which is separate from a second power supply of said information processing apparatus; wherein said console shows a list of a plurality of firmware versions mounted on said information processing apparatus and receives an operator's selection of a firmware from among said list; wherein said server sends a request for a pseudo firmware update program via said network to machines connected to said network; wherein, when a reply to the request is received, said server sends an error to said console, otherwise said system comprises entities: wherein said communications device obtains a program from said server after resetting said information processing apparatus; wherein said information processing apparatus updates in accordance with said operator's selection said firmware by use of said program, stores said firmware updated by said information processing apparatus in said storage, sets said storage as a boot device, and sends a notice of completing said updating of said firmware to said management server; wherein said power controller turns "off" the second power supply of said information processing apparatus according to a first request from said server, and turn "on" the second power supply of said information processing apparatus according to a second request form said server after a lapse of predetermined time since said second power supply of said information processing apparatus has been turned off; wherein said server comprises: a boot controller for setting one of said communications device and said storage as a boot device, instructing to reset said information processing apparatus, and a remote controller which receives said notice of completing update firmware, sends said first request to said power controller, and sends said second request to said power controller for a given period since the first request has been sent. 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein: identification information is acquired, which is used to obtain a maintenance program by said information processing apparatus, by said remote management subsystem to send said request to obtain said pseudo firmware update program by said identification information. 7. A system according to claim 5, wherein: identification information of an information processing apparatus subjected to maintenance is previously registered into said remote management subsystem; input of identification information is received for specifying said information processing apparatus prior to the instruction to set said boot device; and whether the received identification information is included in the registered identification information is judged.