Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency

Details Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency

2008-07-08

2008-07-08

Lee, Thomas (Department: 2115)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support

Digital data processing system initialization or configuration

Loading initialization program

C709S217000, C709S219000, C709S222000

Reexamination Certificate

active

11026420

ABSTRACT:
Methods and apparatus for improving network boot efficiency are disclosed. Under embodiments of the method, boot images that are initially sent from a boot server to various clients are cached at network devices along communication paths between the boot server and the clients. In response to subsequent boot image requests from the clients, boot images cached at the network devices are downloaded directly from the network devices rather than from the boot server, reducing network traffic to and from the boot server and domains in between. In addition, boot program bootstrap files may also be cached and downloaded in a similar manner. Techniques are also disclosed for intercepting boot image download and network bootstrap program requests at the network devices, and for maintaining valid boot image cache configurations across the network. The network devices generally include switches, routers, bridges, and gateway servers.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5280627 (1994-01-01), Flaherty et al.
patent: 5452454 (1995-09-01), Basu
patent: 6138162 (2000-10-01), Pistriotto et al.
patent: 6389462 (2002-05-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 6549934 (2003-04-01), Peterson et al.
patent: 6854009 (2005-02-01), Hughes
patent: 6965924 (2005-11-01), Gerthe
patent: 6976058 (2005-12-01), Brown et al.
patent: 7032031 (2006-04-01), Jungck et al.
patent: 7085921 (2006-08-01), Frye, Jr.
patent: 7099927 (2006-08-01), Cudd et al.
patent: 7123613 (2006-10-01), Chawla et al.
patent: 7188191 (2007-03-01), Hovell et al.
patent: 7203735 (2007-04-01), Le Pennec et al.
patent: 2003/0126242 (2003-07-01), Chang
patent: 2003/0208675 (2003-11-01), Burokas et al.
patent: 2004/0068576 (2004-04-01), Lindbo et al.
patent: 2005/0144431 (2005-06-01), Lin et al.
patent: 2005/0278583 (2005-12-01), Lennert et al.
Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) Specification, Intel Corporation, Sep. 20, 1999, ver. 2.1, pp. 1-101.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3929898