Robust remote flash ROM upgrade system and method
View Patent ↗The present invention is a solution that provides reliable and robust boot upgrade system and method. A power up boot process is performed in which a boot update application monitors for an indication of available update information and an update setup process is engaged in which an upgrade indication variable is set to a value indicating an upgrade is required and the upgrade indication variable continues to indicate an upgrade is required until an upgrade is successfully completed. An update reboot process is executed which retrieves updated information from a central management station and a boot loader routine reads an upgrade indication variable and repeatedly downloads the updated information until the upgrade indication variable indicates there is no pending update download required. The upgrade indication variable is changed to indicate no pending update download is required when a download is verified and authenticated.
1. A remote upgrade method comprising:
receiving from a remote source, at a device including a flash memory, an indication of available update information from the remote source, the indication including a location and a file name of an updated flash image to replace a current flash image stored in the flash memory and utilized by the device, wherein the location is an internet protocol (IP) address of the remote source;
setting, in response to receiving the indication, an upgrade indication variable in the device to indicate an updated flash image is available at the remote source;
downloading the updated flash image from the remote source to the flash memory;
setting, only if the downloading is completed, the upgrade indication variable in the device to indicate no updated flash image is available at the remote source; and
executing, by the device, a reboot process utilizing the updated flash image if the upgrade indication variable is set to indicate no updated flash image is available, otherwise utilizing the current flash image and repeating the downloading.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein an update indication variable having a value of zero indicates no updated flash image is available at the remote source.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein an update indication variable having a non zero value indicates an updated flash image is available at the remote source.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated flash image is stored in read-only flash memory in the device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
authenticating the updated flash image to the device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the authenticating is performed with a public—private key pair.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current flash image includes processor boot instructions.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the updated flash image includes updated processor boot instructions.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current flash image includes firmware utilized by the device.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the updated flash image includes updated firmware.