Method and apparatus for booting a processing system
Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for booting a processing system are described. In an embodiment, whether to launch an open operating system or a closed operating system to boot a processing system may be determined. A key may be retrieved from a processor register of the processing system and used to decrypt an encrypted version of the closed operating system based at least in part on a determination of booting the processing system with the closed operating system. In another embodiment, the processor register stored with the key may be flushed based at least in part on a determination of booting the processing system with the open operating system.
1. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that if executed, result in a system:
determining whether to launch an open operating system or a closed operating system to boot a processing system;
retrieving a key from a processor register of the processing system and decrypting an encrypted version of the closed operating system with the key, based at least in part on a determination of booting the processing system with the closed operating system; and
flushing the processor register based at least in part on a determination of booting the processing system with the open operating system.
2. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions further result in the system, flushing the processor register after decrypting the encrypted version of the closed operating system with the key.
3. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions further result in the system:
determining whether the encrypted version of the closed operating system is authentic; and
flushing the processor register if the encrypted version of the closed operating system is not authentic.
4. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 3 , wherein said retrieving the key from the processor register and decrypting the encrypted version of the closed operating system with the key are performed further based on a determination that the encrypted version of the closed operating system is authentic.
5. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions further result in the system:
determining whether the closed operating system is authentic; and
booting the processing system with the closed operating system if the closed operating system is authentic.
6. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of instructions further result in the system, shutting down the processing system if the closed operating system is not authentic.