SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING AN EXTENDED CAPABILITY TO A SYSTEM
A system, method, and computer program product are included for providing an extended capability to a system. In operation, a request to boot a system is identified. Additionally, in response to the request, extended capability code is returned. Furthermore, the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.
1 . A method, comprising:
identifying a request to boot a system; and
in response to the request, returning extended capability code;
wherein the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.
2 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the request is received by a single storage device.
3 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the request is received by a plurality of storage devices.
4 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein boot code is substituted with the extended capability code.
5 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein, after the extended capability code is returned, boot code is returned.
6 . The method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the boot code is executed after execution of the extended capability code.
7 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability code is executed by a host.
8 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended communication capability.
9 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended security capability.
10 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended data back-up capability.
11 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended statistics capability.
12 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability includes retrieving additional extended capability code, where the additional extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an additional extended capability.
13 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the extended capability includes writing to boot code.
14 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein after execution of the extended capability code, data is capable of being read from or written to locations on a disk, including a boot sector on the disk.
15 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the request is received by a bootable device.
16 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the request is received by a non-bootable device.
17 . A method, comprising:
identifying a request to load operating system information; and
in response to the request, returning extended capability code;
wherein the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.
18 . The method as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended communication capability.
19 . The method as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended security capability.
20 . The method as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the extended capability includes an extended data back-up capability.
21 . A data structure embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:
a bios object; and
extended capability code included with the bios object providing an extended capability in response to execution.
22 . An apparatus, comprising:
a storage device for receiving a request to boot a system; and
an interface for returning extended capability code in response to the request; wherein the extended capability code is capable of being executed to provide an extended capability.