Decoupled external storage device booting
Storage devices may be utilized in external devices that communicate with host computing devices over various communication ports and protocols. Traditionally, storage devices utilize bootloading data, such as boot ROMS, to start normal operations of the device. However, many storage devices are unable to change or update bootloading data once the device has been manufactured or deployed. Thus, methods, systems, and devices described herein decouple the bootloading process from the storage device and load bootloading data from an external device. The bootloading data can be loaded via a wireless communication connection from an external device, where it can be updated as needed. Once loaded, the bootloader can begin the process of loading firmware and starting the normal operation of the drive over regular wired communication ports. When the bootloading data or firmware cannot be loaded externally, traditional booting methods can be used utilizing previously stored copies of the required data.
1. A device comprising:
a memory array comprising a plurality of memory devices;
a Universal Asynchronous Receive Transmitter (UART) communication port coupled with a second device; and
a controller, comprising:
a controller memory array;
a security processor configured to:
establish communication with the second device; and
load bootloading data into the controller memory array;
a storage processor configured to:
determine if the device responds to a transmitted bootloader signal request;
revert to one or more traditional boot-up processes if no response is received, wherein the traditional boot-up processes are configured to utilize previously stored bootloading data;
execute the bootloading data in the controller memory array;
load firmware data in the memory array;
execute the firmware data; and
begin communication with the second device via the communication port.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication port is a wireless communication port.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the security processor establishes communication with the second device via the wireless communication port.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the UART communicates with the second device via Bluetooth.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the second device is a mobile computing device.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the security processor further comprises a security memory.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the security memory includes logic for establishing wireless communication with the second device.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the security processor is further configured to enable the storage processor.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the storage processor is enabled upon completion of a security check.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication port is a universal serial bus (USB) port.
11. A method of booting up a storage device, comprising:
establishing communication with a second device via a Universal Asynchronous Receive Transmitter (UART);
determining if the storage device responds to a transmitted bootloader signal request;
reverting to one or more traditional boot-up processes if no response is received, wherein the traditional boot-up processes are configured to utilize previously stored bootloading data;
loading bootloading data from the second device into a first memory array within the storage device;
executing the loaded bootloading data;
loading firmware data within a second memory array into the first memory array;
executing the loaded firmware data; and
establishing communication with the second device via a wired communication port.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the communication is via a Bluetooth connection.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second device is a mobile computing device.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises saving a copy of the bootloading data within the storage device upon establishing communication with the second device via the wired communication port.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the bootloading data is validated upon being loaded.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein, in response to a failure to validate the bootloading data, a previously saved copy of the bootloading data is loaded.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises saving a copy of the firmware data within the storage device upon loading the firmware data from the second memory array into the first memory array.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein, upon a failure to load the firmware data into the second memory array, a previously saved copy of the firmware is loaded executed.
19. A device comprising:
a memory array;
a wired Universal Asynchronous Receive Transmitter (UART) communication port coupled with a second device; and
a controller, comprising:
a controller memory array;
a security processor configured to:
establish a wireless communication connection with the second device;
verify accessibility of bootloading data;
load, via the wireless communication connection, bootloading data into the controller memory array; and
validate the bootloading data; and
a storage processor configured to:
determine if the device responds to a transmitted bootloader signal request;
revert to one or more traditional boot-up processes if no response is received, wherein the traditional boot-up processes are configured to utilize previously stored bootloading data;
execute the bootloading data in the controller memory array;
load firmware data in the controller memory array;
execute the firmware data; and
begin communication with the second device via the wired communication port.