CN100399268C

CN100399268C - Computer system not relying on operation system renewing software data and method

Info

Publication number: CN100399268C
Application number: CNB200510105390XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张怡; 席振新; 周建; 田宏萍
Original assignee: Lenovo Beijing Ltd
Current assignee: Lenovo Beijing Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-23
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-23
Also published as: CN1936840A

Abstract

This invention discloses a computer system which updates software data independently and the method. The system consists of software and hardware. The software consists of EFI software manager triggering module, software updating module and network connection module. The method includes the following steps: startup the EFI software manager; the manager set up network connection by network connection module; startup the software updating module to download software; close the network connection and return to the manager. This invention could adapt various circumstances.

Description

A kind of computer system and method that does not rely on operation system renewing software data

Technical field

The present invention relates to computer application field, particularly relate to the method that a kind of update software data computing machine system that does not rely on operating system reaches update software data on this computer system.

Background technology

At present, computer technology has been widely used in the every field of people's social life, become the indispensable part of people's social life, people are increasing to the dependence of computing machine, and the demand to the management of computing machine, maintenance, self refresh is also more and more higher simultaneously.Be not limited only to the enterprise customer, personal computer user is also wished management maintenance computing machine simply and easily, possesses higher computer management ability.In numerous computer management problems, the most normal technical matters that runs into of people is the problem that administers and maintains at the software of computing machine, and for present mainstream operation system (OS:operation system)-Windows series operating system and Unix/Linux operating system, software can comprise: in-box driver, upgrade software, BIOS image, delivery-attached manuals, maintenance software or the like.The maintenance and management of software then be make us relatively the headache a problem.Difference according to system hardware, operating system also may need these different softwares of immediate updating, to guarantee that these softwares keep up-to-date and the most effective version, and because certain user's maloperation or hardware anomalies situation, also may cause existing software destroyed, particularly, may need the support of original software in that operating system itself is destroyed when maybe needing upgrading to install.

At present, provide the method for system's software storage update commonly used to mainly contain two kinds:

The installation floppy disk or the CD of accompanying software are provided when (1) dispatching from the factory, and when needs used software, the user can insert CD or floppy disk executable operations like this.

The defective of this method is: memory carrier is easily lost.At random when CD or floppy disk, these CDs or floppy disk often have been difficult to find at needs.Simultaneously, it can not tackle upgrading demand of software.Under the situation of system state change such as operating system update, HardwareUpgring or hardware driving upgrading, old software may will lose practical significance, and the user may need new high-level efficiency software support.But this method is the storage update demand of support software not.

(2) another method is from network download software upgrading program.The user is when needs installation or update software, from the required recent software of the website, download of supplier's appointment.This method is a kind of update software acquisition methods commonly used at present, but this method generally is to finish on operating system, its main cause comes from the network support function that telecommunication network is downloaded to be needed, generally on operating system, can provide, and the basic function of traditional common input-output system network enabled not.

The defective of this method is: the operating system support that need possess network function just can be finished function, and when the application scenarios of in-local grid functional fault or the refitting of reply operating system, this method can not be suitable for.This shows that this method is had relatively high expectations to running environment, the software that can not tackle under the comparatively abominable situation is installed and request for utilization.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a kind of computer system and method that on EFI BIOS, realizes not relying on operation system renewing software data.The conditions of demand that it can be applicable to various complexity are included in that operating system is not installed as yet or also can be suitable for collapse the time, only need utilize the computing machine own resource can finish software data and upgrade.

For achieving the above object, the invention provides a kind of computer system that does not rely on operation system renewing software data, comprise hardware and software, comprise mainboard in the hardware, central processing unit, internal memory, hard disk and peripheral hardware, mainboard and central processing unit are respectively mainboard and the central processing unit of supporting the EFI standard, described software comprises the software that carries at random, trigger the EFI software manager trigger module of the described software event of management, upgrade the EFI software manager module of described software and the network connecting function module that computer system is connected to remote server.

The common software that described software can carry for computer random, as driver file, the online manuals file, the BIOS image file, one or more in the online service file supported the EFI FV compressed file of safety encipher check.

Described software is stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM, and perhaps the expanded BIOS on the motherboard perhaps has main protection zone hard disk, in one or more memories during perhaps the USB with access control function that connects by USB interface coils.

Described EFI software manager module comprises the software upgrading module of upgrading described software and the software document copy module that software copy is arrived other position.

Simultaneously, the present invention also provides a kind of method that does not rely on operation system renewing software data, comprises the following steps:

Step 1: computing machine powers on, after EFI BIOS self check is finished, and operation EFI software manager trigger module (22), the user selects directly to enter the stage of starting the operating system; Perhaps, startup enters EFI software manager (21); Step 2: EFI software manager operation display interface, start the network connecting function module, set up network and connect;

Step 3: start the software upgrading module, judge whether local software has renewable version, shows renewable listed files, and the user upgrades the file that selection need be upgraded, down loading updating software;

Step 4: close network and connect, finish this renewal, return software manager.

Can also comprise the following steps: in the said method

Step a): setting in advance arrangement needs saved software at random;

Step b): utilize the compression function of EFI, needs are stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM, perhaps independently compressed file of compression formation of the software among the expansion option ROM on the motherboard;

Step c): described compressed file packing is formed independently EFI FV file, be stored in the remaining space of BIOSROM, perhaps the expansion option ROM on the motherboard;

Step d): other software directly encrypted to be stored in have the protection zone hard disk, perhaps in one or more memories in the USB dish that connects by USB interface with access control function.

Described update software can be for after renewal enters this management software automatically, judges initiatively that promptly the software of the network site of appointment does not have not renewal, finds that software possesses the renewal situation and carries out software upgrading automatically;

Described update software is that manual renewal will show current software matrix with upgraded version, the manual software that need to select renewal of user.

Described step 2 comprises by software document copy module will be stored in software copy in the storer to the memory carrier of user's appointment.

The invention has the beneficial effects as follows: the present invention effectively solves the drawback of other related realization method, realize computer random storage common program, and the memory location is safe and reliable, and deployment way is stored in increase flexibly; It makes full use of EFI expanded function characteristic, and the dynamic update of software function that provides EFI to support satisfies the senior application demand that accompanying software dynamically updates; Method of the present invention can realize in EFI BIOS aspect, is particularly suitable for and operating system method of operating independently.The present invention can offer extraordinary maintainability performance of system and easy-to-use performance, reduces manufacturer's maintenance cost, and user availability is provided, and has higher utility.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a computer system software Organization Chart of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a software storage synoptic diagram of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is that software data of the present invention upgrades process flow diagram;

Fig. 4 is that software data of the present invention upgrades the remote server workflow diagram;

Fig. 5 is an EFI software manager software upgrading of the present invention interface synoptic diagram;

Fig. 6 is an EFI software manager document copying of the present invention interface synoptic diagram;

Fig. 7 is the figure of EFI BIOS storage layout that the present invention supports;

Fig. 8 is the independent Firmware volume format synoptic diagram of Fv_data;

Fig. 9 is the read access operational flowchart to the Fv_data volume.

Embodiment

Further describe the present invention below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.

At first, be to describe the present invention in detail, below explanation EFI technology earlier:

The present invention will be referred to Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) technology, Extensible Firmware Interface (ExtensibleFirmware Interface, EFI) be occurred in 1999 continue to use the interface routine of new generation of Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS) for many years in order to replacement, about the introduction of Extensible Firmware Interface, see UEFI forum for details and introduce http://www.UEFI.org about the EFI technology.EFI is between hardware device and operating system (such as Windows or Linux).Different with traditional BIOS, write in EFI use whole world higher level lanquage C language the most widely, it provides not only has the function of traditional B IOS but also the expanded function that is better than traditional B IOS is arranged, on design mechanism and framework, also be different from the realization of traditional B IOS, it is BIOS interface specification of future generation, this just means the development that has more slip-stick artist can participate in EFI, adds many more valuable functions.

The basic function that EFI possesses is:

The hardware platform initialization;

Support starts the operating system;

The platform management instrument of separating system.

The mode of operation of EFI can simply reduce: start-up system, standard firmware platform initialization, then from loading EFI driver storehouse and carrying out relative program, in EFI system start-up menu, choose the system that will enter and submit to and start guidance code to EFI, normal words will enter system, otherwise will end to start service and return EFI system start-up menu.Engineers can according to different need be for EFI increases new function, such as practical more in detail diagnostic function, self-configuration program, list contingent fault of system or the like.

Shown in Fig. 1-9, the computer system that does not rely on operation system renewing software data of the present invention realizes that on EFI BIOS it comprises hardware and software, and hardware comprises mainboard, central processing unit (CPU), internal memory, hard disk and peripheral hardware.

Mainboard and CPU are respectively mainboard and the CPU that supports the EFI standard.

As shown in Figure 1, described software comprises EFI FIRMWARE layer 1, EFI application layer 2 and operating system layer 3.

Described EFI FIRMWARE layer comprises network connecting function module 11.

Described EFI application layer comprises EFI software manager trigger module 22, EFI software manager module 21.

EFI software manager trigger module 22: after EFI BIOS self check is finished, in the Firmware start-up course, before the boot of call operation system, operation EFI software manager trigger module 22, this module will be pressed special function keys (as F9) to user prompt on display can start EFI software manager module 21, if the user presses special function keys at T in the stand-by period, will start software manager module 21, otherwise will directly enter os starting.

EFI software manager module 21: be one and operate in upward administration module of EFI, comprise following functional module:

1) software upgrading module.Utilize the function of the network connecting function support of EFI, satisfy the software upgrading user's request by the software of the more newly downloaded needs of network.It comprises automatic renewal and manually upgrades dual mode:

A) automatically upgrade be meant enter this management software after, it denys renewable software that the software of initiatively judging the network site of appointment has, discovery software possesses the renewal situation and carries out software upgrading automatically;

B) manually renewal will show current software matrix with upgraded version, allow the manual selection of user to need the software that upgrades.

2) software document copy module.As shown in Figure 6, software document copy module will be stored in the software copy of among the BIOSROM or other memory locations to the memory carrier of user's appointment, particularly when computing machine refitting operating system, may need software copy is used when floppy disk is prepared against installing operating system, install as yet in computer operating system and can't carry out under the situation of document copying, utilizing EFI BIOS running environment can be that the user solves very big difficulty.

This module is also supported other basic document operating functions except that file delete, modification, and as listing file, the revised file attribute renames etc.

Network connecting function module 11: after EFI BIOS self check is finished, procotol EFI TCP/IP module by EFI FIRMWARE, be connected to the remote server that software can upgrade, remote server is conducted interviews and controls, normally be connected to Internet (Internet), by the Internet website, download update software of software vendor.

In the present embodiment, described software also includes the softwares such as common software 4 that computer random is carried.

As shown in Figure 2; before computing machine dispatches from the factory; perhaps in the process of EFI BIOS7 of upgrading computing machine; can be software manager module 21; software manager trigger module 22 integrates with the original function module of network connecting function module 11 with EFI BIOS; common software 4 encapsulation of simultaneously computer random being carried; and use the programming instrument of BIOS ROM7 that they are written among the BIOS ROM7; perhaps among the expansion OPTION ROM5 on the motherboard; perhaps directly adopt the method for document copying to store the local secure storage parts into; as has a protection zone (Host protected Area; HPA) hard disk 6; external safe storage parts are on the USB dish with access control function that connects by USB interface.

Below in conjunction with the data computing of update software at any time machine system further specify its bottom identity identifying method:

1) softwares such as common software that carry at random of storage computation machine comprise the in-box driver file, the online manuals file, and BIOS image file (BIOS image), various softwares such as online service file, it may further comprise the steps:

11) set in advance arrangement and need the common software at random of storage at random;

12) utilize the compression function of EFI, needs are stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM, perhaps independently compressed file of compression formation of the software among the expansion option ROM on the motherboard;

Just have compression among the EFI shell and the order that decompresses, the user can directly call use, and the suffix name that generates compressed file does not limit, and orders as follows:

EfiCompress Infile Outfile

EfiDecompress Infile Outfile

Its core is with a fixing compression and decompression algorithm, will specify input file to compress, and output in the new filename, and it directly utilizes the EFI compression function, need not write code more separately, increases additional memory space.

13) described compressed file packing is formed independently EFI FV file, be stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM7, perhaps the expansion option ROM5 on the motherboard;

14) other software is directly encrypted to be stored in have protection zone hard disk 6, perhaps in one or more memories in the USB dish that connects by USB interface with access control function.

2) as shown in Figure 3, after the user presses the POWER ON button of computing machine, after EFI BIOS self check is finished, read-write and operation EFI software manager trigger module 22, on display, press the information that special function keys can enter update software to user prompt, if the user does not press special function keys at T in the time, then directly enter the stage of starting the operating system; Otherwise when the user pressed special function keys, startup entered EFI software manager module 21;

21) wherein, to store the EFI image file and at random the read-write of common software comprise following process:

211) will be at random the common software individual packages become independent FV (FV:FirmwareVolumn the is equivalent to file system) file of standard format, the FV file access interface that provides by EFI conducts interviews.

The storage layout of the EFI BIOS of the present invention's support as shown in Figure 7, the common software individual packages is become the independent FV file of standard format: Fv_data rolls up file, the Fv_data volume document storage that increases is in the remaining space of BIOS ROM, and a plurality of FV File submodules wherein are different common software data files.The FV file access interface that provides by EFI conducts interviews then.

The FV file access interface that EFI provides can be with reference to EFI Framework standard: " IntelPlatform Innovation Framework for EFI Firmware Volume Specification " Version0.9 September 16,2003.

212) the common software individual packages is become independent FV file, the interface of supporting by EFI software manager 21 conducts interviews then.

Fig. 8 is the independent Firmware volume format synoptic diagram of Fv_dara.According to the EFI normalized definition, the FV volume should be made up of a plurality of file Section, as Fig. 8, the Fv_data volume is made up of the Section (leaf Section) of a plurality of leaf node types, each Section has the Section Header of own standard definition, ensuing part should be Section data (for example can be the file data of compression), form of the present invention is encrypted Section data by " predefined cryptographic algorithm ", and encapsulated file header (such as, but be not limited to: the additional safety encipher CRC check file header of supporting).The FV_data file of realizing the above-mentioned form that will synthesize in advance by EFI standard FV write command interface writes in the BIOS ROM storage space.

Read and write access interface provided by the present invention is the expansion on the FV:Firmware of EFI BIOS Volume standard access interface, and its extended interface provides more excellent and safer visit for the visit of these software datas." self-defined Header " is non-existent in standard FV document definition among Fig. 8; can be the file header data of calculating by cryptographic algorithm. like this; the common software manager that has only method of the present invention to provide could be discerned the FV of this common software form; other general-purpose accessing form is because its special file head design of nonrecognition; can not effectively visit, thereby the safeguard protection that reaches unique portion designs.

Provided by the present invention to shown in read access operating process Fig. 9 of FV_data volume:

A) FV_data volume, i.e. FV_data file system are at first located by system;

B) obtain the next file that FV_data rolls up;

C) obtain FVFile Section, obtain File Section Data partial data;

D) analysis c) the File Section Data partial data that obtains obtains self-defined file gauge outfit;

Whether e) compare the filename of storing in the gauge outfit, be the file that will read: if not, then return step b);

F) if then read the encrypted file data part of this document;

G) according to predefined enciphering and deciphering algorithm decrypted file data, the file data that obtains deciphering.

This shows to have only this patent EFI software manager 21 that realizes this interface just to know its format, can effectively have access to and be stored in EFI bios software data.Other general-purpose interface can't be visited.

3) EFI software manager software for display upgrades operation interface, and as shown in Figure 5, described file comprises driver, online manuals file, BIOS image file (BIOS image), various softwares such as online service file.

When 31) user selects the remote update file function, start network connecting function module 11, whether network connecting function module 11 at first judges EFI load networks agreement, if do not load, just load required procotol, if find EFI load networks agreement, then do not need the load networks agreement, set up network and connect.

Preferably, present embodiment adopts the basic function of just having supported procotol based on the network function of network function optimization customized treatment: the EFI of safety guarantee, limiting the user capture network address is described software download network address position, forbid visiting other network address position, guarantee not to be subjected to the security threat of other network address, simultaneously do not support unnecessary network port access function, close other unnecessary network and connect approach.This method both can well satisfy application demand, can effectively stop other cyberspace vulnerability again, directly at computing machine supplier's after sale service strategy, had effectively promoted product quality;

32) start the software upgrading module, judge whether local software has renewable version, shows renewable listed files, when the user upgrades, need to select the file of renewal, down loading updating software;

Renewable listed files is as shown in table 1:

Table 1

File name	City edition this shop	Server end version number	Updating mark
File name	City edition this shop	Server end version number	Updating mark	The online manuals file	10000000	10000001	V
The BIOS image file	10000000	10000000	Do not have	The online manuals file	10000000	10000001	V
The BIOS image file	10000000	10000000	Do not have	The WinXP network interface card drives	10000000	10000003	V

33) close network and connect, finish this renewal, return EFI software manager 21;

4) as shown in Figure 6, user's select File when copy, start software document copy module, pop-up window can be selected the position that copies, and for example: floppy drive or mobile USB flash disk, the user carries out copy function after selecting.

5) finish operation EFI software manager, restart computing machine after returning.

As shown in Figure 4, remote server can be worked according to the following steps:

1) remote server starts;

2) the wait client is set up the network connection;

3) if the client connection request is arranged, then set up network and be connected with client;

4) whether consistent with the version of client comparison software;

5) send comparative result to client;

6) whether obtain the client update request;

7) if, then carry out remote update; Otherwise, directly close this network and connect, return step 2) wait for that client is set up network connecting request next time.

The present invention is that the stronger software dynamic memory of a kind of practicality and applicability upgrades and method for down loading, it is the method that expansion realizes on EFI BIOS aspect, it need not any hardware supported, integrated with the computing machine binding, being suitable for the applied environment that operating system is not installed or collapsed as yet, is a kind of practicality inventive method preferably.It provides reliable and stable storage effect at random, need not exterior storage carriers such as any CD, floppy disk, has guaranteed that effectively the common software memory carrier is difficult for the characteristics of losing.Adopt the dispositions method of binding with host hardware, promoted the host machine integral brand image greatly.Need not the safety long-distance network software update functions that operating system is supported, make full use of the network function of EFI, and this network function is optimized customized treatment, limiting access fixed network position, and do not support unnecessary network port visit, make this network function possess and be higher than the security that realizes on the operating system.For system manufacturer, this invention can effectively improve system from maintainability, the robustness of enhanced system as a kind of system maintenance effective means, can effectively reduce the number of times of on-site maintenance, reduces after service cost.And can effectively promote product quality directly at computing machine supplier's after sale service strategy.

Claims

1. computer system that does not rely on operation system renewing software data, comprise hardware and software, comprise mainboard in the hardware, central processing unit, internal memory, hard disk and peripheral hardware, mainboard and central processing unit are respectively mainboard and the central processing unit of supporting the EFI standard, comprise the common software that computer random is carried in the software, it is characterized in that, also comprise in the software:

Send the EFI software manager trigger module (22) of control signal;

EFI software manager module (21) is used for receiving and handling the control signal that described EFI software manager trigger module (22) sends, and upgrades described common software by network connecting function module (11);

And network connecting function module (11), be used for described EFI software manager module (21) is connected to remote server.

2. update software data computing machine according to claim 1 system is characterized in that described common software is a driver file, online manuals file, BIOS image file, one or more file in the online service file.

3. update software data computing machine according to claim 2 system; it is characterized in that; described common software is stored in the EFI FV compressed file that the safety encipher check is supported in the remaining space of BIOS ROM (7) or expansion OptionROM (5) lining on the motherboard, and be stored in protection zone hard disk (6) or the USB dish that connects by USB interface with access control function in one or more memories in encrypt file.

4. update software data computing machine according to claim 3 system; it is characterized in that; described common software is stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM (7); the perhaps expansion Option ROM (5) on the motherboard; perhaps has protection zone hard disk (6), in one or more memories during perhaps the USB with access control function that connects by USB interface coils.

5. update software data computing machine according to claim 4 system, it is characterized in that described EFI software manager module (21) comprises the software upgrading module of upgrading described common software and the software document copy module that software copy is arrived other position.

6. a method that does not rely on operation system renewing software data is characterized in that, comprises the following steps:

Step: computing machine powers on, after EFI BIOS self check is finished, and operation EFI software manager trigger module (22), the user selects directly to enter the stage of starting the operating system; Perhaps, startup enters EFI software manager (21), execution in step two, three, four;

Step 2: EFI software manager (21) operation display interface, start network connecting function module (11), set up network and connect;

Step 3: start the software upgrading module, judge whether local software has renewable version, shows renewable listed files, the user need to select the file of renewal, down loading updating software;

Step 4: close network and connect, finish this renewal, return EFI software manager (21).

7. the method for update software data according to claim 6 is characterized in that, also comprises the following steps: before the described step 1

Step a): setting in advance arrangement needs the common software of storage at random;

Step b): utilize the compression function of EFI, needs are stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM (7), perhaps independently compressed file of compression formation of the common software among the expansion option ROM on the motherboard;

Step c): described compressed file packing is formed independently EFI FV file, be stored in the remaining space of BIOSROM (7), perhaps the expansion option ROM (5) on the motherboard;

Step d): other software directly encrypted to be stored in have protection zone hard disk (6), perhaps in one or more memories in the USB dish that connects by USB interface with access control function.

8. the method for update software data according to claim 7, it is characterized in that, when the mode of described update software is renewal automatically, after entering this management software, described software upgrading module promptly judges initiatively that the software of the network site of appointment does not have not renewal, finds that software possesses the renewal situation and carries out software upgrading automatically.

9. the method for update software data according to claim 7 is characterized in that, when described update software is manually renewal, described software upgrading module will show current software matrix with upgraded version, the software that the manual selection of user need be upgraded.

10. according to Claim 8 or the method for 9 described update software data, it is characterized in that described step 2 comprises by software document copy module will be stored in software copy in the storer to the memory carrier of user's appointment.

11. the method for update software data according to claim 9 is characterized in that, the operation EFI software manager trigger module (22) in the described step 1 further may further comprise the steps:

To be stored in the remaining space of BIOS ROM (7), perhaps the common software individual packages among the expansion option ROM (5) on the motherboard becomes the additional independent FV file of supporting the safety encipher check, conducts interviews by EFI software manager (21) calling interface;

Directly encryption is stored in and has protection zone hard disk (6), and the common software in one or more memories during perhaps the USB with access control function that connects by USB interface coils also conducts interviews by EFI software manager (21) calling interface.