Processor Pre-Boot Log Replay for Fast System Restarts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex computer and server platforms experience lengthy pre-boot initialization, leading to system downtime and user dissatisfaction due to the prolonged darkness of the system display during startup, making it difficult to achieve high uptime.
Innovation Solution
A processor system with a virtual machine monitor and recorder that logs and replays pre-boot initialization actions, skipping unnecessary steps and reordering the initialization sequence to initialize the video adapter earlier, thereby reducing the time the system appears inactive and allowing users to view initialization activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pre-boot initialization is performed sequentially for all devices, then complete system initialization is achieved, but system startup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pre-boot initialization process into distinct phases: a logging phase where initialization actions are recorded, and a replay phase where recorded actions are executed in optimized order. This segmentation allows the system to separate the comprehensive initialization requirement from the time-consuming sequential execution, resolving the contradiction between completeness and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary logging of initialization actions during one boot cycle, storing them in a structured format. During subsequent boot cycles, these pre-recorded actions are replayed to accelerate initialization. This preliminary action approach allows complete initialization to be achieved faster by reusing previously recorded initialization sequences.
2Productivity
If video adapter initialization is delayed until later in the initialization sequence, then other devices are fully configured first, but the display remains dark for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically reorders the initialization sequence based on recorded actions, allowing the video adapter initialization to be performed earlier than in the traditional fixed sequence. This dynamic reordering enables the display to become active sooner while still ensuring all devices are properly configured, resolving the contradiction between configuration completeness and display availability time.
3Reliability
If the system performs full pre-boot initialization on every restart, then system state is fully restored, but uptime is reduced due to repeated lengthy initialization
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the initialization actions in a log during the first boot, then replays this copy during subsequent boots instead of executing the full initialization sequence again. This copying approach allows the system to restore the necessary state faster by reusing the recorded initialization sequence, thereby increasing uptime while maintaining system state accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of initialization execution from sequential full re-execution to replay of recorded actions. This parameter change transforms the initialization process from a time-consuming repeated sequence to a faster replay operation, significantly improving uptime while maintaining the necessary system state restoration.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to facilitate fast restarts in processor systems are disclosed. An example processor restart method disclosed herein includes recording a log of pre-boot initialization actions, and replaying a portion of the log during subsequent processor restarts to shorten pre-boot initialization time. The example processor restart method disclosed herein may further include creating a log index table for easier referral to portions of the log, storing the log and the log index table in non-volatile memory, using the log index table to reorder the replaying of the log, and reordering the replay of the log to initialize the video graphics adapter earlier in a processor restart sequence.