Dynamic firmware image creation from an object file stored in a reserved area of a data storage device of a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for dynamically creating an executable image from an Object File Format (OFF) file stored in a reserved area 175 of one of a plurality of data storage devices 125 in a memory system 100. In the method, a controller 105 having a Programable Read Only Memory (PROM) 160, Random Access Memory (RAM) 155 and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 150 is coupled to the plurality of data storage devices 125. The memory system 100 is initialized using an initial boot sequence stored in the PROM 160. This initialization can include a hardware discovery sequence to identify all hardware present in the memory system 100. Data relating to the discovered hardware is read from the OFF file and translated from an object format into an executable image that is assembled in RAM 155. Optionally, the PROM 160 is an Electronically Erasable PROM (EEPROM) and the assembled executable image is stored in the EEPROM replacing the initial boot sequence.