Method and apparatus for field firmware updates in data storage systems

摘要

Data storage devices and methods for updating firmware are disclosed. For example, one such data storage device includes a device firmware and a controller, where the controller operates in accordance with the device firmware. The controller determines whether or not the device firmware can be updated with new firmware at least partially based on whether or not the new firmware meets a criterion related to a configuration profile of the device firmware.

主权项

1. A data storage device, comprising:
a memory device storing device firmware; and a controller coupled to the memory device and operating in accordance with the device firmware, the controller operable to determine whether the device firmware can be updated with new firmware based on whether a major version of the new firmware matches a major version of the device firmware and based on whether a difference between a minor version of the new firmware and a minor version of the device firmware does not exceed an incremental value; wherein the device firmware is not updated with the new firmware when the difference between the minor version of the new firmware and the minor version of the device firmware exceeds the incremental value; wherein the device firmware is updated with the new firmware when the difference between the minor version of the new firmware and the minor version of device firmware does not exceed the incremental value; wherein the data storage device is configured to provide access to the memory device responsive, at least in part, to authenticating a host or providing cryptographic capabilities to the host.