Dual-firmware for next generation emulation

摘要

Disclosed is a host bus adapter (HBA) that to receives an input/output (I/O) command from an operating system I/O driver. Firmware stored on the host bus adapter includes primary firmware and secondary firmware to process the I/O command. The HBA is to respond to the I/O command under the control of one of the primary firmware or secondary firmware. The selected one of said primary firmware and secondary firmware may be used to certify a hardware driver for either the current generation (primary firmware) or a future generation (secondary firmware).

主权项

1. A method of operating a host bus adapter, comprising:
retrieving a firmware generation indicator; receiving an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, selecting a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command, the primary firmware and the secondary firmware simultaneously included on, and executable by the host bus adapter, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware; and, processing said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware.