Booting a multiprocessor device based on selection of encryption keys to be provided to processors

摘要

A mechanism is provided for booting a multiprocessor device based on selection of encryption keys to be provided to the processors. With the mechanism, a security key and one or more randomly generated key values are provided to a selector mechanism of each processor of the multiprocessor device. A random selection mechanism is provided in pervasive logic that randomly selects one of the processors to be a boot processor and thereby, provides a select signal to the selector of the boot processor such that the boot processor selects the security key. All other processors select one of the one or more randomly generated key values. As a result, only the randomly selected boot processor is able to use the proper security key to decrypt the boot code for execution.