Patent ID: 9270635
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: G06F,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method comprising a computer processor and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory including computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the steps of: setting during startup of the compute node, an operational mode of a VPI adapter to operate in accordance with a first data communications protocol, the VPI adapter is a data communication adapter including a preboot execution environment module located in memory of the VPI adapter that supports the first data communications protocol prior to loading an operating system and prior to loading a driver for the first data communications protocol; obtaining from a dynamic host control protocol (‘DHCP’) server, a network address and the driver for the first data communications protocol; and loading the driver for the first data communications protocol; retrieving from a network source via the VPI adapter in accordance with the first data communications protocol, the operating system and a driver for the second data communications protocol; loading the operating system and the driver for the second data communications protocol; and responsive to loading the operating system and the driver for the second data communications protocol, switching the operational mode of the VPI adapter to operate in accordance with the second data communications protocol.