Patent ID: 8527981
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of instructing to update firmware using a plurality of expanders connected to a disk device in which data transmitted from a host device is stored and a controller unit for controlling the expanders, the method comprising: a first step of determining whether or not, when download data is received from a predetermined terminal in order to update firmware of the expanders, it is necessary to initialize a corresponding expander after downloading the download data by the expander; a second step of transmitting initialization determining information determined in the first step to the terminal; and a third step of transmitting the download data to the corresponding expander and instructing the corresponding expander to update the firmware at timing for updating the firmware, which is determined by the terminal based on the initialization determining information transmitted in the second step, and wherein, in the third step, upon a determination that it is necessary to initialize the corresponding expander in the first step and an instruction from the terminal to update the firmware when the expander transmits data to and receives data from the host device with a frequency equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency of transmission/reception of data, the download data is transmitted to the corresponding expander and the corresponding expander is instructed to update the firmware upon a frequency of transmission/reception of data being equal to or lower than the predetermined frequency.