Patent ID: 8117435
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for selectively updating a basic input output system image on a platform, the method comprising: executing a virtual machine monitor (VMM) on a platform, wherein the VMM supports a first virtual machine (VM) executing a service operating system (OS) and a second VM executing a user OS, and wherein the VMM provides each of the first and second VMs with an existing basic input output system (BIOS); receiving a BIOS update image at the platform from a remote data processing system; in response to receiving the BIOS update image at the platform, sending a BIOS update request from the service OS to the VMM; in response to receiving the BIOS update request at the VMM, automatically determining whether the BIOS update request came from the service OS; automatically rejecting the BIOS update request in response to a determination that the BIOS update request did not come from the service OS; and in response to a determination that the BIOS update request came from the service OS, applying the BIOS update.