Patent ID: 7007077

Claim:
A firmware updating method, for use in an information processing apparatus having a storage storing a firmware and a power controller controlling a first power supply which is separate from a second power supply of said information processing apparatus and a communications device for communicating via a network with a remote management server which is connected to a console, for updating the firmware for said information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: showing a list of a plurality of firmware versions mounted on said information processing apparatus on said console; receiving an operator's selection of a firmware from among said list in said console; and sending a request for a pseudo firmware update program from said remote management server to machines connected to said network, wherein said remote management server sends an error to said console when a reply to the request is received, otherwise said method further executes the steps of: setting said communications device as a boot device according to an instruction from said remote management server; resetting said information processing apparatus in system reset according to a system reset instruction from said remote management server under an environment of an operating system of said information processing apparatus operating; booting said information processing apparatus by said communications device, thereby to update in accordance with said operator's selection said firmware stored in said storage via said network; setting said storage as a boot device; sending a notice of execution completion of updating said firmware to said remote management server; receiving a first request from said remote management server; controlling “off” said second power supply in said power controller in response to the first request from said remote management server; receiving a second request from said second remote management server after a predetermined period since receiving the first request; controlling “on” said second power supply in said power controller in response to the second request from said remote management server; and reading and executing said firmware updated in said storage of said information processing apparatus.