Patent ID: 7831839

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of processors, each with an associated local memory that is operatively coupled to a common main memory, and each processor operating to request at least some data from the main memory for use in its respective local memory, and at least one of the processors including a decryption unit that operates to decrypt information using a secure decryption key; and a storage medium containing encrypted boot code, where the encrypted boot code is not accessible by unauthorized entities, wherein: the at least one processor operates to read the encrypted boot code from the storage medium into its local memory, the decryption unit operates to decrypt the encrypted boot code such that the boot code is verified as being authentic, the at least one processor operates to boot up using the boot code from the local memory, the at least one processor operates to authenticate boot code for one or more of the other processors prior to the one or more other processors booting up; and the one or more other processors operate to pause from booting up until a signal is provided from the at least one processor indicating that the boot code is authentic.