Patent ID: 7725700

Claim:
A method capable of automatically loading a root file system to an embedded unit of an embedded system comprising a plurality of devices external to the embedded unit, the method comprising: (a) turning on the embedded unit to execute a boot code; (b) utilizing the boot code to execute a kernel; (c) choosing one of a plurality of external device configuration files stored on a storage device of the embedded unit based on a requirement of a user, wherein the plurality of external device configuration files correspond to the plurality of devices external to the embedded unit, respectively; (d) determining a connection protocol for accessing one of a plurality of root file system image files, based on the chosen one of a plurality of external device configuration files, wherein the plurality of root file system image files are stored in the plurality of devices external to the embedded unit, respectively, wherein at least one of the plurality of external devices is connected to the embedded unit directly and at least one of the plurality of external devices is connected to the embedded unit through a network interface, and thus the connection protocol can be a direct connection protocol, an internet protocol, or an intranet protocol; (e) through the determined connection protocol, utilizing the kernel to execute a root file system auto initial program to access and retrieve the one of the plurality of root file system image files based on the chosen one of the plurality of external device configuration files; and (f) loading the root file system into the embedded unit according to the one of the plurality of root file system image file.