Patent ID: 7809836

Claim:
A method for automatic firmware image recovery, comprising: determining that a firmware image for server basic input output system (BIOS) code in a recipient system needs to be replaced; sending a message over a network by a baseboard management controller on the recipient system, wherein the message requests a compatible replacement firmware image; negotiating with a donor system based on a received acknowledgement that the donor system has a compatible image, using a predetermined policy to select the donor system from a set of at least one donor system having a compatible image, wherein negotiating with a donor system further comprises: receiving a message request by at least one donor system in the network; determining whether the donor system has a compatible image; when the donor system has a compatible image, sending an acknowledgement and offer to the recipient system; and uploading a compatible image sent by the donor system to the recipient system; and updating the recipient system BIOS firmware with the uploaded compatible image from the baseboard management controller (BMC).