Patent ID: 7761734

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for restoring firmware, comprising: under control of a first programmable hardware device in a server, periodically determining whether a second programmable hardware device in the server needs a valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the second programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the second programmable hardware device; and sending the valid firmware image to the second programmable hardware device via a private communication link, wherein the private communication link enables private communication between the first programmable hardware device and the second programmable hardware device; and under control of the second programmable hardware device, in response to receiving the valid firmware image from the first programmable storage device, restoring existing firmware using the valid firmware image; periodically determining whether the first programmable hardware device needs a valid firmware image; and in response to determining that the first programmable hardware device needs the valid firmware image, retrieving a copy of the valid firmware image for the first programmable hardware device; and sending the valid firmware image to the first programmable hardware device via the private communication link.