Patent ID: 8260968

Claim:
A network processor for performing a communication procedure by running a software package, the processor including: a plurality of data interfaces, wherein one of the plurality of interfaces comprises a first Ethernet interface; and at least one input pin coupled to the processor, the at least one input pin configured to receive a first command, wherein: the processor receives a data packet using the first Ethernet interface upon receiving the first command, the processor determines whether the data packet includes a predetermined label within a type field of a non-standard Ethernet packet, wherein the predetermined label differentiates the data packet from a normal Ethernet packet and indicates to the processor that the data packet having the predetermined label set in the type field is used for booting, the processor stores the data packet if the data packet includes the predetermined label within the type field of the non-standard Ethernet packet, the processor drops the data packet if the data packet does not include the predetermined label within the type field of the non-standard Ethernet packet, the processor assembles at least one stored data packet to form the software package, and the processor boots the software package.