Patent ID: 7526639

Claim:
A computer implemented method for enhancing boot time of a computer system, the method comprising: initializing firmware of an initial program load on a plurality of service processors; determining if any one of the plurality of service processors is non-operational, wherein determining if a service processor within the plurality of service processors is non-operational comprises: powering-up the plurality of service processors; running a built-in self-test on each service processor within the plurality of service processors; and determining whether the built-in self-test fails on at least one service processor within the plurality of service processors; responsive to determining that the plurality of service processors is operational, performing specific initialization tasks, wherein the specific initialization tasks are performed on the plurality of service processors and wherein each service processor in the plurality of service processors performs an independent non-redundant initialization task concurrently as another independent non-redundant initialization task is performed by another service processor in the plurality of service processors, the independent non-redundant initialization task being specified in initial program load firmware that is stored on a flash memory; switching control back to a primary service processor within the plurality of service processors; loading a set of runtime firmware, wherein the set of runtime firmware is loaded by the primary service processor; responsive to completing the loading of the set of runtime firmware, transferring operation to an operating system; responsive to determining a non-operational status of a service processor in the plurality of service processors, performing all initialization tasks by an operational service processor.