Patent ID: 8898797

Claim:
An information handling system comprising: a processor operable to execute instructions; memory interfaced with the processor and operable to store the instructions; a chipset operable to store and execute firmware; a Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) stored in the chipset and operable to execute on the chipset; an auxiliary subsystem separate from the chipset and interfaced with the BIOS, the auxiliary subsystem performing an auxiliary function with option Read Only Memory (ROM) firmware instructions stored on the auxiliary subsystem; a write protect module stored on the auxiliary subsystem and selectively locking and unlocking a write protect of the option ROM firmware instructions; and an option ROM updater stored in the chipset and interfaced with the BIOS, the option ROM updater detecting an option ROM update bit set at the BIOS and in response to detecting the option ROM update bit to unlocking the write protect and to load an option ROM update from a predetermined location to the auxiliary subsystem to write updated option ROM firmware instructions on the auxiliary subsystem; wherein the option ROM updater is further operable to detect completion of the writing of the option ROM firmware instructions and in response to detecting completion to lock the write protect of the option ROM firmware instructions; and wherein the predetermined location comprises a network location stored in the auxiliary subsystem and wherein the option ROM updater retrieves the network location from the auxiliary subsystem upon detection of the option ROM update bit.