Importance

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Abstract

A programming method for flashing a read only memory (ROM) chip of a host adapter with an updated BIOS code is provided. The host adapter is connected to a host computer system. The method includes building a table having start address information and memory size information of memory space occupied in the random access memory (RAM) of the host computer system by one or more PCI host adapters which are connected to the computer system via a PCI bus. The method then moves to identifying a selected PCI host adapter having a ROM chip. A desired amount of memory space for an updated option ROM code is then mapped between the RAM of the host computer system and the ROM chip. A start address in RAM of an additional PCI host adapter that is determined to lie within the desired amount of memory space is redirected. Preferably, the redirection is temporarily made to zero. The method now moves to loading the updated option ROM code into the desired amount of memory space in RAM and in the ROM chip of the selected host adapter. The preferred method also includes restoring the start address in RAM of the additional PCI host adapter after the loading of the updated option ROM code is complete. If there is more than one host adapter occupying space in the desired amount of memory space, each of the start addresses of those host adapters is also temporarily redirected to zero while the loading is performed.

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First Claim