The disclosed embodiments relate generally to providing increased data integrity
in computer systems and, more particularly, to using a system management processor
to maintain the integrity of stored information. A system management processor
detects an attempt to reboot the computer system and holds the system processor
or processors in a reset state. While the system processor or processors are held
in the reset state, the system management processor checks data such as the system
BIOS to identify corruption. If the data checked by the system management processor
is not corrupted, the system processor or processors are removed from the reset
state and allowed to continue normal operation. If the data checked by the system
management processor is corrupted, the system management processor repairs the
corrupted data before removing the system processor or processors from the reset state.
