The disclosed embodiments relate generally to providing increased data integrity
in computer systems and, more particularly, to using a system management processor
to overcome a computer system failure because of corrupted programming. A system
management processor detects an attempted boot by host computer system and starts
a watchdog timer. If the system BIOS or other firmware fails to execute, the watchdog
timer expires and the system management processor places the system processor(s)
in a reset state. The system management processor provides the address of a back-up
BIOS or firmware and releases the system processor(s) from the reset state. The
system processor(s) are redirected to the back-up BIOS or firmware and the computer
system is able to boot.