US Patent 11055106 Bootstrapping a programmable integrated circuit based network interface card

Bootstrapping a programmable integrated circuit (IC) based network interface card (NIC) can include implementing, within the programmable IC, a first circuitry by loading a first stage configuration bitstream, wherein the first circuitry includes a bus endpoint configured to communicate with a host computer via a communication bus, a platform processor, and a first bootloader. The platform processor, executing the first bootloader, loads a first firmware within the programmable IC. A second circuitry is implemented within the programmable IC by the platform processor executing the first firmware to load a second stage configuration bitstream. The second circuitry includes a NIC controller. The platform processor, executing the first firmware, loads a second firmware within the programmable IC. The second firmware is executable to configure the second circuitry.