Method for coexistence and cooperation between system firmware and debug code

A method and apparatus are provided for implementing coexistence and cooperation between system firmware and debug code. A service processor is coupled to a machine under test for sending system firmware test functions to the machine under test and receiving test data from the machine under test. A host computer is coupled to the service processor for sending bring-up tool debug test functions to the machine under test and receiving test data from the machine under test. The system firmware starts without user intervention on initial power-on routine of the machine under test. When the host computer receives a user request, the host computer notifies the service processor. The bring-up tool debug test functions are started responsive to the user request. The system firmware can be used for certain operations to a certain point in an operational test sequence of the machine under test and then the debug tool debug test functions are used for other functions that are not implemented in the system firmware. A user can use either the system firmware or the bring-up tool debug test functions at any time.