embodiments of the present invention provide a method for initializing a plurality of processors of a multi - processor system by executing , at each respective processor of the plurality of processors , at least a portion of local initialization code stored on the respective processor . receiving , at a designated processor of the plurality of processors , external initialization code stored in external memory , wherein the remainder of the plurality of processors do not have access to the external initialization code stored in external memory . determining , the designated processor , send at least a portion of the external initialization code to a processor of the remainder of the plurality of processors .