Method and system for testing hardware and software configurations in a computer system

• US 20030023900A1
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Liles, Terry Wayne, Smith, T. Gavin
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method that includes setting a plurality of switching devices to cause a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system is provided. The method also includes booting the computer system and detecting one or more errors associated with one or more of the first plurality of devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

setting a plurality of switching devices to cause a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system;

booting the computer system; and

detecting one or more errors associated with one or more of the first plurality of devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to detecting the one or more errors, setting the plurality of switching devices to cause a second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system, the second plurality of devices including at least one device that is not included in the first plurality of devices.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

subsequent to setting the plurality of switching devices to cause the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

rebooting the computer system; and

detecting one or more errors associated with one or more of the second plurality of devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the one or more errors into a log file on the computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the one or more errors onto a storage device located remotely from the computer system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting an additional switching device to cause one of a second plurality of devices to be coupled to one of the first plurality of devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a splitter device to cause a second plurality of devices to be coupled to the first plurality of devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to booting the computer system, performing one or more tests on the computer system using the first plurality of devices; and

storing results associated with the one or more tests into a log file.

9. A method comprising:

setting a first switching device to cause a first one of a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system;

setting a second switching device to cause a first one of a second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

booting the computer system;

detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices using the computer system; and

detecting the first one of the second plurality of devices using the computer system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

subsequent to detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices and the second one of the second plurality of devices, setting the first switching device to cause a second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

subsequent to setting the first switching device to cause the second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

rebooting the computer system; and

detecting the second one of the first plurality of devices using the computer system.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting an error associated with detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

storing the error into a log file on the computer system.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting an error associated with detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

storing the error into a log file on a storage device located remotely from the computer system.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

setting a third switching device to cause one of a third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first one of the first plurality of devices.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

setting a splitter device to cause a third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first plurality of devices.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

subsequent to detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices, performing one or more tests on the computer system using the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices; and

storing results associated with the one or more tests into a log file.

17. A computer program product comprising:

a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to;

set a first switching device to cause a first one of a first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

set a second switching device to cause a first one of a second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

reboot the computer system;

detect the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

detect the first one of the second plurality of devices; and

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

subsequent to detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices and the second one of the second plurality of devices, set the first switching device to cause a second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

subsequent to setting the first switching device to cause the second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

reboot the computer system; and

detect the second one of the first plurality of devices using the computer system.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

detect an error associated with detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

store the error into a log file on the computer system.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

detect an error associated with detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

store the error into a log file on a storage device located remotely from the computer system.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

set a third switching device to cause one of a third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first one of the first plurality of devices.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

set a splitter device to cause a third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first plurality of devices.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program is for causing the computer system to:

subsequent to detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices, perform one or more tests on the computer system using the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices; and

storing results associated with the one or more tests into a log file.

25. A system comprising:

a computer system that includes a first connection and a second connection;

a first switching device coupled to the first connection;

a first plurality of devices coupled to the first switching device;

a second switching device coupled to the second connection;

a second plurality of devices coupled to the second switching device;

the first switching device able to be set to cause a first one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

the second switching device able to be set to cause a first one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system; and

the computer system configured to detect the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices in response to the first switching device being set to cause the first one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system and the second switching device being set to cause the first one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system and in response to being booted.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a control module configured to cause the first switching device to be set to cause the first one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system, and the control module configured to cause the second switching device to be set to cause the first one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the control module includes at least one hardware component.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the control module includes at least one software component.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer system includes the control module.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the control module is located externally from the computer system.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the control module is configured to cause the computer system to boot subsequent to causing the first switching device to be set and causing the second switching device to be set.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the control module is configured to cause the first switching device to be set to cause a second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system, and wherein the control module is configured to cause the second switching device to be set to cause a second one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the control module is configured to cause the computer system to be rebooted subsequent to causing the first switching device to be set to cause the second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

34. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a third switching device coupled to the first plurality of devices; and

a third plurality of devices coupled to the third switching device;

the third switching device able to be set to cause one of the third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first one of the first plurality of devices.

35. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a splitter device coupled to the first plurality of devices; and

a third plurality of devices coupled to the splitter device;

the splitter device able to be set to cause the third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first plurality of devices.