Performing diagnostic tests of computer devices while operating system is running

• US 20030125908A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Charles James, Wynn, Allen Chester
• Granted Patent: US 6,654,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/26 Functional testing

Abstract

A system and method of performing diagnostic tests of computer devices, including but not limited to memory, while the operating system is running, is presented. One embodiment comprises making a device unavailable for use by a running operating system; making a processor unavailable for use by the running operating system; and running a diagnostic test of the device, the processor executing the diagnostic test to determine whether the device is functioning acceptably, while the processor and the device are unavailable for use by the running operating system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

making a device unavailable for use by a running operating system;

making a processor unavailable for use by the running operating system; and

running a diagnostic test of the device, the processor executing the diagnostic test to determine whether the device is functioning acceptably, while the processor and the device are unavailable for use by the running operating system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the making the device unavailable includes ejecting the device;

and

the making the device available includes inserting the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the making the processor unavailable includes ejecting the processor;

and

the making the processor available includes inserting the processor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the device is a logical object including a t least one hardware component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the processor is a logical object including at least one hardware component.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

making the device available for use by the running operating system if the diagnostic test demonstrates acceptable device functionality.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the running operating system receives requests for the making the device and the processor unavailable for use by the running operating system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

a user-level application program performs

the making the device unavailable;

the making the processor unavailable;

the running;

the making the device available; and

the making the processor available.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein

the running is interrupted when a workload increase of a predetermined magnitude occurs;

and

the making the device available follows the interruption of the running.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein

the device is a memory component.

11. An information handling system comprising:

at least two processors;

a memory operably coupled to the at least two processors;

an operating system operably installed in the memory;

a software program operably installed in the memory for making a device unavailable to the operating system while the operating system is running;

a software program operably installed in the memory for making at least one of the at least two processors unavailable to the operating system while the operating system is running; and

a software program operably installed in the memory for running a diagnostic test of the device, the at least one of the at least two processors executing the diagnostic test while the device and the at least one of the at least two processors are unavailable for use by the running operating system to determine whether the device is functioning acceptably.

12. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the making the device unavailable includes ejecting the device;

and

the making the device available includes inserting the device.

13. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the making the at least one of the at least two processors unavailable includes ejecting the processor;

and

the making the at least one of the at least two processors available includes inserting the processor.

14. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the device is a logical object including at least one hardware component.

15. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the at least one of the at least two processors is a logical object including at least one hardware component.

16. The information handling system of claim 11, further comprising:

a software program operably installed in the memory for making the device available to the operating system if the diagnostic test demonstrates acceptable device functionality.

17. The information handling system of claim 16, wherein

the running operating system receives requests for the making the device and the at least one of the at least two processors unavailable for use by the running operating system.

18. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the software program operably installed in the memory for the making the device unavailable is a user-level application program;

the software program operably installed in the memory for making the at least one of the at least two processors unavailable is the user-level application program;

the software program operably installed in the memory for the running the diagnostic test is the user-level application program;

the software program operably installed in the memory for the making the device available is the user-level application program; and

the software program operably installed in the memory for making the at least one of the at least two processors available is the user-level application program.

19. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the running is interrupted when a workload increase of a predetermined magnitude occurs;

and the making the device available follows the interruption of the running.

20. The information handling system of claim 11, wherein

the device is a memory component.

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for making a device unavailable for use by a running operating system;

means for making a processor unavailable for use by the running operating system; and

means for running a diagnostic test of the device, the processor executing the diagnostic test to determine whether the device is functioning acceptably, while the processor and the device are unavailable for use by the running operating system.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the means for making the device unavailable includes means for ejecting the device;

and

the means for making the device available includes means for inserting the device.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the means for making the processor unavailable includes means for ejecting the processor;

and

the means for making the processor available includes means for inserting the processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the device is a logical object including at least one hardware component.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the processor is a logical object including at least one hardware component.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for making the device available for use by the running operating system if the diagnostic test demonstrates acceptable device functionality.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the running operating system receives requests for the making the device and the processor unavailable for use by the running operating system.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the means for the making the device unavailable is a user-level application program;

the means for making the processor unavailable is the user-level application program;

the means for the running the diagnostic test is the user-level application program;

the means for the making the device available is the user-level application program; and

the means for the making the processor available is the user-level application program.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the running is interrupted and the making the device available follows the interruption of the running when a workload increase of a predetermined magnitude occurs.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein

the device is a memory component.