Hardware function isolating during slow mode initial program loading

• US 20070220335A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gollub, Marc, Liu, Chuon
• Application Number:
  US11/364,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/263 Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences ; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for performing a diagnostic in a hardware component established in a data processing system. The method includes starting a first slow mode initial program loading in the hardware component, wherein the hardware component contains a first diagnostic routine. A determination is made whether the first diagnostic routine fails during the slow mode initial program loading. Responsive to a determination that the first diagnostic routine fails, the first diagnostic routine is isolated.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for performing a diagnostic in hardware components, the method comprising:

starting a slow mode initial program loading in a hardware component located in a data processing system, wherein the hardware component contains a diagnostic routine that is run during the slow mode initial program loading;

determining if the diagnostic routine fails during the slow mode initial program loading; and

responsive to a determination that diagnostic routine fails, isolating the diagnostic routine, wherein when isolated the diagnostic routine is prevented from functioning during operation of the hardware component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the slow mode initial program loading is a first slow mode initial program loading and wherein the method further comprises:

completing the first slow mode initial program loading; and

initiating a second initial program loading.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the diagnostic routine is a first diagnostic routine, wherein the hardware component contains a second diagnostic routine, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the first diagnostic routine is isolated;

responsive to a determination that the first diagnostic routine is isolated, skipping the first diagnostic routine;

determining if the second diagnostic routine fails during the second slow mode initial program loading; and

responsive to a determination that the second diagnostic routine fails, isolating the second diagnostic routine.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

completing the second slow mode initial program loading.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second diagnostic routine is isolated and wherein the method further comprises:

determining if additional diagnostic routines should be run during additional executions of slow mode initial program loading;

responsive to determining that no additional diagnostic routines should be run, performing a fast initial program loading in which the first diagnostic routine and the second diagnostic routine are skipped.

6. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for performing a diagnostic in a hardware component established in a data processing system, said computer program product including;

computer usable program code for starting a slow mode initial program loading in a hardware component located in a data processing system, wherein the hardware component contains a diagnostic routine that is run during the slow mode initial program loading;

computer usable program code for determining if the diagnostic routine fails during the slow mode initial program loading; and

computer usable program code for, responsive to a determination that diagnostic routine fails, isolating the diagnostic routine, wherein when isolated the diagnostic routine is prevented from functioning during operation of the hardware component.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the slow mode initial program loading is a first slow mode initial program loading and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

computer usable program code for completing the first slow mode initial program loading; and

computer usable program code for initiating a second initial program loading.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic routine is a first diagnostic routine, wherein the hardware component contains a second diagnostic routine, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

computer usable program code for determining whether the first diagnostic routine is isolated;

computer usable program code for, responsive to a determination that the first diagnostic routine is isolated, skipping the first diagnostic routine;

computer usable program code for determining if the second diagnostic routine fails during the second slow mode initial program loading; and

computer usable program code for, responsive to a determination that the second diagnostic routine fails, isolating the second diagnostic routine.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising:

computer usable program code for completing the second slow mode initial program loading.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the second diagnostic routine is isolated and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

computer usable program code for determining if additional diagnostic routines should be run during additional executions of slow mode initial program loading;

computer usable program code for, responsive to determining that no additional diagnostic routines should be run, performing a fast initial program loading in which the first diagnostic routine and the second diagnostic routine are skipped.

11. A data processing system comprising:

a processor;

a bus connected to the processor;

a hardware component connected to the bus, the hardware component containing a first diagnostic routine;

a computer usable medium connected to the bus, wherein the computer usable medium contains a set of instructions, wherein the processor is adapted to carry out the set of instructions to;

start a slow mode initial program loading in a hardware component located in a data processing system, wherein the hardware component contains a diagnostic routine that is run during the slow mode initial program loading;

determine if the diagnostic routine fails during the slow mode initial program loading; and

responsive to a determination that diagnostic routine fails, isolate the diagnostic routine, wherein when isolated the diagnostic routine is prevented from functioning during operation of the hardware component.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the slow mode initial program loading is a first slow mode initial program loading and wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

complete the first slow mode initial program loading; and

initiate a second initial program loading.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic routine is a first diagnostic routine, wherein the hardware component contains a second diagnostic routine, and wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

determine whether the first diagnostic routine is isolated;

responsive to a determination that the first diagnostic routine is isolated, skip the first diagnostic routine;

determine if the second diagnostic routine fails during the second slow mode initial program loading; and

responsive to a determination that the second diagnostic routine fails, isolate the second diagnostic routine.

14. The data processing system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

complete the second slow mode initial program loading.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein the second diagnostic routine is isolated and wherein the processor is further adapted to carry out the set of instructions to:

determine if additional diagnostic routines should be run during additional executions of slow mode initial program loading;

responsive to determining that no additional diagnostic routines should be run, perform a fast initial program loading in which the first diagnostic routine and the second diagnostic routine are skipped.

16. A data processing system for performing a diagnostic in a hardware component established in a data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

means for starting a slow mode initial program loading in a hardware component located in a data processing system, wherein the hardware component contains a diagnostic routine that is run during the slow mode initial program loading;

means for determining if the diagnostic routine fails during the slow mode initial program loading; and

means for, responsive to a determination that diagnostic routine fails, isolating the diagnostic routine, wherein when isolated the diagnostic routine is prevented from functioning during operation of the hardware component.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the slow mode initial program loading is a first slow mode initial program loading and wherein the data processing system further comprises:

means for completing the first slow mode initial program loading; and

means for initiating a second initial program loading.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the diagnostic routine is a first diagnostic routine, wherein the hardware component contains a second diagnostic routine, and wherein the data processing system further comprises:

means for determining whether the first diagnostic routine is isolated;

means for, responsive to a determination that the first diagnostic routine is isolated, skipping the first diagnostic routine;

means for determining if the second diagnostic routine fails during the second slow mode initial program loading; and

means for, responsive to a determination that the second diagnostic routine fails, isolating the second diagnostic routine.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for completing the second slow mode initial program loading.

20. The data processing system of claim 19 wherein the second diagnostic routine is isolated and wherein the data processing system further comprises:

means for determining if additional diagnostic routines should be run during additional executions of slow mode initial program loading;

means for responsive to determining that no additional diagnostic routines should be run, performing a fast initial program loading in which the first diagnostic routine and the second diagnostic routine are skipped.