Systems and methods for performing a hot input function

• US 20070276975A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chari, Srikumar, Bright, Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user'"'"'s replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a “hot” condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the “hot swap” or “hot add” functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The system requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A user interface for hot plugging a device in a system, wherein the user interface is configured to perform acts comprising:

showing a user steps performed in at least one of a hot add process and a hot swap process; and

guiding the user in performance of the steps.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein said showing comprises showing the user a plurality of screen displays.

4. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the hot add process and hot swap process is associated with a peripheral adapter.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the peripheral adapter comprises a sound board.

6. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the peripheral adapter comprises a co-processor.

7. The user interface of claim 2, further comprising showing the user steps in powering down a selected slot or canister of the system.

8. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the user interface is further configured to indicate that a selected operational slot is configured to support the at least one of the hot add process and hot swap process.

9. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a request from the user to perform the at least one of the hot add process and hot swap process.

10. The user interface of claim 2, wherein said guiding comprises providing the user with information in graphical form.

11. A module for creating a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to perform the acts comprising:

showing a user steps performed in at least one of a hot add process and a hot swap process; and

guiding the user in performance of the steps.

12. The module of claim 11, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a selection of a peripheral adapter associated with the at least one of the hot add process and hot swap process.

13. The module of claim 12, wherein the user interface is further configured to initiate a request to a configuration manager to suspend and restart communications to the selected peripheral adapter.

14. The module of claim 11, wherein said guiding comprises showing the user a sequence of screen displays.

15. The module of claim 14, wherein the sequence of screen displays comprises a plurality of windows.

16. The module of claim 11, wherein said guiding comprises providing the user with information in character-oriented form.

17. The module of claim 11, wherein the user interface is further configured to display one or more available slots.

18. The module of claim 17, wherein the one or more available slots are configured to support the at least one of the hot add process and hot swap process.

19. The module of claim 11, wherein the module is in further communication with an adapter module configured to determine when an adapter in a selected slot is suspended.

20. A user interface for hot plugging a device in a computer system, the user interface comprising:

means for showing a user steps performed in at least one of a hot add process and a hot swap process; and

means for guiding the user in performance of the steps.

21. The user interface of claim 20, further comprising means for identifying which of one or more available slots is configured to support the at least one of the hot add process and hot swap process.