Diagnostic configuration management for a data processing system

• US 4,888,771 A
• Filed: 06/23/1988
• Issued: 12/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Browning, Luke M., Benignus, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAUSOLIEL JR, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US07/210,587
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 371/15, 371/16, 371/17, 371/18, 371/20, 371/11, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/300, 324/73 R, 324/73 AT
• US Class Current: 714/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2257 using expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2289 by configuration test
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/916 Electronic or computer, internal or network, circuit

Abstract

The system and method of this invention classifies the options of a data processing system into test levels based upon the dependency of the option to other options within a configuration of the processing system. The test level information for each option is stored in a present configuration list of the options. In addition, prerequisite rule bases are linked to each dependent option in the configuration list. The diagnostic system accesses the test level information and the prerequisite rule base information to determine when to test an option, and the order in which to test options, when isolating a failing option. A failing option can be isolated during a system checkout, a selected option checkout, or by resolving a missing option in the present configuration.

Claims

1. A system for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said system comprising:

means for defining a plurality of test levels for a configuration of said processing system;

means for assigning one of said test levels to each one of said options based on the dependency of said each option to other of said options in said configuration; and

means for checking the plurality of options in an order determined by the test level assignment of each of said options during a system checkout of said processing system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a first test level is assigned to said options within a system unit of said processing system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein a second test level is assigned to said options that are immediately dependent upon said first test level options.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein a third test level is assigned to said options that are immediately dependent upon said second test level options.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for identifying a failed option during said system checkout at the test level of said failed option.

6. A system for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said system comprising:

a configuration list having an entry for each of said options in a present configuration of said processing system;

means for identifying, in said configuration list, a hierarchy of dependent options in said present configuration; and

means for accessing said identified hierarchy for determining an order in checking at least one option antecedent to a selected option during a checkout of said selected option.

7. A system for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said system comprising:

a configuration list having an entry for each of said options in a present configuration of said processing system;

means for linking, in said configuration list, a prerequisite rule base for each of said options dependent upon another option in said present configuration; and

means for accessing said linked prerequisite rule base for determining an order in checking at least one option antecedent to a selected option during a checkout of said selected option.

8. A system for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said system comprising:

a configuration list having an entry for each of said options in a present configuration of said processing system;

means for identifying, in said configuration list, a location independent rule base for each of said options; and

means for linking, in said configuration list, said location independent rule base of each option to a dependent option of said each option.

9. A system for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said system comprising:

a configuration list having an entry for each of said options in a present configuration of said processing system;

means for assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of said options in said configuration list; and

means for linking, in said configuration list, a plurality of prerequisite rule bases in an order representing a dependency of an option to other of said options in said configuration of said processing system.

10. A system for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said system comprising:

a configuration list having an entry for each of said options in a present configuration of said processing system;

means for assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of said options in said configuration list;

means for linking, in said configuration list, a plurality of prerequisite rule bases in an order representing a dependency of an option to other of said options in said configuration of said processing system; and

means for utilizing said test level assignment and said linked prerequisite rule base during a resolution of a missing option.

11. A system for isolating a failed option in a present configuration of a processing system, said system comprising:

a configuration list having an entry for each of said options;

means for identifying a test level for each of said options in said configuration list;

means for identifying a prerequisite rule base for each of said options in said configuration list; and

means for resolving a missing option from said present configuration based on said test level identified and prerequisite rule base identified in said configuration list.

12. A method for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said method comprising:

defining a plurality of test levels for a configuration of said processing system;

assigning one of said test levels to each one of said options based on the dependency of said each option to other of said options in said configuration; and

checking the plurality of options in an order determined by the test level assignment of each of said options during a system checkout of said processing system.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of identifying a failed option during said system checkout at the test level of said failed option.

14. A method for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said method comprising:

identifying, in a configuration list, a hierarchy of dependent options in said present configuration; and

accessing said identified hierarchy for determining an order in checking at least one option antecedent to a selected option during a checkout of said selected option.

15. A method for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said method comprising:

linking, in a configuration list, a prerequisite rule base for each of said options dependent upon another option in said present configuration; and

accessing said linked prerequisite rule base for determining an order in checking at least one option antecedent to a selected option during a checkout of said selected option.

16. A method for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said method comprising:

identifying, in a configuration list, a location independent rule base for each of said options; and

linking, in said configuration list, said location independent rule base of each option to a dependent option of said each option.

17. A method for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said method comprising:

assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of said options in a configuration list; and

linking, in said configuration list, a plurality of prerequisite rule bases in an order representing a dependency of an option to other of said options in said configuration of said processing system.

18. A method for running diagnostics on a processing system having a plurality of attachable options, said method comprising:

assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of said options in a configuration list;

linking, in said configuration list, a plurality of prerequisite rule bases in an order representing a dependency of an option to other of said options in said configuration of said processing system; and

utilizing said test level assignment and said linked prerequisite rule base during a resolution of a missing option.

19. A method for isolating a failed option in a present configuration of a processing system, said method comprising:

identifying a test level for each of said options in a configuration list;

identifying a prerequisite rule base for each of said options in said configuration list; and

resolving a missing option from said present configuration based on said test level identified and prerequisite rule base identified in said configuration list.

20. A method for isolating a failed option in a present configuration of a data processing system, said method comprising:

comparing a past configuration list to a present configuration to determine a set of options missing from a present configuration of said processing system;

assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of a plurality of options in said data processing system;

identifying a hierarchy of dependent options in a configuration of said processing system;

identifying a first missing option having a lowest test level; and

deleting, from said set of missing options, said first missing option and said identified hierarchy of dependent options of said first missing option if another option has replaced said first missing option in a same location within said configuration.

21. A method for isolating a failed option in a present configuration of a data processing system, said method comprising:

comparing a past configuration list to a present configuration to determine a set of options missing from a present configuration of said processing system;

assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of a plurality of options in said data processing system;

identifying a hierarchy of dependent options in a configuration of said processing system;

identifying a first missing option having a lowest test level;

testing at least one antecedent option, in an order determined by said hierarchy of dependent options; and

identifying said antecedent option which fails said test as said failed option.

22. A method for isolating a failed option in a present configuration of a data processing system, said method comprising:

comparing a past configuration list to a present configuration to determine a set of options missing from a present configuration of said processing system;

assigning one of a plurality of test levels to each of a plurality of options in said data processing system;

identifying a hierarchy of dependent options in a configuration of said processing system;

identifying a first missing option having a lowest test level;

testing at least one antecedent option, in an order determined by said hierarchy of dependent options; and

identifying said first missing option as said failing option if each of said antecedent options passes said test.

23. A method of testing a configuration of a data processing system having a plurality of options, said method comprising:

classifying the configuration into a plurality of test levels depending upon the location of the options within the processing system, and the dependency of each of said options to other of said options; and

testing options classified within a lower level before testing options classified within a next higher level;

defining a prerequisite rule base for each of said options; and

testing a plurality of options in an order as determined by said test level and said prerequisite rule base of each of said plurality of options.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of halting the test at a current test level if an option at the current test level fails, and displaying an indicator of said failed option.