Method and apparatus for testing an interactive network board in a local area network (LAN).
First Claim
1. A method for testing an interactive network board having a LAN interface, an SCSI interface, and a test interface, comprising the steps of:
- loading a test program, which is designed to exercise the LAN interface and the SCSI interface and to monitor the LAN interface and the SCSI interface for abnormalities, into a RAM on the interactive network board;
activating the test program loaded in the RAM;
executing the test program on the interactive network board;
providing a test result after completing the test program;
providing a test computer, coupled to the interactive network board via the test interface, to detect the test result;
scripting an additional test program in accordance with the test result and loading the additional test program into the RAM; and
executing the additional test program on the interactive network board, and providing an additional test result after completing execution of the additional test program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for testing an interactive network board having a local area network interface, a Small Computer System Interface, and a test interface comprises supplying power to the interactive board, and performing a power-on self-test program within the interactive board. At the completion of the power-on self-test, a test program is loaded into a RAM on the interactive network board through the test interface, and the test program resident in the RAM is activated. The test program is executed and checkpoint test results are outputted after completion of the test program. A test computer is provided to receive the checkpoint test result and may script additional tests in accordance with checkpoint test results. Preferably, at the completion of the test program, ROM-resident firmware is downloaded into the RAM on the interactive board, and the firmware is loaded from the RAM into a ROM on the interactive network board.
84 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for testing an interactive network board having a LAN interface, an SCSI interface, and a test interface, comprising the steps of:
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loading a test program, which is designed to exercise the LAN interface and the SCSI interface and to monitor the LAN interface and the SCSI interface for abnormalities, into a RAM on the interactive network board; activating the test program loaded in the RAM; executing the test program on the interactive network board; providing a test result after completing the test program; providing a test computer, coupled to the interactive network board via the test interface, to detect the test result; scripting an additional test program in accordance with the test result and loading the additional test program into the RAM; and executing the additional test program on the interactive network board, and providing an additional test result after completing execution of the additional test program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for testing an interactive network board having a LAN interface, an SCSI interface, and a test interface, comprising the steps of:
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loading a test program, which is designed to exercise the LAN interface and the SCSI interface and to monitor the LAN interface and the SCSI interface for abnormalities, into a RAM on the interactive network board; executing the test program loaded in the RAM; providing a test result after completing the test program; providing a test computer, coupled to the board via the test interface, to detect the test result; downloading ROM firmware into the RAM after completing the test program; and loading the ROM firmware from the RAM into a PROM on the interactive network board. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for testing an interactive network board having a LAN interface, an SCSI interface, and a test interface, comprising:
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a ROM disposed on the interactive network board for storing process steps; a processor disposed on the interactive network board for processing the stored process steps; a RAM disposed on the interactive network board for receiving and for storing operational instructions; a first test station for sending test programs, which are designed to exercise the LAN interface, and the SCSI interface and to monitor the LAN interface and the SCSI interface for abnormalities, to the interactive network board and for receiving test results from the interactive network board through the test interface; and a second test station for receiving requests for test data from the interactive network board, and for sending test data to said interactive network board through either said LAN interface or said SCSI interface; wherein said processor processes said process steps stored in the ROM upon receiving power from a power supply, and wherein said first test station receives a process test result of said stored process steps via the test interface, and wherein said first test station sends a test program to said RAM, detects a test result of said test program, and provides an indication of a test failure in accordance with the detected test result, and further wherein said processor requests test data from said second test station, said second test station sends the test data to said processor, and a confirmation of receipt of the test data is sent to said first test station via the test interface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for testing an interactive network board having a LAN interface, an SCSI interface, and a test interface, comprising the steps of:
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loading a test program, which is designed to exercise the LAN interface and the SCSI interface and to monitor the LAN interface and the SCSI interface for abnormalities, into a RAM via the test interface on the interactive network board; executing the test program from RAM so as to exercise the LAN interface and the SCSI interface and so as to detect abnormalities in the LAN interface and SCSI interface; providing a test result which indicates whether abnormalities were detected; scripting an additional test program in accordance with the test result received; loading the additional scripted test program into the RAM on the interactive network board; and executing the additional test program. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An interactive network board having a test interface, a LAN interface, and an SCSI interface, said interface network board comprising:
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a PROM for storing a standard program of normal network operability and a power-up self-test program; a RAM for receiving and for storing operational programs; and a processor for executing the operational programs stored in said RAM and for executing, upon power-up, the power-up self-test program stored in said PROM, wherein after executing the power-up self-test program, the processor monitors the test interface for a predetermined period and wherein, if a test program is received through the test interface within the predetermined period, the processor enters a test mode in which test programs are downloaded to said RAM and executed by said processor so as to carry out tests of network operability on said LAN interface and said SCSI interface, and wherein, if the test program is not received through the test interface within the predetermined period, the stored program stored in said ROM is downloaded to said RAM and executed by said processor so as to carry out normal network operability on said LAN interface and said SCSI interface.
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Specification