PCI hot spare capability for failed components
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a host processor connected to a host bus;
a bus bridge connecting said host bus to a PCI bus;
a system management module connected to said PCI bus, said system management module includes a system management processor;
a primary component connected to said PCI bus for performing specified operations on the PCI bus;
a spare component connected to said PCI bus;
wherein the system management module includes monitor logic for detecting failure of the primary component, and in response, the system management module locks the PCI bus to dynamically switch the spare component for the primary component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system management module (SMM) for a host server system includes a system management processor (SMP) connected to a system management local bus. The system management local bus connects to the system PCI bus through a system management central (SMC). The SMC includes the main arbitration unit for the PCI bus and also includes the arbiter for the system management local bus. The SMM includes a video controller and keyboard and mouse controller connected to the system management local bus to support remote consoling of the SMM. The SMC includes logic to monitor PCI cycles and to issue error signals in the event of a system error. The SMC also isolates failed components by masking request, grant and interrupt lines for the failed device. Further, if a spare component is provided, the SMC permits dynamic switching to the spare. In addition to detecting errors and performing survival and maintenance operations, the SMC enhances system performance during normal operations by supporting master-target priority determinations to more efficiently arbitrate mastership of system busses such as the PCI bus.
257 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a host processor connected to a host bus; a bus bridge connecting said host bus to a PCI bus; a system management module connected to said PCI bus, said system management module includes a system management processor; a primary component connected to said PCI bus for performing specified operations on the PCI bus; a spare component connected to said PCI bus; wherein the system management module includes monitor logic for detecting failure of the primary component, and in response, the system management module locks the PCI bus to dynamically switch the spare component for the primary component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for replacing a failed component on a system bus in a computer system with a spare component located on the system bus, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the system bus for failed components; determining if a device on the system bus has failed; determining if a spare component is available on the system bus for the failed component; locking the system bus; initializing the spare component and copying the failed component'"'"'s contents to the spare component; disabling the failed device; changing the address of the spare component to the address of the failed component; and releasing the bus and resuming normal operation.
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7. A method for replacing a failed component on a system bus in a computer system with a spare component located on the system bus, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the system bus for failed components; determining if a device on the system bus has failed; determining if a spare component is available on the system bus for the failed component; locking the system bus; reconfiguring the system to recognize the spare component by modifying a system memory map to replace the address of the failed component with the address of the spare component; initializing the spare component and copying the failed component'"'"'s contents to the spare component; disabling the failed device; and releasing the bus and resuming normal operation.
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8. A computer system, comprising:
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a host processor connected to a host bus; a bus bridge connecting said host bus to a first system expansion bus; a system management module connected to said first system expansion bus, said system management module including; a system management processor; a system management central control unit coupled to said system management processor by a system management local bus; a system management remote unit connected to a second expansion bus, said system management remote unit connecting to said system management central control unit by a serial bus, said system management remote unit providing a signal to said system management central unit if a failed component is detected on the second expansion bus; a primary component connected to said second expansion bus for performing specified operations; a spare component connected to said second expansion bus; wherein the system management module, in response to detection of a failure on the second system expansion bus, dynamically switching the spare component for the primary component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A network file server, comprising:
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a host processor connected to a host bus; a PCI bus bridge coupling said host bus to a PCI bus; a primary component connected to said PCI bus for performing specified operations; a spare component connected to said PCI bus, said spare component having the capability to perform at least some of the operations of said primary component; a system management module connected to said PCI bus, said system management module including; a system management processor; a system management central unit interfacing a system management local bus to the PCI bus, said system management central unit coupling to the system management processor through the system management local bus; wherein the system management central configures and initializes the spare component in the event of a failure of the primary component. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification