Configuration management method for hot adding and hot replacing devices
First Claim
1. A method of maintaining configuration information in a computer system when replacing devices connected to a bus in the computer system, the method comprising:
- creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus;
replacing a device on the bus in the computer system with a replacement device;
retrieving the configuration information for the device replaced by the replacement device from the memory structure; and
writing the retrieved configuration information to the replacement device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A configuration management system and method for adding or replacing devices in a bus in a computer system. The configuration system creates and maintains a memory structure having bus and device configuration information. The system includes a configuration manager which creates a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus within the computer system in which it operates. When a device on the bus is replaced, the configuration manager retrieves the configuration information for the replacement device from the memory structure and uses that information to configure the replacement device. In another aspect of the invention, when a device is added on the bus in the computer system, the configuration manager retrieves selected configuration information for the added device from the memory structure and uses that information to configure the added device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining configuration information in a computer system when replacing devices connected to a bus in the computer system, the method comprising:
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creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus; replacing a device on the bus in the computer system with a replacement device; retrieving the configuration information for the device replaced by the replacement device from the memory structure; and writing the retrieved configuration information to the replacement device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of maintaining configuration information in a computer system when hot adding devices to a bus in the computer system, the method comprising:
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creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus; adding a device in a slot on the bus in the computer system; reviewing the memory structure to determine whether the slot is assigned and if the slot is assigned then generating an error message and halting the process; supplying the power to the slot; retrieving selected configuration information for the added device from the memory structure; and writing the retrieved configuration information to the added device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of maintaining configuration information in a computer system for use in connection with replacing and adding devices to a bus in the computer system, the method comprising:
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creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus including determining the start and end of the memory allocated for the devices on the bus and determining the configuration information for the devices on the bus and storing the read configuration information in the memory structure; replacing a device on the bus in the computer system with a replacement device; retrieving the configuration information for the replacement device from the memory structure; writing the retrieved configuration information to the replacement device; determining memory allocations for a device added on the bus based upon the added device and information in the memory structure; and redetermining the start and end of the memory allocated for the devices on the bus after memory has been allocated for the added device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of maintaining configuration information in a computer system for use in connection with replacing and adding devices to a bus in the computer system, the method comprising:
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creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus including determining the start and end of the memory allocated for the devices and determining the start and end of the memory allocated for input/output (I/O) for the devices on the bus, reading base address registers of the devices on the bus, determining the configuration information for the devices on the bus, and storing the read configuration information in the memory structure; determining memory and input/output allocations for an added device based upon the added device and information in the memory structure; writing the determined memory and input/output allocations to the added device and to the memory structure; and redetermining the start and end of the memory allocated for the devices on the bus after memory has been allocated for the added device.
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19. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer perform the method comprising:
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creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus; determining whether a replacement device on the bus is identical to a device the replacement device replaced; retrieving the configuration information for the device replaced by the replacement device from the memory structure; and writing the retrieved configuration information to the replacement device.
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20. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer perform the method comprising:
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creating a memory structure containing configuration information for a bus and devices located on the bus; reviewing the memory structure to determine whether a slot in which an added device has been plugged is assigned and if the slot is assigned then generating an error message and halting the process; retrieving selected configuration information for the added device from the memory structure; writing the retrieved configuration information to the added device; and determining memory and input/output allocations for the added device based upon the added device and information in the memory structure.
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Specification