Method for hot swapping a programmable storage adapter using a programmable processor for selectively enabling or disabling power to adapter slot in response to respective request signals

• US 6,173,346 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Khalili, Mehrdad, Reed, John M., Mahalingam, Mallikarjunan, Wallach, Walter August
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng-Ai T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US08/942,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 395/283, 395/182.05, 395/280, 395/281, 395/308, 395/309, 395/830, 395/182.6, 395/282, 395/884, 395/311, 395/500, 395/653, 395/828, 710/100, 710/101, 710/103, 710/128, 710/129, 710/131, 710/64, 710/8, 710/5, 710/17, 710/18, 710/46, 710/72, 714/7-8, 714/64
• US Class Current: 710/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0793 Remedial or corrective actions recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3041 where the computing system component is an input/output interface interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3065 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in reporting the monitored data error or fault reporting or logging G06F11/0766
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• 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 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 : Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A software architecture for the hot add and swap of adapters. The software architecture allows users to replace failed components, upgrade outdated components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface adapters and storage, without impacting existing users. The software architecture supports the hot add and swap of off-the-shelf adapters, including those adapters that are programmable.

Claims

1. A method of hot swapping a standard programmable mass storage adapter connected to an operational computer, comprising:

providing a hot plug hardware in the operational computer, the hot plug hardware being configured to enable and disable power to the standard programmable mass storage adapter, wherein the operational computer has at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling the power to an adapter slot in response to requests from the central processing unit, and determining whether a received request is to disable or enable power;

receiving a hot swap request from a user interface program for the hot swap of the standard programmable mass storage adapter, wherein the hot swap request causes suspension of communications and power disablement to the standard programmable mass storage adapter;

receiving a request for the suspension of all input/output (I/O) communications to the standard programmable mass storage adapter;

requesting the operating system to suspend all communications to the standard programmable mass storage adapter;

waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard programmable mass storage adapter;

notifying the requester that all I/O is suspended;

disabling power to the standard programmable mass storage adapter, wherein the disabling occurs under the control of the hot plug hardware and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to disable power;

removing the standard programmable mass storage adapter;

inserting a new standard programmable mass storage adapter into the operational computer;

enabling power to the standard programmable mass storage adapter, wherein the enabling occurs under the control of the hot plug hardware and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to enable power;

programming the new standard programmable mass storage adapter to have at least a portion of the configuration information associated with the configuration information as the removed standard programmable mass storage adapter; and

restarting communications between the operational computer and the new standard programmable mass storage adapter.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising storing configuration information that is associated with the standard programmable mass storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard programmable mass storage adapter includes:

(i) using a counter to define a waiting period;

(ii) requesting the number of the pending I/O communications from an operating system; and

(iii) decrementing the counter, responsive to the requesting.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard programmable mass storage adapter additionally includes:

receiving the number of pending I/O communications from the operating system; and

ending the waiting period when the number of pending I/O communications is equal to zero.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard programmable mass storage adapter additionally includes:

receiving from the operating system the number of pending I/O communications; and

repeating steps (i), (ii), and (iii) if the number of pending I/O communications is greater than zero.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein restarting communications includes sending an input/output packet to a filter custom device module that is associated with the new programmable mass storage adapter.

7. A method of hot swapping a standard mass storage adapter connected to an operational computer, comprising:

providing a hot plug hardware in the operational computer, the hot plug hardware being configured to enable and disable power to the standard mass storage adapter, wherein the operational computer has at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling the power to the adapter in response to requests from the central processing unit, and determining whether a received request is to disable or enable power;

receiving a hot swap request from a user interface program for the hot swap of the standard mass storage adapter, wherein the hot swap request causes suspension of communications and power disablement to the standard mass storage adapter;

receiving a request for the suspension of all I/O communications to the standard mass storage adapter;

requesting the operating system to suspend all communications to the standard mass storage adapter;

waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard mass storage adapter;

notifying the requester that all I/O is suspended;

disabling power to the standard mass storage adapter, wherein the disabling occurs under the control of the hot plug hardware and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to disable power;

removing the standard mass storage adapter from the operational computer;

inserting a new standard mass storage adapter into the operational computer at the same location formerly occupied by the mass storage adapter;

enabling power to the new standard mass storage adapter, wherein the enabling occurs under the control of and within the operational computer and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to enable power;

programming the new standard mass storage adapter to have at least a portion of the configuration information associated with the configuration information as the removed standard mass storage adapter; and

restarting communications between the operational computer and the new standard mass storage adapter.

8. The method of claim 7, additionally comprising storing configuration information that is associated with the standard mass storage device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard mass storage adapter includes:

(i) using a counter to define a waiting period;

(ii) requesting the number of the pending I/O communications from an operating system; and

(iii) decrementing the counter, responsive to the requesting.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard mass storage adapter additionally includes:

receiving the number of pending I/O communications from the operating system; and

ending the waiting period when the number of pending I/O communications is equal to zero.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the standard mass storage adapter additionally includes:

receiving the number of pending I/O communications from the operating system; and

repeating steps (i), (ii), and (iii) if the number of pending I/O communications is greater than zero.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein restarting communications includes sending an input/output packet to a filter custom device module that is associated with the new mass storage adapter.

13. A method of hot swapping a standard mass storage adapter connected to an operational computer including at least one canister, wherein the canister connects to one or more existing adapters, comprising:

providing a hot plug hardware in the operational computer, the hot plug hardware being configured to enable and disable power to the standard mass storage adapter, wherein the operational computer has at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling the power to the adapter in response to requests from the central processing unit, and determining whether a received request is to disable or enable power;

receiving a hot swap request from a user interface program for the hot swap of the standard mass storage adapter, wherein the hot swap request causes suspension of communications and power disablement to the standard mass storage adapter;

receiving a request for the suspension of all input/output (I/O) communications to one or more adapters that are connected to one of the canisters that contains the standard mass storage adapter;

requesting the operating system to suspend all communications to the adapters;

waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the adapters;

notifying the requester that all I/O is suspended;

disabling power to the selected canister with the standard adapters, while maintaining power to the computer and other adapters, wherein the disabling occurs under the control of the hot plug hardware and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to disable power;

disconnecting the selected canister from the operational computer;

removing a selected one of the standard mass storage adapters from the canister;

adding a new standard mass storage adapter in the canister at the same location formerly occupied by the selected mass storage adapter;

connecting the selected canister to the operational computer;

enabling power to the adapters in the canister, wherein the enabling occurs under the control of and within the operational computer and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to enable power;

restarting communications to the adapters; and

restarting communications between the operable computer and the new standard mass storage adapter.

14. The method of claim 13, additionally comprising storing configuration information that is associated with the standard programmable mass storage device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the adapters includes:

(i) using a counter to defile a waiting period;

(ii) requesting the number of the pending I/O communications from an operating system; and

(iii) decrementing the counter, responsive to the requesting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the adapters additionally includes:

receiving the number of pending I/O communications from the operating system; and

ending the waiting period when the number of pending I/O communications is equal to zero.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein waiting for the completion of any pending I/O communications to the adapters additionally includes:

receiving the number of pending I/O communications from the operating system; and

repeating steps (i), (ii), and (iii) if the number of pending I/O communications is greater than zero.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein restarting communications includes sending an input/output packet to a filter custom device module that is associated with the new programmable mass storage adapter.