Method for hot add of a mass storage adapter on a system including a dynamically loaded adapter driver

• US 6,179,486 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• 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): Etienne, Ario
• Application Number:
  US08/962,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 395/283, 395/280, 395/281, 395/282, 395/284, 395/882, 395/892, 395/893, 395/894, 395/822, 395/828, 395/830, 395/833, 395/182.05, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 710/100-104, 710/62, 710/72-74, 710/2, 710/8, 710/10, 710/13, 714/7
• US Class Current: 710/302
• 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 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• 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 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 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: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks

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 The software architecture allows users to replace failed components, upgrade outdated components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface adapters and storage, without impacting existing users.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 adding a mass storage adapter to an operational computer including a plurality of bus slots wherein the operational computer has at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling power to the bus slot in response to requests from the central processing unit, the method comprising:

adding a programmable mass storage adapter, which is connected to a plurality of I/O devices, to one of the bus slots having a non-powered state;

enabling power to the bus slot, wherein the at least one programmable data processor determines whether a received request is to enable power;

dynamically loading an adapter driver; and

activating the programmable mass storage adapter so that I/O is communicated between the programmable mass storage adapter and the operational computer.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein activating the programmable mass storage adapter includes sending an activation request from a configuration manager to a filter custom device module associated with the programmable mass storage adapter.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the programmable mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the programmable mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the programmable mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein activating the programmable mass storage adapter includes sending a request from a user interface program to a configuration manager associated with the mass storage adapter.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising receiving a request for the hot add of the programmable mass storage adapter from a user interface program.

8. A method of hot adding a mass storage adapter to an operational computer including a plurality of bus slots wherein the operational computer has at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling power to the bus slot in response to requests from the central processing unit, the method comprising:

adding the mass storage adapter, which is connected to a plurality of I/O devices, to one of the bus slots having a non-powered state;

enabling power to the bus slot, wherein the at least one programmable data processor determines whether a received request is to enable power;

dynamically loading an adapter driver; and

initiating communications between the operational computer and the mass storage adapter.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein initiating communications between the computer and the mass storage adapter includes sending an activation request to a filter custom device module associated with the mass storage adapter.

10. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus.

11. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus.

12. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

13. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein initiating communications includes sending a request from a user interface program to a configuration manager associated with the mass storage adapter.

14. The method as defined in claim 8, additionally comprising receiving a request for the hot add of the mass storage adapter from a user interface program.

15. A method of hot adding a mass storage adapter to an operational computer including at least one canister, wherein the at least one canister includes one or more existing adapters, and wherein the operational computer includes at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling power to the canister slot in response to requests from the central processing unit, the method comprising:

providing a request for the suspension of all I/O communications to the existing adapters;

requesting the operating system to suspend all the I/O communications to the existing adapters;

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

disabling power to a selected canister, while still maintaining power to the operational computer, wherein the at least one programmable data processor determines whether a received request is to disable power;

notifying a requester that all I/O communication is suspended;

adding a new mass storage adapter to the selected canister;

enabling power to the selected canister, wherein the at least one programmable data processor determines whether a received request is to enable power;

restarting communications to the selected existing adapters; and

initiating communications between the operational computer and the new mass storage adapter.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein restarting communications includes sending an input/output packet from a configuration manager to a filter custom device module associated with the mass storage adapter.

17. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the new mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with an Standard Architecture (ISA) bus.

18. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the new mass storage adapter is configured to communicate with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

19. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein requesting the operating system to suspend all of the I/O communications includes sending a request from a user interface program to a configuration manager associated with the new mass storage adapter.

20. The method as defined in claim 15, additionally comprising receiving a request for the hot add of the new mass storage adapter from a user interface program.