System for independent powering of a computer system

• US 6,202,160 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheikh, Tahir Q., Johnson, Karl S.
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/942,410
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/340, 713/323, 713/324, 307/66, 709/217
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• 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 11/0775 Content or structure details of the error report, e.g. specific table structure, specific error fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0787 Storage of error reports, e.g. persistent data storage, storage using memory protection
• 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 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• 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 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• 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 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• 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 41/0681 : Configuration of triggering conditions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A fault tolerant system for independent powering of diagnostic processes through a remote interface by use of a serial (local) or modem (dial-in) gateway. A server connects to a local or remote facility which includes a client computer. If the internal server power is off, the remote interface provides independent external power to portions of the server to facilitate reading of the server internal status or to remotely power up the server from the client computer. The remote interface provides bias power to a chassis microcontroller and a system recorder comprising a non-volatile memory and a microcontroller. The management of the server devices is directed by a network of microcontrollers without intervention of the server operating system software.

Claims

1. A system for independent powering of a first computer, comprising:

a first computer storing status information;

a first computer power supply that supplies power to the first computer;

a remote interface power supply that is independent from the first computer power supply; and

a remote interface circuit that receives power from the remote interface power supply so as to power at least a computational device in the remote interface circuit and is configured to provide independent power to only a portion of the first computer to facilitate reading of the status information.

2. The system defined in claim 1, additionally comprising a second computer in data communication with the first computer through the remote interface circuit.

3. The system defined in claim 2, wherein the second computer displays the status information.

4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the independent power provided by the remote interface circuit is isolated from the first computer power supply by a diode.

5. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the independent power supply includes an AC to DC adapter.

6. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the status information is stored in a system log.

7. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the system log is stored in a non-volatile, random access memory (NVRAM).

8. The system defined in claim 7, wherein the NVRAM is accessed by a microcontroller.

9. The system defined in claim 1, wherein independent power is provided to the first computer when the first computer power supply is off.

10. The system defined in claim 1, wherein independent power is provided to the first computer when the first computer power supply is inoperable or operating below a threshold power level.

11. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the portion of the first computer includes a microcontroller.

12. A system for independent powering of a first computer, comprising:

a first computer storing status information;

a first computer power supply that supplies power to the first computer;

a remote interface power supply, wherein the remote interface power supply provides power that is independent of the power supplied by the first computer power supply; and

a remote interface circuit that receives the power from the remote interface power supply so as to power at least a computational device in the remote interface circuit and is configured to provide the independent power to only a portion of the first computer.

13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the independent power facilitates reading of the status information when the first computer power supply is inoperable or operating below a threshold power level.

14. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the portion of the first computer includes a microcontroller.

15. A system for independent powering of a computer, comprising:

a first computer having a first computer power supply; and

a remote interface circuit that receives power from a power supply that is independent from the first computer power supply so as to power at least a computational device in the remote interface circuit and provides independent power to only a portion of the first computer if the first computer power supply is inoperable or operating below a threshold power level.

16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the portion of the first computer includes a microcontroller.

17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the remote interface circuit includes a remote interface microcontroller connected by a bus to the microcontroller in the first computer.

18. The system defined in claim 15, additionally comprising a second computer in data communication with the first computer through the remote interface circuit.

19. The system defined in claim 18, wherein the second computer remotely turns on the first computer power supply through the remote interface circuit, wherein a command is received by the remote interface circuit and the computational device executes the command.

20. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the power provided by the remote interface circuit is isolated from the first computer power supply by a diode.

21. A system for independent powering of a first computer, comprising:

a first computer storing status information and having a system processor;

a first computer power supply that supplies power to the first computer;

a remote interface power supply that is independent from the first computer power supply; and

a remote interface circuit that receives power from the remote interface power supply and is configured to provide independent power to at least a portion of the first computer to facilitate reading of the status information without the system processor being powered.

22. The system defined in claim 21, additionally comprising a second computer connected to the first computer through the remote interface circuit.

23. The system defined in claim 22, wherein the second computer displays the status information.

24. A system for independent powering of a computer, comprising:

a first computer having a first computer power supply and having a system processor; and

a remote interface circuit that receives power from a power supply that is independent from the first computer power supply and provides independent power to at least a portion of the first computer, without powering the system processor, if the first computer power supply is inoperable or operating below a threshold power level.