Apparatus for computer implemented hot-swap and hot-add

• US 6,247,079 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Dennis H., Wallach, Walter A., Papa, Stephen E. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US08/942,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 710/101, 710/102, 710/103
• 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 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• 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 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Apparatus and method is disclosed for providing hot-add and hot swap capability to a computer system with a processor, and a memory, connected to a system bus. The apparatus includes a first bus, an adapter card slot, a switchable interface unit and hot-swap hot-add program code means. The first bus is connected to the system bus. The adapter card slot has a first port and a second port. The switchable interface unit includes a primary port and a secondary port. The primary port is connected to the first bus and the secondary port is connected to the first port of the adapter card slot. The switchable interface unit is responsive to a hot-swap hot-add power-down request to disconnect the second port from the first bus. The switchable interface unit is also responsive to a power-up request to reconnect the second port to the first bus. The hot-swap hot-add program code means in the memory accepts a request to connect a peripheral device adapter card into the second port of said adapter card slot, and responsive to the request communicates a power-down request to the switchable interface unit.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a processor, a memory, and a system bus, the processor and memory being connected to the system bus, a hot-plug system, comprising:

a first bus connected to the system bus;

an adapter card slot having a first port and a second port;

a switchable interface unit having a primary port and a secondary port, and the primary port connected to the first bus and the secondary port connected to the first port of the adapter card slot, and the switchable interface unit responsive to a hot-swap hot-add power-down request to disconnect the secondary port from the first bus, and further responsive to a power-up request to reconnect the secondary port to the first bus;

a program code in the memory to accept a request to connect a peripheral device adapter card into the second port of the adapter card slot, and responsive to the request to communicate a power-down request to the switchable interface unit.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the switchable interface unit comprises:

a quick switch for electrically connecting the adapter card slot to the first bus; and

a sequencer which determines when the power has been provided to the adapter card slot and which actuates the quick switch.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the switchable interface unit comprises a bus-to-bus bridge.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the hot-plug system automatically detects the presence of a new adapter.