System for automatically configuring a server after hot add of a device

• US 6,263,387 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Chrabaszcz, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Application Number:
  US08/942,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 395/281-283, 395/828-830, 395/651-653, 710/8-10, 710/101-104, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/220-222
• US Class Current: 710/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4086 Bus impedance matching, e.g. termination

Abstract

A system for automatically configuring a computer system, after a device has been hot added to the computer system, which includes the following elements: a detection module which automatically detects a hot added device; a first configuration module which automatically configures the device; an identification module which automatically identifies a device type for the device; a location module which automatically determines the location where the device has been hot added; a driver module which automatically loads a driver corresponding to the hot added device; and a second configuration module which automatically modifies a configuration file so as to integrate the hot added device into the system.

Claims

1. A system for automatically configuring an operating computer system, comprising:

a bus system having a plurality of bus slots;

hot plug hardware for enabling and disabling the supply of power to selected ones of the bus slots;

a detection module which automatically detects a PCI device in response to the PCI device being connected to a selected one of the bus slots that has a disabled power supply, and wherein the hot plug hardware enables the supply of power to the hot added PCI device in response to the detection of the hot added PCI device by the detection module;

a first configuration module which automatically configures the PCI device;

an identification module which automatically identifies a device type for the PCI device;

a location module which automatically determines the location where the PCI device has been hot added;

a driver module which automatically loads a driver corresponding to the PCI device; and

a second configuration module which automatically modifies a configuration file so as to integrate the PCI device into the system, wherein the second configuration module comprises a LAN module which determines whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device, wherein, if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, the LAN module modifies a first configuration file, and if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, the LAN module modifies a second configuration file.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the detection module comprises:

a first scanning module which scans a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus; and

a compare module which compares a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the identification module comprises a vendor module which retrieves a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the location module comprises:

a second scanning module which scans all slots connected to the system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN), wherein each slot has a specified slot number;

a HIN module which obtains a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device; and

a recording module which records a slot number and the hardware instance number corresponding to the device.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data module which determines if additional data is required to configure the system, wherein, if it is determined that additional data is required, the data module prompts a system operator for the additional data.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the data module comprises:

a table module which reviews a table of configuration parameters for the device type; and

a parameter module which generates a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification module comprises a vendor module which retrieves a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the detection module comprises:

a first scanning module which scans a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus; and

a compare module which compares a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the location module comprises:

a second scanning module which scans all slots connected to a system bus for any devices which have hardware instance number (HIN) wherein each slot has a specified slot number;

a HIN module which obtains a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device; and

a recording module which records a slot number corresponding to each device having a HIN.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the configuration module comprises a LAN module which determines whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device, wherein, if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, the LAN module modifies a first configuration file, and if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, the LAN module modifies a second configuration file.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data module which determines if additional data is required to configure the system, wherein, if it is determined that additional data is required, the data module prompts a system operator for the additional data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the data module comprises:

a table module which reviews a table of configuration parameters for the device type;

a parameter list module which generates a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device; and

a second compare module which compares the list of parameters with presently available data about the device.

13. A system of automatically configuring a server system after a device has been hot added to the system, comprising:

a first scanning module which scans a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus;

a compare module which compares a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database;

a first configuration module which configures the device;

a vendor module which retrieves a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device so as to identify the type of device;

a second scanning module which scans the system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

a HIN module which obtains a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device;

a recording module which records a slot number and the hardware instance number of the device;

a driver module which loads a driver corresponding to the hot added device;

a LAN module which determines whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device; and

a second configuration module which modifies a configuration file, wherein, if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, a first configuration file is modified, and if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, a second configuration file is modified.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a data module which determines if additional data is required to configure the system; and

a prompt module which prompts a system operator for additional data, if it is determined that additional data is required.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the data module comprises:

a table module which reviews a table of configuration parameters for the device type corresponding to the hot added device; and

a parameter module which generates a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.

16. A system for automatically configuring an operating computer system, comprising:

means for receiving a PCI device;

means for enabling and disabling a supply of power to the PCI device;

means for automatically detecting the PCI device;

means for automatically configuring the PCI device;

means for automatically identifying the type of the PCI device;

means for automatically determining the location where the PCI device has been added;

means for automatically loading a driver corresponding to the PCI device; and

means for automatically modifying a configuration file so as to integrate the PCI device into the system, wherein the means for automatically modifying a configuration file comprises means for determining whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device, wherein, if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, a first configuration file is modified and if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, a second configuration file is modified.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the act of automatically detecting the hot added device comprises:

means for scanning a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus; and

means for comparing a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for initiating the automatic configuration of the device upon the detection of the hot added device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the means for automatically identifying the device type comprises means for retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for automatically determining the location where the device has been hot added comprises:

means for scanning the system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

means for obtaining a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device; and

means for recording a slot number and the hardware instance number of the device.

21. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for determining if additional data is required to configure the system; and

means for prompting a system operator for the additional data, if it is determined that additional data is required.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for determining if additional data is required comprises:

means for reviewing a table of configuration parameters for the type of device; and

means for generating a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the means for automatically identifying the device type comprises means for retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the means for automatically determining the location where the device has been hot added comprises:

means for scanning a system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

means for obtaining a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device; and

means for recording a slot number and the hardware instance number of the device.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein the means for automatically modifying a configuration file comprises means for determining whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device, wherein, if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, a first configuration file is modified, and if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, a second configuration file is modified.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for determining whether the hot added device is a LAN device comprises means for retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

27. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for determining if additional data is required to configure the system; and

means for prompting a system operator for the additional data, if it is determined that additional data is required.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for determining if additional data is required comprises:

means for reviewing a table of configuration parameters for the device type; and

means for generating a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.

29. A system of automatically configuring a server system after a device has been hot added to the system, comprising:

means for scanning a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus;

means for comparing a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database;

means for configuring the device;

means for retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device so as to identify a device type;

means for scanning the system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

means for obtaining a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device;

means for recording a slot number and the hardware instance number of the device;

means for loading a driver corresponding to the hot added device;

means for determining whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device; and

means for configuring the server so as to integrate the hot added device into the server system, wherein if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, a first configuration file is modified, and if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, a second configuration file is modified.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

means for determining if additional data is required to configure the system; and

means for prompting a system operator for the additional data, if it is determined that additional data is required.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the means for determining if additional data is required comprises:

means for reviewing a table of configuration parameters for the device type; and

means for generating a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.

32. A program storage device which stores instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method which comprises:

automatically detecting a PCI device;

automatically providing, in response to detecting the PCI device, a supply of power to the PCI device;

automatically configuring the PCI device;

automatically identifying a device type for the PCI device;

automatically determining the location where the PCI device has been added;

automatically loading a driver corresponding to the PCI device; and

automatically modifying a configuration file so as to integrate the PCI device into the system, wherein the act of automatically modifying a configuration file comprises;

determining whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device;

if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, modifying a first configuration file; and

if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, binding a network protocol of the device and modifying a second configuration file.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein the act of automatically detecting the hot added device comprises:

scanning a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus; and

comparing a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the detection of the hot added device initiates the automatic configuration of the device.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein the act of automatically identifying a device type for the device comprises retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the act of automatically determining the location where the device has been hot added comprises:

scanning the system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

obtaining a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device; and

recording a slot number and the hardware instance number corresponding to the device.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein the method further comprises:

determining if additional data is required to configure the system; and

if it is determined that additional data is required, prompting a system operator for the additional data.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the act of determining if additional data is required comprises:

reviewing a table of configuration parameters for the device type; and

generating a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device type.

39. The device of claim 32 wherein the act of automatically identifying the device type comprises retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

40. The device of claim 32 wherein the act of automatically determining the location where the device has been hot added comprises:

scanning a system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

obtaining a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device; and

recording a slot number and the hardware instance number of the device.

41. The device of claim 32 wherein the act of automatically modifying a configuration file comprises:

determining whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device;

if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, modifying a first configuration file; and

if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, modifying a second configuration file.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the act of determining whether the hot added device is a LAN device comprises retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device.

43. The device of claim 32 wherein the method further comprises:

determining if additional data is required to configure the system; and

if it is determined that additional data is required, prompting a system operator for the additional data.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein the act of determining if additional data is required comprises:

reviewing a table of configuration parameters for the device type; and

generating a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.

45. A program storage device which stores instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method of automatically configuring a server system after a device has been hot added to the system, wherein the method comprises:

scanning a system bus in order to identify all devices connected to the bus;

comparing a list of identified devices to a configuration database, wherein a new device is indicated if it is identified in the list but not in the configuration database;

configuring the device;

retrieving a Device ID and Vendor ID from the device so as to identify the type of device;

scanning the system bus for any devices which have a hardware instance number (HIN);

obtaining a hardware instance number (HIN) from the hot added device;

recording a slot number and the hardware instance number of the device;

loading a driver corresponding to the hot added device;

determining whether the hot added device is local area network (LAN) device;

if it is determined that the hot added device is not a LAN device, modifying a first configuration file; and

if it is determined that the hot added device is a LAN device, binding a network protocol of the device and modifying a second configuration file.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein the method further comprises:

determining if additional data is required to configure the system; and

if it is determined that additional data is required, prompting a system operator for the additional data.

47. The device of claim 46 wherein the act of determining if additional data is required comprises:

reviewing a table of configuration parameters for the device type; and

generating a list of parameters required to load a driver for the device.