Data processing system and method for remotely accessing a client computer systems's individual initialization settings while the client is powered off

• US 6,334,147 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard J., Springfield, Randall Scott, Kern, Eric Richard, Ellison, Brandon Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US09/201,572
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 709/222, 709/221, 709/202, 709/203, 709/217, 713/1, 713/2
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A data processing system and method are described for remotely accessing a client computer system'"'"'s individual initialization settings. The client computer system is coupled to a server computer system to form a local area network. The server computer system transmits a command to the client computer system to access a selected one of the client computer system'"'"'s initialization settings. In response to a receipt of this command by the client computer system, the client computer system accesses only selected ones of the initialization settings. The client computer system may be powered off while the initialization setting is accessed.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for remotely accessing one of a plurality of initialization settings included within a client computer system which is powered off, said client computer system being coupled to a server computer system via a network adapter to form a local area network, said method comprising the steps of:

said server computer system transmitting a command to said client computer system to access a selected one of said plurality of initialization settings; and

in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter, said network adapter accessing only said selected one of said plurality of initialization settings by reading from or writing to said one of said plurality of initialization settings, wherein others of said plurality of initialization settings are not accessed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said client computer system includes a central processing unit, and further comprising the step of establishing a service processor within said network adapter separate from said central processing unit within said client computer system, and wherein said step of said network adapter accessing only said one of said plurality of initialization settings further comprises the step of said service processor accessing only said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of said server computer system transmitting a command to said client computer system to access said initialization settings further comprises the step of said server computer system transmitting a command to said client computer system to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

in response to a receipt of said command by said client computer system to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings, said service processor reading a value of only said one of said plurality of initialization settings; and

said network adapter transmitting said value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings to said server computer system.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

said server computer system transmitting a command to said client computer system to modify one of said plurality of initialization settings; and

in response to a receipt of said command by said client computer system, said service processor modifying only said one of said plurality of initialization settings, wherein others of said plurality of initialization settings are not accessed.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of said server computer system transmitting a command to said client computer system to modify said initialization settings further comprises the step of said server computer system transmitting a command to said client computer system to write a value to said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of in response to a receipt of said command by said client computer system to write a value to one of said plurality of initialization settings, said service processor writing said value to only said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of establishing an offset register and a data register in said client computer system which is accessible by said service processor.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of said server computer system transmitting a command to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings further comprises the step of transmitting a command to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings including an offset identifying said one of said plurality of initialization settings, and further comprising the step of storing said offset in said offset register.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of in response to a receipt of said command by said client computer system to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings, said service processor reading a value of only said one of said plurality of initialization settings utilizing said offset stored in said offset register.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of said server computer system transmitting a command to write a value to one of said plurality of initialization settings further comprises the step of transmitting a command to read one of said plurality of initialization settings including an offset identifying said one of said plurality of initialization settings and including said value to be written, and further comprising the step of storing said offset in said offset register and storing said value to be written in said data register.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of in response to a receipt of said command by said client computer system to write a value to said one of said plurality of initialization settings, said service processor writing said value to only said one of said plurality of initialization settings utilizing said offset stored in said offset register and said value stored in said data register.

13. A data processing system for remotely accessing one of a plurality of initialization settings included within a client computer system which is powered off, said client computer system being coupled to a server computer system via a network adapter to form a local area network, comprising:

said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to said client computer system to access one of said plurality of initialization settings; and

said network adapter executing code, in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter, for accessing only said one of said plurality of initialization settings by reading from or writing to said one of said plurality of initialization settings, wherein others of said plurality of initialization settings are not accessed.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said client computer system includes a central processing unit, and further comprising a service processor included within said network adapter separate from said central processing unit within said client computer system, and wherein said network adapter executing code for accessing only said one of said plurality of initialization settings further comprises said service processor executing code for accessing only said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to said client computer system to access said initialization settings further comprises said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to said client computer system to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

said service processor executing code, in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings, for reading a value of only said one of said plurality of initialization settings; and

said network adapter executing code for transmitting said value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings to said server computer system.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to said client computer system to modify one of said plurality of initialization settings; and

said service processor executing code, in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter, for modifying only said one of said plurality of initialization settings, wherein others of said plurality of initialization settings are not accessed.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to said client computer system to modify said initialization settings further comprises said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to said client computer system to write a value to said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising said service processor executing code, in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter to write a value to one of said plurality of initialization settings, for writing said value to only said one of said plurality of initialization settings.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising an offset register and a data register included within said client computer system which is accessible by said service processor.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings further comprises said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings including an offset identifying said one of said plurality of initialization settings, and further comprising said service processor executing code for storing said offset in said offset register.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising said service processor executing code, in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter to read a value of said one of said plurality of initialization settings, for reading a value of only said one of said plurality of initialization settings utilizing said offset stored in said offset register.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to write a value to one of said plurality of initialization settings further comprises said server computer system executing code for transmitting a command to read one of said plurality of initialization settings including an offset identifying said one of said plurality of initialization settings and including said value to be written, and further comprising said service processor executing code for storing said offset in said offset register and storing said value to be written in said data register.

24. The system according to claim 23, further comprising said service processor executing code, in response to a receipt of said command by said network adapter to write a value to said one of said plurality of initialization settings, for writing said value to only said one of said plurality of initialization settings utilizing said offset stored in said offset register and said value stored in said data register.

25. A data processing system including a server computer system coupled to a client computer system utilizing a network, comprising:

a network adapter included within said client computer system, said network adapter including a network controller and a special purpose processing unit coupled to said network controller, said network controller capable of receiving and transmitting network packets utilizing said network to and from said server computer system;

said network controller capable of receiving a network packet from said server computer system, said network packet including a magic packet and a command to access one of a plurality of initialization settings stored within a storage included within said client computer system;

said client computer system being powered-off;

while said client computer system is powered-off, said special purpose processing unit capable of determining said network packet includes said magic packet; and

in response to said special purpose processing unit determining said network packet includes said magic packet, while said client computer system is power-off, said special purpose processing unit capable of accessing said one of said plurality of initialization settings by reading from or writing to said one of said plurality of initialization settings.