In-band/out-of-band alert delivery system

• US 6,473,795 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1998
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Andrew J., Hernandez, Thomas J., Barron, James E., Stupek, Richard A., Dobyns, Patrick E., Neyland, Ronald A., Chen, Cheryl X., Danielson, Lin-Juan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BANANKHAH, MAJID A
• Application Number:
  US09/089,040
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 709/100, 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 714/47, 714/48, 714/15
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1402 Saving, restoring, recovering or retrying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/32 with visual or acoustical indication of the functioning of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers

Abstract

An in-band/out-of-band alert delivery system for a computer system manager includes an alert log which maintains a record of alerts to be delivered and the status of those alerts, an alert manager for making a first attempt to deliver each alert, and a retry manager for making subsequent attempts to deliver alerts as becomes necessary and appropriate. The alert delivery system may also include a bus master interface manager for making in-band alert deliveries and a communications manager for making out-of-band alert deliveries. Telephone numbers are provided to the communications manager by an alert destination list. Out-of-band alert deliveries may be made via a modem, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter, or the like.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer network server that is coupled to a computer network, the computer network having at least one in-band communication channel, the method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of variable physical attributes of the computer network server and the network;

alerting a first remote console, via one of the in-band channels in the computer network, when one of the monitored physical attributes falls within a predetermined range;

in response to the alerting, providing signals to remotely control the computer network server via a first communication channel of the computer network;

storing histories of functions performed by the computer network server; and

sending asynchronous communications over a second communication path that is independent of the at least one in-band communication channel of the network, to at least one first remote console.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer network server employs at least one extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus and wherein the act of storing histories comprises storing histories of functions performed by an EISA system board.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring and alerting acts are performed by a system manager circuit.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the system manager circuit is a circuit card including a plug for detachably inserting the circuit card into a system board.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of sending asynchronous communications is performed by a network interface adapter circuit.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the network interface adapter circuit is a circuit card including a plug for detachably inserting the circuit card into the system board.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein act of alerting a first remote console comprises alerting at least one remote console over the communication network and a second remote console via a second communication path.

8. A computer network server for coupling to a computer network, the computer network having at least one in-band communication channel, the computer network server comprising:

means for monitoring a plurality of variable physical attributes of the computer network server and the network;

means for alerting a first remote console, via one of the in-band channels in the computer network, when one of the monitored physical attributes falls within a predetermined range;

means for providing signals to remotely control the computer network server via a first communication channel of the computer network;

means for storing histories of functions performed by the computer server network; and

means for sending asynchronous communications over a second communication path that is independent of the at least one in-band communication channel of the network, to at least one first remote console.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the means for sending asynchronous communications comprises an EISA network interface adapter circuit.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the network interface adapter circuit comprises a circuit card that includes a plug for detachably inserting the circuit card into the system board.

9. A computer network server coupled to a computer network, the computer network having at least one in-band communication channel and wherein the computer network server employs at least one extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, the computer network server comprising:

at least one system mother board having at least one system bus, the system bus having a width of at least 32 bits and wherein the system bus conforms to an EISA standard;

means for monitoring a plurality of variable physical attributes of the computer network server and the network;

means for alerting a first remote console, via one of the in-band channels in the computer network, when one of the monitored physical attributes falls within a predetermined range;

means for coupling the system manager circuit to a first communication channel of the network for providing the signals to remotely control the computer network server;

means for storing histories of functions performed by the EISA system board; and

means for sending asynchronous communications over a second communication path that is independent of the at least one in-band communication channel of the network, to at least one first remote console.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for monitoring comprises a circuit card which includes a plug for detachably inserting the circuit card into the system board.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising a disk array controller device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the disk array controller device comprises a circuit card detachably connected to the system board.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for alerting a first remote console alerts at least one remote console over the communication network and a second remote console via a second communication path.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for alerting and the means for monitoring comprise a system manager circuit.

17. A computer network server comprising:

means for monitoring a system bus for at least one physical attribute of the computer network server;

means for updating a stored set of object data contained within the computer network server;

means for updating a value threshold for the at least one monitored physical attribute;

means for determining if an alert is required based on a comparison between the physical attribute and the threshold value at least in part based upon the updated stored set of object data;

means for determining if an in-band alert is required;

means for issuing an in-band alert to a first predetermined console if an in-band alert is required;

means for determining if an out-of-band alert is required;

means for issuing an out-of-band alert to a first of a plurality of predetermined out-of-band devices if an out-of-band alert is required;

means for determining whether the out-of-band alert issued to the first of a plurality of the predetermined out-of-band devices was received;

means for issuing an out-of-band alert to a next of the plurality of the predetermined out-of-band devices if the out-of-band alert issued to the first of a plurality of the predetermined out-of-band devices is determined to not have been received; and

means for receiving asynchronous data from one of the plurality of predetermined out-of-band devices in order to perform at least one of reprogramming the computer network server and responding to the alert.

18. The computer network server of claim 17 wherein the means for issuing an out-of-band alert comprises means for sending a communication signal to a device selected from the group of a pager, a telephone, a personal computer and a mobile telephone.