Automatic location determination of devices under test

• US 6,477,486 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ram, Subha Rojan, Wong, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US09/150,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/230, 709/247, 709/250, 707/10, 370/251, 370/252, 370/241, 370/244, 370/250, 370/218, 370/219, 370/220, 370/221, 370/222, 370/223, 370/224, 714/724, 714/733, 714/742, 714/750, 714/25, 714/30, 702/188, 702/183
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/273 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits G06F11/263 takes precedence

Abstract

A test device for a computer system includes a burn rack having a plurality of workcells. A simple network management protocol switch device is provided adjacent the burn rack. The switch device includes a plurality of ports. A plurality of cables are provided such that a respective cable interconnects a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell. A monitor is provided adjacent the burn rack and is connected to a port of the switch device. At least one of the workcells has a computer mounted therein provided with a unique Mac Address and connected to the respective cable at the respective workcell. The monitor is connected to a burn rack database.

Claims

1. A burn rack test device comprising:

a burn rack including a plurality of workcells, each workcell having a workcell identifier;

a simple network management protocol switch device adjacent the burn rack, the switch device including a plurality of ports and switches, each port having a port identifier and each switch having a switch identifier;

a plurality of cables, a respective cable interconnecting a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell;

a monitor adjacent the burn rack, the monitor connected to a database and to a port of the switch device;

at least one of the workcells having a device under test mounted therein being tracked during a build process and connected to the respective cable at the respective workcell;

each device under test being provided with a unique Mac Address, the Mac Address relating to a lifetime identifier being used for tracking the device under test during the build process, a test identification, and a time stamp for the start of the a test;

each switch and a related one of the ports designate a port identifier, whereby the Mac Address is used to determine which port each switch is connected to;

each device under test repeatedly broadcasting information including the Mac Address, the information being stored in the database; and

a subsequent broadcast for each device under test removing previously broadcast information and storing updated information from the subsequent broadcast in the database.

2. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 1 wherein the database stores a work area to switch map.

3. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 1 wherein the a switch IP address is stored in the database to establish a network connection.

4. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 1 wherein the database stores a workcell and cable map.

5. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 1 wherein broadcasts from each device under test are stored in the database which relates the Mac Address to the lifetime identifier of each device under test.

6. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 5 wherein the Mac Address is used to determine what port each switch is connected to.

7. A test device for a computer system comprising:

a burn rack including a plurality of workcells, each workcell having a workcell identifier;

a simple network management protocol switch device adjacent the burn rack, the switch device including a plurality of ports and switches, each port having a port identifier and each switch having a switch identifier;

a plurality of cables, a respective cable interconnecting a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell;

a monitor adjacent the burn rack, the monitor connected to a database and to a port of the switch device;

a plurality of the workcells having a computer mounted therein being tracked during a build process and connected to the respective cable at the respective workcell;

each computer being provided with a unique Mac Address, the Mac Address relating to a lifetime identifier being used for tracking the computer during the build process, a test identification and a time stamp forth the start of the test;

each switch and a related one of the ports designate a port identifier, whereby the Mac Address is used to determine which port each switch is connected to;

each computer repeatedly broadcasting information including the Mac Address, the information being stored in the database; and

a subsequent broadcast for each computer removing previously broadcast information and storing updated information from the subsequent broadcast in the database.

8. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 7 wherein the database stores a work area to switch map.

9. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 7 wherein a switch IP address is stored in the database to establish a network connection.

10. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 7 wherein the database stores a workcell and cable map.

11. The burn rack test device as defined in claim 7 wherein broadcasts from each computer are stored in the database which relates the Mac Address to the lifetime identifier for each computer.

12. A method of testing a computer during a manufacturing process comprising the steps of

providing a bum rack including a plurality of workcells, each workcell having a workcell identifier,

mounting a simple network management protocol switch device adjacent the burn rack, the switch device including a plurality of ports and switches, each port having a port identifier and each switch having a switch identifier;

interconnecting a plurality of cables, a respective cable interconnecting a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell;

mounting a monitor adjacent the burn rack, the monitor connected to a database and to a port of the switch device;

mounting a computer in at least one of the workcells, the computer being tracked during the manufacturing process and being connected to the respective cable in the respective workcell;

providing a unique Mac Address to each computer;

relating the Mac Address to a lifetime identifier being used for tracking the computer during the build process, a test identification and a time stamp forth the start of the test;

utilizing each switch and one of the related ports to designate a port identifier;

utilizing the Mac Address to determine which port each switch is connected to;

broadcasting information from the computer including the Mac Address;

storing the broadcast information in a database;

repeating a broadcast for each computer to remove previously broadcast information; and

storing updated information from the repeat broadcast in the database.