Data processing system and method for permitting a server to remotely perform diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system
First Claim
1. A method in a data processing system for permitting a server computer to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system, said client computer system being coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network, said method comprising the steps of:
- said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic command to said malfunctioning client computer system utilizing said network;
a network adapter executing said diagnostic command, said network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within said malfunctioning client computer system; and
said network adapter transmitting a result of said execution of said diagnostic command to said server computer system, wherein said diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system coupled to the server computer system utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a diagnostic command to the malfunctioning client computer system utilizing the network. A network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within the malfunctioning client computer system executes the diagnostic command. The network adapter transmits a result of the execution of the diagnostic command to the server computer system. In this manner, the diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method in a data processing system for permitting a server computer to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system, said client computer system being coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic command to said malfunctioning client computer system utilizing said network;
a network adapter executing said diagnostic command, said network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within said malfunctioning client computer system; and
said network adapter transmitting a result of said execution of said diagnostic command to said server computer system, wherein said diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic memory read command to said malfunctioning client computer system to read one of a plurality of memory locations; and
said network adapter reading said one of said plurality of memory locations.
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4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:
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said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic memory write command to said malfunctioning client computer system to write data to one of said plurality of memory locations; and
said network adapter writing said data to said one of said plurality of memory locations.
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5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:
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said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic input/output read command to said malfunctioning client computer system to read one of a plurality of input/output locations; and
said network adapter reading said one of said plurality of input/output locations.
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6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
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said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic input/output write command to said malfunctioning client computer system to write data to one of said plurality of input/output locations; and
said network adapter writing said data to said one of said plurality of input/output locations.
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7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:
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said client computer system including a central processing unit coupled to a memory controller;
said memory controller including a plurality of memory status registers;
said server computer system transmitting a diagnostic read memory status register command to said malfunctioning client computer system to read one of said plurality of memory status registers; and
said network adapter reading said one of said plurality of memory status registers.
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8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of said network adapter generating a system management interrupt in response to a receipt of said diagnostic command, said system management interrupt causing said central processing unit to change its execution to service said system management interrupt.
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9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
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said server computer system transmitting said diagnostic command to a non-functioning client computer system utilizing said network; and
said network adapter executing said diagnostic command.
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10. A data processing system for permitting a server computer to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system, said client computer system being coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network, comprising:
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said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic command to said malfunctioning client computer system utilizing said network;
a network adapter executing code for executing said diagnostic command, said network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within said malfunctioning client computer system; and
said network adapter executing code for transmitting a result of said execution of said diagnostic command to said server computer system, wherein said diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic memory read command to said malfunctioning client computer system to read one of a plurality of memory locations; and
said network adapter executing code for reading said one of said plurality of memory locations.
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13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:
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said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic memory write command to said malfunctioning client computer system to write data to one of said plurality of memory locations; and
said network adapter executing code for writing said data to said one of said plurality of memory locations.
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14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:
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said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic input/output read command to said malfunctioning client computer system to read one of a plurality of input/output locations; and
said network adapter executing code for reading said one of said plurality of input/output locations.
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15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:
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said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic input/output write command to said malfunctioning client computer system to write data to one of said plurality of input/output locations; and
said network adapter executing code for writing said data to said one of said plurality of input/output locations.
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16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:
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said client computer system including a central processing unit coupled to a memory controller;
said memory controller including a plurality of memory status registers;
said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic read memory status register command to said malfunctioning client computer system to read one of said plurality of memory status registers; and
said network adapter executing code for reading said one of said plurality of memory status registers.
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17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising said network adapter executing code for generating a system management interrupt in response to a receipt of said diagnostic command, said system management interrupt causing said central processing unit to change its execution to service said system management interrupt.
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18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:
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said server computer system executing code for transmitting said diagnostic command to a non-functioning client computer system utilizing said network; and
said network adapter executing code for executing said diagnostic command.
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19. A data processing system for permitting a server computer to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system, said client computer system being coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network, comprising:
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said client computer system including a central processing unit coupled to a memory controller;
said memory controller including a plurality of memory status registers;
said server computer system executing code for transmitting a diagnostic read memory status register command to said malfunctioning client computer system utilizing said network to read one of said plurality of memory status registers;
a network adapter executing code for generating one of a plurality of bus events utilizing said internal bus to read said one of said plurality of memory status registers, said network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within said malfunctioning client computer system; and
said network adapter executing code for transmitting a result of said execution of said diagnostic read memory status register command to said server computer system, wherein said diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system.
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Specification