Data processing system and method for permitting a server to remotely perform diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system

• US 6,480,972 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• 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, Springfield, Randall Scott, Kern, Eric Richard, Ward, James Peter, Ellison, Brandon Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoleil, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonzo, Bryce P.
• Application Number:
  US09/257,547
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 714/25, 714/27, 714/30, 714/31
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/079 Root cause analysis, i.e. error or fault diagnosis in a hardware test environment G06F11/22; in a software test environment G06F11/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of in response to a receipt of said diagnostic command, said network adapter generating one of a plurality of bus events utilizing said internal bus to execute said diagnostic command.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

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.

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.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

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.

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:

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.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising in response to a receipt of said diagnostic command, said network adapter executing code for generating one of a plurality of bus events utilizing said internal bus to execute said diagnostic command.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

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.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

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.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

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.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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:

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.