Replacement, upgrade and/or addition of hot-pluggable components in a computer system
First Claim
1. A computer system having hot-pluggable components, said system comprising:
- a central processing unit;
a component controller connected to said central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a first component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors; and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein when said component controller determines that said first component module is failing but still operational, said component controller asserts a system management interrupt to said central processing unit;
when said central processing unit receives the system management interrupt, said central processing unit runs a system management program which determines whether a second component module is installed in another one of said plurality of component connectors;
if said second component module is not installed then the system management program continues determining until said second component module is installed;
if said second component module is installed then the system management program causes said central processing unit to transfer information stored in said first component module to said second component module until all information is transferred, the transfer of information is done as a background operation which does not materially affect other programs running in said central processing unit;
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component bus switches to disconnect said first component module from said component bus after all of the information is transferred; and
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component power switches to disconnect said first component module from said power source after the some of said plurality of component bus switches has disconnected said first component module from said component bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system adapted for hot-pluggable components such as memory modules that may be replaced, upgraded and/or added without disturbing normal operation of the computer system. A failing memory module may be replaced by copying its contents to a new memory module in a background operation while the computer system runs its operating system and applications programs. When all contents are copied to the new memory module, the failing memory module may be removed without having to shut down the computer system. Computer system memory may be upgraded or added to by inserting the new memory module(s) into vacant disconnected memory connectors, whereupon the computer system automatically recognizes the new memory module(s), synchronously connects the new memory module(s) to the computer system memory bus, initializes the new memory module(s), and then notifies the operating system that the new memory module(s) is available, all without disturbing normal operation of the computer system.
168 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A computer system having hot-pluggable components, said system comprising:
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a central processing unit;
a component controller connected to said central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a first component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors; and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein when said component controller determines that said first component module is failing but still operational, said component controller asserts a system management interrupt to said central processing unit;
when said central processing unit receives the system management interrupt, said central processing unit runs a system management program which determines whether a second component module is installed in another one of said plurality of component connectors;
if said second component module is not installed then the system management program continues determining until said second component module is installed;
if said second component module is installed then the system management program causes said central processing unit to transfer information stored in said first component module to said second component module until all information is transferred, the transfer of information is done as a background operation which does not materially affect other programs running in said central processing unit;
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component bus switches to disconnect said first component module from said component bus after all of the information is transferred; and
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component power switches to disconnect said first component module from said power source after the some of said plurality of component bus switches has disconnected said first component module from said component bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
said second RAM module having a larger storage capacity than said first RAM module;
the system management program initializes a portion of said second RAM module which is not written to during transfer of the information from said first RAM module; and
the system management program generates an interrupt to an operating system program to inform the operating system program of the additional memory capacity available from said second RAM module.
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8. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising detection logic for determining when a component module is installed in and removed from a one of said plurality of component connectors.
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9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said detection logic determines when said component module is installed in and removed from the one of said plurality of component connectors by sensing an electrical connection to said component module and sensing a loss of the electrical connection to said component module, respectively.
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10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said detection logic waits a specified time before connecting said component module to said power source and then to said component bus after determining when said component module is installed in the one of said plurality of component connectors.
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11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said detection logic resets and does not connect said component module if it senses during the specified time that said component module is not installed.
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12. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes associated with said plurality of component connectors, each one of said plurality of light emitting diodes indicating status of an associated one of said plurality of component connectors.
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13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein a steady red indication from said one of said plurality of light emitting diodes represents a failed one of said component modules located in said associated one of said plurality of component connectors.
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14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein a steady green indication from said one of said plurality of light emitting diodes represents a fully functional one of said component modules located in said associated one of said plurality of component connectors.
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15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein no indication from said one of said plurality of light emitting diodes represents a disconnected one of said plurality of component connectors.
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16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein a steady amber indication from said one of said plurality of light emitting diodes represents a failing but operational one of said component modules located in said associated one of said plurality of component connectors.
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17. The computer system of claim 12, wherein a blinking amber indication from said one of said plurality of light emitting diodes represents a one of said component modules located in said associated one of said plurality of component connectors being initialized with information from another one of said component modules.
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18. The computer system of claims 12, wherein a first one of said plurality of light emitting diodes associated with said first component module and a second one of said plurality of light emitting diodes associated with said second component module alternately blink with amber indications and a pause to represent transfer of information and the direction thereof.
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19. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the system management software sending an alert to an operator when said first component module is failing and said second component module is not installed.
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20. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:
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if a second component module is not installed and then is subsequently installed in said another one of said plurality of component connectors, then said logic circuit causes some other of said plurality of component power switches to connect said second component module to said power source; and
said logic circuit causes some other of said plurality of component bus switches to connect said second component module to said component bus when said component bus is inactive; and
said first and second component modules writing the information to the same addresses, but only the first component module responding to a read request during transfer of the information.
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21. A computer system having hot-pluggable components, said system comprising:
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a central processing unit;
a component controller connected to said central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a new component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors; and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein when said logic circuit determines that said new component module is installed in the one of said plurality of component connectors, said logic circuit causes some of said plurality of power switches to connect the one of said plurality of component connectors to said power source, and then said logic circuit causes some of said component bus switches to connect the one of said plurality of component connectors to said component bus when said component bus is inactive;
said logic circuit asserting a system management interrupt to said central processing unit after the one of said plurality of component connectors is connected to said power source and said component bus; and
when said central processing unit receives the system management interrupt, said central processing unit runs a system management program for initializing said new component module and then the system management program notifies an operating system program of the availability of said new component module. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method, in a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a component controller connected to the central processing unit, a component bus connected to the component controller, a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules, a plurality of component bus switches connected between the component bus and the plurality of component connectors;
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of;providing a first component module installed in a one of the plurality of component connectors;
detecting a failing but still operational first component module;
alerting an operator when the first component module is determined to be failing;
determining whether a second component module is installed in another one of the plurality of component connectors and is available to replace the failing first component module;
if the second component module is installed and available in the another one of the plurality of component connectors, then connecting the power source to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component power switches; and
connecting the component bus to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component bus switches when the component bus is not active;
transferring information from the failing first component module to the second component module until all information has been transferred; and
disconnecting the first component module from the component bus after the information has been transferred. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
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39. A method, in a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a component controller connected to the central processing unit, a component bus connected to the component controller, a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules, a plurality of component bus switches connected between the component bus and the plurality of component connectors;
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of;providing a first component module installed in a one of the plurality of component connectors;
detecting a failing but still operational first component module;
determining whether a second component module is installed in another one of the plurality of component connectors and is available to replace the failing first component module;
alerting an operator if the second component module is not available;
if the second component module is installed and available in the another one of the plurality of component connectors, then connecting the power source to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component power switches; and
connecting the component bus to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component bus switches when the component bus is not active;
transferring information from the failing first component module to the second component module until all information has been transferred; and
disconnecting the first component module from the component bus after the information has been transferred.
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
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40. A method, in a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a component controller connected to the central processing unit, a component bus connected to the component controller, a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules, a plurality of component bus switches connected between the component bus and the plurality of component connectors;
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of;providing a first component module installed in a one of the plurality of component connectors;
detecting a failing but still operational first component module;
determining whether a second component module is installed in another one of the plurality of component connectors and is available to replace the failing first component module;
alerting the operator when the second component module is not installed;
if the second component module is installed and available in the another one of the plurality of component connectors, then connecting the power source to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component power switches; and
connecting the component bus to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component bus switches when the component bus is not active;
transferring information from the failing first component module to the second component module until all information has been transferred; and
disconnecting the first component module from the component bus after the information has been transferred.
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
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41. A method, in a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a component controller connected to the central processing unit, a component bus connected to the component controller, a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules, a plurality of component bus switches connected between the component bus and the plurality of component connectors;
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of;providing a first component module installed in a one of the plurality of component connectors;
detecting a failing but still operational first component module;
determining whether a second component module is installed in another one of the plurality of component connectors and is available to replace the failing first component module;
if the second component module is installed and available in the another one of the plurality of component connectors, then connecting the power source to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component power switches; and
connecting the component bus to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component bus switches when the component bus is not active;
transferring information from the failing first component module to the second component module until all information has been transferred, said central processing unit performs this step by performing locked reads of portions of the contents of the failing first component module and then writes these portions to the second component module; and
disconnecting the first component module from the component bus after the information has been transferred. - View Dependent Claims (42)
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
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43. A method, in a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a component controller connected to the central processing unit, a component bus connected to the component controller, a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules, a plurality of component bus switches connected between the component bus and the plurality of component connectors;
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of;installing a new component module into a one of the plurality of component connectors;
determining when the new component module is installed;
waiting a predetermined time before connecting the new component module to the power source and then to the component bus;
initializing the new component module connected to the component bus for operation in the computer system, said central processing unit performs the initialization by- writing a predetermined bit pattern to all portions of the new component module;
notifying a computer system operating software of the new component module; and
utilizing the new component module in the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (44)
- a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source; and
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45. An apparatus, comprising:
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a component controller adapted for connection to a central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a first component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors; and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein when said component controller determines that said first component module is failing but still operational, said component controller determines whether a second component module is installed in another one of said plurality of component connectors;
if said second component module is not installed then said component controller continues determining until said second component module is installed;
if said second component module is installed then said component controller transfers information stored in said first component module to said second component module until all information is transferred;
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component bus switches to disconnect said first component module from said component bus after all of the information is transferred; and
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component power switches to disconnect said first component module from said power source after the some of said plurality of component bus switches has disconnected said first component module from said component bus.
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46. An apparatus, comprising:
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a component controller adapted for connection to a central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a new component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors; and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein when said logic circuit determines that said new component module is installed in the one of said plurality of component connectors, said logic circuit causes some of said plurality of power switches to connect the one of said plurality of component connectors to said power source, and then said logic circuit causes some of said component bus switches to connect the one of said plurality of component connectors to said component bus when said component bus is inactive;
said component controller initializing said new component module after the one of said plurality of component connectors is connected to said power source and said component bus; and
said component controller notifies an operating system program of the availability of said new component module.
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Specification