Method and system for controlling a power on sequence in response to monitoring respective components of a computer system with multiple CPU sockets to determine proper functionality

• US 6,615,360 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Scollard, Michael Leo, McMillan, Henry Gaines, Amini, Kamran, Evans, Robert Joseph, Smith, Paul Maylon, Piper, Robert Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trujillo, James K.
• Application Number:
  US09/491,030
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 713/330, 713/340, 713/300, 713/1, 713/2, 713/310, 710/8, 700/2
• US Class Current: 713/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

A method of controlling the power-on of a computer system by providing a plurality of monitor lines interconnected with respective components of the computer system, monitoring the lines using a control circuit in response to a power-on reset signal, and executing a system power-on sequence in response to a determination by the control circuit that the components of the computer system are functioning properly. If the computer system has a plurality of CPU slots, the control circuit determines if a CPUs or terminator cartridges is plugged into the CPU slots, and determines that a properly matched CPU has been installed into the system, and that multiple CPUs contain compatible power supply requirements. Finally, the control circuit can determine that a power regulator is functioning properly.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the power-on of a computer system, comprising the steps:

providing a plurality of monitor lines to respective components of the computer system;

interconnecting the monitor lines to a logic control circuit;

monitoring the monitor lines using the logic control circuit in response to a power-on reset signal;

executing a system power-on sequence in response to a determination by the logic control circuit that the components of the computer system are functioning properly; and

wherein;

the computer system has a plurality of CPU sockets which may receive a system CPU or a terminator cartridge; and

the logic control circuit determines that one of the system CPUs or terminator cartridges is plugged into each of the CPU sockets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the logic control circuit further determines that a properly matched CPU cartridge has been installed into the system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the logic control circuit further determines that multiple CPUs contain compatible power supply requirements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the computer system has a main power supply and a system motherboard; and

the logic control circuit determines that the main power supply has been properly connected to the system motherboard.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the computer system further has a plurality of daughter cards that interconnect with the system motherboard; and

the logic control circuit further determines that all of the daughter cards are properly installed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the logic control circuit further determines that power supply connections to the daughter cards have been properly installed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the computer system includes a power regulator; and

the logic control circuit determines that the power regulator is functioning properly.

8. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of components including at least one central processing unit (CPU);

bus means for interconnecting said components;

a plurality of monitor lines respectively connected to said components;

logic control means for monitoring the monitor lines in response to a power-on reset signal, said logic control means further executing a system power-on, sequence in response to a determination that said components of the computer system are functioning properly; and

wherein;

said components include a plurality of CPU sockets which may receive a system CPU or a terminator cartridge; and

said logic control means determines in a designated order that one of said system CPUs or terminator cartridges is plugged into each of said CPU sockets.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said logic control means further determines that a properly matched CPU cartridge has been installed into the system.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said logic control means further determines that multiple CPUs contain compatible power supply requirements.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein:

said components further include a main power supply; and

said logic control means determines that said main power supply has been properly connected to a system motherboard.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein:

said components further include a plurality of daughter cards that interconnect with said system motherboard; and

said logic control means further determines that all of said daughter cards are properly installed.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said logic control means further determines that power supply connections to said daughter cards have been properly installed.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein:

said components further include a power regulator; and

said logic control means determines that said power regulator is functioning properly.