Method and apparatus for locating and displaying a defective component in a data processing system during a system startup using location and progress codes associated with the component

• US 6,625,728 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ploski, Thomas Francis, Ribbentrop, Daniel John Sr., Randall, David Lee, Ahrens, George Henry, Dawkins, George John, Lim, Michael Youhour
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trujillo, James K.
• Application Number:
  US09/431,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 713/300, 713/330, 713/340, 713/310, 714/25, 714/31, 714/41, 710/104
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2284 by power-on test, e.g. power-on self test [POST]

Abstract

A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup is disclosed. Each component within the data processing system is assigned a location code. Then, a progress code is associated with a location code and a function being loaded to, tested, or executed in a component. After supplying power to the data processing system, the components of the data processing system are initialized and tested to establish a configuration. During the initialization and testing, a location code of a component and a corresponding progress code are displayed on a display panel. In response to a system hang, a defective component can be identified utilizing the location code and the progress code displayed on the display panel.

Claims

1. A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said method comprising:

assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;

associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;

supplying power to components of said data processing system;

initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;

displaying a location code of a component on a display panel during said initialization; and

in response to a system hang, retaining the location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further includes a step of displaying a progress code corresponding to a location code on said display panel during said initialization.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said method further includes a step of retaining the progress code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating said defective component.

4. An apparatus for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said apparatus comprising:

means for assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;

means for associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;

means for supplying power to components of said data processing system;

means for initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;

a display panel for displaying a location code of a component during said initialization; and

means for retaining the location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component, in response to a system hang.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said display panel further displays a progress code corresponding to a location code during said initialization.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus further includes a means for retaining the progress code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating said defective component.

7. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;

program code means for associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;

program code means for supplying power to components of said data processing system;

program code means for initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;

program code means for displaying the location code of a component on a display panel during said initialization; and

program code means for retaining a location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component, in response to a system hang.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein said computer program product further includes program code means for displaying a progress code corresponding to a location code on said display panel during said initialization.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein said computer program product further includes program code means for retaining the progress code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating said defective component.