USB virtual devices

• US 6,636,929 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Andrew, Hascall, Doug, Neufeld, E. David, Frantz, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farooq, Mohammad O.
• Application Number:
  US09/544,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 710/47, 710/62, 710/67, 710/104, 710/300, 710/305, 710/313
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• 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 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

A management sub-system connects via a USB bus to a server or computer being managed. The management sub-system also couples to a management console, which has a number of conventional peripherals, including CD-ROM, floppy drive, hard disk, keyboard, mouse, and the like. These peripherals are emulated as USB peripherals coupled to the server by the management sub-system. The management sub-system includes a Composite USB function logic device that connects to the USB controller in the server. The Composite USB function logic device emulates the various peripherals available at the management console, and provides configuration data to the USB controller consistent with the emulation. Consequently, the server sends and receives data from these peripherals at the management console, as if the peripherals were locally connected by the USB bus to the server. The management sub-system monitors the operation of the server and publishes a web page that can be viewed by a web browser at the management console. In addition to viewing this status information, the management console can operate as a virtual terminal, capable of downloading files and programs from any of the emulated peripherals to the server, and of receiving input signals from the emulated input devices.

Claims

1. A system for managing a computer, comprising:

a computer system including a processor and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller coupled to the processor via a system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one port for coupling USB peripherals to the processor of said computer system;

a management sub-system including a management processor and a composite USB function logic, said composite USB function logic coupling to a port of said USB controller via a USB line, and wherein said management processor executes USB device emulator software that controls operations of said composite USB function logic;

a management console coupled to said management sub-system via a communications link, said management console including a console processor, monitor, one or more input devices, one or more peripheral drives, and wherein said management console translates data from said input device and said peripheral driver for transmission to said management sub-system via said communication links; and

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drive as USB peripherals so that the computer system performs data transaction to said composite USB function logic as if the input device and peripheral driver were connected to said USB line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more input devices at said management console comprise one or more of a mouse and a keyboard.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more peripheral drives comprise one or more of a CD-ROM drive, hard drive, and a floppy drive.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said management sub-system further comprises a network interface that couples to a local area network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said local area network couples to said management console via a telephone line.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said local area network couples to said management console via the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said management sub-system also couples to said computer system via said system bus.

8. A system for managing a computer, comprising:

a computer system including a processor and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller coupled to the processor via a system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one port for coupling USB peripherals to the processor of said computer system;

a management sub-system including a management processor and a composite USB function logic, said composite USB function logic coupling to a port of said USB controller via a USB line;

a management console coupled to said management sub-system via a communications link, said management console including a console processor, monitor, one or more input devices, one or more peripheral drives, and wherein said management console translates data from said input device and said peripheral driver for transmission to said management sub-system via said communication links;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drive as USB peripherals so that the computer system performs data transaction to said composite USB function logic as if the input device and peripheral driver were connected to said USB line; and

wherein said management processor executes the USB device emulator software that controls the emulation of said input device and said peripheral drive by the composite USB function logic.

9. A system for managing a computer, comprising:

a computer system including a processor and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller coupled to the processor via a system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one port for coupling USB peripherals to the processor of said computer system;

a management sub-system including a management processor and a composite USB function logic, said composite USB function logic coupling to a port of said USB controller via a USB line;

a management console coupled to said management sub-system via a communications link, said management console including a console processor, monitor, one or more input devices, one or more peripheral drives, and wherein said management console translates data from said input device and said peripheral driver for transmission to said management sub-system via said communication links;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drive as USB peripherals so that the computer system performs data transaction to said composite USB function logic as if the input device and peripheral driver were connected to said USB line; and

wherein said management processor also executes device emulation communication agent software that communicates with remote management application software executed by said console processor.

10. A system for managing a computer, comprising:

a computer system including a processor and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller coupled to the processor via a system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one port for coupling USB peripherals to the processor of said computer system;

a management sub-system including a management processor and a composite USB function logic, said composite USB function logic coupling to a port of said USB controller via a USB line;

a management console coupled to said management sub-system via a communications link, said management console including a console processor, monitor, one or more input devices, one or more peripheral drives, and wherein said management console translates data from said input device and said peripheral driver for transmission to said management sub-system via said communication links;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drive as USB peripherals so that the computer system performs data transaction to said composite USB function logic as if the input device and peripheral driver were connected to said USB line;

wherein said management sub-system further comprises a network interface that couples to a local area network, wherein said local area network couples to said management console via the Internet; and

wherein said management sub-system monitors performance of the computer system, and publishes a web page with a URL address that indicates the computer system performance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said remote console includes a web browser software that accesses said web page using the URL address of the management sub-system.

12. A system for managing a computer, comprising:

a computer system including a processor and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller coupled to the processor via a system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one port for coupling USB peripherals to the processor of said computer system;

a management sub-system including a management processor and a composite USB function logic, said composite USB function logic coupling to a port of said USB controller via a USB line;

a management console coupled to said management sub-system via a communications link, said management console including a console processor, monitor, one or more input devices, one or more peripheral drives, and wherein said management console translates data from said input device and said peripheral driver for transmission to said management sub-system via said communication links;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drive as USB peripherals so that the computer system performs data transaction to said composite USB function logic as if the input device and peripheral driver were connected to said USB line;

wherein said management sub-system also couples to said computer system via said system bus, and wherein said management sub-system is mounted on a system motherboard in said computer system.

13. A managed computer system capable of being virtually controlled by a remote management console that includes input devices and peripheral drives, said managed computer system comprising:

a processor;

a system bus coupled to process by a bus bridge;

a USB controller coupled to said system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one USB port;

a management sub-system coupled to said USB port, said management sub-system including;

a management processor;

a memory coupled to said management processor for storing software and data;

a network interface for coupling said computer system to said remote management console via a communications link;

a composite USB function logic connected to said USB port via a USB line, and coupled to said management processor, wherein said management processor comprises an USB device emulator software that controls operations of said composite USB function logic; and

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drives of the remote management console as USB peripheral devices so that the computer system processor and USB controller operates as if the input devices and peripheral drives of the remote management console are resident on said USB line.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a bus connector coupled to said system bus to permit additional peripheral devices to be plugged into the system bus.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said management sub-system couples to said management console via the Internet.

16. A managed computer system capable of being virtually controlled by a remote management console that includes input devices and peripheral drives, said managed computer system comprising:

a processor;

a system bus coupled to process by a bus bridge;

a USB controller coupled to said system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one USB Port;

a management sub-system coupled to said USB port, said management sub-system including;

a management processor;

a memory coupled to said management processor for storing software and data;

a network interface for coupling said computer system to said remote management console via a communications link;

a composite USB function logic connected to said USB port via a USB line, and coupled to said management;

a bus connector coupled to said system bus to permit additional peripheral devices to be plugged into the system bus;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drives of the remote management console as USB peripheral devices so that the computer system processor and USB controller operates as if the input devices and peripheral drives of the remote management console are resident on said USB line; and

wherein said management sub-system is mounted on a system motherboard.

17. A managed computer system capable of being virtually controlled by a remote management console that includes input devices and peripheral drives, said managed computer system comprising:

a processor;

a system bus coupled to process by a bus bridge;

a USB controller coupled to said system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one USB port;

a management sub-system coupled to said USB port, said management sub-system including;

a management processor;

a memory coupled to said management processor for storing software and data;

a network interface for coupling said computer system to said remote management console via a communications link;

a composite USB function logic connected to said USB port via a USB line, and coupled to said management;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drives of the remote management console as USB peripheral devices so that the computer system processor and USB controller operates as if the input devices and peripheral drives of the remote management console are resident on said USB line; and

wherein said management processor includes USB device emulator software that controls the operation of said composite USB function logic.

18. A managed computer system capable of being virtually controlled by a remote management console that includes input devices and peripheral drives, said managed computer system comprising:

a processor;

a system bus coupled to process by a bus bridge;

a USB controller coupled to said system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one USB port;

a management sub-system coupled to said USB port, said management sub-system including;

a management processor;

a memory coupled to said management processor for storing software and data;

a network interface for coupling said computer system to said remote management console via a communications link;

a composite USB function logic connected to said USB port via a USB line, and coupled to said management;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drives of the remote management console as USB peripheral devices so that the computer system processor and USB controller operates as if the input devices and peripheral drives of the remote management console are resident on said USB line; and

wherein said management sub-system monitors for failures of the computer system, and publishes a web page with a URL address that indicates the computer system failures.

19. A managed computer system capable of being virtually controlled by a remote management console that includes input devices and peripheral drives, said managed computer system comprising:

a processor;

a system bus coupled to process by a bus bridge;

a USB controller coupled to said system bus, said USB controller including a hub and at least one USB port;

a management sub-system coupled to said USB port, said management sub-system including;

a management processor;

a memory coupled to said management processor for storing software and data;

a network interface for coupling said computer system to said remote management console via a communications link;

a composite USB function logic connected to said USB port via a USB line, and coupled to said management;

wherein said composite USB function logic emulates the input device and peripheral drives of the remote management console as USB peripheral devices so that the computer system processor and USB controller operates as if the input devices and peripheral drives of the remote management console are resident on said USB line; and

wherein said composite USB function logic comprises a hub coupled to individual logic devices that separately emulate each of the peripheral drives and input devices available in the management console.

20. A method of emulating peripheral drives and input devices of a management console as if they were resident on a computer system as USB peripherals, said computer system including a USB controller coupled via a system bus to a system processor, comprising acts of:

connecting a composite USB controller to the system processor indicating a change in state of the USB port status;

generating an interrupt from the USB controller to the system processor indicating a change in state of the USB port status;

loading a USB driver in the system processor;

enumerating the newly-connected composite USB logic device;

transferring configuration data from the composite USB logic device to the USB driver for the peripheral drives and input devices of the management console;

loading the drivers for the peripheral drives and input devices into said system processor.