Method and system for testing hardware and software configurations in a computer system

• US 6,931,575 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, T. Gavin, Liles, Terry Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASKULINSKI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/916,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 714/44
• US Class Current: 714/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method that includes setting a plurality of switching devices to cause a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system is provided. The method also includes booting the computer system and detecting one or more errors associated with one or more of the first plurality of devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a computer system including a first connection and a second connection, one of the connections being a wireless connection;

providing a testing system for testing hardware and software configurations in the computer system, the testing system having a first connection and a second connection;

setting a first switching device coupled to the respective first connections to cause a first one of a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system;

setting a second switching device coupled to the respective second connections to cause a first one of a second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

coupling a control module to the first and second switching devices, to an additional switching device and to a third plurality of devices;

booting the computer system;

detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices using the computer system; and

detecting the first one of the second plurality of devices using the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices, setting the first switching device to cause a second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

subsequent to setting the first switching device to cause the second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

rebooting the computer system; and

detecting the second one of the first plurality of devices using the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an error associated with detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

storing the error into a log file on the computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an error associated with detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices; and

storing the error into a log file on a storage device located remotely from the computer system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting the additional switching device to cause one of a third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first one of the first plurality of devices.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting a splitter device to cause a fourth plurality of devices to be coupled to the second plurality of devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to detecting the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices, performing one or more tests on the computer system using the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices; and

storing results associated with the one or more tests into a log file.

9. A system comprising:

a computer system that includes a first connection and a second connection, one of the connections being a wireless connection;

a testing system for testing hardware and software configurations in the computer system, the testing system having a first connection and a second connection;

a coupling interconnecting the respective first and second connections of the computer system and the testing system;

a first switching device coupled to the respective first connections;

a first plurality of devices coupled to the first switching device;

a second switching device coupled to the respective second connections;

a second plurality of devices coupled to the second switching device;

the first switching device being able to be set to cause a first one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

the second switching device being able to be set to cause a first one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system;

a control module coupled to the first and second switching devices, to an additional switching device and to a third plurality of devices; and

the computer system configured to detect the first one of the first plurality of devices and the first one of the second plurality of devices in response to a) the first switching device being set to cause the first one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system and b) the second switching device being set to cause the first one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system, and in response to being booted.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the control module configured to cause the first switching device to be set to cause the first one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system, and the control module configured to cause the second switching device to be set to cause the first one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module includes at least one hardware component.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module includes at least one software component.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer system includes the control module.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is located externally from the computer system.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to cause the computer system to boot subsequent to a) causing the first switching device to be set and b) causing the second switching device to be set.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to a) cause the first switching device to be set to cause a second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system, and wherein the control module is configured to b) cause the second switching device to be set to cause a second one of the second plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the control module is configured to cause the computer system to be rebooted subsequent to causing the first switching device to be set to cause the second one of the first plurality of devices to be coupled to the computer system.

18. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the additional switching device coupled to the first plurality of devices; and

a third plurality of devices coupled to the additional switching device;

the additional switching device able to be set to cause one of the third plurality of devices to be coupled to the first one of the first plurality of devices.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a splitter device coupled to the second plurality of devices; and

a fourth plurality of devices coupled to the splitter device;

the splitter device able to be set to cause the fourth plurality of devices to be coupled to the second plurality of devices.