Method and apparatus involving a hierarchy of field replaceable units containing stored data

• US 6,973,412 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Mayhead, Martin P., King, James E., Gillespie, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Toan M.
• Application Number:
  US10/365,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 711/122, 711/117, 711/133
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0727 in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/079 Root cause analysis, i.e. error or fault diagnosis in a hardware test environment G06F11/22; in a software test environment G06F11/36

Abstract

Apparatus representing a computer system or such-like is disclosed that includes a hierarchy of field replaceable units (FRUs). Each FRU in the hierarchy has a type, and may have a number of subsidiary FRUs. A FRU stores data indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that may be immediately below it in the hierarchy, as well as data concerning the identity of the FRU itself. The apparatus has a utility to allow access and consolidation at a single location of all the FRU data stored in the hierarchy. In one embodiment, this utility is provided in the form of a configuration application running on a service processor of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus including:

a hierarchy of field replaceable units (FRUs), wherein a FRU in said hierarchy may have a number of subsidiary FRUs, and wherein each of said subsidiary FRUs has a type;

wherein a FRU has stored FRU identity data, relating to the FRU itself, and subsidiary FRU data indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that may be immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy;

and wherein said apparatus is operable to provide a consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said subsidiary FRU data are stored into a FRU at manufacture.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said subsidiary FRU data lists the maximum number of each type of FRU that may be located immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, for each type of slot or interface included in the FRU that can receive a subsidiary FRU, said subsidiary FRU data lists the number of slots or interfaces of that type.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data are stored in a read only memory (ROM).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a FRU supplies its stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data in response to a request.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus includes a utility to generate the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy, and wherein said request is sent to the FRU by the utility.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a subsidiary FRU supplies its stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data to a first FRU immediately above the subsidiary FRU in the hierarchy in response to a request.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said request is received from said first FRU.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first FRU consolidates the supplied FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data from all subsidiary FRUs of the first FRU with its own FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus includes a utility to generate the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy, and wherein the first FRU supplies its consolidated FRU data to the utility.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first FRU supplies its consolidated FRU data to a FRU immediately above said first FRU in the hierarchy.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first FRU stores its consolidated FRU data.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the subsidiary FRU data for a FRU is updateable to indicate the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that are installed immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy in a current configuration of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a utility to generate the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy, and wherein said utility represents a configuration or set-up program running on a service processor of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a new consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy is generated in response to a change in configuration of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes an external interface from which the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy can be accessed.

18. A field replaceable unit (FRU) for installation into an apparatus comprising a hierarchy of FRUs, wherein a FRU in said hierarchy may have a number of subsidiary FRUs, and wherein each of said subsidiary FRUs has a type, said FRU having stored FRU identity data relating to the FRU itself, and subsidiary FRU data, indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that are installable immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy.

19. The FRU of claim 18, wherein said FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data are stored into the FRU at manufacture.

20. The FRU of claim 18, wherein, for each type of slot or interface included in the FRU that can receive a subsidiary FRU, said subsidiary FRU data lists the number of slots or interfaces of that type.

21. The FRU of claim 19, wherein said FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data are stored in a read only memory (ROM).

22. The FRU of claim 18, wherein the FRU is operable to supply its stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data in response to a request.

23. The FRU of claim 18, wherein the FRU is operable to generate consolidated FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data from the set of subsidiary FRUs that are installed into the FRU by sending requests to said set of subsidiary FRUs and by receiving back their FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data in response to said request.

24. The FRU of claim 23, wherein the FRU is operable to store its consolidated FRU data in conjunction with its own stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data.

25. The FRU of claim 18, wherein the subsidiary FRU data is updateable to indicate the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that are installed immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy in a current configuration of the apparatus.

26. A method of manufacturing a field replaceable unit (FRU) for installation into an apparatus comprising a hierarchy of FRUs, wherein a FRU in said hierarchy may have a number of subsidiary FRUs, and wherein each of said subsidiary FRUs has a type, said method comprising:

generating subsidiary FRU data indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that are installable immediately below said FRU in said hierarchy; and

storing the subsidiary FRU data into a read only memory (ROM) within the FRU.

27. A method of operating apparatus including a hierarchy of field replaceable units (FRUs), wherein a FRU in said hierarchy may have a number of subsidiary FRUs, and wherein each of said subsidiary FRUs has a type, said method comprising:

providing, within a FRU, FRU identity data relating to the FRU itself, and subsidiary FRU data indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that may be immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy; and

generating a consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data are stored into a FRU at manufacture.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said subsidiary FRU data lists the maximum number of each type of FRU that may be located immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein, for each type of slot or interface included in the FRU that can receive a subsidiary FRU, said subsidiary FRU data lists the number of slots or interfaces of that type.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising a FRU supplying its stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data to a utility in response to a request, wherein said utility is responsible for generating the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising said utility transmitting said request to said FRU, whereupon the FRU supplies its stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data to the utility in response to said request.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising a subsidiary FRU supplying its stored FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data to a first FRU immediately above the subsidiary FRU in the hierarchy in response to a request.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said request is received from said first FRU.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising consolidating at the first FRU the supplied FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data from all subsidiary FRUs of the first FRU, together with the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data for the first FRU.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the first FRU supplying its consolidated FRU data to a utility, wherein said utility is responsible for generating the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the first FRU supplying its consolidated FRU data to a FRU immediately above said first FRU in the hierarchy.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising the first FRU storing its consolidated FRU data in said first FRU.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising updating the subsidiary FRU data for a FRU to indicate the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that are installed immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy in a current configuration of the apparatus.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising generating a new consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy in response to a change in configuration of the apparatus.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing an external interface from which the consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy can be accessed.

42. A computer program product comprising program instructions in machine readable form on a media for loading into apparatus including a hierarchy of field replaceable units (FRUs), wherein a FRU in said hierarchy may have a number of subsidiary FRUs, and wherein each of said subsidiary FRUs has a type, and wherein a FRU has stored FRU identity data, relating to the FRU itself, and subsidiary FRU data indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that may be immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy, said instructions causing the following method to be performed, for each level of the hierarchy:

(a) transmitting a request for the FRU identity data and the subsidiary FRU data to each FRU in that level of the hierarchy;

(b) receiving FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data from each FRU in that level in response to said request; and

(c) determining from the received subsidiary data the existence of any subsidiary FRUs in the next lower level of the hierarchy;

wherein steps (a)–

(c) are iteratively repeated until all the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy have been received; and

generating a consolidated version of the received FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein subsidiary FRU data for a FRU lists the maximum number of each type of FRU that may be located immediately below the FRU in the hierarchy.

44. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein subsidiary FRU data for a FRU is updateable to indicate the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that are installed immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy in a current configuration of the apparatus.

45. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein said program instructions comprise a configuration or set-up utility program which is run on a service processor of the apparatus.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein said utility program generates a new consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy in response to a change in configuration of the apparatus.

47. Apparatus including a hierarchy of field replaceable units (FRUs), wherein a FRU in said hierarchy may have a number of subsidiary FRUs, and wherein each of said subsidiary FRUs has a type, said apparatus comprising:

means for providing, within a FRU, FRU identity data relating to the FRU itself, and subsidiary FRU data indicative of at least the number and type of any subsidiary FRUs that may be immediately below said FRU in the hierarchy; and

means for generating a consolidated version of the FRU identity data and subsidiary FRU data stored in the hierarchy.