Method to provide external observability when embedded firmware detects predefined conditions

• US 6,990,424 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clegg, Roger T., Pfeifer, Alan T., Mills, Bonnie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US10/730,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 702/108, 702/118, 702/121, 702/122, 702/123, 702/124, 702/182, 714/39, 714/43, 714/712, 714/724
• US Class Current: 702/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2215 to test error correction or detection circuits

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating a system specific test by providing sophisticated error tracking mechanisms to trigger on a specific system event. The present invention addresses the problem of monitoring network traffic and isolating a point of error at the testing stage. The present invention defines a specific system event to be monitored. A trigger is created in the host system and routed to the analyzer, wherein the trigger is used to allow the analyzer to capture information related to the specific system event. When a signal is received at the analyzer, the signal automatically triggers the analyzer to capture and store a predetermined amount of data related to the specific system event before and after the trigger is executed.

Claims

1. A method for testing the error handling capabilities of a system'"'"'s firmware by allowing an analyzer to trigger on a specific system event, comprising:

defining a specific system event to be monitored;

creating a trigger configured to allow an analyzer to capture information related to the specific system event, wherein the trigger is controlled by an intelligent triggering controller external to the analyzer; and

receiving a signal at the analyzer from the intelligent triggering controller, wherein the signal automatically triggers the analyzer to capture and store a predetermined amount of data related to the specific system event before and after the trigger is executed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intelligent triggering controller is one of a host system, a storage device, or a peer communications device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the intelligent triggering controller is a fibre channel host bus adapter in the host system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is triggered within a millisecond of when the specific system event occurs.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the fibre channel host bus adapter in the host system maps all connected devices logically to determine status conditions of the connected devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intelligent triggering controller controls the trigger in the analyzer to capture and store data regarding internal states of the system'"'"'s firmware.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the storage device includes initiators, targets, switches, or fabrics.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the fibre channel host bus adapter includes a number of output pins, and wherein each output pin may be programmed with a separate triggering mechanism.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the separate triggering mechanisms include detection of device errors above a certain threshold, device going away, illegal device activity, and input/output status.

10. A data processing system for testing the error handling capabilities of a system'"'"'s firmware by allowing an analyzer to trigger on a specific system event, comprising:

defining means for defining a specific system event to be monitored;

creating means for creating a trigger configured to allow an analyzer to capture information related to the specific system event, wherein the trigger is controlled by an intelligent triggering controller external to the analyzer; and

receiving means for receiving a signal at the analyzer from the intelligent triggering controller, wherein the signal automatically triggers the analyzer to capture and store a predetermined amount of data related to the specific system event before and after the trigger is executed.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the intelligent triggering controller is one of a host system, a storage device, or a peer communications device.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the intelligent triggering controller is a fibre channel host bus adapter in the host system.

13. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the analyzer is triggered within a millisecond of when the specific system event occurs.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the fibre channel host bus adapter in the host system maps all connected devices logically to determine status conditions of the connected devices.

15. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the intelligent triggering controller controls the trigger in the analyzer to capture and store data regarding internal states of the system'"'"'s firmware.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the storage device includes initiators, targets, switches, or fabrics.

17. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the fibre channel host bus adapter includes a number of output pins, and wherein each output pin may be programmed with a separate triggering mechanism.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the separate triggering mechanisms include detection of device errors above a certain threshold, device going away, illegal device activity, and input/output status.

19. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for testing the error handling capabilities of a system'"'"'s firmware by allowing an analyzer to trigger on a specific system event, comprising:

first instructions for defining a specific system event to be monitored;

second instructions for creating a trigger configured to allow an analyzer to capture information related to the specific system event, wherein the trigger is controlled by an intelligent triggering controller external to the analyzer; and

third instructions for receiving a signal at the analyzer, wherein the signal automatically triggers the analyzer to capture and store a predetermined amount of data related to the specific system event before and after the trigger is executed.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the intelligent triggering controller is one of a host system, a storage device, or a peer communications device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the intelligent triggering controller is a fibre channel host bus adapter in the host system.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the analyzer is triggered within a millisecond of when the specific system event occurs.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the fibre channel host bus adapter in the host system maps all connected devices logically to determine status conditions of the connected devices.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the intelligent triggering controller controls the trigger in the analyzer to capture and store data regarding internal states of the system'"'"'s firmware.

25. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the storage device includes initiators, targets, switches, or fabrics.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the fibre channel host bus adapter includes a number of output pins, and wherein each output pin may be programmed with a separate triggering mechanism.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the separate triggering mechanisms include detection of device errors above a certain threshold, device going away, illegal device activity, and input/output status.