Computer, system management support apparatus and management method

• US 7,080,285 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kosugi, Mikayo, Hirai, Giro
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNCAN, MARC M
• Application Number:
  US09/765,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 714/36, 714/27, 714/39, 714/26, 714/48, 714/25, 714/14, 714/47, 714/23, 713/2
• US Class Current: 714/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services

Abstract

A start processing unit conducts start processings including a self diagnosis processing and a BOOT processing of an operating system and then starts an application when power of a computer system is turned on. A trouble notification unit controls the power of the computer system and integrally monitors a trouble of the start processing unit and a trouble during system operation. The trouble notification unit, provided as a server management support board, acquires log information stored in the start processing unit and notifies an external remote maintenance system of the log information as well as an alarm message trough a dedicated network interface when the trouble notification unit detects the trouble of the start processing unit (system down).

Claims

1. A apparatus comprising:

a start processing unit which conducts a start processing, and then starts an application when a system power supply is turned on;

a trouble monitoring unit which controls the system power supply, and integrally monitors a trouble of said start processing unit and a trouble during system operation;

a trouble notification unit which acquires log information stored in said start processing unit, and notifies an external remote maintenance system of the log information through a first network interface, which is independent of a second network interface made available by said application, if said trouble monitoring unit detects the trouble of said start processing unit; and

a power supply, independent of said system power supply, for powering said trouble notification unit.

2. A apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said start processing unit is provided on a baseboard, said trouble monitoring unit is provided on an integrated management panel board, and said trouble notification unit is provided on a system management support board, the system management support board comprising a dedicated power unit constantly supplied with power, a board interface connected to said integrated management panel board, and the first network interface connecting said remote maintenance system.

3. A apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said system management support board is an interface board connected to an interface provided on the baseboard of the apparatus system.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a start processing unit which conduct a start processing, and then start an application when power of a apparatus system is turned on;

a trouble monitoring unit which control the power of the apparatus system, and integrally monitor a trouble of said start processing unit and a trouble during system operation; and

a trouble notification unit which acquire log information stored in said start processing unit, and notify an external remote maintenance system of the log information through a network interface if said trouble monitoring unit detects a trouble of said start processing unit,

wherein said start processing unit is provided on a baseboard, said trouble monitoring unit is provided on an integrated management panel board, and said trouble notification unit is provided on a system management support board, the system management support board comprising a dedicated power unit constantly supplied with power, a board interface connected to said integrated management panel board, and the network interface connecting said remote maintenance system,

wherein said system management support board is an interface board connected to an interface provided on the baseboard of the apparatus system, and

wherein said system management support board is a PCI board connected to a PCI bus provided on the baseboard of the apparatus system.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a start processing unit which conduct a start processing, and then start an application when power of a apparatus system is turned on;

a trouble monitoring unit which control the power of the apparatus system, and integrally monitor a trouble of said start processing unit and a trouble during system operation; and

a trouble notification unit which acquire log information stored in said start processing unit, and notify an external remote maintenance system of the log information through a network interface if said trouble monitoring unit detects the a trouble of said start processing unit, and

wherein a monitoring agent which monitor the trouble of the trouble notification unit provided on said system management support board is provided on the apparatus system side as an application, and an interface coupled to said monitoring agent is provided on said system management support board.

6. A apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the interface coupled to said monitoring agent is a PCI bus.

7. A apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said trouble notification unit on the system management support board stores a communication failure flag in a memory when notification of an alarm message and the log information to the remote maintenance system fails;

and

if the apparatus system is restarted, said monitoring agent on the apparatus system side notifies said remote maintenance system of the alarm message indicating that a communication trouble occurred to said trouble notification unit through the network interface on the baseboard based on said communication failure flag.

8. A apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said trouble notification unit on the system management support board regularly communicates with said remote maintenance system using a network interface of the trouble notification unit, and stores a communication failure flag in a memory when detecting abnormality of communication;

and

said monitoring agent on the server system side notifies said remote maintenance system of an alarm message indicating a communication trouble on said trouble notification unit side through the network interface on the baseboard based on said communication failure flag.

9. A apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said monitoring agent on the communication system side regularly issues a regular notification command indicating that the apparatus system side normally operates;

and

said trouble notification unit on the system management support board detects that the apparatus system is abnormal if said regular notification command is stopped, and notifies the remote maintenance system of an alarm message.

10. A system management support apparatus, comprising:

a support board, comprising;

a board interface which connects to an integrated management panel board for controlling a system power supply, and monitoring a trouble of the system;

a first network interface connecting an external remote maintenance system; and

a trouble notification unit which acquires log information when receiving trouble information generated since the power of the system is turned on until a start processing is conducted and an application is started, from said integrated management panel board, and notifies the external remote maintenance system of the log information,

wherein said board interface, said first network interface, and said trouble notification unit are provided on the support board connectable to an interface of the system and wherein the first network interface is independent of a second network interface made available by the application, and

a second power supply, which constantly supplies power independently of said system power supply, for powering said support board.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said power supply unit, said board interface, said first network interface, and said trouble notification unit are provided on an interface board connected to an interface provided on a baseboard of the apparatus system.

12. A system management support apparatus, comprising:

a support board, comprising;

a power supply unit which constantly supplies power;

a board interface which connects to an integrated management panel board for controlling a system power supply, and monitoring a trouble of the apparatus system;

a network interface connecting an external remote maintenance system; and

a trouble notification unit which acquire log information when receiving trouble information generated since the power of the system is turned on until a start processing is conducted and an application is started, from said integrated management panel board, and notify the external remote maintenance system of the log information, and

wherein said power supply unit, said board interface, said network interface and said trouble notification unit are provided on the support board connectable to an interface of the apparatus system and wherein said power supply unit, said board interface, said network interface and said trouble notification unit are provided on a PCI board connected to a PCI bus provided on a baseboard of the apparatus system.

13. A system management support apparatus, comprising:

a support board, comprising;

a power supply unit which constantly supplies power;

a board interface which connects to an integrated management panel board for controlling a system power supply, and monitoring a trouble of the apparatus system;

a network interface connecting an external remote maintenance system; and

a trouble notification unit which acquire log information when receiving trouble information generated since the power of the system is turned on until a start processing is conducted and an application is started, from said integrated management panel board, and notify the external remote maintenance system of the log information, and

wherein said power supply unit, said board interface, said network interface and said trouble notification unit are provided on the support board connectable to an interface of the apparatus system and wherein an interface coupled to a monitoring agent provided on the apparatus system side as an application is provided.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the interface coupled to said monitoring agent is a PCI bus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

said trouble notification unit stores a communication failure flag in a memory when notification of an alarm message and the log information to the remote maintenance system fails;

and

if the apparatus system is restarted, said monitoring agent on the apparatus system side notifies said remote maintenance system of the alarm message indicating that a communication trouble occurred to said trouble notification unit through the network interface on the baseboard based on the communication failure flag.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

said trouble notification unit regularly communicates with said remote maintenance system using a network interface of the trouble notification unit, and stores a communication failure flag in a memory when detecting abnormality of communication;

and

said monitoring agent on the apparatus side notifies said remote maintenance system of an alarm message indicating abnormality of communication on said trouble notification unit side through the network interface on the baseboard based on said communication failure flag.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said trouble notification unit detects that the apparatus system is abnormal if a regular notification command regularly issued from the monitoring agent on the apparatus system side is stopped, and notifies the remote maintenance system of an alarm message.

18. A apparatus system management method, comprising:

a start processing operation of conducting a start processing, and then starting an application when power of a computer system is turned on

a trouble monitoring operation of controlling the power of the computer system, and integrally monitoring a trouble of said start processing unit; and

a trouble notification operation of acquiring log information, and notifying an external remote maintenance system of the log information through a first network interface, which is independent of a second network interface made available by the application, irrespective of the presence of power supply from said power supply controlled by said trouble monitoring step if a trouble of said start processing unit is detected in said trouble monitoring operation occurring during a period from a turn-on of a system power supply, through activation, to a start-up of the application.

19. A apparatus system management method, comprising:

a start processing operation of conducting a start processing, and then starting an application when power of a computer system is turned on;

a trouble monitoring operation of controlling the power of the computer system, and integrally monitoring a trouble of said start processing unit; and

a trouble notification operation of acquiring log information, and notifying an external remote maintenance system of the log information through a network interface if the a trouble of said start processing unit is detected in said trouble monitoring operation, and

wherein a monitoring agent provided on the apparatus system side as an application monitors the trouble in said trouble notification operation.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein

in said trouble notification operation, a communication failure flag is stored in a memory when notification of an alarm message and the log information to the remote maintenance system fails;

and

if the apparatus system is restarted, said monitoring agent notifies said remote maintenance system of the alarm message indicating that a trouble occurred to said trouble notification operation through the network interface on the computer system side based on said communication failure flag.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein

in said trouble notification operation, communication with said remote maintenance system is regularly established using a network interface, and a communication failure flag is stored in a memory when abnormality of the communication is detected;

and

said monitoring agent notifies said remote maintenance system of an alarm message indicating abnormality of the communication in said trouble notification operation through the network interface on the apparatus system side based on said communication failure flag.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein

said monitoring agent regularly issues a regular notification command indicating that the apparatus system normally operates;

and

in said trouble notification operation, abnormality of the apparatus system is detected if said regular notification command is stopped, and an alarm message is notified to the remote maintenance system.

23. A system coupled to a network, the system comprising:

a server performing start-up processing comprising power on processing, diagnostic processing, boot-up processing and application start processing and storing a log of events during the start-up processing in a memory and stopping when start-up processing fails; and

a monitoring system monitoring the start-up processing, accessing the memory and sending a message, including the log, over the network, using a first network interface that is independent of a second network interface made available by the application, indicating start-up processing failure while the server is stopped due to start-up processing failure.