Diagnostic and managing distributed processor system

• US 7,669,064 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Ken, Johnson, Karl S., Amdahl, Carlton G., Wallach, Walter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SURYAWANSHI, SURESH
• Application Number:
  US11/586,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 11/0772 Means for error signaling, e.g. using interrupts, exception flags, dedicated error registers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0784 Routing of error reports, e.g. with a specific transmission path or data flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0793 Remedial or corrective actions recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2015 Redundant power supplies power supply failure G06F1/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2736 using a dedicated service processor for test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3027 where the computing system component is a bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3065 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in reporting the monitored data error or fault reporting or logging G06F11/0766
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 : using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 : Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 : by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 : User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 : Event-based monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 : Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 : Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 : Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44521 : Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 : controlling armature supply only
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 : Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 : Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 : Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 : Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 : Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 : related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 : Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A network of microcontrollers for monitoring and diagnosing the environmental conditions of a computer is disclosed. The network of microcontrollers provides a management system by which computer users can accurately gauge the health of their computer. The network of microcontrollers provides users the ability to detect system fan speeds, internal temperatures and voltage levels. The invention is designed to not only be resilient to faults, but also allows for the system maintenance, modification, and growth—without downtime. Additionally, the present invention allows users to replace failed components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface cards and storage, without impacting existing users. One of the primary roles of the present invention is to manage the environment without outside involvement. This self-management allows the system to continue to operate even though components have failed.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a central processing unit; and

a network of microcontrollers comprising;

a system recorder microcontroller configured to record system and error messages;

a system interface microcontroller in communication with the central processing unit, the system interface microcontroller configured to receive one or more messages from the central processing unit, wherein at least one message requests the status of a power supply;

a chassis microcontroller in communication with the system interface controller wherein the chassis microcontroller is configured to detect the presence of a power supply, and wherein the chassis microcontroller is configured to transmit information to the system interface controller and the system recorder microcontroller indicative of the change in status of the power supply.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the network of microcontrollers are interconnected by a microcontroller bus.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the system recorder microcontroller is configured to maintain a system log in a non-volatile memory.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the network of microcontrollers further comprises a microcontroller configured to control system power to the computer.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer further comprises a plurality of canisters, and wherein the network of microcontrollers further comprises a microcontroller configured to control power to the canisters.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the network of microcontrollers further comprises a microcontroller connected to a canister.

7. The method of claim 1, further wherein the chassis microcontroller transmits the information to the system interface microcontroller in real time.

8. A method of monitoring a computer system comprising:

recording system and error messages obtained from a network of microcontrollers within a computer system;

receiving at a system interface microcontroller one or more messages from a central processing unit, wherein at least one message requests the status of a power supply within the computer system;

directing via the network of microcontrollers, a chassis microcontroller to detect the presence of the power supply; and

transmitting data indicative of the status of the power supply from the chassis microcontroller to the system interface microcontroller.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising interconnecting the network of microcontrollers with a microcontroller bus.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining a system log in a non-volatile memory with the system recorder microcontroller.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling system power to the computer with a microcontroller.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling power to a plurality of canisters with a microcontroller.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the network of microcontrollers further comprises a microcontroller connected to a canister.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting information from the chassis microcontroller to the system interface microcontroller in real time.