Computer apparatus and processor diagnostic method

• US 8,176,365 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hishinuma, Takeo, Mesaki, Yoshinori, Ishibashi, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNCAN, MARC M
• Application Number:
  US12/533,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 714/31, 714/36
• US Class Current: 714/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2284 by power-on test, e.g. power-on self test [POST]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0401 in embedded memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0407 on power on
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/1208 Error catch memory
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/16 using microprogrammed units, e.g. state machines

Abstract

A computer apparatus includes a first processor, a second processor, and a main memory. The computer apparatus further includes a memory-diagnostic unit, a diagnostic-program loading unit, and a defective-function identifying unit. The memory-diagnostic unit causes the second processor to execute a memory-diagnostic program to diagnose the main memory, and identifies a defective area in the main memory. The diagnostic-program loading unit loads a processor-diagnostic program for diagnosing a plurality of functions of the first processor into an area of the main memory other than the defective area identified by the memory-diagnostic unit. The defective-function identifying unit causes the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic program loaded by the diagnostic-program loading unit, and identifies a defective function that is disabled from the functions of the first processor.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus comprising:

a first processor;

a second processor;

a main memory;

a memory-diagnostic unit that causes the second processor to execute a memory-diagnostic program to diagnose the main memory, and identifies a defective area in the main memory;

a diagnostic-program loading unit that loads a processor-diagnostic program for diagnosing a plurality of functions of the first processor into an area of the main memory other than the defective area identified by the memory-diagnostic unit;

a defective-function identifying unit that causes the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic program loaded by the diagnostic-program loading unit, and identifies a defective function that is disabled from the functions of the first processor; and

a processor-switching unit that switches the second processor to the first processor, wherein

the processor-diagnostic program includes a plurality of diagnostic programs that diagnose the plurality of functions of the first processor, respectively,

the diagnostic-program loading unit sequentially loads the plurality of diagnostic programs in an order of a diagnostic program diagnosing a basic function among the functions of the first processor to a diagnostic program diagnosing an applicable function among the functions of the first processor,

the processor-switching unit switches, when the diagnostic-program loading unit loads the plurality of diagnostic programs up to a predetermined order of the order and the defective-function identifying unit causes the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic programs loaded by the diagnostic-program loading unit, the second processor to the first processor, and

the diagnostic programs whose order is later than the predetermined order among the plurality of diagnostic programs are executed by the first processor switched by the processor-switching unit.

2. The computer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the defective-function identifying unit causes the second processor to sequentially execute the diagnostic programs sequentially loaded by the diagnostic-program loading unit, and gradually identifies the defective function.

3. The computer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operating-system-abnormality detector that detects start-up abnormality of an operating system that is started up in the computer apparatus; and

a diagnostic-result notifying unit that notifies, when the operating-system-abnormality detector detects start-up abnormality of the operating system, the defective function identified by the defective-function identifying unit as a diagnostic result of the first processor.

4. The computer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory-diagnostic unit, the diagnostic-program loading unit, and the defective-function identifying unit start up when the computer apparatus is turned on, and are installed in a basic input and output program that controls data input and output to and from the main memory, and are placed in operation when the basic input and output program starts up.

5. A processor diagnostic method applied to a computer apparatus including a first processor, a second processor, and a main memory, the processor diagnostic method comprising:

a memory-diagnostic unit causing the second processor to execute a memory-diagnostic program to diagnose the main memory, and identifying a defective area in the main memory;

a diagnostic-program loading unit loading a processor-diagnostic program for diagnosing a plurality of functions of the first processor into an area of the main memory other than the defective area identified by the memory-diagnostic unit;

a defective-function identifying unit causing the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic program loaded by the diagnostic-program loading unit, and identifying a defective function that is disabled from the functions of the first processor; and

a processor-switching unit switching the second processor to the first processor, wherein

the processor-diagnostic program includes a plurality of diagnostic programs that diagnose the plurality of functions of the first processor, respectively,

the loading includes sequentially loading the plurality of diagnostic programs in an order of a diagnostic program diagnosing a basic function among the functions of the first processor to a diagnostic program diagnosing an applicable function among the functions of the first processor,

the switching includes switching, when the loading loads the plurality of diagnostic programs up to a predetermined order of the order and the causing causes the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic programs loaded at the loading, the second processor to the first processor, and

the diagnostic programs whose order is later than the predetermined order among the plurality of diagnostic programs are executed by the first processor switched at the switching.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer including a first processor, a second processor, and a main memory to perform:

causing the second processor to execute a memory-diagnostic program to diagnose the main memory, and identifying a defective area in the main memory;

loading a processor-diagnostic program for diagnosing a plurality of functions of the first processor into an area of the main memory other than the defective area;

causing the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic program loaded at the loading, and identifying a defective function that is disabled from the functions of the first processor; and

switching the second processor to the first processor, wherein

the processor-diagnostic program includes a plurality of diagnostic programs that diagnose the plurality of functions of the first processor, respectively,

the loading includes sequentially loading the plurality of diagnostic programs in an order of a diagnostic program diagnosing a basic function among the functions of the first processor to a diagnostic program diagnosing an applicable function among the functions of the first processor,

the switching includes switching, when the loading loads the plurality of diagnostic programs up to a predetermined order of the order and the causing causes the second processor to execute the processor-diagnostic programs loaded at the loading, the second processor to the first processor, and

the diagnostic programs whose order is later than the predetermined order among the plurality of diagnostic programs are executed by the first processor switched at the switching.