Systems and methods for performing a hot input function

• US 8,205,027 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Chari, Srikumar N., Bright, Kenny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R
• Application Number:
  US13/099,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20110271026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 710/302
• US Class Current: 710/302
• 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 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user'"'"'s replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a “hot” condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the “hot swap” or “hot add” functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The system requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.

Claims

1. A method of reducing server downtime in a server network that manages data, the server network comprising one or more interfaces configured to receive at least one peripheral component, the server network including a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

displaying to a user, using the graphical user interface, status information for at least one peripheral component for the server network;

transmitting one or more instructions to the server network that allow the user to perform a series of steps necessary to execute a hot swap function, at least a portion of said one or more instructions being utilized by a hardware module to control operation of a selected interface; and

performing, by the user, the series of steps necessary to execute the hot swap function;

wherein said acts of displaying, transmitting and performing cooperate to reduce server downtime in the server network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reduction of server downtime results at least in part from the user performing the series of steps without having to power down a server associated with the selected interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of displaying comprises displaying a character-oriented representation of the state of a target device in a graphical form.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the character-oriented representation of the state of the target device enables interactive network administration by the user.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the user initiating a command via the graphical user interface that results in the transmission of one or more instructions that are utilized by the hardware module to control operation of the selected interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the command comprises a high-level software command for controlling the hardware module.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing, by the user, further comprises removing the at least one peripheral component from the selected interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of performing, by the user, further comprises replacing the at least one peripheral component with a similar peripheral component.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of performing, by the user, further comprises initiating, via the graphical user interface, a resume command that initiates operation of the similar peripheral component.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing, by the user, is aided via the use of a wizard software module, the wizard software module displaying to the user the series of steps necessary to execute the hot swap function.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the series of steps displayed to the user by the wizard software module comprises:

prompting the user to select a peripheral component;

prompting the user to suspend operations to the peripheral component; and

displaying to the user a confirmation that operations to the peripheral component have been suspended.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein in response to prompting the user to select a peripheral component, the user selects the at least one peripheral component for the server network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in response to prompting the user to suspend operations to the peripheral component, the user selects via the graphical user interface a command that powers down the selected interface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more interfaces comprise one or more respective slots.

15. A method of reducing server downtime in a server network that manages data, the server network comprising one or more interfaces configured to receive at least one peripheral component, the server network including a graphical user interface for a user that is configured to support a hot swap function, the method comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of peripheral components via the graphical user interface;

suspending operation of the selected peripheral component via the graphical user interface; and

displaying to the user a confirmation that operation of the selected peripheral component has been suspended;

wherein said acts of suspending and selecting reduce server downtime in the server network by enabling the execution of the hot swap function without shutting down a server associated with the selected peripheral component.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more instructions are transmitted to the server network, thereby allowing the user to perform a series of steps necessary to execute the hot swap function, at least a portion of said one or more instructions being utilized by a hardware module to control power to the selected peripheral component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein subsequent to displaying the confirmation to the user, the method further comprises removing the selected peripheral component from the selected peripheral component.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising replacing the selected peripheral component with a similar peripheral component.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising initiating, via the graphical user interface, a resume command that initiates operation of the similar peripheral component.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the acts of removing, replacing and initiating are aided via the use of a wizard software module, the wizard software module displaying to the user the series of steps necessary to execute the hot swap function.

21. A method of reducing server downtime in a server network that manages data, the server network comprising one or more peripheral interfaces configured to receive at least one peripheral component, the server network including a graphical user interface for a user that displays configuration information for a selected peripheral interface in the server network, the method comprising:

initiating one or more first commands to suspend operation of the selected peripheral interface, the operation of the selected peripheral interface controlled in part by a hardware module;

removing a first peripheral component from the selected peripheral interface;

inserting a second peripheral component into the selected peripheral interface; and

resuming operation at the selected peripheral interface via the initiation of one or more second commands;

wherein said acts of initiating, removing, inserting and resuming cooperate to reduce server downtime in the server network at least by enabling the execution of a hot swap function without shutting down a server associated with the first and second peripheral components.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the act of initiating one or more first commands is in response to viewing a character-oriented representation of a state of the first peripheral component in a graphical form.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the character-oriented representation of the state of the first peripheral component enables interactive network administration by the user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more first commands comprises a high-level software command.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein at least the acts of initiating and resuming is aided via the use of a wizard software module, the wizard software module displaying to the user a series of steps necessary to execute the hot swap function.

26. A server that manages data, the server comprising:

one or more interfaces configured to receive at least one peripheral component;

a graphical user interface;

software configured to, when executed, display to a user using the graphical user interface, status information for at least one peripheral component for the server; and

a processor configured to implement one or more instructions that allow the user to perform a series of steps necessary to execute a hot swap function, at least a portion of said one or more instructions being utilized, when executed, by a hardware module to control operation of a selected interface;

wherein said display, implementation of said instructions, and hot swap function contribute to reducing server downtime in the server.

27. The server of claim 26, wherein the reduction of server downtime results at least in part from the server being configured to allow the user to perform the series of steps without having to power down the server.

28. The server of claim 27, wherein the software is configured to, when executed, display a character-oriented representation of a state of a target device in a graphical form.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the character-oriented representation of the state of the target device enables interactive network administration by the user.

30. The server of claim 28, wherein the server is further configured to receive a user-initiated command via the graphical user interface that results in a transmission of one or more instructions that are utilized by the hardware module to control operation of the selected interface.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein the command comprises a high-level software command for controlling the hardware module.

32. The server of claim 26, wherein the server is configured to allow a user to remove the at least one peripheral component from the selected interface, and replace the at least one peripheral component with a similar peripheral component.

33. The server of claim 32, wherein the server is further configured to initiate a resume command received via the graphical user interface, the resume command configured to initiate operation of the similar peripheral component.

34. The server of claim 26, wherein the server comprises a wizard software module configured to display to the user the series of steps necessary to execute the hot swap function.

35. The server of claim 34, wherein the series of steps displayed to the user by the wizard software module comprises:

a prompt to the user to select a peripheral component;

a prompt to the user to suspend operations to the peripheral component; and

display to the user of a confirmation that operations to the peripheral component have been suspended.

36. The server of claim 35, wherein the server is configured to, in response to the prompt of the user to suspend operations to the peripheral component, receive via the graphical user interface a command that will initiate a power-down of the selected interface.

37. A server that manages data, the server comprising:

one or more interfaces configured to receive at least one peripheral component;

a graphical user interface for a user that is configured to support a hot swap function;

a processor; and

software configured to, when executed on the processor;

receive a selection of one of a plurality of peripheral components made via the graphical user interface;

suspend operations to the selected peripheral component; and

display to the user a confirmation that operation of the selected peripheral component has been suspended;

wherein said suspension and selection reduce server downtime by enabling the execution of the hot swap function without shutting down a server associated with the selected peripheral component.

38. A server that manages data, the server comprising:

one or more peripheral interfaces configured to receive at least one peripheral component;

a graphical user interface for use by a user that is configured to display configuration information for a selected peripheral interface in the server; and

software which is configured to, when executed by a processor;

initiate one or more first commands to suspend operation of the selected peripheral interface, the operation of the selected peripheral interface controlled in part by a hardware module;

facilitate removal of a first peripheral component from the selected peripheral interface;

facilitate insertion of a second peripheral component into the selected peripheral interface; and

resume operation at the selected peripheral interface via initiation of one or more second commands;

wherein said initiation and resumption cooperate to reduce server downtime by enabling the execution of the removal and insertion without shutting down a server associated with the first and second peripheral components.