Server network diagnostic system

• US 8,291,266 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Windell, David, Patel, Pravin, Hughes, James, West, Christopher, Piper, Robert, Schlude, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KAMINI B
• Application Number:
  US12/560,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 714/46
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/325 by lamps or LED's
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0645 by additionally acting on or stimulating the network after receiving notifications

Abstract

Methods and systems for implementing such methods for providing server diagnostic and system management information may include, but are not limited to: receiving a network fault status request input; illuminating one or more server node fault indicators for one or more degraded server nodes having one or more faults; receiving a server node fault status request input for a degraded server node having one or more faults; and displaying one or more diagnostic service notifications for one or more faults of the degraded server node. Display of diagnostic service notifications may allow for completion of various service operations associated with service notifications once information specific to a fault is presented. Such service operations may include placing a system in standby mode, transferring workloads to other systems, initiating a firmware update, placing the system in a mode that allows for physical maintenance, or ordering parts associated with one or more faults.

Claims

1. A method for providing server fault notifications comprising

receiving a selection of a light-emitting diode (LED)-based directed servicing mechanism;

receiving a network fault status request input;

receiving a selection of a diagnostic service notification filter parameter, the diagnostic service notification filter parameter selected from at least one of;

a hardware component-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter, a server node-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter, a server application-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter, and a server type-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter; and

illuminating one or more LEDs associated with one or more system components having one or more faults according to the selection of the LED-based directed servicing mechanism and network fault data, wherein the illuminating one or more LEDs associated with one or more system components having one or more faults according to the selection of the LED-based directed servicing mechanism and network fault data further comprises;

illuminating one or more LEDs in a sequence corresponding to a path associated with locating the one or more components having one or more faults;

displaying one or more diagnostic service notifications for one or more faults of the degraded server node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a network fault status request input comprises:

detecting a touch of a network fault indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a fault of a degraded server node.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user-assistance according to a selection of a fault of a degraded server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing a user-assistance according to a selection of a fault of a degraded server comprises:

providing an instructional assistance.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing a user-assistance according to a selection of a fault of a degraded server comprises:

providing a communications interface.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing a user-assistance according to a selection of a fault of a degraded server comprises:

providing a component replacement interface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a replacement component order associated with a selected fault.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the providing a user-assistance according to a selection of a fault of a degraded server comprises:

providing order status information associated with a replacement component order.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing order status information associated with a replacement component order comprises:

providing delivery status information associated with the replacement component order.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing a user-assistance according to a selection of a fault of a degraded server comprises:

illuminating one or more LED indicators associated with a selected fault.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the illuminating one or more LED indicators associated with a selected fault further comprises:

illuminating one or more LED indicators associated with a selected fault according to a user-selected LED illumination configuration.

13. A system for providing server fault notifications, diagnostic and system management information comprising:

a fault notification management device including a fault notification management interface configured for;

receiving a selection of a light-emitting diode (LED)-based directed servicing mechanism,

receiving a network fault status request input, and

receiving a selection of a diagnostic service notification filter parameter, the diagnostic service notification filter parameter selected from at least one of;

a hardware component-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter, a server node-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter, a server application-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter, and a server type-based diagnostic service notification filter parameter;

a network fault status indicator including one or more LEDs, the LEDs configured for illumination in a sequence corresponding to a path associated with locating one or more server nodes having one or more faults according to one or more detected server node faults and the selection of the LED-based directed servicing mechanism; and

one or more server nodes, a server node of the one or more server nodes including;

a server node fault status indicator,

a server node fault controller configured to broadcast one or more server node fault notifications to the fault notification management device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the fault notification management device comprises:

a fault notification management device integrated into a server chassis.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the fault notification management device comprises:

a pluggable fault notification management device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the fault notification management device comprises:

a mobile fault notification management device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the server node fault status indicator comprises:

a push-button LED server node fault status indicator.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the network fault status indicator comprises:

a push-button LED network fault status indicator.