Local proactive hot swap request/acknowledge system

Apparatus for implementing a local proactive hot swap request/acknowledge scheme in a computer system comprising a computer bus and at least one electrical device physically and electrically connectable to said bus, the apparatus comprising:

• user-actuatable means, electrically connected to said at least one electrical device, for generating a request for a hot swap procedure comprising a hot installation or a hot removal of said at least one electrical device;
• processor means, electrically connected to said user-actuatable generating means, for processing said hot swap request to determine whether said requested hot swap procedure may be performed without detrimentally affecting ongoing operations of said bus and said system, and for generating signals indicative of said processing results;
• indicating means, electrically connected to said at least one electrical device and said processor means, for indicating said processing results to a user, said indicating means being responsive to receipt of said generated signals from said processor means;
• and
• means supported on said processor means for performing said requested hot swap procedure when said processor means determines that said requested hot swap procedure may be performed;
• logic executable by said processor means:
• for determining whether said system can accept an additional electrical device;
• responsive to a determination that said system can accept an additional electrical device, for causing said performing means to electrically connect said at least one electrical device to said bus;
• for determining parameters of said at least one electrical device;
• responsive to said determination of said parameters of said at least one electrical device, for determining whether said at least one electrical device can be initialized;
• and
• responsive to a determination that said at least one electrical device can be initialized, for causing said performing means to install said at least one electrical device on said bus and for causing said indicating means to provide a first indication signal to said user;
• and
• logic executable by said processor means:
• for determining whether said at least one electrical device is either free and spare or free and redundant;
• responsive to a determination that said at least one electrical device is either free and spare or free and redundant, for determining whether said system is capable of removing an electrical device;
• and
• responsive to a determination that said system is capable of removing an electrical device, for causing said performing means to remove said at least one electrical device from said bus and causing said indicating means to provide a third indication signal to said user.

A method for implementing a local proactive hot swap request/acknowledge scheme in a computer system comprising at least one electrical device connectable to a computer bus and including user-actuatable means for generating, through said electrical device, a hot swap request associated with said at least one electrical device, the method comprising:

• generating a hot swap request using said user-actuatable means to request hot removal of said at least one electrical device from said bus;
• responsive to receipt of said hot swap request, processing said hot swap request to determine whether said requested removal may be performed without detrimentally affecting ongoing operations of said bus and said system, said determining further comprising:
• determining whether said at least one electrical device is either free and spare or free and redundant;
• responsive to a determination that said at least one electrical device is either free and spare or free and redundant, determining whether said system is capable of removing an electrical device;
• and
• responsive to a determination that said system is capable of removing an electrical device, determining that said requested removal may be performed;
• providing an indication of said determination to a user;
• and
• responsive to a determination that said requested installation or removal may be performed, performing said requested installation or removal.

A method of providing a computer system with a local proactive hot swap request/acknowledge scheme, said computer system comprising a small computer systems interface (SCSI) bus to which may be connected an array of SCSI devices, wherein each of said SCSI devices has associated therewith a user-actuatable switch means for generating a hot swap request and an indicating means for indicating to a user the status of said hot swap request, the method comprising:

• actuating said switch means of a selected one of said SCSI devices to generate a hot swap request to request hot installation or hot removal of said selected one of said SCSI devices;
• responsive to said hot swap request being a hot installation request:
• determining whether said system can accept an additional SCSI device;
• responsive to a determination that said system can accept an additional SCSI device, electrically connecting said selected one of said SCSI devices to said SCSI bus;
• determining whether said selected one of said SCSI devices passes inquiry regarding parameters;
• responsive to a determination that said selected one of said SCSI devices passes inquiry, determining whether said selected one of said SCSI devices can be initialized;
• and
• responsive to a determination that said selected one of said SCSI devices can be initialized, providing a first indication signal to a user using said indicating means;
• and
• responsive to said hot swap request being a hot removal request:
• determining whether said selected one of said SCSI devices is either free and spare or free and redundant;
• responsive to a determination that said selected one of said SCSI devices is either free and spare or free and redundant, determining whether said system is capable of removing a SCSI device;
• responsive to a determination that said system is capable of removing a SCSI device, providing a second signal to said user using said indicating means.

Apparatus for implementing a local proactive hot swap request/acknowledge scheme in a computer system comprising a computer bus and at least one electrical device physically and electrically connectable to said bus, the apparatus comprising:

• a user-actuatable mechanical request initiator supported on and electrically connected to said at least one electrical device for generating a request for a hot swap procedure comprising a hot installation or a hot removal of said at least one electrical device;
• a processor electrically connected to said request initiator for processing said hot swap request to determine whether said requested hot swap procedure may be performed without detrimentally affecting ongoing operations of said bus and said system and for generating signals indicative of said processing results;
• an indicator electrically connected to said at least one electrical device and said processor for indicating said processing results to a user, said indicator being responsive to receipt of said generated signals from said processor;
• a backplane controller connected to said processor for performing said requested hot swap procedure when said processor determines that said requested hot swap procedure may be performed;
• logic, executable by said processor, for determining whether said at least one electrical device is either free and spare or free and redundant;
• logic, executable by said processor in response to a determination that said at least one electrical device is either free and spare or free and redundant, for determining whether said system is capable of removing an electrical device;
• and
• logic, executable by said processor in response to a determination that said system is capable of removing an electrical device, for causing said controller to remove at least one electrical device from said bus, and for causing said indicator to provide a third indication signal to said user.