PCI hot spare capability for failed components

A method for replacing a failed component on a system bus in a computer system with a spare component located on the system bus, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the system bus for failed components;
• determining if a device on the system bus has failed;
• determining if a spare component is available on the system bus for the failed component;
• locking the system bus;
• initializing the spare component and copying the failed component's contents to the spare component;
• disabling the failed device;
• changing the address of the spare component to the address of the failed component;
• and
• releasing the bus and resuming normal operation.

A method for replacing a failed component on a system bus in a computer system with a spare component located on the system bus, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the system bus for failed components;
• determining if a device on the system bus has failed;
• determining if a spare component is available on the system bus for the failed component;
• locking the system bus;
• reconfiguring the system to recognize the spare component by modifying a system memory map to replace the address of the failed component with the address of the spare component;
• initializing the spare component and copying the failed component's contents to the spare component;
• disabling the failed device;
• and
• releasing the bus and resuming normal operation.

A computer system, comprising:

• a host processor connected to a host bus;
• a bus bridge connecting said host bus to a first system expansion bus;
• a system management module connected to said first system expansion bus, said system management module including:
• a system management processor;
• a system management central control unit coupled to said system management processor by a system management local bus;
• a system management remote unit connected to a second expansion bus, said system management remote unit connecting to said system management central control unit by a serial bus, said system management remote unit providing a signal to said system management central unit if a failed component is detected on the second expansion bus;
• a primary component connected to said second expansion bus for performing specified operations;
• a spare component connected to said second expansion bus;
• wherein the system management module, in response to detection of a failure on the second system expansion bus, dynamically switching the spare component for the primary component.

A network file server, comprising:

• a host processor connected to a host bus;
• a PCI bus bridge coupling said host bus to a PCI bus;
• a primary component connected to said PCI bus for performing specified operations;
• a spare component connected to said PCI bus, said spare component having the capability to perform at least some of the operations of said primary component;
• a system management module connected to said PCI bus, said system management module including:
• a system management processor;
• a system management central unit interfacing a system management local bus to the PCI bus, said system management central unit coupling to the system management processor through the system management local bus;
• wherein the system management central configures and initializes the spare component in the event of a failure of the primary component.