Automatic mapping, monitoring, and control of computer room components
AssigneeCompaq Computer Corporation
InventorsReuben Martinez, Timothy Lieber, Timothy J. Morris, Brian J. Purvis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for automatically mapping on a computer display a graphical representation of a physical arrangement of a plurality of computer components in one or more cabinets, each cabinet having one or more shelves for housing the computer components. The status of the components is periodically monitored and the computer display updated accordingly. A graphical user interface is provided for user observation of the physical arrangement and status of computer components in the cabinets, as well as user control of the operational parameters of the components.
Claims21
An apparatus for determining a location of a specified disk drive within an arrangement of a plurality of disk dries, comprising:
- a computer system having a communications interface coupled to each of said plurality of disk drives;
- a plurality of status light indicators each of which is physically connected to a different one of said plurality of disk drives;
- and
- a graphical user interface, executing on said computer system, said graphical user interface selectively generating a message that is conveyed to circuitry coupled to a status light indicator associated with said specified disk drive such that the status light indicator is illuminated.
The apparatus for determining a location of a specified disk drive within an arrangement of a plurality of disk drives, comprising:
- a computer system having a means for communicating information to and from each of said plurality of disk drives;
- means for visually indicating a location of said specified disk drive coupled to each of said plurality of disk drives;
- and
- a user interface means, executing on said computer system, for receiving an indication of said specified disk drive, said user interface means comprising means for conveying a message to said visual indication means such that said visual indication means allows a system administrator to determine said location of said specified disk drive.
A method for determining a location of a specified disk drive within an arrangement of a plurality of disk drives, comprising the steps of:
- executing a graphical user interface application on a computer system;
- receiving, by said graphical user interface, an indication of said specified disk drive;
- generating, by said graphical user interface, a first message that is conveyed to a status light indicator disposed on said specified disk drive;
- and
- illuminating said status light indicator, responsive to said message, such that said location of said specified disk drive is determined.
A system for providing status information associated with a specified disk drive that is located within an arrangement of a plurality of disk drives, comprising:
- a plurality of physical locations wherein said plurality of disk drives are located, each of said physical locations having an identification address;
- a monitoring unit, having an electrical connection to each of said physical locations such that status information associated with each of said plurality of disk drives can be retrieved, said status information including said identification address of each physical location and a corresponding permanent address of a disk drive that is located at that physical location;
- a computer system, having a communications interface connected to said monitoring unit for receiving said status information;
- and
- a computer program, executing on said computer system, for tracking changes in the physical location of said specified disk drive by monitoring said status information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.