Error handling between a processor and a system managed by the processor

A system for error handling, comprising:

• a processor;
• a system managed by the processor;
• logic implemented in the system, comprising:
• (i) means for processing an error within the system;
• (ii) means for generating an interrupt to the processor indicating that an error occurred;
• and
• (iii) means for executing an error mode before the processor interprets the interrupt by preventing data from transferring between the system and the processor and processing a read request from the processor by returning data to the processor unrelated to the requested data;
• and
• program logic executed by the processor, comprising:
• (i) means for processing the interrupt indicating the error;
• and
• (ii) means for executing a diagnostic mode to diagnose the error in the system.

An article of manufacture for use in programming a system managed by a processor to handle errors, wherein the article of manufacture comprises program logic to cause the system to perform the steps of:

• processing an error in the system managed;
• generating an interrupt to the processor indicating that an error occurred;
• and
• executing an error mode before the processor interprets the interrupt by preventing data from transferring between the system and the processor and by processing a read request from the processor by returning data to the processor unrelated to the requested data, wherein the processor interprets the interrupt indicating the error and in response, executes a diagnostic mode to diagnose the error in the system.