US 6,487,623 B1Granted

Replacement, upgrade and/or addition of hot-pluggable components in a computer system

AssigneeCompaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.

InventorsTheodore F. Emerson, Vincent Nguyen, Peter Michels, Steve Clohset

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A computer system adapted for hot-pluggable components such as memory modules that may be replaced, upgraded and/or added without disturbing normal operation of the computer system. A failing memory module may be replaced by copying its contents to a new memory module in a background operation while the computer system runs its operating system and applications programs. When all contents are copied to the new memory module, the failing memory module may be removed without having to shut down the computer system. Computer system memory may be upgraded or added to by inserting the new memory module(s) into vacant disconnected memory connectors, whereupon the computer system automatically recognizes the new memory module(s), synchronously connects the new memory module(s) to the computer system memory bus, initializes the new memory module(s), and then notifies the operating system that the new memory module(s) is available, all without disturbing normal operation of the computer system.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A computer system having hot-pluggable components, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;
a component controller connected to said central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a first component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors;
and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein
when said component controller determines that said first component module is failing but still operational, said component controller asserts a system management interrupt to said central processing unit;
when said central processing unit receives the system management interrupt, said central processing unit runs a system management program which determines whether a second component module is installed in another one of said plurality of component connectors;
if said second component module is not installed then the system management program continues determining until said second component module is installed;
if said second component module is installed then the system management program causes said central processing unit to transfer information stored in said first component module to said second component module until all information is transferred, the transfer of information is done as a background operation which does not materially affect other programs running in said central processing unit;
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component bus switches to disconnect said first component module from said component bus after all of the information is transferred;
and
said logic circuit causing some of said plurality of component power switches to disconnect said first component module from said power source after the some of said plurality of component bus switches has disconnected said first component module from said component bus.

13 more elements

A computer system having hot-pluggable components, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;
a component controller connected to said central processing unit;
a component bus connected to said component controller;
a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules;
a plurality of component bus switches connected between said component bus and said plurality of component connectors;
a plurality of component power switches connected between said plurality of component connectors and a power source;
a new component module installed in a one of said plurality of component connectors;
and
a logic circuit connected to said component bus, said plurality of component connectors, said plurality of component bus switches and said plurality of component power switches, wherein
when said logic circuit determines that said new component module is installed in the one of said plurality of component connectors, said logic circuit causes some of said plurality of power switches to connect the one of said plurality of component connectors to said power source, and then said logic circuit causes some of said component bus switches to connect the one of said plurality of component connectors to said component bus when said component bus is inactive;
said logic circuit asserting a system management interrupt to said central processing unit after the one of said plurality of component connectors is connected to said power source and said component bus;
and
when said central processing unit receives the system management interrupt, said central processing unit runs a system management program for initializing said new component module and then the system management program notifies an operating system program of the availability of said new component module.

10 more elements

A method, in a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a component controller connected to the central processing unit, a component bus connected to the component controller, a plurality of component connectors adapted to receive component modules, a plurality of component bus switches connected between the component bus and the plurality of component connectors;

a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source;
and a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of:
providing a first component module installed in a one of the plurality of component connectors;
detecting a failing but still operational first component module;
alerting an operator when the first component module is determined to be failing;
determining whether a second component module is installed in another one of the plurality of component connectors and is available to replace the failing first component module;
if the second component module is installed and available in the another one of the plurality of component connectors, then
connecting the power source to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component power switches;
and
connecting the component bus to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component bus switches when the component bus is not active;
transferring information from the failing first component module to the second component module until all information has been transferred;
and
disconnecting the first component module from the component bus after the information has been transferred.

11 more elements

a plurality of component power switches connected between the plurality of component connectors and a power source;
and a logic circuit connected to the component bus, the plurality of component connectors, the plurality of component bus switches and the plurality of component power switches;
said method comprising the steps of:
providing a first component module installed in a one of the plurality of component connectors;
detecting a failing but still operational first component module;
determining whether a second component module is installed in another one of the plurality of component connectors and is available to replace the failing first component module;
if the second component module is installed and available in the another one of the plurality of component connectors, then
connecting the power source to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component power switches;
and
connecting the component bus to the another one of the plurality of component connectors with some of the plurality of component bus switches when the component bus is not active;
transferring information from the failing first component module to the second component module until all information has been transferred, said central processing unit performs this step by performing locked reads of portions of the contents of the failing first component module and then writes these portions to the second component module;
and
disconnecting the first component module from the component bus after the information has been transferred.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.