Method and apparatus for problem identification during initial program load in a multiprocessor system

A data processing system for detecting an error condition during initialization of the data processing system comprising a plurality of processors, the data processing system comprising:

• initializing means for initializing a master processor identification indicator to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system;
• initiating means for initiating execution on a processor selected as a master processor at random from the plurality of processors, each one of the plurality of processors being associated with a different unique identifier that identifies each one of the plurality of processors;
• determining means for determining a unique identifier that identifies the processor;
• and
• storing means for storing, by the master processor, the unique identifier that identifies the processor as the master processor identification indicator.

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system for detecting an error condition during initialization of the data processing system comprising a plurality of processors, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for initializing a master processor identification indicator to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system;
• second instructions for initiating execution on a processor selected as a master processor at random from the plurality of processors, each one of the plurality of processors being associated with a different unique identifier that identifies each one of the plurality of processors;
• third instructions for determining a unique identifier that identifies the processor;
• and
• fourth instructions for storing, by the master processor, the unique identifier that identifies the processor as the master processor identification indicator.

A method for detecting an error condition during initialization of a data processing system comprising a plurality of processors, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• initializing a master processor identification indicator to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system;
• initiating execution on a processor selected as a master processor at random from the plurality of processors;
• setting the master processor identification indicator to a unique processor identification value by the master processor;
• detecting a hang condition in the data processing system by the service processor;
• reading a value of the master processor identification indicator by the service processor;
• and
• reporting the value of the master processor identification indicator to indicate which processor among the plurality of processors in the data processing system is operating as the master processor during the detection of the hang condition.

A data processing system for detecting an error condition during initialization of the data processing system comprising a plurality of processors, the data processing system comprising:

• initializing means for initializing a master processor identification indicator to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system;
• initiating means for initiating execution on a processor selected as a master processor at random from the plurality of processors;
• setting means for setting the master processor identification indicator to a unique processor identification value by the master processor;
• detecting means for detecting a hang condition in the data processing system by the service processor;
• reading means for reading a value of the master processor identification indicator by the service processor;
• and
• reporting means for reporting the value of the master processor identification indicator to indicate which processor among the plurality of processors in the data processing system is operating as the master processor during the detection of the hang condition.

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system for detecting an error condition during initialization of the data processing system comprising a plurality of processors, the computer program product comprising:

• instructions for initializing a master processor identification indicator to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system;
• instructions for initiating execution on a processor selected as a master processor at random from the plurality of processors;
• instructions for setting the master processor identification indicator to a unique processor identification value by the master processor;
• instructions for detecting a hang condition in the data processing system by the service processor;
• instructions for reading a value of the master processor identification indicator by the service processor;
• and
• instructions for reporting the value of the master processor identification indicator to indicate which processor among the plurality of processors in the data processing system is operating as the master processor during the detection of the hang condition.