Automated backplane cable connection identification system and method

A backplane cable connection and verification method wherein at least one processor is connected using cable connections to a processor or an Input/Output (I/O) box, said method comprising:

• providing identification of connection terminals on a processor or I/O box to be connected to connection terminals of a second processor or I/O box by using connection cables;
• providing visual means which can be turned on/off and are associated with each connection terminal;
• controlling to turn on said visual means when a corresponding connection terminal is manually connected to a second connection terminal as guided by said identification means;
• automatically diagnosing by using diagnostic circuitry to check if two identified connection terminals are properly manually connected in accordance with user requirements;
• and
• turning off visual means relating to those connection cables which are properly connected and continue to be in tact as verified by the diagnostic circuitry, and including the step of keeping said visual means on/blinking which correspond to and are connected to cable connections which are faulty or broken as verified by the diagnostic circuitry.

An automated backplane cable connection and verification system wherein at least one processor module is manually connected using cable connections to another processor module or an Input-Output (I/O) box, said system processor module and I/O box including connection terminals, said system comprising:

• a programmed server management control console including means for identifying said connection terminals and prompting a technician to manually complete at least one backplane cable connection based on identification of the connection terminals and a predetermined cable connection configuration;
• a plurality of LEDs associated one each with each of said connection terminals, said LEDs initially being lit by dedicated conductor wires in cable connections upon making a manual backplane cable connection;
• said programmed server management control console including automatic diagnostic circuitry which verifies correctness and integrity of completed manual backplane cable connections in comparison with said predetermined cable connection configuration, said server management control console turning off LEDs corresponding to each manually completed backplane cable connection which is verified by said automatic diagnostic circuitry as a proper connection, said control console including means to retain respective LEDs to continue in a lit condition if the automatic diagnostic circuitry finds that a completed backplane connection is incorrect or faulty, thereby signaling need for intervention.

An automated backplane cable connection and verification system wherein at least one processor module is manually connected using cable connections to another processor module or an Input-Output (I/O) box, said system processor module and I/O box including connection terminals, the method comprising:

• using a programmed server management control console means for identifying said connection terminals and prompting a technician to manually complete at least one backplane cable connection based in identification of the connection terminals and a predetermined cable connection configuration;
• providing a plurality of LEDs associated one each with each of said connection terminals, said LEDs being initially lit by dedicated conductor wires in cable connections upon making a manual backplane cable connection;
• automatically diagnosing by using diagnostic circuitry provided in said programmed server management control console to verify correctness of completed manual backplane cable connections in comparison with said predetermined cable configuration, and also to verify integrity of completed manual backplane cable corrections, to turn off LEDs corresponding to each backplane cable connection which is verified to be a proper cable connection by said automatic diagnostic circuitry, and retain respective LEDs to continue in a lit condition if the automatic diagnostic circuitry finds a completed backplane connection is incorrect or faulty, thereby signaling need for intervention.