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US 6,856,926 B2Granted
Frequency margin testing of bladed servers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAkbar Monfared, Steve Mastoris, Rex Schrader
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frequency margin testing blade is adapted for use in a bladed server. The testing blade is further adapted to provide one or more output clock signals for use as clock inputs to one or more server blades internal to the bladed server in which the testing blade is installed and/or one or more server blades external to the bladed server in which the testing blade is installed.
Claims44
A frequency margin testing blade, comprising:
- means for coupling the testing blade to a backplane of a bladed server;
- means for generating a clock signal having a frequency;
- means for providing the clock signal to an external device;
- means for sensing the frequency of the clock signal;
- means for comparing the frequency sensed by the means for sensing the frequency of the clock signal with a value indicative of a desired frequency;
- and
- means for modifying the frequency of the clock signal if the frequency sensed by the means for sensing the frequency of the clock signal differs from the desired frequency.
4 more elements
A testing blade for a bladed server, comprising:
- a connector adapted for coupling to a backplane of the bladed server;
- an oscillator for generating a first clock signal in response to a frequency control signal;
- a clock driver for generating at least two second clock signals in response to the first clock signal, the at least two second clock signals having a frequency;
- a processor in communication with the connector and adapted to compare a value indicative of the frequency of the at least two second clock signals with a value indicative of a desired frequency, wherein the processor is further adapted to generate a first control signal indicative of a desire to modify the frequency of the at least two second clock signals in response to the comparison;
- and
- at least one port for providing one or more of the at least two second clock signals to external devices to be tested;
- wherein the frequency control signal is responsive to the first control signal.
4 more elements
A method of operating a bladed server, comprising:
- receiving a signal at a testing blade coupled to the bladed server, wherein the signal is indicative of a desired frequency of a clock signal for use by the bladed server that is different than a nominal clock signal frequency for use by the bladed server;
- generating an output clock signal at the testing blade having a frequency;
- sensing the frequency of the output clock signal;
- generating a value indicative of the sensed frequency;
- comparing the value indicative of the sensed frequency with a value indicative of a desired frequency:
- modifying, as needed, the frequency of the output clock signal in response to the comparison of the value indicative of the sensed frequency with the value indicative of a desired frequency.
3 more elements
A blade for a bladed server, comprising:
- a memory for storing a value indicative of a desired frequency of an output clock signal;
- a processor adapted to compare a value indicative of a frequency of an output clock signal to the value indicative of the desired frequency of the output clock signal, wherein the processor is further adapted to generate a first digital control signal in response to the comparison;
- a first digital potentiometer responsive to the first digital control signal to generate a first analog control signal;
- a voltage-controlled oscillator for generating an intermediate clock signal in response to the first analog control signal, the intermediate clock signal having a frequency and an amplitude;
- a clock driver for generating an output clock signal having the frequency of the intermediate clock signal and having an amplitude;
- an integrator/ramp generator for receiving the output clock signal as an input;
- a first peak detector for receiving an output of the integrator/ramp generator as an input;
- a first analog-to-digital converter for receiving the output of the integrator/ramp generator as an input and providing its output to the processor as the value indicative of the frequency of the output clock signal.
5 more elements
A frequency margin testing blade, comprising:
- a connector for coupling the testing blade to a backplane of a bladed server;
- a clock driver for generating a clock signal having a frequency
- a port for providing the clock signal to an external device;
- a first sensing circuit for sensing the frequency of the clock signal;
- a processor coupled to the backplane adapted for comparing the frequency sensed by the sensing circuit with a value indicative of a desired frequency;
- and
- a first control signal generation circuit coupled to the processor for generating a first control signal in response to the comparison of the frequency;
- wherein the clock driver is responsive to the first control signal to adjust the frequency of the clock signal.
5 more elements
A bladed server, comprising:
- a chassis having a backplane;
- at least one server blade coupled to the backplane for providing server functionality;
- and
- a frequency margin testing blade coupled to the backplane, wherein the frequency margin testing blade comprises:
- means for coupling the testing blade to the backplane of the bladed server;
- means for generating a clock signal having a frequency;
- means for providing the clock signal to the at least one server blade;
- means for sensing the frequency of the clock signal;
- means for comparing the frequency sensed by the means for sensing the frequency of the clock signal with a value indicative of a desired frequency;
- and
- means for modifying the frequency of the clock signal if the frequency sensed by the means for sensing the frequency of the clock signal differs from the desired frequency.
8 more elements
A bladed server, comprising:
- a chassis having a backplane;
- at least one server blade coupled to the backplane for providing server functionality;
- and
- a frequency margin testing blade coupled to the backplane, wherein the frequency margin testing blade comprises:
- a connector for coupling the testing blade to the backplane of the bladed server;
- a clock driver for generating a clock signal having a frequency;
- at least one port for providing the clock signal to the at least one server blade;
- a first sensing circuit for sensing the frequency of the clock signal;
- a processor coupled to the backplane adapted for comparing the frequency sensed by the sensing circuit with a value indicative of a desired frequency;
- and
- a first control signal generation circuit coupled to the processor for generating a first control signal in response to the comparison of the frequency;
- wherein the clock driver is responsive to the first control signal to adjust the frequency of the clock signal.
9 more elements
A method of operating a bladed server, comprising:
- invoking a testing blade of the bladed server through a test executive;
- receiving commands and data at the testing blade from the test executive to instruct the testing blade to adjust the frequency of output clock signals for testing of the bladed server or individual server blades of the bladed server at operating clock frequencies that are lower or higher than nominal conditions;
- varying the frequency of the output clock signals in response to the commands and data received from the test executive;
- and
- gathering information related to the operation of the bladed server at the varied output clock signal frequencies.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.