Computer server architecture and diagnostic framework for testing same

A system comprising:

• a first platform;
• a second platform;
• a first service processor capable of communicating with said first platform to diagnose elements associated with said first platform, wherein said first service processor diagnoses said elements using:
• a first set of diagnostic modules to be executed by said first platform;
• and
• a second set of diagnostic modules to be executed by said first service processor;
• and
• a second service processor, wherein said first second service processor is capable of diagnosing elements associated with said second first platform using said second first service processor.

A system comprising:

• a first platform;
• a second platform;
• a first service processor capable of communicating with said first platform to diagnose elements associated with said first platform, wherein said first service processor diagnoses said elements using:
• a first set of diagnostic modules to be executed by said first platform;
• and
• a second set of diagnostic modules to be executed by said first service processor, wherein said first set of diagnostic modules and said second set of diagnostic modules form a unitary diagnostic framework;
• and
• a second service processor, wherein said second service processor is capable of diagnosing elements associated with said first platform using said first service processor.

A method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a diagnostic framework having modules running on a first service processor and a first platform, the diagnostic framework including:
• a first executive module running on the first service processor;
• and
• a second executive module running on the first platform;
• providing a diagnostic command to the first executive module;
• routing the diagnostic command to the second executive module;
• and
• delivering the diagnostic command to a test module running on the first platform;
• wherein the diagnostic framework further includes:
• a third executive module running on a second service processor;
• and
• a fourth executive module running on a second platform;
• and further including the steps of:
• providing a diagnostic command to the first executive module;
• routing the diagnostic command to the third executive module;
• routing the diagnostic command to the fourth executive module;
• and
• delivering the diagnostic command to a test module running on the second platform.

A server comprising:

• a plurality of processors;
• at least one service processor coupled to said plurality of processors;
• a scaling device coupled to said plurality of processors and said service processor;
• a first set of diagnostic modules to be executed by said service processor;
• and
• a second set of diagnostic modules to be executed by one or more of said plurality of processors;
• wherein said first and second set of diagnostic modules form a diagnostic framework across an interface linking said service processor and said plurality of processors;
• and
• wherein said scaling device enables said server to be scaled with one or more additional servers to form up to a 16-way configuration.