# US 7,610,482 B1 · Method and system for managing boot trace information in host bus adapters

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,610,482 B1
- Document ID: US7610482B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/477,161
- Filed: 2006-06-28
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-28
- Assignees: QLOGIC, Corporation
- Inventors: Ying P. Lok
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610482B1

## CPC

- G06F 11/0778: {Dumping, i.e. gathering error/state information after a fault for later diagnosis}
- G06F 11/0727: {in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system (drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097)}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Method and system for managing boot trace information is provided. The system includes a utility module executed by a computing system processor that enables boot trace collection in a host bus adapter, wherein the utility module enables boot trace collection for different software modules and boot trace information is stored in a designated area of a non-volatile memory, if hardware initialization fails; if firmware loading is unacceptable; if BIOS initialization is unacceptable; and if target discovery is improper.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for managing boot trace information, comprising:
configuring a host bus adapter for collecting boot trace information for a plurality of modules during a boot operation;
wherein the plurality of modules include basic input and output system (BIOS) code, extended firmware interface code (EFI) and a host bus adapter driver executed by the host system;
wherein a utility module sets a level for each of the plurality of modules based on which boot trace information for each of the plurality of modules is collected;
enabling boot trace collection in the host bus adapter, wherein the utility module enables boot trace collection for the plurality of modules;
saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if hardware initialization fails;
saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if host bus adapter firmware loading is unacceptable;
saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if a BIOS host system initialization is unacceptable; and
saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if target discovery is improper.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the utility module sets different trace levels for each of the plurality of modules.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the utility module configures boot trace buffers that are cleared upon initialization.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the utility module defines memory addresses where boot trace information is stored at the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter.

### Claim 5

A system for managing boot trace information, comprising:
a utility module executed by a computing system processor that:
(a) configures a host bus adapter for collecting boot trace information for a plurality of modules during a boot operation;
wherein the plurality of modules include basic input and output system (BIOS) code, extended firmware interface code (EFI) and a host bus adapter driver executed by the host system; and
wherein the utility module sets a level for each of the plurality of modules based on which boot trace information for each of the plurality of modules is collected; and
(b) enables boot trace collection in the host bus adapter, wherein the utility module enables boot trace collection for the plurality of modules and boot trace information is stored in a designated area of a non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if hardware initialization fails; if firmware loading is unacceptable; if BIOS initialization is unacceptable; and if target discovery is improper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the utility module sets different trace levels for each of the plurality of modules.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the utility module configures boot trace buffers that are cleared upon initialization.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the utility module defines memory addresses where boot trace information is stored at the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the utility module defines memory addresses where boot trace information is stored at the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter.

### Claim 10

Computer-executable process steps stored on computer-readable media for managing boot trace information, comprising:
code configuring a host bus adapter for collecting boot trace information for a plurality of modules during a boot operation;
wherein the plurality of modules include basic input and output system (BIOS) code, extended firmware interface code (EFI) and a host bus adapter driver executed by the host system;
wherein a utility module sets a level for each of the plurality of modules based on which boot trace information for each of the plurality of modules is collected;
code for enabling boot trace collection in the host bus adapter, wherein the utility module enables boot trace collection for the plurality of modules;
code for saving boot trace information in a designated area of a non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if hardware initialization fails;
code for saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if host bus adapter firmware loading is unacceptable;
code for saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if a BIOS host system initialization is unacceptable; and
code for saving boot trace information in a designated area of the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter, if target discovery is improper.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

Computer-executable process steps of claim 10, wherein the utility module sets different trace levels for each of the plurality of modules.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

Computer-executable process steps of claim 10, wherein the utility module configures boot trace buffers that are cleared upon initialization.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

Computer-executable process steps of claim 10, wherein the utility module defines memory addresses where boot trace information is stored at the non-volatile memory of the host bus adapter.