Service channel for connecting a host computer to peripheral devices
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDavid D. Cadigan, Thomas J. Griffin, M. Dean Sciacca, Dustin J. VanStee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer system having a host adapter is provided. The host adapter includes a primary port that follows a primary communication protocol. The primary port is connectable to at least one peripheral device. The host adapter includes a service port that follows a service communication protocol to monitor and send recovery commands to the peripheral device. The service port is decoupled and separate from the primary port and connectable to the at least one peripheral device.
Claims20
A computer system, comprising:
- a host adapter, including:
- a primary port that follows a primary communication protocol, the port connectable to at least one peripheral device;
- and
- a service port that follows a service communication protocol to monitor and send recovery commands to the at least one peripheral device, the service port being decoupled and separate from the primary port and connectable to the at least one peripheral device;
- wherein a controller of the at least one peripheral device includes priority arbitration logic to determine a priority of access between the host adapter and the controller, wherein a high level of the priority of access indicates that access to the least one peripheral device is allowed after completion of a current operation, a medium level of the priority of access indicates that access is allowed to the at least one peripheral device once the at least one peripheral device is idle and has completed outstanding background operations, and a low level of the priority of access indicates access is allowed only after the at least one peripheral device has been placed into a service mode.
A method of monitoring a peripheral device, comprising:
- providing a host adapter having a primary port and a service port, the primary port following a primary communication protocol, and the service port decoupled and separate from the primary port and following a service communication protocol to monitor and send recovery commands to the peripheral device;
- establishing communication from the primary port of the host adapter to a channel port of the peripheral device;
- and
- sending a service port access request to a service access port of the peripheral device by the service port of the host adapter;
- wherein a controller of the peripheral device includes priority arbitration logic to determine a priority of access between the host adapter and the controller, wherein a high level of the priority of access indicates that access to the peripheral device is allowed after completion of a current operation, a medium level of the priority of access indicates that access is allowed to the peripheral device once the peripheral device is idle and has completed outstanding background operations, and a low level of the priority of access indicates access is allowed only after the peripheral device has been placed into a service mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.