International Business Machines Corporation

Brandon James Mayfield

Chris Alan Schwendiman

A method and system for testing device conflict and bus resolution are disclosed. The device conflict and bus resolution is for a data processing system that uses customized device data definitions for configuration. To perform the testing for device conflict and bus resolution, the system first repopulates a device data information database found within the data processing system with customized configuration data for a predetermined system configuration to be tested. Next, the system performs a bus resolve resolution function that highlights any errors, device conflicts, or bus conflicts. Next, the system evaluates the results from the bus resolution resolve resolution function for evaluation by the tester. Before performing the repopulating function, the system removes any previously programmed customized definitions for a particular system configuration in order that a fair evaluation of the new configuration may be performed. This repopulation option begins by parsing a test control file within the data processing system for new customized definitions and then inserting a new set of customized definitions within the device database. During the evaluation, the system determines whether any error return codes have been indicated during the resolve function. Further, the evaluation function also tests for any undetected conflicts within the new customized configuration data and determines if any proper devices had been configured during the resolve function.

Method and apparatus for testing device bus resource resolution

A method and system for assigning non-conflicting bus resources to a plurality of devices connected to that bus. The system provides for resolution of resources for all devices attached to the bus or for just a subset of the devices attached to the bus. The system provides for special types of relationships between bus resources; 'grouped' resources allow a device to control the selection of a value for one resource based on the value of a different resource, and 'shared' resources allow two or more different devices to share a single bus resource. First, a list of the devices attached to the bus is constructed, and for each device a list of the device's bus resources (attributes) is also constructed. The system then prunes unusable bus resource values from the attribute lists, based on what is allowed by the particular machine and bus to which the device is connected. The system then begins a search to find the first non-conflicting solution which will resolve each device in the device list in turn. If a device is determined to be irresolvable at any stage then the system continues to attempt to resolve any remaining devices. Some devices may share interrupt levels with other devices; this system attempts to assign unique and non-conflicting bus resources for all devices, but if a unique interrupt level assignment may not be made the system will attempt to find a suitable 'shareable' interrupt level currently assigned to another device which may also be assigned to the first device.

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Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Brandon James Mayfield