International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Brandon John Ellison

Eric Richard Kern

Howard J Locker

Daryl Carvis Cromer

James Peter Ward

Richard Alan Dayan

Edward Stanely Suffern

David Benson Rhoades

Simon C Chu

Aaron Eliahu Merkin

Richard Wayne Cheston

Thomas M Brey

Dhruv Manmohandas Desai

William Bradley Schwartz

Joseph Edward Bolan

Edward Stanley Suffern

Adam Lee Soderlund

Shane Michael Lardinois

James Alexander Day, Jr

A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a microprocessor on each blade server for providing interfaces at the plurality of blade servers for simultaneous connection with a local or remote drive. The microprocessor can also configure the blade server to simultaneously connect with a plurality of local and/or remote drives. The microprocessor routes data packets between a management system and its respective blade server, while a management module in the management system manages the simultaneous access of the drive(s) by the plurality of blade servers or the plurality of drives by a blade server. This increases the efficiency of the system.

Simultaneous sharing of storage drives on blade center

Methods and arrangements for activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic for activating in an end node an IP configuration suitable for IP communications between the end node and another end node upon the detection of a direct IP connection of the end node to another end node. In some embodiments, the other end node may have a direct IP connect only to the end node. In some embodiments, the suitable IP configuration may involve a static IP address which has been published. In some embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection with another node may be accomplished by detecting a crossed-over Ethernet connection. In some embodiments, an operating system device driver may activate the suitable IP configuration. In other embodiments, an embedded system may activate the suitable IP configuration.

Methods and arrangements for activating IP configurations

An apparatus, system and method to facilitate I2C communication between a host device and a slave device where the slave device shares a common physical address with another slave device on the I2C bus. The apparatus includes a detection module to detect an incoming address on the I2C bus, a translation module to translate the incoming address to an outgoing address, and a communication module to communicate data between the host device and the slave device where the outgoing address matches the physical address of the slave device. In this manner, the present invention avoids address conflicts between commonly addressed slave devices while reducing costs, components, and complexities traditionally associated with dynamic addressing techniques and other prior art solutions to address conflicts.

Apparatus and system for an address translation device

A method and system for accessing a remote real communication port ('COM port') from a server blade in a server blade chassis by creating a virtual COM port in the server blade. A basic input/output system (BIOS) controller monitors an internal COM port in the server blade for communication traffic. Upon detecting the communication traffic, the BIOS controller reroutes the traffic to a virtual USB COM port created by the BIOS controller chipset. The virtual USB COM port directs the communication traffic to an internal universal serial bus (USB) device in the server blade. The USB device then forwards the traffic to an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) input/output (I/O) on a sideband channel to a remote system, which passes the communication traffic to a real COM port in the remote system.

Virtual USB communications port

An arrangement which eliminates the need to remove a computer system from its packaging in order to initiate a re-imaging process. Particularly, there is broadly contemplated herein the use of a position-sensitive switching arrangement, such as a mercury switch, that is configured to power selected control circuitry in a computer so as to receive additional information or data as needed to update imaging or other aspects of a computer's operating system.

Arrangement for initiating a re-imaging process for a computer system

A method and system for a failover management module for a server blade chassis. A virtual out-of-band network connects management modules in different server blade chassis. Upon a detection of a failure of the management module(s) in a first server blade chassis, a management module in a second server blade chassis takes over control of the first server blade chassis.

Management module failover across multiple blade center chassis

A method and system for method of removing a node from a multi-node computer. The node receives a system management interrupt (SMI), resulting in a quiescenting of only that node. The SMI receiving node then polls other nodes in the multi-node computer to determine if the SMI affects an operation of any of the other nodes, and quiescents any other node affected by the SMI. Each quiescent node then transfers all of the contents of its system memory to a backup memory in an unaffected remote node in the multi-node computer. The remote node than assumes the function of the removed node that had received the SMI. The method and system thus allows node removal in the event of a hot-swap request or a predicted failure of a node.

Node removal using remote back-up system memory

Aspects for providing protection against theft and loss of a portable computer system are described. The aspects include establishing boundary conditions within which the portable computer system is authorized for use and tracking a position of the portable computer system with a global position system (GPS) unit in the portable computer system. The position is compared to the boundary conditions to identify whether the portable computer system has violated the boundary conditions, and anti-theft routines are performed when the position has violated the boundary conditions. The anti-theft routines include calling a preset phone number with a cellular calling facility of the portable computer system.

Method and system for providing protection against theft and loss of a portable computer system

A method and system are disclosed for transmitting a network packet which identifies only selected ones of a plurality of client computer systems. The client computer systems are coupled to a server computer system to form a network. A logical group is specified which includes only a first plurality of the plurality of client computer systems by specifying one of a plurality of group identifiers. A network packet is then transmitted utilizing the network to the logical group. The network packet includes the group identifier which identifies the logical group, wherein only the logical group are the intended recipients of the packet.

Data processing system and method for transmission of a network packet specifying a group identifier identifying a selected plurality of clients

A client on a network is provided with auxiliary low power logic, at the network adoptor, that is always active and simulates network traffic (e.g., Ethernet format) normally sent under control of the main client system processor(s). This logic collects client status information and reports to the network manager, even when the system CPU is powered down, information which allows the network manager to exercise broader control and perform maintenance and upgrades which would otherwise require a dialog with the user and/or limit maintenance and reconfiguration of the client system to off-hours activity.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Brandon John Ellison