International Business Machines Corporation

Douglas Marvin Benignus

Arthur James Tysor

George Henry Ahrens, Jr

Thomas S Parker

Richard Louis Arndt

Alongkorn Kitamorn

Luke Matthew Browning

Douglas Craig Bossen

Mark Wayne Mueller

Daniel James Henderson

Dennis G Busch

Mark Steven Edwards

Robert M Arbeitman

Robert A Vossman

Leo C Mooney

Kanti Champaklal Shah

James L Frye

Suzanne K Baird

Astrid P Jeffries

Pamela Ann Batten

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for reporting global errors in a logical partitioned data processing system having a plurality of partitions running different types operating systems. Responsive to detecting a global error, a unique identifier is assigned to the global error. The unique identifier is sent to a service focal point. The unique identifier also is sent to the partitions. Error information from the partitions is reported to the focal point. The partitions send error information to the focal point in association with the unique identifier. The focal point identifies error information sent from the partitions for the global error using the unique identifier.

Method and apparatus for reporting global errors on heterogeneous partitioned systems

Hardware errors are stored in an error buffer for processing by one or more system partitions within a computer system. When errors are first placed in the buffer, an Already Reported Flag (ARF) is initialized to indicate that the error has not yet been reported to any of the system partitions. When one of the system partitions receives the corresponding error information by running a diagnostics routine, the ARF is set indicating that the error has been reported to at least one system partition. The system partition, in turn, uses the ARF information to determine how to handle the corresponding error. In an environment using a remote hardware service provider, the ARF determines whether to transmit the error information to the service provider. In environments without remote service providers, the ARF information is used to highlight newly reported errors to the user.

System and method for reporting platform errors in partitioned systems

A method, system, and product in a computer system are described for reporting error events which occur within the computer system. The computer system includes multiple logical partitions. Each of the logical partitions includes a different one of multiple, different operating systems. A format is specified for reporting error events. An error event occurring within one of the logical partitions is detected. Information about the error event is formatted according to the specified format. Each operating system utilizes this format to report error events.

Standardized format for reporting error events occurring within logically partitioned multiprocessing systems

According to a method form of the invention, in a computer system having a processing load distributed among a number of processors in the system, test computations are performed at intervals by floating point logic of a processor responsive to stored test instructions. Responsive to the test computations indicating an erroneous result by one of the processors information is passed by a firmware process and entered into an operating system error log. Responsive to the information, an operating system deconfiguration service is notified of the error log entry, and the service deconfigures the indicated processor, while the system is still running.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for deconfiguring a processor

An apparatus and method for performing a diagnostic problem determination methodology for complex systems is provided. With the apparatus and method, a diagnostic application for a system may automatically invoke additional diagnostics for child devices and/or siblings of the child devices based on status of the child devices after testing the parent device. This allows for complete testing of a subsystem in a single diagnostic execution resulting in a more complete, accurate analysis of subsystems with complex configurations such as seen with redundant arrays of independent disk drive (RAID) systems.

Apparatus and method for providing a diagnostic problem determination methodology for complex systems

A method and system for performing problem determination procedures in a hierarchically organized computer system is provided. The hardware components of the data processing system are interconnected in a manner in which the components are organized in a logical hierarchy. A hardware-related error occurs, and the error is logged into an error log file. At some point in time, a diagnostics process is initiated in response to the detection of the error. The logged error may implicate a particular hardware component, and the hardware component of the data processing system is analyzed using a problem determination procedure. In response to a determination that the hardware component does not have a problem, the logically hierarchical parent hardware component of the hardware component is selected for analysis. The logically hierarchical parent hardware component is then analyzed using a problem determination procedure. The method continues to analyze the logically hierarchical parent components until the root component is reached or until a faulty component is found.

Method and system for performing problem determination procedures in hierarchically organized computer systems

A data processing system is provided with an electronic key for remote designation of the computer system into a service, secure, or normal/run mode of operation. Such a remote designation is enabled when a physical or manual key is set to a normal/run mode of operation. Setting of the electronic key to a service mode permits remote access to the system for maintenance or debug operations.

Electronic key for a data processing system

The system and method of this invention classifies the options of a data processing system into test levels based upon the dependency of the option to other options within a configuration of the processing system. The test level information for each option is stored in a present configuration list of the options. In addition, prerequisite rule bases are linked to each dependent option in the configuration list. The diagnostic system accesses the test level information and the prerequisite rule base information to determine when to test an option, and the order in which to test options, when isolating a failing option. A failing option can be isolated during a system checkout, a selected option checkout, or by resolving a missing option in the present configuration.

Diagnostic configuration management for a data processing system

A communication system is provided in which one data transmitting display terminal has the capability of transmitting a data stream in coded form to at least one data receiving terminal over a communication linkage. This data transmitting terminal further includes the capability of displaying, when necessary, the stream of coded data directly on its display so that if there is a transmission problem, the coded data itself can be analyzed in diagnosing the problem. The present communications system has the further capability of diagnosing data streams at remote display terminals. For example, if one transmitting terminal is communicating with a receiving terminal and a problem arises between the two terminals, the system provides the capability of the transmitting terminal sending the data stream to another receiving terminal remote from the first two terminals. This remote receiving terminal is a display terminal having the capability of displaying the received stream of coded data whereby the problems between the two communicating terminals may be diagnosed at a remote location where better engineering support may be available.

Data communication system with terminal for displaying the coded stream

A communication adapter circuit (10) is connected to a processor through a data bus (12)and a control bus (14). Data and control signals are provided through the buses (12,14) to a timer circuit (18), a programmable peripheral interface circuit (20), an asynchronous and bisynchronous control circuit (22) and an SDLC/HDLC control circuit (24). Each of the control circuits (22, 24) includes parallel-to-serial and serial-to-parallel conversion circuitry. A clock select circuit (32) operates in conjunction with the timer circuit (18) and the programmable peripheral interface circuit (20) to establish a data transmission rate for the data flow through the adapter circuit (10). From the control circuits (22, 24) the data is transmitted through a bi-directional serial line (44) to a dual modem switch (56). From the switch (56) the data is transmitted to either an EIA interface circuit (60) to a conventional modem or through a line (64) to an internal modem.

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Dime Box, TX, United States of America

Douglas Marvin Benignus