International Business Machines Corporation

Edmund Sutherland Gamble

Terence K Rodrigues

Bruce James Wilkie

Charles R Dart

Robert Joseph Ruckriegel

Gary Anthony Jansma

Leon L Wu

A method and system for improving Field Replacement Unit (FRU) isolation in memory sub-systems by monitoring Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) induced memory errors. A comparator compares the output voltage coming from the VRM to memory. If the comparator detects a VRM output voltage transient that is outside a rated threshold, then a counter is increased by one. If the counter exceeds a count threshold, a VRM error is posted. If a memory failure occurs within a predetermined period of time, then the VRM error pinpoints the VRM output voltage transient as being the likely cause of the memory failure.

Monitoring VRM-induced memory errors

A system for improving Field Replacement Unit (FRU) isolation in memory sub-systems by monitoring Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) induced memory errors. A comparator compares the output voltage coming from the VRM to memory. If the comparator detects a VRM output voltage transient that is outside a rated threshold, then a counter is increased by one. If the counter exceeds a count threshold, a VRM error is posted. If a memory failure occurs within a predetermined period of time, then the VRM error pinpoints the VRM output voltage transient as being the likely cause of the memory failure.

Aspects for improving signal quality on high speed, multi-drop busses are described. The aspects include coupling a source device directly to multiple load devices, wherein there are no resistance components coupled in series between the source device and the multiple load devices. The aspects further include providing a spacing arrangement for the multiple load devices, wherein negative reflections are delayed to minimize deleterious efforts from the negative reflections. Through the present invention, the modified version of a commonly used bus topology achieves extended voltage timing margins in a high speed, multi-drop bus in a straightforward and efficient manner.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Edmund Sutherland Gamble