Micron Technology Incorporated

Micron Electronics, Inc.

Round Rock Research, LLC

Kenny L Bright

Srikumar N Chari

Bruno Sartirana

A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user's replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a 'hot' condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the 'hot swap' or &#x201c;hot add&#x201d; functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The system requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.

Systems and methods for performing a hot input function

System for facilitating the replacement or insertion of devices in a computer system through the use of a graphical user interface

A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user's replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a &ldquo;hot&rdquo; condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the &ldquo;hot swap&rdquo; or &ldquo;hot add&rdquo; functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The system requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.

An apparatus for creating, registering, and monitoring alerts for a computer or plurality of computers. This apparatus alerts the operator when an event occurs on one of the computer's components. This apparatus allows the user to select which alerts to enable and which alerts to disable from a list of all possible alerts. When an alert occurs, the present invention displays the particular computer's name, a description of the alert, the time and date of the alert, and details about a recommended course of action. The present invention also creates a log file for all alerts detected, regardless of whether the alert is displayed or not.

Managing computer system alerts

An apparatus for creating, registering, and monitoring alerts for a computer or plurality of computers. This apparatus alerts the operator when an event occurs on one of the completer's components. This apparatus allows the user to select which alerts to enable and which alerts to disable from a list of all possible alerts. When an alert occurs, the present invention displays the particular computer's name, a description of the alert, the time and date of the alert; and details about a recommended course of action. The present invention also creates a log file for all alerts detected, regardless of whether the alert is displayed or not.

Alert configurator and manager

A computer software method is disclosed for facilitating a user's replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The method allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the server network is running, or in a 'hot' condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the network carries out the 'hot swap' or 'hot add' functions. The method, which employs a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step in the invention is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The method requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.

Method for facilitating the replacement or insertion of devices in a

A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user's replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a 'hot' condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the 'hot swap' or 'hot add' functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The system requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.

System for facilitating the replacement or insertion of devices in a

A data management system supports hot plug operations on a computer by defining, organizing, and maintaining hot plug variables, stored on a computer readable medium, which identify components of a computer that may be involved in hot plug operations, and which also identify capabilities and operational states of those components as well as control their operation and interface to the computer. The hot plug variables identify a component as well as represent states and capabilities of a component, and thus the hot plug variables advantageously operate as commands to predetermined components of a computer which support hot plug operations on the computer. The system generally comprises a plurality of variables to support adding a component to or exchanging components of a computer while the computer runs, as well as hot plug variable data stored in a computer readable medium, the hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of the computer, the hot plug variable data related to the plurality of variables. In one embodiment, the system comprises management software running on a client computer, the management software generating requests such as a suspend device driver request, a power off request, a power on request, and a resume device driver request, and sending the requests over a network. In the embodiment, the system further comprises agent software running on a server computer, the agent software responsively recognizing the respective requests to suspend a device driver running on the server computer, to stop power to a component of the server computer, to start power to the server computer, and to resume the device driver.

Data management system for adding or exchanging components on a running

A data management method supports hot plug operations on a computer by defining, organizing, and maintaining hot plug variables which identify components of a computer that may be involved in hot plug operations, and which also identify capabilities and operational states of those components as well as control their operation and interface to the computer. The hot plug variables identify a component as well as represent states and capabilities of a component, and thus the hot plug variables advantageously operate as commands to predetermined components. The method generally selects a plurality of variables to support adding a component to or exchanging components of a computer while the computer runs, and collects in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of the computer, the hot plug variable data is related to the plurality of variables. The method supports generating, with management software running on a client computer, requests such as a suspend device driver request, a power off request, a power on request, and a resume device driver request, and sending the requests over a network to agent software running on a server computer, the agent software responsively recognizing the respective requests to suspend a device driver running on the server computer, to stop power to a component of the server computer, to start power to the server computer, and to resume the device driver.

Growing community of inventors

Hayward, CA, United States of America

Kenny L Bright