International Business Machines Corporation

Marshall Allen Dawson, Iii

John Matthew Landry

Eric Francis Robinson

Duane Edward Norris

Carl Leland Mohre, Ii

Dwayne T Crump, Deceased

A method and system are disclosed for configuring PnP devices for a computer operating system by initiating a power on self test (POST) within a computer system for configuring PnP and PCI devices. During the process of configuring PnP and PCI devices, a list is composed of devices that are not absolutely necessary for booting the system (e.g. modem or ethernet controller). While the PCI devices are configured, if the system has no usable IRQ's, POST takes one from a nonessential PnP ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) device in the list, and gives it to the PCI device. The POST operation searches for the presence of a PnP operating system option while progressing through the startup sequence (of bootable media), and activates or deactivates all devices, depending on the type of media being attempted. If the medium is the hard disk (where the PnP operating system option resides), all of the PnP devices in the list are deactivated. If the medium is any other type (where a PnP operating system option is not likely to reside) the devices are activated.

Method and system for configuring plug and play devices for a computer

A method and system for managing resources required by peripheral devices present within a computer system, the resources selected from a group of resources required for audio, video, pointing device, input, output, memory, and modem devices. A nominal selection of resources is initially associated with a peripheral device present within the computer system. Next, a minimal amount of resources required by the peripheral device to function normally within the computer system is determined, in response to associating the nominal selection of resources with the peripheral device. Finally, the computer system is automatically reconfigured, in response to user input, such that the peripheral device functions normally within the computer system utilizing a minimal amount of resources without inadvertently utilizing resources not required by the peripheral device during a particular operation of the peripheral device, thereby providing relief to a resource constrained computer system, wherein a multitude of peripheral devices function. Thereafter, a particular operation of the peripheral device is initiated, and the peripheral device operates in association with utilization of minimal resources required by the peripheral device to function normally within said computer system.

Method and system for managing resource allocation for plug and play

Disclosed is a split computer system that includes a first housing coupled to a second housing with a multi-conductor cable. The first housing includes a first direct access storage device (DASD) having an opening for receiving a removable storage medium. The second housing is separate from the first housing and includes a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a local bus and an expansion bus, a non-volatile storage device coupled to the local bus, a second DASD coupled to the local bus and a power supply. The system further includes first and second DASD controllers coupled to the first and second DASDs respectively. The cable has one end coupled to the first housing and another end coupled to the second housing for electrically connecting devices in the first housing to devices in the second housing. The second housing has a first interface coupled to the expansion bus and the cable. The first housing also includes a second interface coupled to the cable and the first DASD. The system is operative to detect an access to either the first or second DASD controller and disable a current DASD controller and enable the other DASD controller.

Growing community of inventors

Longmont, CO, United States of America

Marshall Allen Dawson, Iii