Dell USA L P

Dell Products Inc.

Richard D Amberg

Roger W Wong

Eugene Baker

Dwayne R Potter

Dennis M Wiedeman

Michael Lynch

Michael A Brundridge

Alan E Beelitz

Subhashini Rajan

A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks ('VLANs') across multiple sites is provided. The system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test ('SUT') connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch. The first and second VLAN-capable switches are connected such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (&#x201c;VPN&#x201d;). The connection may include either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a Tline or an ATM connection. The system may also include a first VLAN-capable switch located at a first site; a first system under test (&#x201c;SUT&#x201d;) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a customer network located at a customer site remote from the first and second sites and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a router; and an ATM connection between the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first SUT and the customer network are connected to a single virtual private network (&#x201c;VPN&#x201d;). In this embodiment, the connection between the second site and customer site may be either an Internet connection or a high speed point-to-point connection.

Site-to-site dynamic virtual local area network

A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks (&ldquo;VLANs&rdquo;) across multiple sites is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch; and means for connecting the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (&ldquo;VPN&rdquo;). The means for connecting may consist of either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a T1 line or an ATM connection. In an alternative embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch located at a first site; a first system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a customer network located at a customer site remote from the first and second sites and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a router; and an ATM connection between the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first SUT and the customer network are connected to a single virtual private network (&ldquo;VPN&rdquo;). In this alternative embodiment, the connection between the second site and customer site may be either an Internet connection or a high speed point-to-point connection.

Method and apparatus for dynamically connecting a system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) to and disconnecting an SUT from a private virtual local area network (&ldquo;VLAN&rdquo;) in a computer manufacturing environment are described. In a preferred embodiment, each time an SUT disposed in a burn rack boots up, a VLAN-capable switch (hereinafter &ldquo;CAT&rdquo;) connected thereto checks the media access control (&ldquo;MAC&rdquo;) address of the SUT against a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation table (&ldquo;MAC-VLAN table&rdquo;). If the SUT's MAC address is not listed in the MAC-VLAN table, the CAT connects the SUT to a predefined default VLAN; i.e., the manufacturer's main manufacturing network. If the SUT's MAC address is included in the MAC-VLAN table, there is a private VLAN associated with the SUT and the CAT connects the SUT to the associated VLAN in a conventional fashion, at which point custom configuration can be performed as needed on the private VLAN. The MAC-VLAN correlation is performed as follows. When an SUT is moved from the assembly line to the burn rack, it is connected to the CAT and then booted from a configuration and diagnostics disk (hereinafter &ldquo;step diskette&rdquo;). The step diskette for each SUT on which custom configuration is to be performed includes two unique commands thereon; namely, a dv_connect command, which initiates connection of the SUT to an associated private VLAN to enable the custom configuration processes to be performed, and a dv_disconnect command, which initiates disconnection of the SUT from the private VLAN once the custom configuration has been completed.

Dynamic virtual local area network connection process

An apparatus for use in the manufacture of a computer system comprises a step table and a component table. The step table contains substantially all software installation and/or testing steps for all components of all computer systems being manufactured at a given site. The component table contains substantially all components that are included within all computer systems being manufactured at the site. The apparatus also includes a step dependency table and a step parameter table. The step dependency table identifies steps in the step table which are incompatible with the presence in the computer system of a component other than that corresponding to the step. The step parameter table identifies steps in the step table which require a parameter.

Apparatus for use in the manufacture of a computer system

Method and apparatus for dynamically connecting a system under test (&ldquo;SUT&rdquo;) to and disconnecting an SUT from a private VLAN in a computer manufacturing environment is described. In a preferred embodiment, each time an SUT disposed in a burn rack boots up, a VLAN-capable switch (hereinafter &ldquo;CAT&rdquo;) connected thereto checks the media access control (&ldquo;MAC&rdquo;) address of the SUT against a MAC address-to-VLAN correlation table (&ldquo;MAC-VLAN table&rdquo;). If the SUT's MAC address is not listed in the MAC-VLAN table, the CAT connects the SUT to a predefined default VLAN; i.e., the manufacturer's main manufacturing network. If the SUT's MAC address is included in the MAC-VLAN table, there is a private VLAN associated with the SUT and the CAT connects the SUT to the associated VLAN in a conventional fashion, at which point custom configuration can be performed as needed on the private VLAN.

Burn rack dynamic virtual local area network

A computer system includes first and second computer-readable media. The second computer-readable medium stores information specifying one of the first and second computer-readable media from which the computer system boots. The computer system reads the information from the second computer-readable medium and boots from the specified one of the first and second computer-readable media in response to an event and the information.

System and method for initiating operation of a computer system

A method of installing software on and/or testing software for build-to-order computer system includes reading a plurality of component descriptors from a computer readable file. Each component descriptor describes a respective component of the computer system. A plurality of steps are retrieved from a database, each step being associated with a respective sequence number. The plurality of steps are sequenced in a predetermined order according to the sequence numbers to provide a step sequence. The step sequence includes commands for installing and/or testing software upon the computer system. For each step read from the database, it is determined if that step is incompatible with the presence in the computer system of a component other than that corresponding to the component descriptor associated with the step. If so, the step is discarded or not according to data associated with that step in the database. Also, for each step read from the database it is determined if that step requires a parameter, and if so the parameter is calculated according to data associated with that step in the database.

Method of installing software on and/or testing a computer system

A test device for a computer system includes a burn rack including a plurality of workcells. A simple network management protocol enabled network device is provided adjacent the burn rack. The network device includes a plurality of ports. Cables provide an interconnection between a respective port and a respective workcell. A monitor is connected to a port of the network device and is also connected to a burn rack database. A display on a screen of the monitor provides a visual occupancy representation of each workcell.

Troubleshooting computer systems during manufacturing using state and attribute information

A method of installing software on and/or testing a computer system includes providing a step sequence having a plurality of software installation and/or testing steps to be executed in an order determined by the step sequence, and reading and executing consecutive steps from the step sequence. The method further includes updating, in respect of each step which is executed, a file with data relating to the current status of the installation and/or testing, and, prior to the execution of each step, determining from the file if that step is properly the next consecutive step in the step sequence.

A method of installing software on and/or testing a computer system includes reading a plurality of component descriptors from a computer readable file, each component descriptor describing a respective component of the computer system, reading a plurality of steps from a database, each step being associated with a component descriptor and including a respective sequence number, and sequencing the plurality of steps in a predetermined order according to the sequence numbers to provide a step sequence including commands for installing software on and/or testing the computer system. The method further includes determining for each step read from the database, from data associated with that step in the database, if that step is incompatible with the presence in the computer system of a component other than that corresponding to the component descriptor associated with the step, and if so, discarding or not discarding the step according to further data associated with that step in the database. It can also be determined if that step requires a parameter, and if so, calculating such parameter according to further data associated with that step in the database.

A software installation process for use in the manufacture of a prescribed computer system includes the steps of providing at least one processor, at least one memory, and an interface for connecting the computer system to a network server. The at least one memory includes a master boot record, a utility partition and a primary partition. The utility partition includes manufacturing code particular to a manufacturing sequence in the manufacture of the computer system. The primary partition further includes file allocation tables and a root directory. Upon booting of the computer system, the manufacturing code is executed by the at least one processor, wherein the manufacturing sequence includes at least a downloading of software from the network server to the primary partition. The manufacturing code further includes instructions for clearing the file allocation tables and the root directory of the primary partition upon the occurrence of an interruption in the downloading of software from the network server and instructions for enabling the software download to be restarted without reformatting and repartitioning of the at least one memory.

Recoverable software installation process and apparatus for a computer system

A method for installing and/or testing software for a build-to-order computer system includes reading a plurality of component descriptors from a computer readable file. At least one component descriptor describes a respective component of the computer system. A plurality of steps are retrieved from a database, at least one step being associated with a respective component descriptor. A step also includes a respective sequence number. The plurality of steps are sequenced in a predetermined order according to the sequence numbers to provide a step sequence. The step sequence includes commands for installing and/or testing software upon the computer system.

Software installation and testing for a build-to order computer system

A method for installing and/or testing software for a build-to-order computer system having a plurality of components includes a plurality of elements. The computer system has an associated step sequence. The step sequence includes a plurality of steps where each step includes at least one command and a step is associated with a respective component descriptor. A component descriptor corresponds to a respective component of the computer system. The method includes accessing a command within the step sequence; creating a file including a start of execution indication; executing the command; deleting the file including the start of execution indication when the command completes execution; and repeating the accessing, creating, executing and deleting for the plurality of steps.

Software installation and testing for a build-to-order computer system

An apparatus for installing software onto a computer system includes a step table and a component table. The step table contains a set of software installation steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured. The component table contains a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured. The computer system corresponds to a family of computer systems and the apparatus further includes a family relation table, a family relation table and a family component relation table. The family relation table identifies the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer system being manufactured. The family component relation table identifies the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components. The family step relation table identifies the relation between a component and a set of software installation steps appropriate for the corresponding component.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Richard D Amberg