Method and apparatus for locating a faulty device in a computer system

Abstract

A computer system compnses a processor (), memory () and a plurality of devices (), the processor () and the memory () being operable to effect the operation of a fault response processor (AFR), and a device driver (GRAPHICS, NETWORK, H2IO, IO2L, SERIAL) for each of the devices. The fault response processor (AFR) is operable to generate a model which represents the processor (), the memory () and the devices () of the computer system and the inter-connection of the processor (), memory () and the devices (GRAPHICS, NETWORK, H2IO, IO2L, SERIAL). The device driver (GRAPHICS, NETWORK, H2IO, IO2L, SERIAL) for each of the devices () is arranged, consequent upon a change of operational status of the device, to generate fault report data indicating whether the change of status was caused internally within the device or externally by another connected device. The devices of the computer system may be formed as a plurality of Field Replaceable Units (FRU). The fault response processor (AFR) is operable, consequent upon receipt of the fault reports from the device drivers (GRAPHICS, NETWORK, H2IO, IO2L, SERIAL) to estimate the location of a FRU containing a faulty device by applying the fault indication to the model. In other embodiments the fault report data includes direction information indicating a connection between the device and the other connected device which caused the external fault. Having identified the faulty device the FRU may be replaced, thereby minimizing down time of the computer system.