System for detection and routing of platform events in a multi-cell computer
US6910142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/24025
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for providing notification, to the associated operating system, of removal and replacement of I/O devices during operation of a multiprocessor computer system running multiple operating systems. The system includes a plurality of cells, each containing multiple RISC processors, low-level I/O firmware, a local service processor, scratch RAM, external registers, a memory and I/O manager, and interfacing hardware. Each partition comprises one or more cells and runs its own operating system (OS). Each cell is connected to a peripheral backplane containing a plurality of peripheral I/O card slots via a switch on the system backplane, which also connects the cell to a supervisory processor, which sends card slot status information to the appropriate cell. Each I/O (typically PCI) card slot has an associated latch which provides an indication, to the supervisory processor, that a platform event has occurred. Platform events include inserting or removing an I/O (peripheral device interface) card to/from a card slot, and opening an access panel that provides access to the I/O cards.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.