Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080270827 | RECOVERING DIAGNOSTIC DATA AFTER OUT-OF-BAND DATA CAPTURE FAILURE - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to out-of-band management of system fault handling and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for recovering diagnostic data after out-of-band data capture failure. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for recovering diagnostic data after out-of-band data capture failure can include detecting an uncorrectable error in a coupled CPU. Thereafter, the coupled CPU can be placed in a quiesced state and the CPU can be warm reset. Error data can be retrieved from the CPU registers for the CPU and the CPU can be rebooted. Finally, the quiesced state of the CPU can be removed. | 10-30-2008 |
20080276011 | STRUCTURE FOR OPTION ROM CHARACTERIZATION - A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design is disclosed for option ROM characterization by establishing an isolating execution environment for an expansion adapter of a computer, the adapter having an option ROM containing initialization code for the adapter, executing the initialization code for the expansion adapter in the isolating execution environment, identifying operating characteristics of the option ROM, including characteristics of the option ROM unavailable prior to execution of the initialization code in the isolating execution environment, and allocating virtual memory address space in a normal execution environment of the computer to the option ROM of the expansion adapter in dependence upon the identified operating characteristics of the option ROM. | 11-06-2008 |
20090079456 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED COMPONENT TESTING - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for integrating component testing. A voltage module modifies a reference voltage integral to an electronic device to a plurality of reference voltage values. A test module tests a component of the electronic device at each of the plurality of reference voltage values. In addition, the test module determines a voltage range for the component, wherein the voltage range comprises voltage values between a high voltage failure and a low voltage failure. An optimization module sets the reference voltage value to within the voltage range. | 03-26-2009 |
20090177946 | Memory Initialization Time Reduction - A method and apparatus to improve memory initialization in a memory of a computer system. Memory units in the memory comprise a plurality of ranks, each rank having a unique rank select. A parity generator outputs a parity bit corresponding to whether an encoded rank select has an even or odd number of “1”s. The parity bit is used by an Error Checking and Correcting (ECC) unit that generates ECC bits that are stored in a rank having an active rank select. During a first interval in a memory initialization period, ranks having an even number of “1”s in their encoded rank select are initialized in parallel. During a second interval in the memory initialization period, ranks having an odd number of “1”s in their encoded rank select are initialized in parallel. | 07-09-2009 |
20100125731 | METHOD FOR SECURELY MERGING MULTIPLE NODES HAVING TRUSTED PLATFORM MODULES - Method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for operating a plurality of computer nodes while maintaining trust. A primary computer node and at least one secondary computer node are connected into a cluster, wherein each of the clustered computer nodes includes a trusted platform module (TPM) that is accessible to software and includes security status information about the respective computer node. Each clustered computer node is then merged into a single node with only the TPM of the primary computer node being accessible to software. The TPM of the primary computer node is updated to include the security status information of each TPM in the cluster. Preferably, the step of merging is controlled by power on self test (POST) basic input output system (BIOS) code associated with a boot processor in the primary node. | 05-20-2010 |
20130086571 | Dynamically Updating Firmware In A Computing System - Dynamically updating firmware in a computing system, including: receiving, by a firmware update module, a request to update firmware in the computing system; receiving, by the firmware update module, a firmware update; storing, by the firmware update module, the firmware update into computer memory of the computing system; and initiating, by the firmware update module, a system management interrupt with the address in computer memory of the computing system at which the firmware update is stored. | 04-04-2013 |
20130097412 | Performing A Boot Sequence In A Multi-Processor System - Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for performing a boot sequence in a multi-processor system are provided. Embodiments include: in response to detecting initiation of a boot sequence of the multi-processor system, initializing, by a bootstrap processor (BSP), BSP memory associated with the BSP and initializing, by an application processor, memory associated with the application processor; determining, by the BSP, whether the initialization of the BSP memory is completed; and if the initialization of the BSP memory is completed, loading, by the BSP, an operating system on the BSP memory regardless of whether the application processor has completed initialization of the memory associated with the application processor. | 04-18-2013 |
20130262912 | MANAGING HARDWARE CONFIGURATION OF A COMPUTER NODE - A computer node includes an integrated management module, a field-programmable gate array, and a plurality of individual hardware devices. The integrated management module receives a user identification and identifies an associated hardware configuration, wherein the hardware configuration identifies hardware devices to be powered off. The integrated management module may instruct the field-programmable gate array to use switches to power off the identified hardware devices without powering off other hardware devices. Optionally, a default hardware configuration may be implemented in the absence | 10-03-2013 |
20130311761 | Intelligently Loading Legacy Option ROMs In A Computing System - Intelligently loading legacy option ROMs in a computing system, including: generating, by a legacy option ROM manager, an inventory for the computing system, wherein the inventory for the computing system identifies one or more devices in the computing system; determining, by the legacy option ROM manager for each option ROM available for loading, whether a device supported by the option ROM is included in the inventory for the computing system; responsive to determining that the device supported by the option ROM is not included in the inventory for the computing system, preventing the option ROM from being loaded into an option ROM address space; and responsive to determining that the device supported by the option ROM is included in the inventory for the computing system, enabling the option ROM to be loaded into the option ROM address space. | 11-21-2013 |
20140047226 | MANAGING HARDWARE CONFIGURATION OF A COMPUTER NODE - A method and computer program product for configuring the hardware devices of a computer node are disclosed. The method comprises the computer node receiving a user identification, and identifying a hardware configuration of the computer node that is stored in association with the user identification, wherein the hardware configuration identifies a subset of the hardware devices within the computer node that are not to receive power. The hardware configuration may be stored in associated with the user identification, for example by an administrator during setup. In one option, the computer node receives the user identification during user logon to the computer node. The method further comprises controlling power to the hardware devices of the computer node to implement the identified hardware configuration without physically removing the subset of hardware devices. Power is provided to the computer node except for the subset of the hardware devices. | 02-13-2014 |
20140173327 | CORRECTING A FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH A CURRENT FIRMWARE IMAGE - Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for correcting a failure associated with a current firmware image are provided. Embodiments include a firmware selection module detecting the failure associated with the current firmware image stored in firmware memory corresponding to a component of a system. Embodiments also include the firmware selection module selecting from a plurality of backup firmware images, a replacement firmware image based on a status of at least one backup firmware image in response to detecting the failure. Embodiments also include the firmware selection module storing the selected replacement firmware image in the firmware memory. | 06-19-2014 |
20140173328 | CORRECTING A FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH A CURRENT FIRMWARE IMAGE - Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for correcting a failure associated with a current firmware image are provided. Embodiments include a firmware selection module detecting the failure associated with the current firmware image stored in firmware memory corresponding to a component of a system. Embodiments also include the firmware selection module selecting from a plurality of backup firmware images, a replacement firmware image based on a status of at least one backup firmware image in response to detecting the failure. Embodiments also include the firmware selection module storing the selected replacement firmware image in the firmware memory. | 06-19-2014 |
20140181103 | MODIFYING A USER PROFILE - Modifying a user profile, including: receiving, by a content presentation module, a request for one or more elements in a user profile, wherein each element in the user profile includes information identifying attributes associated with a user; presenting, by the content presentation module, content provided by a content provider; receiving, by the content presentation module, a user request to alter the presentation of the content; receiving, by the content presentation module, updated values for the requested one or more elements in the user profile; and updating, by the content presentation module, the user profile in dependence upon the updated values for the requested one or more elements in the user profile. | 06-26-2014 |
20140181684 | MODIFYING A USER PROFILE - Modifying a user profile, including: receiving, by a content presentation module, a request for one or more elements in a user profile, wherein each element in the user profile includes information identifying attributes associated with a user; presenting, by the content presentation module, content provided by a content provider; receiving, by the content presentation module, a user request to alter the presentation of the content; receiving, by the content presentation module, updated values for the requested one or more elements in the user profile; and updating, by the content presentation module, the user profile in dependence upon the updated values for the requested one or more elements in the user profile. | 06-26-2014 |
20140245445 | Preventing Propagation Of Hardware Viruses In A Computing System - Preventing propagation of hardware viruses in a computing system, including: determining, by a hardware virus detection module, whether an empty connector in the computing system is damaged, wherein the empty connector is blocked from receiving an attachable computing device by a bumper; determining, by the hardware virus detection module, whether a connector for the attachable computing device is damaged; and responsive to determining that the empty connector is not damaged and that the connector for the attachable computing device is not damaged, moving the bumper such that the empty connector is not blocked from receiving the attachable computing device. | 08-28-2014 |
20140281504 | Authorizing Use Of A Test Key Signed Build - Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for authorizing use of a test key signed build are provided. Embodiments include transmitting to an update provider system, unique data associated with a target system; receiving from the update provider system, a signed update capsule file; determining, by the target system, that a signature within the signed update capsule file is valid; in response to determining that the signature is valid, determining that the validation data within the signed update capsule file matches the unique data associated with the target system; and in response to determining that the validation data matches the unique data, determining that the target system is authorized to use a test key signed build to update the firmware of the target system. | 09-18-2014 |
20150067308 | MANAGING PHYSICAL PRESENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE BLADES - A system includes a multi-node chassis including a chassis management module, a plurality of compute nodes, and a physical presence manual actuator for transmitting a physical presence signal to each compute node in response to manual actuation. Each server has a firmware interface, a trusted platform module, and an AND gate. The firmware interface has a general purpose input output pin for providing an enabling signal in response to a user instruction to a firmware interface setup program that communicates with the firmware interface. The AND gate has a first input receiving the enabling signal, a second input receiving the physical presence signal, and an output coupled to the trusted platform module, wherein the AND gate for a selected compute node asserts physical presence to the trusted platform module of the selected compute node in response to receiving both the enabling signal and the physical presence signal. | 03-05-2015 |
20150067309 | MANAGING PHYSICAL PRESENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE BLADES - A method uses a firmware interface setup program for a selected compute node (“node”) to cause a firmware interface to enable a trusted platform module (TPM) on the selected node to receive a physical presence (PP) signal. The selected node is selected from a plurality of nodes within a multi-node chassis, wherein each node includes a firmware interface and a TPM. A device within the multi-node chassis is manually actuated to transmit a PP signal to each of the plurality of nodes, such that each node receives the PP signal. The PP signal is asserted to the TPM of the selected node in response to both enabling the TPM of the selected node to be able to receive the PP signal and receiving the PP signal. Still further, the method allows modification of a security setting of the selected node in response to the TPM receiving the PP signal. | 03-05-2015 |
20150088314 | DATA CENTER COOLING - A method and/or computer program product automatically adjusts room temperature in a data center room. A processor in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system receives a throttle threshold temperature for each of multiple computing devices that are within a data center room, which is climate-controlled by the HVAC system. The processor in the HVAC system monitors a real-time temperature of at least one of the multiple computing devices. In response to the real-time temperature of said at least one of the multiple computing devices exceeding the throttle threshold temperature, an ambient air temperature in the data center room is decreased by adjusting a hardware thermostat in the HVAC system. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088319 | DATA CENTER COOLING - A method and/or computer program product automatically adjusts room temperature in a data center room. A processor in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system receives a throttle threshold temperature for each of multiple computing devices that are within a data center room, which is climate-controlled by the HVAC system. The processor in the HVAC system monitors a real-time temperature of at least one of the multiple computing devices. In response to the real-time temperature of said at least one of the multiple computing devices exceeding the throttle threshold temperature, an ambient air temperature in the data center room is decreased by adjusting a hardware thermostat in the HVAC system. | 03-26-2015 |