Method and system for managing system bus communications in a data processing system
First Claim
1. A method for increasing the performance and reliability of a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling a first system processor to a first system bus, wherein said first system processor includes a first bus controller;
coupling a second system processor to a second system bus, wherein said second system processor includes a second bus controller;
coupling said first bus controller to a management bus;
coupling said second bus controller to said management bus;
coupling at least one feature device to said first system bus, said second system bus, and said management bus, wherein said at least one feature device is configured to communicate system processor communications with said first system processor via said first system bus;
detecting a problem that affects system processor communications over said first system bus between said at least one feature device and said first system processor;
sending a command on said management bus to said at least one feature device; and
in response to receiving said command from said management bus, configuring said at least one feature device to communicate system processor communications with said second system processor via said second system bus, wherein said data processing system including said at least one feature device continues to operate as a result of communicating system processor communications with said second system processor via said second system bus in the presence of a problem that affects system processor communications over said first system bus.
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Abstract
In a data processing system, a first system processor is coupled to a first system bus. The first system processor includes a first bus controller. A second system processor having a second bus controller is coupled to a second system bus. The first bus controller is then coupled to a management bus, and the second bus controller is coupled to the same management bus. Thereafter, at least one feature device is coupled to the first system bus, the second system bus, and the management bus. The feature device is also configured to communicate system processor communications with the first system processor via the first system bus. Next, a problem that affects system processor communications over the first system bus between the feature device and the first system processor is detected. In response to detecting such a communications problem, a command is sent to the feature device via the management bus. In response to receiving the command on the management bus, the feature device is configured to communicate system processor communications with the second system processor via the second system bus, wherein the feature device continues to operate in the data processing system as a result of communicating system processor communications with the second system processor via the second system bus in the presence of a problem that affects system processor communications over the first system bus. A second management bus may be coupled to the first bus controller, the second bus controller, and the feature device for providing a redundant management bus.
59 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for increasing the performance and reliability of a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a first system processor to a first system bus, wherein said first system processor includes a first bus controller; coupling a second system processor to a second system bus, wherein said second system processor includes a second bus controller; coupling said first bus controller to a management bus; coupling said second bus controller to said management bus; coupling at least one feature device to said first system bus, said second system bus, and said management bus, wherein said at least one feature device is configured to communicate system processor communications with said first system processor via said first system bus; detecting a problem that affects system processor communications over said first system bus between said at least one feature device and said first system processor; sending a command on said management bus to said at least one feature device; and in response to receiving said command from said management bus, configuring said at least one feature device to communicate system processor communications with said second system processor via said second system bus, wherein said data processing system including said at least one feature device continues to operate as a result of communicating system processor communications with said second system processor via said second system bus in the presence of a problem that affects system processor communications over said first system bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for increasing the performance and reliability of a data processing system comprising:
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means for coupling a first system processor to a first system bus, wherein said first system processor includes a first bus controller; means for coupling a second system processor to a second system bus, wherein said second system processor includes a second bus controller; means for coupling said first bus controller to a management bus; means for coupling said second bus controller to said management bus; means for coupling at least one feature device to said first system bus, said second system bus, and said management bus, wherein said at least one feature device is configured to communicate system processor communications with said first system processor via said first system bus; means for detecting a problem that affects system processor communications over said first system bus between said at least one feature device and said first system processor; means for sending a command on said management bus to said at least one feature device; and means for configuring said at least one feature device to communicate system processor communications with said second system processor via said second system bus in response to receiving said command from said management bus, wherein said data processing system including said at least one feature device continues to operate as a result of communicating system processor communications with said second system processor via said second system bus in the presence of a problem that affects system processor communications over said first system bus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A backplane for increasing the performance and reliability of a data processing system comprising:
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a first system bus adapted to couple to a first system processor and to at least one feature device, said first system bus for communicating system processor communications between said first system processor and said at least one feature device; a second system bus adapted to couple to a second system processor and to said at least one feature device, said second system bus for communicating system processor communications between said second system processor and said at least one feature device; and a management bus adapted to couple to a first system processor, a second system processor, and said at least one feature device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification