Abstract: A system management controller may record and/or modify the state of the computer system's host processor if it fails to execute user level program instructions (e.g., is hung). The system management controller may also be commanded, from a site remote from the computer system, to acquire and/or modify the state of the host processor. The system management controller may also acquire and/or modify the state of the other components coupled to the computer system such as, for example, a modem, a network interface card, a memory, and a bus-to-bus bridge circuit.