Abstract: A method in a data processing system for monitoring for errors on a network. Responsive to detecting a change in a state of the network, determine whether the change in state is a loss of a communications link to a remote data processing system. If the change in state is a loss of the communications link, determine whether the communications link was established for at least a first period of time to be considered an acceptable connection to the remote data processing system; and create a new serviceable event, if a second period of time passes without reestablishing the communications link to the selected data processing system. Repeat occurrences of identical outages are tracked and multiple detected instances of an outage for different partitions are counted as a single failure in the examples.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for reporting a loss of a service application to a particular system administrator. The data processing system includes a logically partitioned computer system and a hardware management console. The hardware management console is a stand-alone system separate from the computer system. A service application is executable by the hardware management console for managing service of and placing service calls for the logically partitioned computer system. The logically partitioned computer system includes a service partition. A service processor included in the logically partitioned computer system monitors a presence of the service application, and reports the absence of the service application to the service partition. In response to an absence of the service application, the service partition reports the absence of the service application to a system administrator of the service partition.

Abstract: A method in a data processing system for monitoring for errors on a network. Responsive to detecting a change in a state of the network, determine whether the change in state is a loss of a communications link to a remote data processing system. If the change in state is a loss of the communications link, determine whether the communications link was established for at least a first period of time to be considered an acceptable connection to the remote data processing system; and create a new serviceable event, if a second period of time passes without reestablishing the communications link to the selected data processing system. Repeat occurrences of identical outages are tracked and multiple detected instances of an outage for different partitions are counted as a single failure in the examples.

Abstract: A method in a data processing system for monitoring for errors on a network. Responsive to detecting a change in a state of the network, determine whether the change in state is a loss of a communications link to a remote data processing system. If the change in state is a loss of the communications link, determine whether the communications link was established for at least a first period of time to be considered an acceptable connection to the remote data processing system; and create a new serviceable event, if a second period of time passes without reestablishing the communications link to the selected data processing system. Repeat occurrences of identical outages are tracked and multiple detected instances of an outage for different partitions are counted as a single failure in the examples.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for hierarchically encoding indicators used to identify an instance of a device. Multiple nodes are included. Each node includes an implemented instance of a device. Multiple hierarchical indicators and multiple identity indicators are provided. Each one of the hierarchical indicators is associated with a different one of the nodes. Each one of the identity indicators is associated with a different one of the devices. One of the hierarchical indicators and one of the identity indicators are used for identifying an instance of one of the devices.

Abstract: A method, system, and product are disclosed for indicating a power status of multiple devices using hierarchically encoded indicators. Multiple nodes are included within a data processing system. Each node includes a different implementation of the devices. Each one of a first level of power indicators are associated with a different one of the nodes. Each one of a second level of power indicators is associated with a different one of the devices. A power status of each node is indicated utilizing one of the first level of power indicators. A power status of each device is indicated utilizing the second level of power indicators.

Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for predicting cache array bit line or driver failures. This mechanism checks for five consecutive errors at different addresses within the same syndrome on invocation of event scan polling to characterize the failure. Once the failure is characterized, it is reported to the system for corrective maintenance including dynamic and/or boot time processor deconfiguration or preventive processor replacement.

Abstract: A method in a data processing system for monitoring for errors on a network. Responsive to detecting a change in a state of the network, determine whether the change in state is a loss of a communications link to a remote data processing system. If the change in state is a loss of the communications link, determine whether the communications link was established for at least a first period of time to be considered an acceptable connection to the remote data processing system; and create a new serviceable event, if a second period of time passes without reestablishing the communications link to the selected data processing system. Repeat occurrences of identical outages are tracked and multiple detected instances of an outage for different partitions are counted as a single failure in the examples.

Abstract: Hardware errors are stored in an error buffer for processing by one or more system partitions within a computer system. When errors are first placed in the buffer, an Already Reported Flag (ARF) is initialized to indicate that the error has not yet been reported to any of the system partitions. When one of the system partitions receives the corresponding error information by running a diagnostics routine, the ARF is set indicating that the error has been reported to at least one system partition. The system partition, in turn, uses the ARF information to determine how to handle the corresponding error. In an environment using a remote hardware service provider, the ARF determines whether to transmit the error information to the service provider. In environments without remote service providers, the ARF information is used to highlight newly reported errors to the user.

Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A method, system, and product in a computer system are described for reporting error events which occur within the computer system. The computer system includes multiple logical partitions. Each of the logical partitions includes a different one of multiple, different operating systems. A format is specified for reporting error events. An error event occurring within one of the logical partitions is detected. Information about the error event is formatted according to the specified format. Each operating system utilizes this format to report error events.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and computer program product for automatically tracking insertions of integrated circuit devices into receptacle devices. An insertion of an integrated circuit device is automatically detected utilizing the data processing system. An insertion count that is associated with the integrated circuit device is automatically incremented in response to a detection of an insertion of the integrated circuit device. The insertion count is used to track insertions of the integrated circuit device.

Abstract: Described is a method for isolating faults to a correct field replaceable unit (FRU) of a data processing system. When a processor timeout occurs, a fault isolation logic is triggered and checks the boot record to determine if the timeout occurred because of an FRU fault before or after the service processor completed its system initialization. When the timeout occurred because of fault that occurred while the service processor was loading operating system (OS) (e.g., AIX) instructions from the boot device in the input/output (I/O) subsystem, then the FRU callout indicates a boot fault associated with the I/O planar and the CPU (processor) card. When the FRU fault occurred prior to fetching the OS instructions from the boot device or after the service processor completed its system initialization procedures, then the FRU callout is attributed to the processor card and backplane. Attributing boot error faults to incorrect FRUs is therefore substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup is disclosed. Each component within the data processing system is assigned a location code. Then, a progress code is associated with a location code and a function being loaded to, tested, or executed in a component. After supplying power to the data processing system, the components of the data processing system are initialized and tested to establish a configuration. During the initialization and testing, a location code of a component and a corresponding progress code are displayed on a display panel. In response to a system hang, a defective component can be identified utilizing the location code and the progress code displayed on the display panel.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program are described for isolating bus errors detected during system start-up by utilizing a technique in which a shared mailbox associated with a service processor is provided for holding the address of an adapter in an I/O drawer. If an error is detected the server processor is notified. The server processor then retrieves the address from the mailbox, uses it to derive a location code which is then passed along with the error code to an appropriate error analysis routine. The start-up procedure is then shut down.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for reporting a loss of a service application to a particular system administrator. The data processing system includes a logically partitioned computer system and a hardware management console. The hardware management console is a stand-alone system separate from the computer system. A service application is executable by the hardware management console for managing service of and placing service calls for the logically partitioned computer system. The logically partitioned computer system includes a service partition. A service processor included in the logically partitioned computer system monitors a presence of the service application, and reports the absence of the service application to the service partition. In response to an absence of the service application, the service partition reports the absence of the service application to a system administrator of the service partition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an error condition during initialization of a multiprocessor data processing system is provided. A master processor identification indicator is initialized to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system. The master processor identification indicator may be a location in nonvolatile RAM to protect data integrity. One of the plurality of processors in the multiprocessor system is selected to be the master processor by being released by the service processor and winning the “race condition” to fetch the first instruction from memory for program execution. This processor then sets the master processor identification indicator to a unique processor identification value. The initial value may be a spoof number indicating whether the master processor has yet written its unique processor identification value. At some later point in time, the service processor detects a freeze or hang condition in the data processing system.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for automatically tracking insertions of integrated circuit devices into receptacle devices. An insertion of an integrated circuit device is automatically detected utilizing the data processing system. An insertion count that is associated with the integrated circuit device is automatically incremented in response to a detection of an insertion of the integrated circuit device. The insertion count is used to track insertions of the integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for predicting cache array bit line or driver failures. This mechanism checks for five consecutive errors at different addresses within the same syndrome on invocation of event scan polling to characterize the failure. Once the failure is characterized, it is reported to the system for corrective maintenance including dynamic and/or boot time processor deconfiguration or preventive processor replacement.